November 19, 2012 (West Warwick, RI) — Ocean State Cigars’ new Lancero Limitado shape (7-1/2″ x 41) is now available for shipment to retailers, following a three-month delay.  Tobacconists can receive shipments of J. Grotto Reserve Lancero Limitados in time for holiday shopping.  The boutique premium cigar was planned to debut and ship to retailers at IPCPR time, but suffered delays at Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas, the Honduran manufacturer.  According to Paul Joyal, Ocean State Cigars’ founder, “The factory is suffocating under success, having been swamped with orders, due to the reputation they’ve earned for quality and performance.  It’s understandable, based on the ratings for their core client, Alec Bradley Cigars, as well as our and other private-label brands .  The good news is that they’re catching up with demand.  Our present cigars are now flowing, with a new J. Grotto cigar set to be announced soon.”

The Lancero Limitado parejo joins the four existing shapes in the J. Grotto Reserve line, and shares the same blend, which has garnered top ratings since their introduction last year.  The filler is Honduran-grown ligero and Nicaraguan-grown Jalapa, while the binder and wrapper are Honduran-grown Criollo 98 and 99, respectively.  The cigars are entubado-bunched, and the heads have a traditional Cuban pigtail.  Joyal reports the new shape promises to be the company’s signature cigar.  “Sampling this initial shipment,” he says, “has shown them to be incredibly rich and complex, more so than any of our other cigars.  Their power underpins their equally full flavor profile, and doesn’t intrude or overwhelm the palate.  For the connoisseur, the predominant flavors are toast, earthiness and chocolate, with an abundance of more subtle notes.”

With a very limited production of only 1,000 cigars, the Lancero Limitado is exclusively for events hosted by J. Grotto retailers.  Only four boxes of ten cigars are available per event.  Their manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $7.95.

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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 MLB.com, 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.