L''Atelier Debuts Limited Côte d''Or Cigar

Source from:  Cigar Aficionado 03/19/2015

Most Americans don't get too excited for April 15, better known as Tax Day, the deadline to file one's income taxes without penalty. But cigar smokers have reason to rejoice this April 15, for it's the day that Côte d'Or, the new limited-edition cigar from L'Atelier Imports, officially goes on sale.

Côte d'Or features a small amount of Pelo de Oro tobacco that has been grown in Nicaragua by the Garcia family of My Father Cigars. Pelo de Oro is notoriously difficult to grow, as it's prone to disease and produces low yields, which makes it quite an investment for a tobacco grower. However, it's a tobacco varietal renown by cigarmakers for its combination of strength and sweet flavor.

Côte is wrapped by the same Ecuadoran Sancti Spiritus leaf seen on the L'Atelier Selection Spéciale series of cigars, while the all-Nicaraguan double binder and filler blend has been tweaked to incorporate the Pelo do Oro.

The cigar, which measures 7 inches long by 47 ring gauge, retails for $16 and sports an all-white band with the embossed gold-foil L'Atelier leaf logo. Côte is packaged in glossy white boxes of 10, of which only 2,100 have been produced.

Pete Johnson, owner of L'Atelier Imports, opted for the name Côte d'Or, French for "gold coast," as a way to honor the escarpment in France where Pinot Noir grapes (a fickle varietal itself) are grown for some of the world's most coveted Burgundy wines.

A few lucky fans were able to get their hands on the new Cóte d'Or at a launch event held last Saturday at the Federal Cigar cigar shop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. However, that stock has sold out.

Like all L'Atelier cigars, Côte d'Or is rolled by the Garcia family at their My Father Cigars factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Enditem