Rockstar Billy Gibbons Ventures Into The Cigar Industry

Billy Gibbons, the lead vocalist of ZZ Top, is venturing into the cigar industry.

During last week’s TPE 2024 trade show in Las Vegas, Billy Gibbons Cigar Company made its debut, with Gibbons personally present. The endeavor encompasses both premium and mass-market cigars, both of which will hit the shelves in February. The collaboration with Phil S. Zanghii III of Debonaire House has played a pivotal role in developing the tobacco products.

Concerning the premium cigar line, the approach is straightforward. The company has taken existing Debonaire cigars and rebranded them as Virtu by Billy Gibbons. The initial launch will feature five distinct cigars:

• Virtu by Billy Gibbons Belicoso Habano (6 x 54)
• Virtu by Billy Gibbons Belicoso Maduro (6 x 54)
• Virtu by Billy Gibbons Robusto Maduro (5 1/4 x 50)
• Virtu by Billy Gibbons Toro Habano (6 x 54)
• Virtu by Billy Gibbons Toro Maduro (6 x 54)

Instead of conventional boxes, the cigars will be introduced in humidors. There are a total of 5,000 numbered humidors—1,000 for each SKU. Each humidor includes five cigars and a numbered Zippo lighter, featuring Gibbons’ signature on the body and a torch flame insert. The suggested retail price (MSRP) for each humidor set is $300.

Debonaire House’s cigars are manufactured at De Los Reyes in the Dominican Republic.

Gibbons expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I always enjoy seeing what a cigar brings to a party, even better when I’ve had my hands in the craftsmanship of my very own brands. Light up, enjoy, and have mercy, my friends.”

On the mass-market front, three Billy Gibbons Twin Turbo packs—Classic, Coko Mojo, and Sweet Spot—are offered, each containing two cigarillos. Each pack is priced at an MSRP of $2.49.

For this venture, Gibbons has collaborated with BandKandy, a creative agency specializing in artists. The company also announced distribution agreements with Core-Mark, Global Tobacco, LLC, McLane, and Zippo.