Robert Holt, founder of Southern Draw Cigars, announced today that all in-person events will be cancelled for the remainder of 2020. This is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and for the safety of their customers. Holt sent out a press release detailing their decision:

An important message from the Southern Draw Cigars family:

We are deeply saddened to announce that Southern Draw Cigars cancels its participation of in-person events for the remainder of 2020. 

Following increased concerns about the COVID-19 virus, we felt this was the safest way to proceed during such an unprecedented global crisis.  However, we know it is the right decision based on the information we have today.  Our concerns for the health and safety of our family, valued retail partners, distributors, brand representatives and our loyal customers, many of whom we consider friends, is priority number one.  The ever changing “shelter in place”, social distancing and travel restriction orders by the local, state, national and global agencies — have forced our hands as it is not possible to effectively plan travel and event schedules with the rapid changes happening across the country.  

Right now, the most important thing all of us can do is focus our attention on helping each other with the new challenges we all face.  For our family, this includes adopting new methods of delivering quality handmade cigars at a fair price while increasing awareness and providing quantifiable contributions to our select charities. Please know that we remain committed to finding other ways to share Southern Draw Cigars with you through virtual herfs, social media platforms, conference calls and interactions with our favorite cigar community forums.  Southern Draw Cigars will engage the media members (those that have a history of support for our brand) and will share several new product launches and some exciting collaborations that we still plan to release in the second half of 2020.  If you are one of our valued retail partners or distributors and wish to schedule a member of the Southern Draw Cigars family for your upcoming virtual herf or conference call please email robert@southerndrawcigars.com with your requested date and time.

As a family owned business, we must also be fiscally responsible with our limited resources.  Missed sales opportunities, cancelled/postponed events and new product launches, coupled with significant non-refundable travel and promotional costs, have adversely impacted our revenues and cash flow.  We continue our production in Nicaragua, although we have been forced to adjust our quarterly and annual forecasts significantly, please allow us to apologize in advance as some of our SKU’s will be in short supply.  If you have a collaboration or private label project scheduled for 2020, be assured that we plan to deliver each of these in the coming few months.  

Our families members hope and pray for a breakthrough in the treatment and/or vaccination or a highly effective form of prevention of the COVID-19 virus, where it may be deemed safe for us to come together before the end of the year.  We remain open minded and willing to consider a return to business-as-usual which for Southern Draw Cigars, means living on the road and visiting as many of our brothers and sisters as possible.  

Take care of yourselves and each other. Let us know if we can assist you in any way.  We will continue to do everything we can to help our cigar communities stay safe, informed, and connected through their favorite cigars and some great conversations.  Much Love and we thank you all!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Robert & Sharon Holt and the entire Southern Draw Cigars family