Over a year ago, Patrick Vivalo, who handles in-house sales for Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, saw his name on a cigar for the first time in the form of a 6 x 44 Nicaraguan puro known as the Vivalo Serie Exclusivo. Now, the line is expanding to five vitolas as it heads out of Maryland and onto a national stage.
The Vivalo Exclusivo Serie Lonsdale ($7.50) will be joined by a Belicoso (5 1/2 x 52, $8.40), Robusto (4 7/8 x 50, $7.90), Gordo (6 x 60, $9) Robusto Grande (5 1/2 x 54, $8.75), all of which will be sold in boxes of 20. The new sizes will debut at an event on Sept. 13, 2014 at the Tinder Box of Waldorf, Md. That Tinder Box is important as it was one of two Maryland retailers that launched the Lonsdale after a trip to Honduras where the retailers were able to smoke the cigar, a blend Vivalo himself smoked privately in Honduras.
As for the brand’s retail footprint, Vivalo told halfwheel the brand will head to select stores national before the end of the year. While the Vivalo mark is owned by Patrick Vivalo, he is still employed by Rocky Patel.