LOS ANGELES -- JM Tobacco has entered the long-filler handmade arena with Carnero, its first true premium cigar line.
“Carnero is all about strength,” according to JM Tobacco’s president, Anto Mahroukian. “Carnero is Spanish for the tough, formidable mountain ram, which we feel fits this brawny, full-bodied cigar.”
Carnero is available in four classic Cuban shapes: Lonsdale (6” x 44), Robusto (5” x 50), Churchill (7” x 50) and Belicoso (6” x 52). Twenty cellophane-protected cigars come in a Cuban-style “dress-up” heavy cardboard box, with bold Ram’s Head logo. MSRPs for this all-long-filler, handmade premium cigar line are $5 to $6.
“We sensed the right entry cigar would appeal to smokers who want the perfect complement to a steak dinner, red wine and maybe spirits,” Mahroukian said. “The Corojo-wrapped Carnero is strong without apology. Even though it has an all-Dominican filler, which normally means a soft smoke, the binder is an equally powerful Connecticut broadleaf.”
The second offering, the Connecticut-wrapped Carnero, has a medium-full body. Again, it’s due to the Connecticut Broadleaf binder.
The tobacco in both Carnero cigars is aged two years, with another six months on the finished cigars. Carnero is now in production in the Dominican Republic to meet the aging requirement before their national roll-out at next Spring’s NATO shows. Retailer and consumer incentives are in planning and will be announced at the show.
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