Habanos S.A. Plans 33 New SKUs for 2019

While we don’t know what the cigars will be, some details about Habanos S.A.’s plans for 2019 have emerged.

According to a source with direct knowledge of the plans, the Cuban cigar monopoly will designate 33 new cigars as part of its 2019 program.

Seven of those cigars will be from the company’s global brands: Cohiba, H. Upmann, Hoyo de Monterrey, Montecristo, Partagás, Romeo y Julieta and José L. Piedra.

At least one of those cigars is likely to be a Gran Reserva, Habanos S.A.’s flagship program. Each year, the company selects a regular production offering from one of its global brands to be either a Gran Reserva or Reserva. The cigars use vintage tobacco, aged for at least five years, and receive special packaging alongside a higher price tag.

Habanos S.A. alternates between Gran Reserva and Reserva and this year’s release was a Cohiba Reserva, meaning 2019’s should be a Gran Reserva.

An additional seven cigars will come from the company’s other brands. Those will be divided up between a variety of releases including: extensions, Edición Limitadas, LCDH exclusives and potentially new brands.

The Edición Regional program, which sees Habanos S.A. produce exclusive cigars for individual distributors will get 19 total releases as part of the 2019 program, a notable increase from the last few years. It would be the largest number of Edición Regionals since 2011, when there were 25 cigars part of the program. That year was also the last year when individual distributors were allowed to have more than one release.

While the 33 SKUs are part of the 2019 program, Habanos S.A.’s track record would suggest that at least some of those cigars, if not a majority of them, will not ship in 2019. Of late, the only cigars the company has consistently been able to release on schedule has been Edición Limitadas.

Typically, Habanos S.A. hosts meetings with distributors later in the summer. Shortly after that, a more complete list usually leaks. Habanos S.A. officially unveils its cigars at the Festival del Habano, which takes place in February.

An email sent to a Habanos S.A. spokesperson was not returned.