1502 XO Returns in Churchill Vitola
There will be a new size of the 1502 XO available at next week’s IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, as Enrique Sánchez has confirmed that he will be releasing a Churchill as the line’s second vitola.
As with the debut release in a toro vitola, Sánchez is keeping specifics of the blend under wraps. None of the specific components are being disclosed, but the line gets its XO name from the term for extra old; in this case, some of the tobacco used has been aged for 18 years.
The line is made at Plasencia Cigars S.A. in Nicaragua, and Sánchez says that less than 1,000 boxes of 10 cigars being made, down from the 1,502 boxes he produced last year. “This production is ready to ship to retailers,” he said, adding that the Churchill measures 7 x 48 and will have an MSRP of $20 per cigar. Retailers will also be limited in how many boxes they are able to purchase.
When the 1502 XO was first announced in 2015, the plan was to have new vitolas released every year for the foreseeable future. After the FDA announced its new regulations for premium cigars, there was some question as to whether or not releases such as this would be possible, though a number of manufacturers have taken steps to ensure that they will be able to continue with their plans. Sánchez told halfwheel that he released a small batch of several vitolas last year after displaying them at the 2016 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show:
- 1502 XO Robusto Gordo (5 x 52) – $15.20 (Boxes of 20, $304)
- 1502 XO Lancero (7 x 40) – $16 (Boxes of 10, $160)
- 1502 XO Perfecto (6 1/2 x 52) – $19.50 (Boxes of 4, $78)
- 1502 XO Toro Box Press (6 x 50) – $17.80 (Boxes of 10, $178)
- 1502 XO Torpedo (6 1/2 x 52) – $18.60 (Boxes of 10, $186)
- 1502 XO Churchill (7 x 48) – $20 (Boxes of 10, $200)
- 1502 XO Conquistador (6 x 56) – $20.50 (Boxes of 4, $82)
- 1502 XO Salomon (7 x 58) – $22 (Boxes of 4, $88)
A schedule for the release of the other sizes has not been announced.
The 2017 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show runs from July 11 – 14 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Patrick Lagreid
I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.
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