Showcased at this year’s PCA Trade Show – The Royal Game Cigar by GTO Dominican Cigars will be shipping this month, to GTO retailers.
The story behind GTO’s new Royal Game cigar starts not in a humid tobacco field, but in a dusty archive filled with old family ledgers and documents. It was here that Dr. Oscar Rodriguez, the founder of GTO, rediscovered a blending formula left behind by his grandfather, a master tobacco grower and blender.
The aged, first-generation Cuban seed tobacco used in the blend was grown on the family farm in the Valle del Cibao, the Dominican Republic’s premium tobacco heartland and aged for 10 years.
Rodriguez was struck by the elegant complexity of the blend. He was also fascinated by a handwritten note on the final page of his grandfather’s blending book: “For the Royal Game only.” This intriguing phrase became the cigar’s name and its guiding principle, hinting at a blend made for life’s most thoughtful, deliberate, and rewarding moments—much like a game of chess.
Blend and Burn
The Royal Game showcases the artistry of GTO’s masterful torcedores. The cigar features a blend of aged tobaccos, some of which are from the 10-year aging process & maturation used in other GTO lines.
The burn is slow and even, allowing the smoker to fully appreciate the complex flavor profile. The smoke is thick and creamy, filling the air with a rich aroma that blends with hints of toasted nuts and aged oak. The cigar’s profile is well-balanced, a harmony of subtle sweetness, earthy tones, and a gentle peppery spice.
The “Royal Game” is named for a chess match, its flavors reflect a smooth yet deliberate experience. A plausible flavor evolution. The Royal Game is expressed in 2 different blends, each formatted in a (5.25 x 50) Robusto. They come packaged in 12 -count boxes with 6 Connecticut and, 6 Broadleaf blends. MSRP has been set at $9.99/cigar.
