Montecristo Nicaragua Series Coming to IPCPR

Altadis U.S.A. is the latest to up the ante in the battle of A.J. Fernández-produced blends, as the company has teamed with Abdel Fernández for a new line called the Montecristo Nicaragua Series, which will be added to the brand’s core portfolio.

It’s a Nicaraguan puro that is being offered in four sizes, each bearing the traditional Montecristo primary band as well as a secondary band that reads Nicaragua Series:

• Montecristo Nicaragua Robusto (5 x 54) — $11.75 (Boxes of 20, $235)
• Montecristo Nicaragua Toro (6 x 54) — $12.25 (Boxes of 20, $245)
• Montecristo Nicaragua No. 2 (6 1/8 x 52) — $12.70 (Boxes of 20, $254)
• Montecristo Nicaragua Churchill (7 x 56) — $13.70 (Boxes of 20, $274)

The cigars are made at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A. in Estelí and are scheduled to begin shipping to retailers on Aug. 1, according to a report by Cigar Aficionado.

It’s the latest in a growing stable of cigars from the two entities, including the Monte by Montecristo AJ Fernandez, which uses an Ecuadorian habano wrapper, a corojo 98 binder and criollo 98 and Dominican piloto cubano fillers. Fernandez has also worked on blends for Altadis U.S.A.’s H. Upmann, Gispert and Romeo y Julieta lines, some of which bear his name and others, like the Romeo San Andrés by Romeo y Julieta, where he collaborated with Rafael Nodal, head of product capability for Tabacalera USA, the parent company of Altadis U.S.A.

Altadis isn’t the only company employing Abdel Fernández’s help this year; General Cigar Co. recently announced that it tapped Fernandez to create the Hoyo La Amistad Black, as well as a new line for the Punch brand, Diablo.

A representative from Altadis U.S.A. indicated that a formal announcement was forthcoming and confirmed the accuracy of the report.