GTO Cigars Introduces The Royal Game
GTO Cigars is unveiling a new dual-wrapped release, The Royal Game, this month. The blend draws inspiration from a handwritten “blending formula” discovered by Dr. Oscar Rodriguez, founder of GTO, in his grandfather’s old ledgers.
Rediscovering a Family Formula
While going through family archives, Rodriguez found notes detailing the use of aged, first-generation Cuban seedscultivated on GTO’s farms in the Cibao Valley, Dominican Republic. At the end of the book, a handwritten message read: “for the Royal Game only.”
Moved by this discovery, Rodriguez recreated the blend using the same family-grown tobaccos, some aged for up to 10 years. The result is a cigar that bridges generations of craftsmanship and tradition.
Two Wrappers, One Legacy
The Royal Game will debut in a single size: a 5¼ x 50 robusto extra. Both cigars share the same internal blend of Cibao-grown corojo tobaccos, but differ in wrapper:
Connecticut Shade-Grown Wrapper – smooth, creamy, and refined.
Connecticut Broadleaf Wrapper – rich, earthy, and bold.
Each box of 12 cigars includes six of each wrapper type, offering enthusiasts two distinct experiences from one cohesive blend. Both versions retail for $9.99 per cigar.
A Blend Inspired by Strategy and Reflection
The name “Royal Game” comes from the timeless game of chess, symbolising patience, intelligence, and precision—qualities mirrored in cigar craftsmanship.
As the company states:
“This intriguing phrase became the cigar’s name and its guiding principle, hinting at a blend made for life’s most thoughtful, deliberate, and rewarding moments—much like a game of chess.”
The Royal Game stands as both a tribute to family heritage and a nod to the contemplative art of enjoying a fine cigar.
