Another website puffingcigars.com (nothing to do with a forum by a similar name) quoted a email from Gran Habano. By the way this was back in May of 2010.
“In addition to the Azteca cigar Gran Habano is preparing to launch the STK (Black Label) accounts for a limited number of retailers. This program was intended to further support the brick and mortar stores of which you have spent a great deal of time and effort to grow. Our STK (Black Label) program will allow retailers to receive many of our unreleased and very limited production cigars that we have kept in our aging room over the years. A new release will be sent out once every six (6) months with a unique presentation that will be a departure from our standard packaging.
Our first release in the STK (Black Label) line can best be described as a variant to the ever so popular #5 cigar. It will receive a very special wrapper, of which the details will not be revealed, and a tweak to the blend to compliment the major change. This specific cigar was created only for the Rico family (a personal family blend) to enjoy while working on the farm or in the factory. It has never been imported or shared with anyone outside of Gran Habano company. “
Charity, I don't think so. Just a way to market "limited production cigars".
Look its Gran Habano's product, they can market them anyway they want to, it is a free country and they are not breaking the law with that picture/painting. If somebody doesn't like it than it is their right to voice whatever they want and not buy it because of it. This is not the first bad choice of marketing a cigar company has made, anybody remember the big ordeal about the Illusione both at IPCPR a couple years ago?
Me myself, I won't be buying any or smoking any, but it's not just because of the marketing.
