MACANUDO CONTEST OFFERS A CHANCE TO WIN $2,000,000!

For Immediate Release
June 7, 2010
Contact: Victoria McKee Jaworski
General Cigar Co. Inc.
732 721 0317 or 732 580 5215
vmckee@gcigar.com

MACANUDO CONTEST OFFERS A CHANCE TO WIN $2,000,000

Richmond, VA—What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, unless you win the $2,000,000 prize in the second annual www.macanudomillionaire.com/mm2010" Macanudo® Millionaire contest.

Macanudo®, America’s number-one-selling premium cigar brand is once again teaming up with (www.playboy.com/world-of-playboy/in-the-magazine/usa) Playboy to award two lucky consumers and their guests with the grand prize in the Macanudo Millionaire promotion, an all-expense paid, three-day, two night trip to the (www.palms.com)Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. While in Sin City, they will be treated to a VIP evening at the (www.palms.com/playboy)Playboy Club , where they will be accompanied by three Playboy Playmates who will stand in for Lady Luck when the contestants and their guests are dealt a hand of poker. If either the contestants or their guests receive a straight flush, they will win the $2,000,000 prize.

Alison Waite, Playboy’s Miss May 2006, is featured in the contest’s website www.macanudomillionaire.com enticing Macanudo smokers with the lure of Las Vegas and the chance to win a cool two million dollars. Flanked by two fellow Playboy Playmates in her call to entry , Alison encourages consumers of legal smoking age to visit their favorite U.S. tobacco shop between June 7 and August 31, 2010 to purchase a specially-marked four-pack containing Macanudo Café, Maduro, Robust and Gold Label cigars. On the pack, consumers will find details about how they can enter the contest via brief essays expressing their desire to win the trip to the strip and the chance at the $2,000,000 prize.

Consumers can also enter the promotion by visiting macanudomillionaire.com or by purchasing cigars through participating online cigar retailers. No purchase necessary. For official rules, visit http://bit.ly/bzbN3Z .

Debo Mukherjee, vice president of marketing for General Cigar, parent company of Macanudo comments, “The Macanudo Millionaire contest generated tremendous buzz and excitement last year. It was only fitting that we decided to run it again, this time ‘upping the ante’ to $2,000,000. A weekend in Las Vegas, complete with a VIP evening at the Playboy Club epitomizes the brand’s connection to socializing with friends. The $2,000,000 prize speaks for itself.”

The winners of the Macanudo Millionaire contest will be selected on or before September 14, 2010 and will be dealt a hand of cards for the chance to win the $2,000,000 at the Palms Hotel and Casino on November 13, 2010. Additional details about the Macanudo Millionaire weekend in Vegas will be posted on the HYPERLINK "http://www.macanudomillionaire.com/mm2010" official contest website .

Updates about Macanudo Millionaire will be posted to the contest’s dedicated Facebook (http://bit.ly/cn8Wfs) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/macanudocigars) accounts.

About Macanudo Cigars
Since their introduction in 1968, Macanudo cigars have been a favorite among premium cigar connoisseurs. The brand continues to be the best selling premium cigar brand in the U.S. and also sells in more than 90 countries worldwide. In addition to the base brand of Macanudo cigars, the brand also features these collections: Macanudo Maduro, Macanudo Robust, Macanudo Gold Label, Macanudo Vintage and Macanudo 1968.

Macanudo cigars are produced by General Cigar Co. Inc., which manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar also produces Macanudo, Cohiba®, Partagas® Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur®, La Gloria Cubana® and several other leading premium brands. In addition, the company grows its own premium Connecticut Shade wrapper tobacco, as well as natural and candela wrapper in the Dominican Republic. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com .