Regional editions

[Ghabanos]

Hey FOHers - on the back of robs thread asking for input i was wondering: say for a previously discontued vitola/marca that habanos brings back as a re or el, do we see that they represent the same flavors as those that were discontinued. Like the RA extra, they are great, but is this what they used to taste like also? Or say the recommendation from fatcigar or a request for RA 898, are we expecting the same blend?

Just curious what the thoughts are as I have never tried the discontinued sticks before and maybe get a better understanding of this re/el program - is it purely to bring the spot light to a less noticed brand or something else driving the decision behind which vitola/ marca to use (setting aside the profit discussion if possible)

Apologies if my ideas are everywhere

[HumidorDiscount]

are we expecting the same blend?

I don't think that Tabacuba will "copy" a cigar as it formerly was and simply puts a second band (ER or EL) on it. I'd say, that the longer a vitola was off the portfolio, the more it will change. The demand/tastes change over time, and the cubans more and more became good marketers, so they know what the customers want - they won't produce a stick in style of the 60s if the blend doesn't meet the current customers needs. Perhaps they will produce a 60s vitola, but it definitely will vary in taste.

One example is the bolivar gold medal. It was produced from 60s to '94, then it was released as special in '04 and it was a standard vitola from '07-'11. I didn't smoke the old ones, but the difference in '04s and the '07-'11s was tremendous!

[chrisguinther]

I would like to see a Ramon Allones lancero.

[Diamondog]

I've been curious to hear feedback from anyone who has smoked the orig ra extra and the re-release....a comparison

[Ghabanos]

interesting, so why ask to bring back RA 898?

and what are the flavors of today vs yesteryear?

[dcse]

I would like to see a Ramon Allones lancero.

Wow, that woult be great!

[Colt45]

....is it purely to bring the spot light to a less noticed brand or something else driving the decision behind which vitola/ marca to use

I think that mainly it allows each regional distributor to have something unique to offer, along with a possibility to showcase and

prop up less popular lines.

As for blends, my own personal expectation for bringing back a discontinued cigar as a RE is that they would try, as much as is possible,

to blend the cigars as they had been previously, and to have some kind of "marque identity".

With tobacco being a little different each and every season, this is probably more difficult to achieve than we might sometimes imagine.

[Ghabanos]

I think that mainly it allows each regional distributor to have something unique to offer, along with a possibility to showcase and

prop up less popular lines.

As for blends, my own personal expectation for bringing back a discontinued cigar as a RE is that they would try, as much as is possible,

to blend the cigars as they had been previously, and to have some kind of "marque identity".

With tobacco being a little different each and every season, this is probably more difficult to achieve than we might sometimes imagine.

This was kind of my original thought too. Understanding that leaves and blends can never be exactly replicated.

[CaptainQuintero]

I think Colt hit it, eg Asia Pacific like to release cigars that have long term aging potential, Hunters and Frankau like to release ones which have a historical story behind them etc tc..

Personally I'd like to see a well made RYJ corona gorda / laguito #1

[laficion]

With tobacco being a little different each and every season, this is probably more difficult to achieve than we might sometimes imagine.

In my opinion it's even worse then that, it would not only be difficult but I think

it would be impossible, I'll try to explain.

All of the brands and blends that were made between 1930 to the last agricultural

harvest of 1996-97, were made with the EL COROJO tobacco, this variety no longer

exists in Cuban cigars. The Corojo was a fantastic plant but the problem was that

this tobacco was suject to aggressive and frequent tobacco diseases such as Blue Mold,

roundworms, Black shank, etc, etc. Today the tobacco variety used are hybrids all derived

from the Criollo and Corojo . For the wrappers,it's Habana 92,Habana 2000,and Corojo 99.

For the fillers, Criollo 98, Criollo 99.

So what I'm saying is that all of these re-introduced vitolas from the 70's and 80's

will of course be faithful to their brand's recipe & blend proportion of Seco, Volado

and Ligero leaves but it will not be the same flavors and tastes even if it can be very close,

it's not the same tobacco anymore.

[Orion21]

Thank you for the fantastic insight Guy.

[Ghabanos]

In my opinion it's even worse then that, it would not only be difficult but I think

it would be impossible, I'll try to explain.

All of the brands and blends that were made between 1930 to the last agricultural

harvest of 1996-97, were made with the EL COROJO tobacco, this variety no longer

exists in Cuban cigars. The Corojo was a fantastic plant but the problem was that

this tobacco was suject to aggressive and frequent tobacco diseases such as Blue Mold,

roundworms, Black shank, etc, etc. Today the tobacco variety used are hybrids all derived

from the Criollo and Corojo . For the wrappers,it's Habana 92,Habana 2000,and Corojo 99.

For the fillers, Criollo 98, Criollo 99.

So what I'm saying is that all of these re-introduced vitolas from the 70's and 80's

will of course be faithful to their brand's recipe & blend proportion of Seco, Volado

and Ligero leaves but it will not be the same flavors and tastes even if it can be very close,

it's not the same tobacco anymore.

V interesting guy. Thanks

[Tarks]

In my opinion it's even worse then that, it would not only be difficult but I think

it would be impossible, I'll try to explain.

All of the brands and blends that were made between 1930 to the last agricultural

harvest of 1996-97, were made with the EL COROJO tobacco, this variety no longer

exists in Cuban cigars. The Corojo was a fantastic plant but the problem was that

this tobacco was suject to aggressive and frequent tobacco diseases such as Blue Mold,

roundworms, Black shank, etc, etc. Today the tobacco variety used are hybrids all derived

from the Criollo and Corojo . For the wrappers,it's Habana 92,Habana 2000,and Corojo 99.

For the fillers, Criollo 98, Criollo 99.

So what I'm saying is that all of these re-introduced vitolas from the 70's and 80's

will of course be faithful to their brand's recipe & blend proportion of Seco, Volado

and Ligero leaves but it will not be the same flavors and tastes even if it can be very close,

it's not the same tobacco anymore.

Exactly. Thanks for posting this.