Partagás Aliados, Romeo y Julieta Cupidos as LCDH/Habanos Specialist Exclusive

Habanos S.A. has announced two new cigars that will carry a special secondary band marking them as exclusive releases for both Habanos Specialist and La Casa del Habano (LCDH) stores.

The Partagás Aliados measures 6 7/12 (167mm) x 45, a vitola known as Delirios. Like many of the other new Cuban cigars announced this week, it is a new vitola for the Cuban cigar world. The Aliados will be offered in 20-count boxes, which Habanos S.A. describes as “special cabinets.”

The second of these cigars will be the Romeo y Julieta Cupidos, which measures 5 5/6 (148mm) x 55, a vitola known as Veronas. It too is a new size for Habanos S.A., though a new figurado shape. It too will be offered in 20-count boxes.

Pricing, release date or production status—whether it will be limited or ongoing—have not been announced. Typically, these cigars are considered regulation production, though limited in terms of where they are sold.

As of this month, there are 157 La Casa del Habano franchises worldwide. The stores are independently-owned but licensed franchises from Habanos S.A. In order to gain an LCDH license, stores must meet certain qualifications including requirements for the type of humidor and lounge features a store has. LCDHs have access to specific LCDH-exclusive products like this and oftentimes get priority for the first shipments of new cigars.

Habanos Specialists is another designation given by Habanos S.A., one not as stringent as the LCDH franchise. These stores—there are 1,264 locations as of this month—are expected to promote the culture and prestige, but they are not required to carry as many Cuban cigars, nor are they required to meet other stipulations like aging rooms and lounges.

Brooks Whittington contributed to this story.

This story is part of halfwheel’s coverage of the Festival del Habano XXIII, the 2023 edition of Cuba’s annual cigar festival. For more coverage of the festival, click here.