Oliva Plans STUDIO TOBAC Connecticut & Habano for 2013

Oliva’s STUDIO TOBAC brand will be receiving two eponymous lines for 2013, the STUDIO TOBAC Connecticut and Habano/Sun Grown. Previously, Oliva has used STUDIO TOBAC almost exclusively as the overarching brand for its previously existing Cain and NUb lines and fore events.

“We will be releasing a Sun Grown and Connecticut this year,” said Bryan Scholle, the Ambassador for STUDIO TOBAC. “Both cigars were part of the 2012 STUDIO TOBAC World Sampler. I am such a fan of both of these cigars.”

The two new lines—STUDIO TOBAC Connecticut and STUDIO TOBAC Habano/Sun Grown—are based off of the STUDIO TOBAC Prototype Connecticut ST-EFG01 and STUDIO TOBAC Prototype Habano Toro ST-002 respectively. Officials indicated the name of the non-Connecticut line is not finalized, likely to be STUDIO TOBAC Habano or STUDIO TOBAC Sun Grown.

Company officials described both lines as being, “traditional,” an indication the vitolas will not mimic NUb’s signature sizing. Representatives from the company told halfwheel the two lines are scheduled for Q1 of 2013 with three to four vitolas for each line, tentatively priced between $6-9, although that could change.

Previously, Oliva remained mum on the origins of both prototype’s wrapper. Representatives from the company indicated to halfwheel both were expected to be Ecuadorian, while the filler tobaccos for each blend are all Nicaraguan.

Oliva’s decision to use the STUDIO TOBAC name was long expected ever since the brand was introduced two years ago. The only instance of cigars branded as STUDIO TOBAC have come in the form of prototypes, like the ST-EFG01 and ST-002.

The only other instance of a cigar introduced in a World Tour sampler to be released for sale is the Cain F Lancero, which was in the original 2011 Sampler.

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.