Cigar Weekly

TommyBB · 10-23-2019, 07:55 AM

cA is reporting, this morning, that Altria is exploring its options with regard to selling Nat Sherman International.

Quote:

“While we recognize the strength and value of the premium cigar business, it’s not core to Altria’s tobacco portfolio so we are exploring options for NSI,” said Jessica Pierucki, Altria’s general manager, managing director for Nat Sherman, in a statement emailed to Cigar Aficionado. She called Nat Sherman International “a terrific business.”

“I’m very optimistic for the future,” says Michael Herklots, vice president of Nat Sherman International, who has been instrumental to the company’s cigar business since 2011. “We’re operating under business as usual for whatever transition is to come. I look forward to the next chapter of our story.”

In a conversation at the 2019 PCA trade show, Herklots said Nat Sherman International was expanding. “We continue to grow year after year,” he said.

Altria acquired Nat Sherman from the Sherman family in January 2017, for undisclosed terms. Altria had a cigar segment at the time, but it was not a premium business; Altria is the owner of Black & Mild, a machine-made brand sold in convenience stores.

Michael Herklots is a member here under "mherklots" I have met him a few times, he's good at his job, and a super-friendly person, as well.

I cut my teeth in the late 1990s on friend-suggested Nat Sherman cigars, Metropolitan series, so they have a soft-spot in my heart even though I have not tried one in a long time, now. When my older son was really small, we would drive to uptown New Orleans to go to Dos Jefes Cigar Shop which was the only tobacconist in town to carry Nat Sherman. It was a great little shop, they have since moved from that Magazine Street location to Tchoupitoulas Street as Dos Jefes Cigar Bar, with only ONE humidor cabinet, but it's the city's premier cigar venue with live music every night.

Briandg · 10-23-2019, 10:21 AM

Nat sherman cigars have always been very good for me. That said, man, they are pricey. The old suave, the 1400 series, both very good. I have smoked dozens of them, several full boxes even, and can't specifically remember a dog. I am smoking metropolitan and epoca currently.

Herklots ran the davidoff store, and yes, spent a lot of time here. Seemed like a good man. Leaving davidoff for sherman was probably a really great move for him.

jefslat · 10-23-2019, 10:46 AM

I thought this was a done deal. I guess I'd better keep up better.

TommyBB · 10-23-2019, 11:38 AM

I got this in an e-mail from cA this morning.

Cabaiguan · 11-04-2019, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyBB

cA is reporting, this morning, that Altria is exploring its options with regard to selling Nat Sherman International.

Michael Herklots is a member here under "mherklots" I have met him a few times, he's good at his job, and a super-friendly person, as well.

I cut my teeth in the late 1990s on friend-suggested Nat Sherman cigars, Metropolitan series, so they have a soft-spot in my heart even though I have not tried one in a long time, now. When my older son was really small, we would drive to uptown New Orleans to go to Dos Jefes Cigar Shop which was the only tobacconist in town to carry Nat Sherman. It was a great little shop, they have since moved from that Magazine Street location to Tchoupitoulas Street as Dos Jefes Cigar Bar, with only ONE humidor cabinet, but it's the city's premier cigar venue with live music every night.

Nat Sherman is my second office when I'm in the City. Sam, Cliff and the rest of the sales staff know what I smoke and are always up for a nice chat on politics, sports or whatever the topic of the day is. It's a truly special place for me and I'm sure that they will do well no matter the ownership structure.

Thanks for the report Tommy.

KatDad · 11-04-2019, 10:46 AM

An interesting development.

10-23-2019, 10:46 AM	#3
jefslat CW WarCraft God CW Special Correspondent Editor at Large Predominant CW Ambassador Herf God Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Antonio de Bexar Posts: 38,937	I thought this was a done deal. I guess I'd better keep up better. __________________ El Gringo permanence... El perro, el perro, es mi corazon. El gato, el gato, el gato no es bueno. El Jefe es cantante, El Jefe es muy famoso El Jefe es el hombre con el queso del diablo. El perro, el perro, nunca sin raison El gato, el gato, el gato es obseno El Jefe es caliente, El Jefe es carinoso El Jefe le da besos mejor que su esposo What Would TOJE Do? Þ £

10-23-2019, 11:38 AM	#4
TommyBB Editor-in-Chief Herf God Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 86,709	I got this in an e-mail from cA this morning. __________________ +In Memory of E.Guevara(Cubano67)W.Orlando(Shadow) A.Morris (Knife) D.Odom (dodom) D.Revermann (dgr) S.Bouchard (sb1396) M.Cole (Matt76) S.Faccenda (TOJE) R.Smith(IBMer) V.Vandermeer (van55)M.Davis(boxdoctor)S.Singer(bassman)K.Doetze l (drillrk1)D.Hart(garme1962)J.Coleman(John C 81)T.Gossett(Dartplayer1)J.Bolt (jb)E.J.Ferralles(CaballoPinto)M.Cataldo(FVFanMC)K Payne(SanchoPanza)F.Seltzer(Mowee)+LB+Connor Olson+Micah Kercheval+Maggie Bonefas+Karen

11-04-2019, 10:46 AM	#6
KatDad Herf God Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 30,303	An interesting development. __________________ The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it George Bernard Shaw The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it H. L. Mencken The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants Albert Camus The Land of the Free Because of the Brave

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10-23-2019, 10:21 AM	#2
Briandg CW Squirrel Wrangler Herf God Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: southwest Missouri Posts: 35,518	Nat sherman cigars have always been very good for me. That said, man, they are pricey. The old suave, the 1400 series, both very good. I have smoked dozens of them, several full boxes even, and can't specifically remember a dog. I am smoking metropolitan and epoca currently. Herklots ran the davidoff store, and yes, spent a lot of time here. Seemed like a good man. Leaving davidoff for sherman was probably a really great move for him.