Kristoff Galerones DR4 Inside Box Label (Image provided by Kristoff Cigars)

Glen Case’s Kristoff Cigars will undergo a major expansion in its portfolio of cigars.  At the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show, Case will launch the Kristoff Galerones.  The Galerones will add four new blends to the company’s portfolio. The line marks a major change in a lot of ways for Kristoff.  The Galerones will feature a very different look from the existing Kristoff line in terms of its packaging. The Galerones will also be made in a different factory not used by Kristoff before.  Finally, the line will feature some tobaccos not incorporated into previously released Kristoff blends.

In a conversation we had with Case, he told us much of the reason for the changes was that he felt “it was time for something new for Kristoff“.

From a packaging standpoint, the Galerones line will get away from what Case calls the “rustic elegance” look – namely rough cut cedar boxes, loose packing tobacco, and pig-tail caps.  The new Galerones will have what Case called a “sleek, rich look” featuring gloss painted boxes, no loose packing tobacco, and traditional triple capped cigars.  The banding will also have a more sleek look as he will incorporate things such as gold foil.

For the Galerones series, Case will collaborate with Abe Flores and his PDR Cigars factory in Tamboril in the Dominican Republic.  For his current offerings, Case working with the Charles Fairmorn factory which will continue to make those cigars.

While the Galerones line will be launched at the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show, Case says he expects all four lines to start shipping in late August.

Blend Profile

In terms of the blends, there will be four blends released.  While each of the four lines features a different wrapper, Case told us these are also four distinct blends.  He described the blends as starting from “mild to 3/4 full”.  He mentioned the flavors are very different than anything he’s released in the past.

-San Andres (Mexico)
-Brazilian Arapirica
-Brazilian Cubra
-DR4: Ecuadorian Connecticut

The DR4 gets its name from having four distinct Dominican Habano tobaccos in the binder and the filler.  Case described the DR4 as the mildest of the four new blends.

The other three lines incorporate tobacco from Nicaragua.  Case told us he has primarily worked has been Jalapa valley.  This time he is utilizing Esteli in the Nicaraguan binder and filler.  He said these tobaccos all contribute to the unique flavor profile and will add more pepper and spice to the flavor profile.

Vitolas Available

Each of the four lines will be made in four sizes.  Each line will feature a toro, torpedo, and robusto vitola.  The DR4 will have a Churchill size offering while the remaining three blends will have a 6 x 60.