At the 2019 IPCPR Trade Show, a company called ACE Prime made its official debut. While their collaboration M.X.S. with NBA stars Dominique Wilkens and Tiago Splitter got considerable attention, there were several other lines the company launched. One of them was a three blend line known as “A Cuban Experience.”
“A Cuban Experience” is not only the name of the line, but it is what the acronym “ACE” in the company name ACE Prime stands for. The three blends that are a part of the line include El Corazon, La Sombra, and El Elegante.
A Cuban Experience El Corazon is a blend that consists of an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and Nicaraguan fillers from Estelí, Jalapa, and Ometepe. The cigar is available in one size – a 6 x 52 Toro. It is presented in 20-count boxes with pricing set st $11.50 per cigar. El Corazon is positioned as a medium-bodied offering.
A Cuban Experience La Sombra uses Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan Habano binder. The filler is a mix of Nicaraguan tobaccos from Estelí, Jalapa, and Ometepe. The difference is the La Sombra is positioned as a full-bodied offering. La Sombra is also offered in one size – a 6 x 60 Gordo. It is presented in 20-count boxes with pricing set at $14.00 per cigar.
Finally, A Cuban Experience El Elegante is positioned as a connoisseur’s cigar. It’s available in one size – a 7 1/2 x 38 lancero. The blend uses Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and a Nicaraguan Habano binder. The fillers are a mix of Nicaraguan tobaccos from Condega, Jalapa, and Ometepe. The cigars are presented in ten-count boxes. El Elegante is one of ACE Prime’s most premium offerings priced at $18.00 per cigar. It is positioned as a medium to full offering.
All of the cigars are blended at Tabacalera Pichardo. It’s a factory that recently garnered some attention when Crowned Heads’ cigars turned to that factory for its Juarez release. The factory is not a new factory. It is co-owned by Don Eradio Pichardo and tobacconist/sommelier Luciano Meirelles. Until recently, the factory has been producing many cigars for U.S. and international brands silently under an NDA. Now Tabacalera Pichardo has joined forces to create A.C.E. Prime, a distribution company. A.C.E. Prime is owned by Splitter, Luciano Meirelles, Billy McCaffrey and the Cuban Legend Luis “Luisíto” Carbonell. A.C.E. stands for “A Cuban Experience.”
El Corazon was blended by Don Eradio Pichardo, Luciano Meirelles, and Luisito Carbonell. Pichardo and Carbonell blended La Sombra, and El Elegante was a blend done by Pichardo.
At a glance, here is a look at ACE Prime’s A Cuban Experience line:
A Cuban Experience El Corazon
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Nicaraguan (Estelí, Jalapa, Ometepe)
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera Pichardo
Toro: 6 x 52
A Cuban Experience La Sombra
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan (Estelí, Jalapa, Ometepe)
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera Pichardo
Gordo: 6 x 60
A Cuban Experience El Elegante
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan (Condega Jalapa, Ometepe)
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera Pichardo
Lancero: 7 1/2 x 38
