Few companies seemed intent on a makeover quite like Royal Agio. While the company had its own booth last year, this was the first year at the IPCPR Convention & Trade Show with Agio distributing its own cigars. In addition, the company was one of the most aggressive with five new lines.

I really like the artwork for the company’s new San Pedro de Macorís lines, particularly the bright color palette. Some of those ads made their way onto the sides of the booth, which was a welcome sight.

Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut

The company’s best-known line in America gets two new line extensions, one Connecticut and one Oscuro.

  • Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut)
  • Binder: Ecuador (Sumatra)
  • Filler: Brazil, Dominican Republic & U.S.A. (Pennsylvania)

 

  • Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut Torpedo Mk52 (6 1/4 x 52) — $11.25
  • Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut Gran Toro (6 x 52) — $10.50
  • Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut Rothschild Masivo (5 x 55) — $9.75
  • Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut Corona (5 7/8 x 42) — $9
  • Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut Petit Robusto FT (4 1/4 x 48) — $8.50

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: September 2018

Balmoral Añejo XO Oscuro

Pricing for both lines is a bit less than I would have thought.

  • Wrapper: Mexico (San Andrés)
  • Binder: Dominican Republic (Olor)
  • Filler: Brazil, Dominican Republic & Nicaragua

 

  • Balmoral Añejo XO Oscuro Torpedo Mk52 (6 1/4 x 52) — $11.25
  • Balmoral Añejo XO Oscuro Gran Toro (6 x 52) — $10.50
  • Balmoral Añejo XO Oscuro Rothschild Masivo (5 x 55) — $9.75
  • Balmoral Añejo XO Oscuro Corona (5 7/8 x 42) — $9
  • Balmoral Añejo XO Oscuro Petit Robusto FT (4 1/4 x 48) — $8.50

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: September 2018

Balmoral Serie Signaturas Dueto

This is the first in a series of collaborations. This time the cigar comes from Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr.’s Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. factory. I really like the packaging here and have already nominated it for our 2018 packaging awards.

  • Wrapper: Nicaragua (Jalapa)
  • Binder: Nicaragua (Estelí)
  • Filler: Brazil & Nicaragua

 

  • Balmoral Serie Signaturas Dueto Robusto (5 x 50) — $9.75 (Boxes of 10, $97.50)
  • Balmoral Serie Signaturas Dueto Ovación (5 1/2 x 50) — $10.25 (Boxes of 10, $102.50)
  • Balmoral Serie Signaturas Dueto Gran Toro (6 x 50) — $10.50 (Boxes of 10, $105)
  • Balmoral Serie Signaturas Dueto Gordo (6 x 60) — $12.50 (Boxes of 10, $125)
  • Balmoral Serie Signaturas Dueto Churchill (7 x 49) — $11.50 (Boxes of 10, $115)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: September 2018

San Pedro de Macorís Brazil

The first of two value-priced lines. The packaging looks better in person and reminds me of a soccer tournament.

  • Wrapper: Brazil (Araparica)
  • Binder: Dominican Republic (Olor)
  • Filler: Brazil (Mata Fina) & Dominican Republic (Olor & Piloto Ligero)
  • San Pedro de Macorís Brazil Perla (4 1/8 x 40) — $4.75 (Boxes of 20, $90)
  • San Pedro de Macorís Brazil Corona (5 7/8 x 42) — $5 (Boxes of 20, $100)
  • San Pedro de Macorís Brazil Robusto (5 1/8 x 52) — $5.50 (Boxes of 20, $110)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018

San Pedro de Macorís Ecuador

And here’s the Connecticut version of the line, once again priced aggressively.

  • Wrapper: Ecuador (Connecticut)
  • Binder: Dominican Republic (Olor)
  • Filler: Brazil (Mata Fina) & Dominican Republic (Olor & Piloto Ligero)
  • San Pedro de Macorís Ecuador Perla (4 1/8 x 40) — $4.75 (Boxes of 20, $90)
  • San Pedro de Macorís Ecuador Corona (5 7/8 x 42) — $5 (Boxes of 20, $100)
  • San Pedro de Macorís Ecuador Robusto (5 1/8 x 52) — $5.50 (Boxes of 20, $110)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018

Update (Aug. 10, 2018) — The original version of this story incorrectly listed the binder and fillers for the Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut.

Davidoff is the official sponsor of halfwheel's coverage of the 2018 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.
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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.