Press Release: Ocean State Cigars Launches New J. Grotto Series Reserve Boutique Premium Cigar Line

September 10, 2011 — Paul Joyal, founder and president of Ocean State Cigars, Inc., describes his new J. Grotto Series Reserve boutique premium cigar line:  “Above all, it’s an intriguing, memorable smoke.  Unlike many one-dimensional cigars, it displays a complexity and depth, with a unique spectrum of flavor and body profiles.

 

“For the first inch,” he continues, “J. Lotto Reserve gives the impression of a mild-to-medium smoke.  But then, the powerful, flavor-loaded nature of the cigar announces itself, augmenting its complexity, thanks to the J. Grotto Reserve’s five-leaf recipe.  In addition to the tobacco’s three-year aging, we rest the finished cigars for three to four more months, to allow their tobaccos to meld and mellow.  It rewards the connoisseur with pure opulence … rich and full-bodied, but refined.”

 

Based on the success of Ocean States’ premiere introduction in 2009, the J. Grotto Series, Joyal developed the Reserve, to satisfy an entirely different palate.  “If you like spice and medium body, the original J. Grotto is for you; the Reserve has power, but no spice.”

 

Reserve owes its performance to a Nicaragua-grown Criollo 99 wrapper and Criollo 98 binder, plus a filler of Honduran-grown ligero and Jalapa leaves.  Four shapes … a Gran Corona (5-5/8″ X 46), a Gran Robusto (5″ X 52), a Gran Toro (6″ x 52), and a new shape, a 6″ x 60.  The last, not a Cuban standard size, is rapidly becoming a most popular shape with veteran smokers … its size carries the power and richness handily.  The Reserve’s suggested retail pricing  settles at $8.50 to $9.50.

 

Reserve’s presentation measures up to its boutique stature.  The cigar’s striking band and lush artwork on the substantial Spanish cedar boxes catch the eye on retailers’ shelves.  All shapes are presented 20 cellophane-sheathed cigars to the box.

 

To date,  Joyal has selected over 120 tobacco shops to represent his cigars  … all done without advertising, until very recently.  Joyal credits this extraordinary growth to “putting Reserves into the mouths of smokers at our many in-store events … the cigar speaks for itself.”

 

To build sales and customer awareness and acceptance for his company and cigars, Joyal is now advertising regularly in Cigar Snob, the Florida-based magazine … he plans to expand his consumer advertising and publicity in months to come.  Several consumer magazines and Web sites have agreed to review and rate both the Reserve and the company’s 2009 introduction, the J. Grotto Series.

 

Joyal’s second factory shipment (32,000 cigars) follows August’s delivery of 4,000 boxes, and is scheduled to appear on retailers’ shelves in late October, to greet holiday shoppers.  He joins ranks with other manufacturers of boutique brands, by selling only to full-service, brick-and-mortar smoke shops.  “Cigar companies are losing their enthusiasm for Internet and mail-order discounters,” he reports.  “We’re relying solely on proactive tobacconists who recognize the unique qualities and appeal of our boutique cigars, and are eager to sell them.”