New Rafael Gonzalez & Quai D’Orsay finally hit the shops in Canada

After being available in various markets, including France, for quite some time, Canadian tobacconists finally got the latest two releases by Rafael Gonzalez and Quai D’Orsay.

The Quai D’Orsay No. 52, which as we remember had a glorious launch in Paris in 2022 was finally launched in Canada in mid-June.  The specialist tobacconists received it first while the other shops had it a few weeks later.

According to most shops, the $55 CAD cigar does not stay on the shelves for very long.  Priced relatively low, Canadians are loving the size, quality and value.  As a comparison, a Partagas Serie D No. 4 retails for $60 CAD, while a Hoyo de Monterrey San Juan demands a heavy $70 CAD.

As for Rafael Gonzalez, cigar shops only saw the newly released Coronas de Lonsdale during the second week of July.

Like the No. 52, the Coronas de Lonsdale is enjoying good sales as it remains priced somewhat affordable within the Habanos portfolio.  At $38 CAD, it presents a good value and does not have much in the way of competition at that price point.

Both cigars come in plain packaging boxes of 10, and not the usual 25 box counts.

Also due to the plain packaging laws, the cigar bands on the Quai D’Orsay reads “Number Fifty Two”.  Believe it or not, the term “No. 52” would not be allowed as a text.  As with all the Habanos cigars in Canada, the original band remains underneath the plain packaging band.

Antonio Marsillo, our correspondent in Canada