262 Adding Lancero to Allegiance Line

Clint Aaron has made no secret of his love of lanceros, and he’s bringing that love of the long and slender vitola to the 262 Allegiance line, telling halfwheel that there will soon be a 7 x 38 vitola added to the line.

“I think the lancero can intimidate people since it’s not a popular size,” Aaron said. “Most of the time it only takes somebody smoking one or two before they realize how flavorful that size truly is.”

The 262 Allegiance line uses a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Honduras and Nicaragua. Aaron said that he found the lancero vitola helped bring forward the cocoa and nuttiness that the blend offers.

The line was announced in March 2014 and began shipping the following month in two initial sizes, a 6 x 54 box-pressed toro ($8.50) and a 5 x 50 round robusto ($7.50). In July 2014, Aaron added a third size, a 5 1/2 x 44 corona ($7) and made all three regular production, with Craig Cunningham’s Tabacalera Carreras factory making the cigars in Estelí, Nicaragua. He also changed the box count from ten to 20 for all three sizes.

When Allegiance was announced, it was called 262’s official “line in the sand” campaign, meant to take on a stronger tone against the attacks on the cigar industry at all levels.

Aaron said that many of the details about the cigar are still being finalized, as the order was just put in yesterday with the factory. He did note that it will be available to all 262 retailers and will come in 20-count boxes like the other vitolas.