Altadis USA has announced a pair of new cigars that will be unveiled at the IPCPR Convention and Trade Show, which kicks off this Sunday.
According to a report in Cigar Aficionado, the Montecristo Monte uses an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper over a dual binder of Nicaraguan Corojo and Dominican Olor with filler coming from the Dominican Republic. The company is billing it as a bold smoke, with three sizes composing the initial release: the 6 x 60 Monte, 6 1/8 x 54 Jacopo No. 2, and the 5 1/2 by 48 Conde. Pricing is slated to be between $8.95 and $9.50, with each size coming in 16-count boxes.
Coming back to the market is the Juan Lopez brand, a name familiar to Cuban cigar fans but possibly not as familiar to the general cigar smoking community. The Cuban marca was launched in 1870s by Juan López Díaz and is currently classified as a local cigar with minor market share. The non-Cuban brand had been discontinued by Altadis USA and currently does not appear on Altadis USA’s website.
This new Juan Lopez line is a Nicaraguan puro that is said to pack “full-bodied power” and will also debut in a trio of vitolas: the 5 x 54 Seleccion No. 1, the 6 x 54 No. 2 and the 6 x 60 No. 3. All three sizes are said to be priced under $6 per cigar.
Representatives from Altadis USA did not respond to requests for additional information or comment on these cigars, though they have indicated that they will be issuing press releases later this week.