From Pete. Release of Punch at H&F

[El Presidente]

Fill us in on the event fellas'

[riazp]

yup i agree, would love to hear initial thoughts of this cigar from the event.

[riazp]

Just noticed the details on the foil. the price of these will probably be insane but the details are quite impressive.

[Jnaube]

1338735534[/url]' post='313168']

Just noticed the details on the foil. the price of these will probably be insane but the details are quite impressive.

Hmmm, looking good!

[ronin]

I have read where it is in the area of $35.00 a stick.

[peanutpete]

have not smoked the cigar yet,will let it sleep a little as it landed only a day or so befor the event.

the event it self was a blast, plenty of food and drink to go round, met up with a few of the guys before at fox were we started drinking at about 1.30 (Andy had brought over a bottle of irish whisky,and another one and a half bottles of malt were nearly drunk before we made our way over to the event) after the event we made our way to another hotel and kept drinking untill about 2 in the morning,glad Andy and the fox bros do not come over every week,not sure my liver could survive

[CaptainQuintero]

I have read where it is in the area of $35.00 a stick.

£28 list price

[ronin]

At the current conversion rate, that comes to $43.00 a stick.

[gostgost]

At the current conversion rate, that comes to $43.00 a stick.

I think you got your numbers backwards $34.00 a stick.

[CaptainQuintero]

[gostgost]

Sorry your right I was using Euro just finish talk with my daughter in Italy.

[riazp]

1 gbp = 1.5979 but still makes it too expensive lol

[CaptainQuintero]

Only Cohiba can get away with that price point IMO. This is H&F shooting themselves in the foot I think, especially explaining the price rise down to 'there have been lots of increases in tax and duties since the last big RE release' .... :thinking:

Not even mentioning the fact that we had a cigar price hike last month (Distributor fees + new budget) this just comes across as greed for me. Plenty of people I've talked to are boycotting the release. It would have been funny if they released them as a 25 box; £700 a box! I don't think their tactic of releasing them in 10 count boxes is disguising the price that well!

H&F's strategy of making the UK a 'elite cigar market' in these economic times is just plain short sighted and foolish. Their policy of not importing cheaper smokes like PL Montecarlos/Panetelas, Partagas Milles Fleurs, Super Partagas, HDM Palmas Extras, Upmann Regalias, FDC Selectos, FDC PCs etc etc and pumping out overpriced REs will have dire consequences for them.

If they had come up with a modestly priced everyday cigar they could have cleaned up. But nope, we have THREE UK regional cigar release set for 2012!

Sigh

[ronin]

Apparently they do not understand the concept of diminishing returns.

[Vortigan]

Only Cohiba can get away with that price point IMO. This is H&F shooting themselves in the foot I think, especially explaining the price rise down to 'there have been lots of increases in tax and duties since the last big RE release' .... :thinking:

Not even mentioning the fact that we had a cigar price hike last month (Distributor fees + new budget) this just comes across as greed for me. Plenty of people I've talked to are boycotting the release. It would have been funny if they released them as a 25 box; £700 a box! I don't think their tactic of releasing them in 10 count boxes is disguising the price that well!

H&F's strategy of making the UK a 'elite cigar market' in these economic times is just plain short sighted and foolish. Their policy of not importing cheaper smokes like PL Montecarlos/Panetelas, Partagas Milles Fleurs, Super Partagas, HDM Palmas Extras, Upmann Regalias, FDC Selectos, FDC PCs etc etc and pumping out overpriced REs will have dire consequences for them.

If they had come up with a modestly priced everyday cigar they could have cleaned up. But nope, we have THREE UK regional cigar release set for 2012!

Sigh

Succinctly put and I couldn't agree more.To be honest I long since gave up even on the idea of chasing after any of these glitzy special,limited and regional etc etc editions.It's no doubt a generalisation but based on what I read they seem to disappoint far more often than they please.Each to their own,of course,but speaking for myself there's just far too much regular production that I like and still more that I've even yet to try to go running after these and the like.

[mazolaman]

Only Cohiba can get away with that price point IMO. This is H&F shooting themselves in the foot I think, especially explaining the price rise down to 'there have been lots of increases in tax and duties since the last big RE release' .... :thinking:

Not even mentioning the fact that we had a cigar price hike last month (Distributor fees + new budget) this just comes across as greed for me. Plenty of people I've talked to are boycotting the release. It would have been funny if they released them as a 25 box; £700 a box! I don't think their tactic of releasing them in 10 count boxes is disguising the price that well!

H&F's strategy of making the UK a 'elite cigar market' in these economic times is just plain short sighted and foolish. Their policy of not importing cheaper smokes like PL Montecarlos/Panetelas, Partagas Milles Fleurs, Super Partagas, HDM Palmas Extras, Upmann Regalias, FDC Selectos, FDC PCs etc etc and pumping out overpriced REs will have dire consequences for them.

If they had come up with a modestly priced everyday cigar they could have cleaned up. But nope, we have THREE UK regional cigar release set for 2012!

Sigh

Yep.

Hence LCDH full of RE stock, and very little regular production.

Another boycott here, way too much money.

Sad to see the strategy for the uk (is it H and F? or is it HSA?) being aimed at the upper echelons.

In my experience, the regular productions are better.

Edit,

I should add, irrispective of my dim views on these REs, I hope you all had a good knees up!

[Smallclub]

I have a vision of bigwigs of Olympic committees and of sports federations feasting on this cigar (paid by taxpayers in their respective countries) during the Olympic Games…

[CaptainQuintero]

I think the actual event was great by all accounts, I know Ryan usually ends up having a good time as long as there is a stage to invade

I think (But could be wrong.) that it's Hunters who decide what they import. I know quite a fuss had to get kicked up for QDO to finally get allowed into the UK a few months ago. I'm sure though that HSA have no complaints that H&F want to concentrate on selling the cigars with the highest profit margins and pretend the cheaper end don't exist.

It probably just comes across and whinging but it just seems that H&F are missing such a huge chance to get more people into the hobby. Millions of people in the UK are giving up cigarettes due to the tax increases and draconion laws that have been put in place. There are a significant number of those who want to keep smoking but with the price of a packet of cigarettes now costing the same as a Trinidad Reyes, they are deciding to move into the cigar world. H&F could be pushing small smokes like the PL Panetelas, Troya Coronas and Upmann Petit Coronas like crazy and actually drawing those people into the cigar world. Are they doing it? No! They are wrapping up tasteless marital aids in tin foil and charging £30 each for them!

They obviously model their business on the theory of small sales and big profit margins oppposed to big sales and small profit margins. I mean who want's to sell PL Panatelas for £2 each when they can sell the above Punch for £30!

Who want's to stimulate a dying consumer base with potentially hundreds of thousands of new customers when you can annoy and alienate the few remaining ones with stunts like the gold plated Punch Olympic Marital Aid!

I'm done now sorry!

[Zigatoh]

Price point is ridiculous, combine that with the fact that it looks like a caricature of the boli GM, or the love child of a robusto and a kitkat and I'm in the no/'no I'd rather a handful of GMs' category...

[Drguano]

I thought the cigar was delightful. Rich taste, no grassiness or ammonia as can be found in a young cigar. I was very close to buying a box and will probably do so when my resolve wears down. The event itself was a great deal of fun. I landed at Heathrow, grabbed a shower and met Andy and Evan at JJ Fox before heading to the Langham where the Laurent Perrier and Dalmore was flowing. From now on, I am making a solid cigar and copious amounts of bubbly and single malt my jet lag cure. The Punch is pricy but in my humble opinion worth trying.

[mk05]

The foil is actually made of pure gold, gents. So, you do want to keep that foil. Perhaps sew it into your blanket, or sport it as your new pocket square on your next outing, as such.