Royal Agio Cigars USA has announced two new offerings in the Balmoral Añejo XO lineup, Añejo XO Connecticut and Añejo XO Oscuro. Both will be on display in the Royal Agio booth at the 2018 IPCPR Trade show in Las Vegas.
The original Balmoral Añejo 18 was released in 2014 and used 18 year-old Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper. In 2015 Royal Agio followed that up with the Balmoral Añejo XO which is said to use only the top 5% of select premium tobaccos available, including the exclusive, signature Brazilian Mata Norte.
Like the original, the Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut and Balmoral Añejo XO Oscuro, will be rolled at the boutique Royal Agio cigar factory in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic.
Boris Wintermans, 4th generation CEO of Royal Agio Cigars commented, “I can honestly say that now is the right time to release these special new Balmoral line-ups. It has taken us several years to find just the right super-premium tobaccos to merit inclusion into these spectacular new Añejo XO blends. For me, it’s always about having the commitment and patience to ensure we find and work with only the best available tobaccos that will ultimately deliver an enjoyable, one-of-a-kind experience for cigar lovers. It is this unwavering, curious approach to blending all Añejo XO cigars that provides us with the opportunity to discover the best there is to be found.”
The Balmoral Añejo XO Connecticut uses a shade-grown wrapper from the Connecticut River Valley and is said to offer “a creamy experience with complex notes of vanilla, toasted caramel and white pepper”. The Balmoral Añejo XO Oscuro uses a San Andres wrapper and is described as offering “a rich experience with complex notes of dark chocolate, espresso and black pepper.” Both blends are described as “finish with a smooth, underlying natural sweetness.”
Both new lines will available in the same vitolas as the current Balmoral Añejo XO offering – Torpedo Mk52 6 ¼ x 52 (MSRP $11.25), Gran Toro 6 x 52 (MSRP $10.50), Rothschild Masivo 5 x 55 (MSRP $9.75), Corona 5 7/8 x 42 (MSRP $9.00) and Petit Robusto FT 4 ¼ x 48 (MSRP $8.50). These will begin shipping to U.S. retailers in September, 2018.