New Regional Edition Cubans For Asia Pacific Market
The global Cuban cigar market known as the Asia Pacific region has received two new Regional Edition cigars made exclusively for that part of the world. Available in retail stores now, the Sancho Panza El Rey is a long, thin lancero-sized cigar while the much thicker Diplomaticos PCC 30th celebrates 30 years of Pacific Cigar Co., the region’s official Habanos distributor.
Some cigar fans got an early taste in December when these smokes were unveiled at a preview party in Hong Kong at the Kerry Hotel.
The Diplomaticos PCC 30th measures 5 1/2 inches by 56 ring gauge, which is referred to as Aromosos in Cuban cigar factories, and is the same size as the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de Río Seco. It comes in 30-count cabinets and retails for HK$660 per cigar (about $84). A secondary band indicates not only its status as a Regional Edition cigar, but also acknowledges the 30th anniversary of distributor Pacific Cigar Co., which turned 30 last year. Only 3,000 boxes are being released.
Though technically a 2021 release, the Sancho Panza El Rey comes to market a bit late. At 7 1/2 by 38, the pigtailed cigar is the same size as the Cohiba Lancero (called Laguito No. 1 in Cuban factories) and comes in cabinets of 50. It retails for HK$388 apiece (about $50). Only 2,000 boxes will be produced.
The Pacific Cigar Co. distributes Cuban cigars to most of Southeast Asia, including Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong. Habanos S.A. cited the Asia Pacific region as its second-largest market (after Europe), making up 19.3 percent of its sales by volume.
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