San Cristobal Quintessence Now in Stores Nationwide
A new, regular-production San Cristobal blend from Ashton Distributors is now on store shelves across the nation. Dubbed San Cristobal Quintessence, the cigar wears an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper and is made with Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos from the Garcia family farms of My Father Cigars fame.
"San Cristobal Quintessence is a fantastic cigar blended and manufactured by Pepin and Jaime Garcia [of My father Cigars] in Estelí, Nicaragua," Ashton vice president Sathya Levin told Cigar Aficionado. "It features a fifth priming Ecuador Habano wrapper and a rich blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos grown on the Garcia family's farms."
The cigar is available in four sizes: Robusto, at 5 1/2 inches by 50 ring gauge ($8.50); Epicure, 6 by 52 ($8.75); Majestic, 6 by 60 ($9.50); and Belicoso, 6 1/2 by 54 ($8.95). Quintessence ships in 24-count boxes.
"Strength-wise, Quintessence is medium- to full-bodied," Levin said. "In relation to the rest of the San Cristobal portfolio, it hits the sweet spot between the medium-bodied San Cristobal Revelation and the full-bodied San Cristobal classic."
The new brand debuted at the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers trade show in Las Vegas earlier this year and shipped to select accounts immediately following the show. A more formal, widespread release followed, and the cigars are now available at retailers across the U.S.
"Shipping commenced on a limited basis to select retailers right after the IPCPR trade show," Levin said. "Now we are shipping the brand on a larger scale nationwide, which began in the second week of October."
Like all San Cristobal brands, Quintessence is rolled at the My Father Cigars S.A. factory in Nicaragua.
This article first appeared in the December 5, 2016 issue of Cigar Insider.
