Sixty by Rocky Patel Bala Arrives at Stores

Last week, Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, Inc. began shipping a small batch of its TAA 2023 exclusive stores.

It’s the Sixty by Rocky Patel Bala, a 5 3/4 x 58/50 perfecto size of a blend that was created in honor of the 60th birthday of the company’s founder. Like the rest of the vitolas in the line, the new sizes uses a Mexican San Andrés wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers. Unlike the regular production sizes, the Sixty by Rocky Patel Bala is round instead of box-pressed.

The MSRP is set at $19 per cigar and it is limited to 1,500 boxes of 20 cigars. Nish Patel, executive vice-president of Rocky Patel, told halfwheel that the company did not ship the full production run out; the rest of the cigars are expected to arrive in September.

These cigars will only be found at retailers that are members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA). There are roughly 80 retailers that are members, though they are not required to purchase the TAA exclusive cigars.

The TAA is a membership group, which also includes approximately 40 manufacturers, that gathers annually to discuss issues facing the industry and retailers, as well as to have its annual trade show, a unique event that works on a group buying format in order to secure exclusive deals for these generally high-volume merchants.

During the event—which took place March 26-30 at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic—the organization holds two selling events, one known as the Dream Machine, where the retailers collectively order to secure larger discounts, while the other is a more traditional trade show. Typically, around a dozen manufacturers release new exclusive cigars for the retail members of the organization under the TAA Exclusive Series Program banner. Those manufacturers agree to give a portion of the proceeds to the organization, a minimum of 50 cents per cigar.

TAA 2023 exclusive cigars from CLE, Espinosa Premium Cigars, Ferio Tego, Forged Cigar Co., General Cigar Co., Gurkha, J.C. Newman, Joya de Nicaragua, Kristoff, Miami Cigar & Co., My Father, Plasencia, Quesada and Rocky Patel have already begun shipping. In addition, Crowned Heads, E.P. Carrillo, La Palina, Quality Importers Trading Co. and Tatuaje have announced their TAA 2023 releases.

The Bala size has become a go-to vitola for Rocky Patel for special releases. For example, the Rocky Patel Vintage 2006 San Andreas was offered in the Bala size as a 2021 TAA exclusive. The company has also used the vitola to be included in limited edition humidors for the A.L.R Second Edition and White Label lines.