PCA 2023: Quality Importers Trading Co.
When it comes to the list of companies I cover, there are a couple who fall into the category of both exciting and scaring me, one of which is Quality Importers Trading Co. The company’s new accessories are almost always intriguing, yet there are years when there are also so many new products that it’s a true challenge to keep up with everything.
This year felt like one of the quieter ones in the Quality Importers booth, as the company didn’t release a ton of new products, instead seeming to focus on expanding the Palió range into some higher-dollar options, while adding some new options for its Humidor Supreme line, with arguably its most well-known brand—XIKAR—only adding one new product at the show, though the Perfect Xi1 was getting some chatter despite being a single-store exclusive for the immediate future.
As for the booth, it was largely the same as in recent years, though the overhead banners weren’t there, but with its location near the center of the floor and nearby plenty of other high-traffic booths, attendees seemed to have no problem finding it.
The Aria offers a modern approach to humidors with its black, angular design. It measures 13.6 x 10.25 x 7.3 inches, which gives it a capacity of 40-80 cigars, the company says. It comes with two lid options, either a full wood top or a glass viewing window, both with a hygrometer and Humidor Supreme’s leaf-pattern engraved humidity panel.
- Humidor Supreme Aria — $299.99
Production: Regular Production
Release Date: July 2023
Humidor Supreme Balthazar 2
You may remember seeing the original Balthazar at the 2021 PCA Convention & Trade Show, but it never came out, and the company decided to rework the design and the internals, moving to a window on the door instead of on top of the unit, while keeping the slide-out drawer for accessories.
- Humidor Supreme Balthazar 2 — $750
Shipping Date: October 2023 (Tentative)
Humidor Supreme Cabinet Humidors
If you need more space than a desktop humidor can offer, Humidor Supreme has two new models it unveiled, the single cabinet HS2500 and the double-doored HS4500. Both offer an electronic humidifier and can hold hundreds if not thousands of cigars depending on the model and the size of the cigars you’re putting inside.
- Humidor Supreme HS2500 — $1800
- Humidor Supreme HS4500 — $4000
Shipping Date: October 2023
This is an exclusive release for members of the QI Qualified Program. The company calls it “a modern block design with a European flair,” and it is presented in a rosewood finish. It measures 12.5 x 8.75 x 5.9 inches, can hold 56-100 cigars, and comes with a hygrometer and Humidor Supreme’s leaf-pattern engraved humidity panel. It was on display in the booth, but apparently tested my focusing skills more than I would have imagined, so here’s an image of it from the company.
- Humidor Supreme Dane — $149.99
Production: Regular Production
Release Date: July 2023
The company says that the Madison humidor is perfect for Madison Ave. or Madison, Wisc., offering a “stylish contemporary” design available in a rosewood finish and featuring a felt-lined accessory drawer underneath the primary cigar storage area. Measuring 13.3 x 10.25 x 7.3 inches, the Madison holds between 60-115 cigars, comes with a hygrometer and Humidor Supreme’s leaf-pattern engraved humidity panel/
- Humidor Supreme Madison — $274.99
Production: Regular Production
Release Date: October 2023
The Oro is the first Humidor Supreme humidor to offer a USB-powered fingerprint lock, which you can see in action here. According to a press release, it also features an inlaid gold leaf pattern, measures 14 x 10 x 6.5 inches, and has a capacity between 126 and 240 cigars. The humidity panel also features the Humidor Supreme leaf-pattern engraved design. The Oro is available with either a black or ebony finish.
- Humidor Supreme Oro — $349.99
Production: Regular Production
Release Date: October 2023
The Pistola’s jets are angled 30 degrees from vertical, as well a push-button ignition, a large, translucent fuel tank that has been molded to enhance comfort, and a large flame adjustment knob on the base of the lighter to dial in the ideal amount of flame. It is available in four colors: smoke, clear, red and blue. It can also be personalized via the Quality Importers SWAG Bunker program.
- Palió Pistola — $14.99
Production: Regular Production
Release Date: September 2023
While the Palió brand has been known for offering more value-forward lighters and cutters, it is now venturing into some higher-end offerings, starting off with a trio of metal body lighters that get a more modern style. The Antares is a double-jet torch lighter with an easy-to-use side-squeeze ignition and a large fuel tank. It is being offered in five colors: black, gunmetal, blue, red, and silver.
- Palió PRO Antares — $44.99
Production: Regular Production
Release Date: October 2023
This inline triple flame torch lighter has a textured pull-down ignition and large fuel tank. It’s offered in five colors: black, red, blue, silver, and a black and rose gold combination.
- Palió PRO Polaris — $49.99
Production: Regular Production
Release Date: October 2023
This single flame lighter offers a jet that is angled out from the body as well as a 7.5mm fold-out punch cutter and a 33mm (1.3 inch) cigar enhancement poker.
- Palió PRO Scorpius — $29.99
Production: Regular Production
Release Date: October 2023
The Ion is a new dual-flame torch, with the flames angled in towards each other to create a precise point. Beyond the texture push-button ignition, the lighter is notable for having a fuel tank large enough to light 80 cigars between refills. It is available in five colors: red, blue, silver, black, and a black and rose gold combination.
- XIKAR Ion – $69.99
Production: Regular Production
Release Date: October 2023
XIKAR Xclusive by Jacob & Co.
The collection created by XIKAR and the jeweler Jacob & Co. is adding some new models. The original Xi Dueling Dragons Chasing Flaming Pearl, which was announced in December 2020 and featured at the back of the display, was priced at $149,500. These new options are a bit more affordable. Each is described as a one-of-one piece, with three designs in the booth: a red and yellow combination, then a blue and a black option.
- XIKAR Xclusive by Jacob & Co.— $8,000
Production: Limited Production
Release Date: July 2023
Patrick Lagreid
I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.
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