Paul Joyal, founder and president of Ocean State Cigars, has added a 7-1/2″ x 41 Lancero Limitado shape to his J. Grotto Silk line of boutique premium cigars. It joins the J. Grotto Reserve Lancero Limitado, introduced in 2012. The Lancero is a classic shape that originated in Cuba. It remains a favorite of seasoned connoisseurs, for having surprising power for its slim, elegant profile.
The Lancero joins four other Silk shapes: Gran Robusto (5” x 52), Gordo (6” x 60), Gran Toro (6” x 52), and Churchill (7” x 50). Both the Silk and Reserve Lanceros share the same blends as the other shapes in each line. Silk has an Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut Shade wrapper, surrounding a double binder of Indonesian and Criollo 98 tobaccos, plus filler leaves from Honduras (Trojes region) and Jalapa, Nicaragua. All tobaccos are aged a full three years. “The double-leaf binder,” Joyal reports, “is largely responsible for the Lancero's ability to routinely grow two-inch ashes.
“The Silk Lancero's performance,” Joyal continues, “is fragrant and delicate, but with an unexpected fullness of lush flavor nuances. Combined with the superb burning character of today's strains of Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut-seed tobacco, you have a superlative smoke. Silk is also the perfect name to describe the wrapper's silky smooth feel and appearance. The draw and burn are equally trouble-free, thanks to the accordion-fold bunching. Each filler leaf is folded on itself lengthwise in the buncher's palm, then combined with the other filler leaves and bound. The technique minimizes hard draws and plugs, as well as uneven burn.”
The Silk line's presentation complements the prestigious image of the cigars with cellophane sheaths, substantial 20-count Spanish cedar boxes and the distinctive J. Grotto bands and box art. MSRP for the Silk Lancero Limitado is $7.99. Silk Lanceros are currently available at tobacconists nationwide.
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