Questions For People who work in HSA and Factories

[El Presidente]

Given I will be in Havana in a few weeks I will be catching up with plenty of people I know within HSA, and the factories (Managers/Rollers)

Post on this thread any questions you would like me to ask or find answers to on your behalf.

keep in mind some issues are commercially or politically sensitive and won't be answered (and maybe not asked) so be tactful the way you frame a question.

I will post answers to each upon my return.

[Colt45]

No questions I can think of, but if you feel it appropriate, please give them my best regards and warm wishes, and let them know I appreciate the

work that they do. And while I might have lost some faith in Habanos as a corporite entity, I've not lost faith in those who do the work - their ability

to produce what to me are the finest tasting cigars in the world.

[jquest63]

1. Any plans to increase QC of thinner guage cigars, with an eye to reducing plugged and underfilled cigars?

Thanks for asking and offering to present questions!

[BigGuns]

please give them my best regards and warm wishes, and let them know I appreciate the

work that they do. And while I might have lost some faith in Habanos as a corporite entity, I've not lost faith in those who do the work - their ability

to produce what to me are the finest tasting cigars in the world.

Ditto - I'd like to have my regards extended, as well.

I would like to know their take on the proposed deletions for 2010. Are they somewhat relieved, as most things I hear mention that the thinner, longer cigars are more difficult to roll? Do they enjoy the challenge/pride in rolling such treasured, complex cigars and are disappointed in the decision? Do they care what is deleted/added?

Also, I am curious to know if they are seeing any of the tobacco from late '08 and how it compares quality-wise. There was a lot of speculation at the time that the severe hurricanes that year damaged the crops severely. Any truth to it? (forgive me if this was resolved/put to rest - I do not recall and have not researched it).

That said, please tell them to keep up the good work!

[Jimmy2]

Will they make much needed new cigar sizes for regular production ?

Like a Partagas CG,Ramon Allones CG or Belicosos also a Montecristo Robusto as i think these size's will sell like hot cakes and their was some great feed back when these were around for a short time.

[BobLobLaw]

I have a question that I posted on another forum and did not get much of an answer. Its hard to phrase so bear with me.

Many people have said that 2008 has been a fantastic year for regular production cigars. My question is what is causing this?

For example can all the tobacco from the 2008 cigars be linked to a particular crop or harvest. Arbitrarily speaking say the early 2006 crop was fantastic and that is what is being used for the 08 cigars. Or is the tobacco from a hodgepodge of harvests and years and just the overall raw materials are of high quality and blending/marrying exceptionally well in the 08 batch? Or is it just stellar construction or maybe fantastic wrapper leaf?

Does this make sense? Guess the overall question is what can we pinpoint as the cause of 2008 cigars being a great year?

[mkz]

...also a Montecristo Robusto as i think these size's will sell like hot cakes and their was some great feed back when these were around for a short time.

Isnt the Montecristo Edmundo a Robusto??

Edit# A Ramon Allones CG would be super!!

As for the workers at the factories: Tell them they are doing a damn fine job considering the management...

[aavkk]

I'd also like to see a RA CG via regular production, good call Jimmy.

Also, well said Ross. Please send along my sincere thanks for their hard work.

Ben I believe that certain tobacco is aged longer than others resulting in mixed "vintages" of tobacco that go into the finished product but confirmation on this would be helpful.

Finally, Rob I'm extremely curious if/how much stock they have put aside just in case the US embargo drops?

Have a great trip.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Thank them for their Hard Work and fine products please! I'm also curious to hear their take on the 2010 decimation of Panatelas et. al. Do they themselves enjoy smoking these new jawbreakers that Habanos keeps pushing out?

[jfury76]

Please convey my heartfelt thanks and admiration of these people for producing such a high-quality product. Bravo.

Also, if HSA wants to try an interesting gimmick, they could consider doing a limited run of boxes with wrapper leaf color variations so that one could see (well smoke) for himself the many effects that said leaf has on overall taste within any given marca/vitola.

Just a thought. Plus I'd love to smoke a latter-day cuban candela or double claro, but I highly doubt that is ever going to happen!

[Bartolomeo]

I am wondering if the Cohiba Behikes @ the festival will be similar to the CGR of last years festival, meaning will they be hyped up and the next greatest thing per Suckling and others?

My guess at the end of the festival, they will be the hot topic........

Bart

[Kangaroo495]

Will there be a regional edition for Russia any time soon?

[samb]

+1 for a thanks to the rollers and blenders on their good work. Curious about the Behikes as well.

[OZCUBAN]

Hi Rob, no questions really, just pass on my gratitude for the stellar and skillful job that they do,management needs no praise as they have not hit the mark yet

Maybe we can still turn the tide on some of the deletions, or maybe they can bring out a new line featuring some of the ones that are on the list or have been on the list called "The Cuban Heritage line"

Have a really good trip,hang on to your watch this time

Cheers Oz

[brooklyn]

Question,oh thin one!

I have many Cubanos here at Miami Dade College and they travel to Cuba frequently.

One knows I smoke the truth,so he says he will get me "tabaco" when he goes there this coming weekend. What is he referring to? Thanks,Rob.

[Smooth]

Congratulate them, hug them and thank them. Without their efforts we would have to smoke rubbish for eternity.

That is all.

Under the conditions: both pay and work, my heart is with these, well.... Masters. Maybe a bit dramatic but under the circumstances... warranted.

[bassman]

Any chance of bringing back the Partagas Lonsdale- perhaps as a PCC RE?

[PigFish]

Just one question Rob, they can interpret it any way they see fit.

"You are ******* joking... right?"

Thank amigo! -R

[Rogers72]

Anytime you see an attractive female roller, give her a kiss on the cheek and smack them on the ass from me...

[kjellfrick]

You know my question, Rob.

[Van55]

I think you already have this question in minde, Rob, but I think most of us would be interested in the truth behind when the LGC/VR Marshalls were blended and boxed. You'll probably never get the truth, but it's a fascinating question for me.

Does HSA have plans to simply quit production of marcas such as Por Larranaga, Quai D'Orsay, Rafael Gonzalez and to focus on the more populare marcas?

What, if anything, has changed as a result of Imperial Tobacco's acquisition of Altadis's interest in HSA?

[cigarros]

Will there be a regional edition for Russia any time soon?

Ditto...

[jacksfull]

What becomes of tobacco that would have been slated for cigars on the discontinued list? Is it just that easy to transfer it into other current production, or can we look forward to some interesting new releases using it?

[Van55]

I hate to be iterative, but I want to put this question from another thread here so that it isn't overlooked:

It was my thought that the introduction of draw testing machines would likely lead to an epidemic of underfilled cigars. My assumption is that the rollers get some kind of punishment if they produce too many rejected cigars. So I guessed that rollers would underfill rather than risk rejection by the draw machines. Is there any factual basis for these suppositions at all?

[El Presidente]

I hate to be iterative, but I want to put this question from another thread here so that it isn't overlooked:

It was my thought that the introduction of draw testing machines would likely lead to an epidemic of underfilled cigars. My assumption is that the rollers get some kind of punishment if they produce too many rejected cigars. So I guessed that rollers would underfill rather than risk rejection by the draw machines. Is there any factual basis for these suppositions at all?

Not sure Van. Draw machines have been around for nearing 6-7 years and the epidemic we are seeing relates to the past 24 months.

Again, I will root out an answer to this