Cuba seeks to pitch famous cigars beyond male base With anti-smoking laws and the global recession causing sales to fall, Cuba wants to develop a largely untapped market for its famous cigars — women. Habanos S.A. executives said on Monday sales fell 8 percent to $360 million in 2009, so they have created the Julieta, a smaller, milder version of the Romeo y Julieta cigar, aimed specifically at female smokers. Women now make up only 5 to 1 ... Jump to full article >>

Relatives of executed man seek ruling on trademarks Lawyers believe courts can unlock regime’s assets They are the quintessential ingredients of a sultry Havana night: cocktails blended from premium rum and hand-rolled cigars so fine that Fidel Castro would smoke no other brand. But now a court in Miami may hand two of Cuba’s most prized assets – the trademarks for Havana Club rum and Cohiba cigars – to the family of a man exe ... Jump to full article >>