Puros Indios Introduces Two Whoppers

From Rich Perelman at CigarCyclopedia:

It’s easy to be a fan of Puros Indios cigars.

Not only is this Honduran-made brand a pleasure to smoke, with an even draw and plenty of flavor in its Classic, Maxima Reserva and Viejo lines, but it’s one of the best values on the market today.

It also offers some of the largest cigars available anywhere, including two giant perfectos, the 7 1/4 inch by 60-ring Victoria and the 10 inch by 60-ring Gran Victoria, plus the “Chief” at 18 inches long by 66 ring. It’s the longest cigar currently marketed nationally in the United States.

Now these brutes have more siblings with the introduction of the No. 5 and the No. 10. Both are enormous, torpedo-shaped cigars opening to a ring gauge of 66 (1.1 inches in diameter!) with the No. 5 measuring five inches in length and the No. 10 at 10 inches.

Continuing their emphasis on value, the No. 5 is priced to sell at $5 retail (before local tobacco and sales taxes) and the No. 10 at $10. True bargains indeed.

Carlos Diez, director of marketing for Puros Indios, noted that “The Puros Indios brand was our first cigar and remains unchanged after its introduction in 1995. The two [new] Corona Gordas, with their extra-large ring gauge, deliver the full smoking satisfaction veteran smokers seek.

“To make the cigars more comfortable in the mouth, we have given them a belicoso head that tapers to a point.”

And this detail of the torpedo-style head is where 80-year-old Rolando Reyes, Sr., head of Puros Indios, again demonstrates his superior understanding of what makes cigars accessible. Other makers offer fat cigars with standard-shaped heads in ring gauges of 60 and 70 or more, all but impossible to cut with anything smaller than a Bowie Knife. True, Reyes offers the 18-by-66 Chief, but it’s a novelty item and not a serious seller.

But his Victoria and Gran Victoria perfecto shapes and the new No. 5 and No. 10 offer smokers the ability to cut the head to the thickness of their liking due to the pointed end and make these shapes actual contenders at retail for smokers with mouths smaller (literally and figuratively) than Shaquille O’Neal.

All credit to Reyes and his team, for not only making great cigars at great prices, but also remembering the ergonomics of those who will smoke them.

Posted on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2004 at 7:31 pm.