Piggy & Van55 have been talking to God.

[laficion]

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Piggy & Van55 and other members of FOH for their support of the Quai d'Orsay brand .

I have found that it has been mentioned very often these last few months and even toped by a great review by the Prez not so long ago.(Rob said it himself that he was never a true fan of the brand until recently,age can sometimes work wonders).

Quai d'Orsay is a brand that I would consider one of the last dinosaurs of an era long gone since.

A brand that started in 1974, about the same time as the Davidoffs and the Dunhills, It's the only existing brand today that does not have a cuban origin.

In the history of Habanos there were only 3 brands in that case, the Davidoffs,the Dunhills and the Quai d'Orsay . One of the few brands that has kept it's original blend after many others have been modified in the last 10 years, today that is still unique.

This past week, we've had AGAIN, the bad news about some more newly discontinued vitolas heading our way and everyone is rightfully upset and revolted but then again, here is a brand that has stood the test of time and is still here with us.

Even though there has been cuts in the original 5 vitolas that existed when the brand was launched. Today, only 2 have survived, the Corona and the Imperiales, gone are the Coronas Claro Claro, the Gran Corona and the Panetelas.

But still today,Quai d'Orsay remains a brand that is greatly ignored by the new generation of cigar smokers simply because it almost never hits the first page of any magazine, blog or cigar site so, if no one talks about QdO, why should I try them ? and so forth and so on.

Now of course, Quai d'Orsay may not be to every cigar smokers taste. Maybe this cigar, with it's old time taste and delicate aromas and slow pace , cannot compete in today's fast moving world.

Maybe it's just a cigar good for old farts like myself, but on the other hand , a Quai d'Orsay is indeed a rewarding cigar that demands attention, a cigar that has a taste that you'll have to reach out of yourself if you want to grab its soul ,Quai d'Orsay is not a cigar to smoke if you're not ready to give something back, TIME.

For me,a great Habano is a gift from the Gods.

This gift was given to Cuba, its soil and the talent of its men & women who work hard and where the only reward is knowing that they are giving us pleasure.

It's true that Habanos SA has discontinued some great cigars from their production and some that we will never see or smoke again.

In my 40 years of smoking cuban cigars I have known more cigars that have gone then cigars that are left, but I still have faith in the ones that are still here and the ones that will arrive in the futher.

However, what is important is to believe . It's a little like the Roman Gods & the Greek Gods, it's when you stop believing that they no longer exist.

Here are some shots of a box of Coronas I opened up recently and that I find simply fantastic. plus a link to the story of QdO that I posted a while back in 2009. Also some pics of a unique box that was gifted at the relauching of Quai d'Orsay in Paris in 2005.

I hope you'll enjoy.

Limited box gifted at the Paris relanching in 2005.

The main reason for this Post is to inform the new members and young cigar smokers that you can still have a taste of cigar history and then, it's all up to you.

Again, sorry for being so long, Ciao les amis.

Guy

Here is my post from 2009.

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=97621&st=0&p=119652&hl=+quai%20+d'orsay%20+,unknown%20+beauty&fromsearch=1&entry119652

[riazp]

Beautiful post Guy, Like I mentioned in your original post, I defenitly intead on getting my hands on some QDO'S, show support for this marca in order to do my part to keep it alive. The idea of sitting down and slowly enjoying a cigars sounds just about perfect to me.

Riaz

[Ginseng]

Lovely, heartfelt and experienced post. Thank you! I am a great fan of the Coronas.

Wilkey

[CBL]

Love this post! Makes me want a box of these all the more. Posts like this is what this forum needs, the passion some members show is just contagious and makes some of the underdog sticks reach a whole new public.

[PuffDaddie]

Great post about a wonderfull puro.

[Ghabanos]

Guy. It was your passion, and that of piggy and rob that turned my attention to QDO. Thanks for that...

[Scdalak]

I think I just pooped my pants..

[Stalebread]

Thanks for your thoughts and a nicely done post.

[peanutpete]

a wonderful post,your passsion for this brand really comes out in the post,thank you

[Dbone]

Guy,

I must have missed your earlier post on Quai d'Orsay. After reading this one, and your previous post, I have a lot of interest in Quai d'Orsay. I'm interested to learn more and try some. I was not aware it was non-cuban in origin. Nor did I know the blend was made by Gilbert Belaubre, and the same blend remains today safeguarded by two individuals. I have to give credit to those who don't change a good thing, which is difficult these days with trying to please "everyone". But as the old saying goes, if it's not broke don't fix it. It's a slippery slope changing your product to please the masses, usually you end up FAR from where you started.

Knowing a little bit more about the brands history and creation for the French people was very informative. Yes, I am going to give the Quai d'Orsay it's opportunity to gain a spot within my portfolio. Thanks to all

[Van55]

Thanks for recalling my great affection for the Quai D'Orsay marca, Guy.

I remember distinctly a conversation in Tampa during Rob's visit a few years back. Someone asked Rob what he would recmmend as a Cuban "starter" cigar. I can't recall Rob's reply, but I butted in and suggested the Quai D'Orsay Corona. Rob looked at me as if I had two heads and turned up his nose as if I had recommended that the guy light up a dog ****.

I was very pleased when Rob revisited the marca some time later and found that, while probably not as magnificent as I had made them out to be, they were not only tolerable, but were quite enjoyable.

I really regret the cancellation of the Panetellas and the Gran Coronas, of which I have a couple of boxes sitting in Rob's on-line humidor.

I'm no expert, but I do have MRN's book, which says the Corona Claro Claro was actually discontinued in 1995. As for the Corona, he says, "The name on the box is Coronas. The offical model name is still Coronas Claro."

So if the Corona and the Imperiales will still be produced, I am a happy buyer. Though I really haven't requested devine intervention to save the marca. LOL

[laficion]

So if the Corona and the Imperiales will still be produced, I am a happy buyer. Though I really haven't requested devine intervention to save the marca. LOL

Neither have I Van,

It's just that I feel that it's a cigar worth smoking if you never tried it, like many other

vitolas that are overlooked or ignored simply because no one talks about them.

Ciao l"ami.

[Lotusguy]

Great post. I love 'em and I would recommend everyone to try them at least once!

[headstand]

I would like to try them. I wonder if we couldn't persuade Rob to make some available as singles or pack for a limited time offer; say 2 each of the imperiales and coronas?

[mazolaman]

Neither have I Van,

It's just that I feel that it's a cigar worth smoking if you never tried it, like many other

vitolas that are overlooked or ignored simply because no one talks about them.

Ciao l"ami.

I'm a big lover of cigars that no-one talks about.

They are often great and cheaper.

I had a fantastic vegueros no1 recently.

They seem to me to be original cigars,not designed or altered to suit a whim or trend.

I'll be trying some QDO soon.