<PAGE>




                            POWER OF ATTORNEY


                  KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints each of Glenn P. Dickes, Gary R. Ellis and Joram C.
Salig or any of them, each acting alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent, with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, in connection with the CONSOLIDATED CIGAR
CORPORATION (the "Corporation") Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to sign the Form
10-K in the name and on behalf of the Corporation or on behalf of the
undersigned as a director or officer of the Corporation, and any amendments to
the Form 10-K and any instrument, contract, document or other writing, of or
in connection with the Form 10-K or amendments thereto, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith,
including this power of attorney, with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and any applicable securities exchange or securities self-regulatory body,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed
these presents this      day of            1997.



                                                     /s/ RONALD O. PERELMAN
                                                     ----------------------
                                                     RONALD O. PERELMAN



<PAGE>



                             POWER OF ATTORNEY


                  KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints each of Glenn P. Dickes, Gary R. Ellis and Joram C.
Salig or any of them, each acting alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent, with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, in connection with the CONSOLIDATED CIGAR
CORPORATION (the "Corporation") Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to sign the Form
10-K in the name and on behalf of the Corporation or on behalf of the
undersigned as a director or officer of the Corporation, and any amendments to
the Form 10-K and any instrument, contract, document or other writing, of or
in connection with the Form 10-K or amendments thereto, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith,
including this power of attorney, with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and any applicable securities exchange or securities self-regulatory body,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed
these presents this      day of            1997.



                                                     /s/ DONALD G. DRAPKIN
                                                     ---------------------
                                                     DONALD G. DRAPKIN






<PAGE>



                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


                  KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints each of Glenn P. Dickes, Gary R. Ellis and Joram C.
Salig or any of them, each acting alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent, with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, in connection with the CONSOLIDATED CIGAR
CORPORATION (the "Corporation") Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to sign the Form
10-K in the name and on behalf of the Corporation or on behalf of the
undersigned as a director or officer of the Corporation, and any amendments to
the Form 10-K and any instrument, contract, document or other writing, of or
in connection with the Form 10-K or amendments thereto, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith,
including this power of attorney, with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and any applicable securities exchange or securities self-regulatory body,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed
these presents this      day of            1997.



                                                     /s/  HOWARD GITTIS
                                                     ------------------
                                                     HOWARD GITTIS