A limited number of the 1502 XO Lancero are about to hit the market, as Global Premium Cigars announced the cigar’s return on Monday morning.

The cigar keeps the same details as it did when it launched in 2016, with an undisclosed blend that is highlighted by some of the tobacco being at least 18 years old, hence the XO abbreviation for “extra old.” It still measures 7 x 40 and comes in 10-count boxes, with single cigars priced at $16. It continues to be produced by Plasencia Cigars S.A. in Nicaragua.

Enrique Sánchez told halfwheel that he has produced “a little more than 200 boxes” for this installment, with the first shipments heading to accounts last week.

The 1502 XO was first announced in 2015, with the plan was to have new vitolas released every year for the foreseeable future. However, 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. Prior to FDA’s deadline for new products to be on the market without needing pre-approval, Sánchez released a small batch of the eight vitolas 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)

In the line’s first year, the Toro Box Press got the widest release with 1,502 boxes produced. Last year, the Churchill vitola got its turn to be center stage, with just under 1,000 boxes produced.

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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 MLB.com, 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.