Siglo Background


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I'm a big fan of the Cohiba Siglo line and was doing some reading on their background. I came across a couple references that said it was created to fill the void created when Davidoff pulled out of Cuba.

I wasn't able to enjoy a Davidoff while in regular production nor an aged version today. My question is how close in profile and overall taste did a Davidoff compare to current Siglos? Also, can anyone confirm that this was the intention of the line? I read in one article that Min Ron Nee's book had a blurb on the topic, but couldn't find it specifically.

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Thanks Trevor, unfortunately I don't have the book. One of the blogs I was reading stated:

"According to MRN it is speculated that the line was created to fill the void left by the discontinuation of the Davidoff marca. All of the Siglo line is reportedly milder than your standard Cohiba. There is actually an italicized note from MRN saying that going over the draft of the book, his Cuban consultant that was working with him confirmed it is true that the line was created to fill that gap left by Davidoff"

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Thanks Trevor, unfortunately I don't have the book. One of the blogs I was reading stated:

"According to MRN it is speculated that the line was created to fill the void left by the discontinuation of the Davidoff marca. All of the Siglo line is reportedly milder than your standard Cohiba. There is actually an italicized note from MRN saying that going over the draft of the book, his Cuban consultant that was working with him confirmed it is true that the line was created to fill that gap left by Davidoff"

More or less correct....but the actual quote from the book is:

"Some people say these sizes are made to fill the gap left by the discontinued Davidoff cigars".

*the emphasis is mine.

In the book "...we shall call them Cohiba" (page 111-112) there is no reference to the blend being made to match or be similar to Davidoff.

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Yeah I remember reading about a guy who talk to an old blender from Cuba who said how the lancero was the same blend as the Davidoff #1. So when he got back to London he told the story to Eddie at the Davidoff store, who fetched some 1990 lanceros and davidoff #1 and they then smoked them side by side to compare.

As far as they were concerned the blends were completely different.

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In the book "...we shall call them Cohiba" (page 111-112) there is no reference to the blend being made to match or be similar to Davidoff.

Here is the extract from the book:-

At the end of 1991, when it was agreed to discontinue the Habano Davidoff brand, the expectation began to be raised in the market as regards the solution provided by Cubatabaco to that brand's regular consumers.

The search for the said solution was referred to the marketing department which, after carrying out a detailed study on consumer needs, in terms of taste, cigar sizes and pricing, as well as production possibilities, proposed the introduction of a new COHIBA range.

In addition, this would fulfil another requirement, extending what was offered by the brand so as to satisfy the most demanding of smokers.

One of the aspects most discussed by Cubatabaco's marketing specialists was which vitola range to include in the new series.

As regards this subject, the present marketing director of Habanos SA. informed us that the choice was a result of market trends, with respect to the various cigar sizes, thus allowing CGI-HBA to gain access to a larger market segment.

In this manner the factory names chosen, Dalia, Corona Grande, Corona Gorda, Marevas and Perlas, filled a gap in the high-price market segment.

The recommended blend and the colour range chosen for this new series was due to the joint work of experts from the tobacco industry and the technical department of Cubatabaco.

Finally, it was decided to develop a blend smoother to the palate than the classic line, that being one of the aspects distinguishing it from the previous vitola ranges.

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"Siglo series, if I recall correctly, were made under the direction of Don Pepin."

I did see a post that Don Pepin oversaw the blend of the siglo line. The Pepin's have been instrumental in some pretty successful NC blends. More on Pepin below:

"Don Pepin was the head of the COHIBA Factory when the Siglo line was first blended and released. If he had nothing at all to do with the blending of the cigars, it would be the first time I've heard of a man-in-change not having a hand in a huge new release (and I think it's especially true in Cuba, who releases fewer new cigars than in the NC world ... and add to that the fact that COHIBA is their premium brand ...). So yes, this is based on speculation, but I think it's a safe bet that Don Pepin had at least a pretty big role in the COHIBA Siglo Series, and imvho is likely the man most responsible for it."

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