At IPCPR, Ashton unveiled a new line, a new installment of a popular line, a new product and a subtle change to one of its logos. The booth looked largely the same as it has in years past:
The San Cristobal Revelation is the new full line from Ashton. Like the other San Cristobal lines, it is made by Don Pepín Garcia at My Father Cigars S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua, with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper that comes from the same growers that produce VSG wrappers sitting over Nicaraguan binder and filer. Notes of earth, leather and nuts highlight the flavor profile. Five sizes with prices from $6.95 to $9.50 per cigar, with shipping happening in late September or early October and should fill the space opened up with the discontinuation of the San Cristobal del Sol line earlier this year.
Andy Green, Ashton’s National Sales Manager, also corrected my pronunciation of San Cristobal. He says that Pepín pronounces it cris-TOE-bull, as opposed to CRIS-toe-ball, as I was saying it.
San Cristobal’s original line adds a 6 3/4 x 62 vitola called the Coloso, the tenth and largest vitola in the line. $10 per cigar, $210.00 per box, more details here.
The Pepín-made La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Reserva adds the Pomposo vitola, a 6 1/2 x 60 with a $10.50 MSRP. Shipping to begin “very soon.”
The flagship Ashton ESG line adds the 24 Year Salute, though the cigar was on display only. It will hopefully arrive at retail by Christmas, and the price hasn’t been set yet. One note: the 6 5/8 x 47 size is a first for the Fuentes, and required new molds to be created.
In the same case – which seemed just a bit peculiar – is a new trio of Connecticut-wrapped small cigars that Ashton is releasing. Three vitolas – Senoritas, Half Corona and Cigarillos – that will be shipping in the near future. The price is the same as the other small cigar lines that Ashton produces, though its baby blue box features an updated logo that will likely soon be found on the rest of the company’s small cigar lines. It’s already been shown as part of the logo for the forthcoming Ashton Cigar Bar in Philadelphia.
On the humidor side, the Savoy Executive ads a Matte Mahogany finish to the line, which debuted last year as a higher-end and aging-worthy humidor to the Savoy line. MSRP is $300 for the small, $400 for the medium and $500 for the large size.