Hirochi Robaina’s H.R. Adding Blue & Claro Lines at IPCPR 2016

The H.R. Habano line that bears the initials of Hirochi Robaina will be getting to new siblings.

At next month’s IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, the company will add H.R. Blue, a maduro line that will use an Ecuadorian habano maduro wrapper.

“We utilized some different primings of the same tobaccos used in the original H.R. blend and covered it with a gorgeous Habano Maduro wrapper from Ecuador,” said Spence Drake, owner of White Hat Distribution, which distributes H.R. in the U.S. “We fermented this leaf for almost two years ‘low and slow’ and ended up with a flawless wrapper.”

It will be offered in four sizes: Corona Gorda (5 1/2 x 46, $7.95), Petit Edmundo (4 1/2 x 52, $8.50), Toro (6 x 50, $8.95) and Gordo (6 x 60, $9.95).

Also joining the portfolio is H.R. Claro, a line the company describes as “Cubanesque.” While it’s not disclosing the blend, it will be offered in four sizes: Rothschild (5 x 48, $8.95), Robusto Gordo (5 1/2 x 46, $10.95), Toro (6 x 52, $10.95) and 109 (7 1/4 x 50, $10.95).

Both lines will be offered in 20-count boxes and begin shipping immediately following the trade show, which begins July 25 in Las Vegas.

The original H.R. line will see some changes as well.

A Corona (5 x 42, $9.95) is being offered to select accounts. In addition, the line is moving from 20- to 16-count boxes.

The lines are produced by Omar González Alemán at his La Corona factory in Estelí.

González recently announced that he had settled a lawsuit with Cubanacan’s former distributor, Cubanacan.

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.