At this year’s annual IPCPR trade show, held during the week of June 28th in Las Vegas, Royal Agio Cigars will debut the next blend in the company’s long-running Añejo series: Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua.
As indicated in the cigar’s title, Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua distinguishes itself through the use of Nicaraguan tobaccos, including a sun-grown Nicaraguan Habano wrapper leaf. The blend is balanced by exclusive Brazilian Mata Norte tobacco, which Royal Agio says helps to “accentuate flavor notes with an underlying natural sweetness.”
Royal Agio’s Añejo series began in 2014 with the release of the Añejo 18 cigar—a special blend that contained a rare 18-year-old Arapiraca wrapper. In the years following, additional cigars have arrived carrying the “XO” designation, including the Añejo XO (Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper), Añejo XO Connecticut, and Añejo XO Oscuro (Mexican San Andrés wrapper). And while none of the followup releases have matched the high level of age seen on the original Añejo 18, the XO cigars are still said to be extensively aged, incorporating the top 5% of select premium tobaccos available.
Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua is rolled at the company’s own factory in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic, and is set to launch in the same five sizes offered from previous XO blends. Pricing has been set between $8.50 and $11.25 MSRP, with the cigars shipping to retailers in August.
Balmoral Añejo XO Nicaragua Breakdown
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun-Grown Habano
- Binder: N/A
- Filler: N/A (includes Brazilian Mata Norte)
- Factory: Royal Agio (Dominican Republic)
- Production: Regular Production
- Packaging: 20-ct boxes
- Vitolas: 5
- Price: $8.50–$11.25 (MSRP)
- Release: August 2019
- Petit Robusto: 4¼” x 48 (flagtail) | $8.50
- Corona: 5⅞” x 42 | $9.00
- Rothschild Masivo: 5″ x 55 | $9.75
- Gran Toro: 6″ x 52 | $10.50
- Torpedo Mk52: 6¼” x 52 | $11.25
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