Questions from the floor.

[El Presidente]

I have a one on one dinner with Maique, VP of HSA when in Havana come late November.

What questions would you like me to ask from the floor/as lovers of Habanos.

Cheers

El Pres

[maverickdrinker]

What are their plans with Ramon allones? Please bring back the 898s, pc and corona sizes in regular production.

Bring back the long and skinnies.

[ChanceSchmerr]

2 Questions -

- Confirm Deletions!

- Has there been any change of direction for new releases since dramatic changeover of leadership at HSA...and more to the point - why CONTINUE to pump out endless 50+ RG monster LE/REs?

[Blakes]

When watching FOH reviews i've noticed a few times you have mentioned about the discontinuation of cigars and how HSA keeps discontinuing sometimes "classic" cigars and signing them into the history books forever.. why cant they as you suggest just do releases periodically?

As a fairly new smoker there are so many "classic" cigars that i will never get the chance to try, pictures on the internet and written/video reviews is all i will ever get of many cigars... which is a shame.

Is it something that they would/could do?

[OZCUBAN]

There are so many things to ask,but for me the most important question,do they have any plans to bring back from the dead certain "classic" cigars from recent history that have been assigned to the "Dustbin of HSA".

Like you have stated in the past Rob,I think a select few could be brought back to production a a limited basis I.E limited boxes which I am sure would be snapped up buy smokers .

Apart from that I could only suggest that maybe they should start listening to their customers ,because of all the smokers / collectors /customers there has to be a common thread amongst us

Cheers Rob

OZ(Steve )

[brazoseagle]

Why is HSA run by children?

I'll add to my question. :

Why is Diplomatico getting axed all together after a year of all around increased demand and increased revenue for HSA?

[ramon_cojones]

Ask them if they are perpetually on crack.

[PoohBore]

Bringing the classics back as LE's is surely feeding the frenzy thAt they are trying to create with all of the LE & RE that they currently do?

My question would be why can't you look after the jet set and the rest of us normal people with the product range. Surely they don't want to alienate the normal buyer and hope the whims of the super rich don't change

[mk05]

How does the recent vintage of recent crops measure

Any new experiments on strands

Any new GR planned, if not, any consideration for VR

Make the PL Robusto into regular release

[in0gravity]

Do they see new trends approaching (apart from bigger ring gauges)? And what would it be?

Since the continued discontinuations, are there plans for new brands?

Any chance that we see a resurrection of hand made long filler La Flor de Cano and Quintero cigars?

Thanks a lot for doing this, Rob.

regards

Lars

[khamy]

In what ways is HSA actively lobbying to counter the growing international trend of governments limiting the rights of Cigar smokers?

[mazolaman]

Could their LCDH around Europe stock more smaller ring gauges?

Customers may then make up their own minds, and maybe learn to enjoy the classics.

Having been in a few recently....It's all fatties with lots of bands.

[El Presidente]

Guys

This is two blokes who are mates having dinner together. Cut the angst now.

Do you believe he has the ultimate say? Think otherwise. As always propose arguments and tools to change a direction (if that is what you are looking for) or otherwise simple positive suggestions.

Carrot and stick approach is always 90% carrot. Keep that in mind.

[Rushman]

Would love to get some perspective on where they see their portfolio of marcas and vitolas in 5-10 years and why.

We can all piss and moan about huge RG, blingy bands and expensive regionals and EL's, but I'd like to hear how they are positioning themselves in the market for the future and more importantly why.

---

I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=20.631728,-87.070644

[Paul3]

x2 on what Kam said. I'm curious to hear HSA's opinion on the ever increasing restrictions on smoking in some of their larger market areas and how they see that effecting future production numbers and sales. Are they looking towards new marketing strategies? Are they or do they plan on lobbying against these new and future laws?

Lastly I'd ask you to pass along a sincere thank you to them for the outstanding cigars they continue to produce for all of us!

[Justmi]

Prez, you mentioned a while ago that they are looking at diversifying their crop location around Cuba beyond the primary fields in the Vuelta Abajo. An update on that would be interesting.

[Scdalak]

What will happen when the US Embargo is eventualy lifted? How would it affect quality, production, inventory etc...

[Ophidion]

Curious to see if some of the LCDH exclusives are going to become regular production.

-Specifically hup royal robusto and RA Sups

As a more general question, what goals does HSA plan to do in terms of promoting/marketing CCs to counter the saturation of NCs of increasing quality?

[Smallclub]

How would you explain that certain new cigars are unavailable so soon after their release?

[ptrthgr8]

What will happen when the US Embargo is eventualy lifted? How would it affect quality, production, inventory etc...

I'd be more interested know their plans (in general terms) for the legal trademark/copyright suits that will be sure to follow. I'm assuming they're already thinking about that - I'm sure the legalistas at General and Altadis are already trying to figure that part out, too. There have been some legal issues in the US already (I seem to recall the use of "Cohiba" on the NC brand going to the Supreme Court), but given the current situation with the embargo, I wouldn't think the US courts would really care about Cuban claims. But if the embargo is lifted and trade relations are normalized, well... how long would the legal battles be at that point? Would it take years after the embargo is lifted before we could expect to see Habanos sold by US retailers? Or has everything been lined up and ready to go to where the legal issues might get resolved fairly quickly at that point? (Wishful thinking, I'm sure.)

Cheers,

~ Greg ~

[Dbone]

Simple, what steps are they taking to ensure next year cigars are better than this years. I'm not talking about the special releases etc... just with regards to the regular everyday cigars in the portfolio.

I smoke a good few hundred cigars a year... probably 300 on average I'd guess? I don't have the luxury of sipping each cigar... relishing on the flavors and all that. More like, I have an hour to work around the house or quick chat with the neighbor and I want a cigar. Just keep it from being a disappointment, Habanos. It is a real bummer to grab my morning coffee, cigar, work gloves, hit the yard just to have the cigar be a distraction because it's crappy. Side story... the other day I was transplanting some bushes and I had an SLR Regios that was such a honey stick i had to stop my work and just take it in... wow that was a damn good cigar and not a $25 special release Mr. Fancy pants cigar. I digress.

What are you doing to ensure next years cigars are better than the lasts. Maybe a question better aimed at the farmers? Thanks Rob

[cigcars]

Robert, could you P-L-E-E-E-A-A-S-E ask them if they would P-L-E-E-A-A-S-E bring back from either discontinuation or near total scarcity LONSDALE selections for Ramon Allones, El Rey Del Mundo, POR LARRANAGA, and Quay D'Orsay??? P-L-L-E-E-A-A-S-E!!! All these new extra fat sizes that are coming out everywhere else just ain't cuttin' it for a lot of us! I know, I've checked with several B/SOTL. That's all my little heart desires.

[Colt45]

Guys

This is two blokes who are mates having dinner together.

In that case, you could ask him if he enjoys a Sunday morning cuddle.

For me, you could ask about his thoughts on overall quality for current, and upcoming production.

[perfectform]

Amidst all the questions Rob, please take a minute to thank him for putting out all the great cigars that we happen to enjoy. I know there are a lot of them for me, personally.

[Nino]

Prez, you mentioned a while ago that they are looking at diversifying their crop location around Cuba beyond the primary fields in the Vuelta Abajo. An update on that would be interesting.

Brings me to crops and Vuelta Abajo : Rob, would be nice to hear what he has to say about this year's harvest and all the damage done by the Pata Negra mold there.

I will be visiting the area earlier so we can then swap details over a few beers at the Gato Tuerto ( loud enough not to be overheard ...