Partagás Edición Limitada 2012 Trickles into Global Market
Four days ago, Habanos S.A., the international distributor for all Cuban cigars, announced that the Partagás Edición Limitada Serie C No. 3 would be “arriving soon to markets all over the world.” While the cigar has certainly made it to some of the larger distributors, smaller markets still await the new release.
The Pacific Cigar Co., which distributes Cuban cigars throughout the Asia Pacific region, has received the new Partagás and hosted a launch party last week in Hong Kong where the Serie C No. 3 retails for HK$232.65—approximately $30.
Hunters & Frankau, the Habanos distributor for the U.K. region, has still not received the cigars, but is expecting them soon. Canada also awaits shipment as the Havana House distribution hub has yet to receive any significant stock.
Cyprus-based distributor Phoenicia Trading, however, has already begun supplying shops throughout its region as their warehouses have received inventory. Phoenicia’s expansive territory covers more than 40 countries including the Middle East, parts of Europe and most of continental Africa.
The Partagas Serie C No. 3 comes packaged in wooden boxes of 10 with each cigar wrapped in dark, upper priming leaves culled from shade-grown Cuban black tobacco plants. It measures 5 1/2 inches by 48 ring and is the seventh Partagás size to be part of Cuba’s Edición Limitada campaign, which began in 2000.
The letter series of Partagás cigars first started in the 1930s exclusively for the British market, and included Series A through D with four sizes assigned to each letter—16 cigars total. The Serie C No. 3 was discontinued in the 1960s, along with the rest of the series, but has been brought back for this special release.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Source: Cigar Aficionado