New Releases

[DrPartagas]

Will we be seeing any new regional releases soon? If so, what is coming down the pipeline?

[NSXCIGAR]

I believe only three REs were announced for 2016 and all three have arrived at their various region's retailers: The Bolivar Tesoro for Germany, the JL Eminentes for Switzerland and the RA Patagon for Southern South America. Looks like HSA is dialing back the RE program which I'm fine with. There were just too many releases IMO. With an increase in Habanos Specialist and LCDH releases as well as expanding existing marcas like the Monte 1935 and QdO additions I'm fine with a paring back of REs and LEs. 

Seeing as how two of the three 2016 releases weren't seen until Q1 2017 and the 2017 releases haven't even been announced yet I wouldn't expect to see any of them before Q1 2018 and probably more like Q2-Q3 2018. But all the 2016 REs are available for anyone who is interested from certain European vendors. 

[gweilgi]

49 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I believe only three REs were announced for 2016 and all three have arrived at their various region's retailers: The Bolivar Tesoro for Germany, the JL Eminentes for Switzerland and the RA Patagon for Southern South America. Looks like HSA is dialing back the RE program which I'm fine with. There were just too many releases IMO. With an increase in Habanos Specialist and LCDH releases as well as expanding existing marcas like the Monte 1935 and QdO additions I'm fine with a paring back of REs and LEs. 

Seeing as how two of the three 2016 releases weren't seen until Q1 2017 and the 2017 releases haven't even been announced yet I wouldn't expect to see any of them before Q1 2018 and probably more like Q2-Q3 2018. But all the 2016 REs are available for anyone who is interested from certain European vendors. 

Cutting back on the RE programme is a good idea, as long as they also stop the lazy practice of re-issuing the same cigar in different countries, and as long as this means they will take more care with quality control...

As to announced release dates versus actual delivery of cigars, I do not hold out much hope ... they do seem wedded to a "mañana" definition of schedules and deadlines.  

[Lotusguy]

What about the SLR Marquez Cuba, the SLR Tesoro Spain, and the ED Conde Belicoso Mexico? Weren't those 2016 RE? I don't want to dig out my boxes from my humidor Tetris project.

[NSXCIGAR]

18 minutes ago, Lotusguy said:

What about the SLR Marquez Cuba, the SLR Tesoro Spain, and the ED Conde Belicoso Mexico? Weren't those 2016 RE? I don't want to dig out my boxes from my humidor Tetris project.

You're right--there were quite a few missing. So much for scaling back...

The full 2016 list of REs:

Bolívar Byblos – ER 2016 – Magicos
Bolívar Tesoro – ER 2016 – Salomón
Edmundo Dantes Conde Belicoso – ER 2016 – Campanas
El Rey Del Mundo Choix du Roi – ER 2016 – Montesco
Juan Lopez Eminentes – ER 2016 – Sublimes
La Flor de Cano Casanova – ER 2016 – D No.5
La Gloria Cubana Platinum Edition – ER 2016 – Duke
Quai D’Orsay Secreto Cubano – ER 2016 – Secretos
Ramón Allones Terra Magica – ER 2016 – Dobles
Ramón Allones Patagon – ER 2016 – Petit Edmundo
Ramón Allones Dubai – ER 2016 – Sublimes
Ramón Allones Hexgone – ER 2016 – Duke
Saint Luis Rey San Luis Tesoros – ER 2016 – Petit Edmundo
Saint Luis Rey Marquez – ER 2016 – Geniales

Of these, only the three I mentioned, the ED Conde Belicosos the SLR Marquez Cuba have been released as far as I know, which I highlighted red.

By the way, is the LGC Platinum Edition the worst name ever for any Cuban Cigar? HSA really has gone full tilt boogie on the NC marketing gimmickry...lord help us.

[planetary]

Another instance of having to scour Google search results instead of doing a simple query on CCW.  Sigh.

[oliverdst]

La Flor de Cano Casanova RE Italia will be released soon.

[NSXCIGAR]

4 minutes ago, planetary said:

Another instance of having to scour Google search results instead of doing a simple query on CCW.  Sigh.

Took the words right off my keyboard...

Let's hope Alex is getting closer every day.

[gweilgi]

3 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

 

 

By the way, is the LGC Platinum Edition the worst name ever for any Cuban Cigar? HSA really has gone full tilt boogie on the NC marketing gimmickry...lord help us.

NC marketing gimmickry?  

I actually associate "platinum" labelling with dishwasher tabs and laundry detergent ... 

[Mycroft]

I am planning to try my second Boli Tesoro tomorrow night. The first was a virtually unsmokeable construction disaster. I guess it's a risk with figurados. This next one feels better though, so high hopes. 

 

[BrightonCorgi]

I don't mind the RE's; as long as they're a compelling smoke.  Aren't RE's suppose to use a different filler than normal production?

[bwgan]

Saint Luis Rey San Luis Tesoros is available

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, BrightonCorgi said:

I don't mind the RE's; as long as they're a compelling smoke.  Aren't RE's suppose to use a different filler than normal production?

I concur, but they so frequently aren't compelling. I'd say only a quarter to a third of the REs released each year are really impressive based on my observation of opinions and limited personal experience.

As far as the blends, who knows. I find it hard to believe each RE has a different blend every year. And how much of each blend has the marca's DNA? From my experience, blends for the REs are highly questionable. There are about 10-15 REs released every year. Blending each one differently and then also blending slightly different within the marca would be a herculean task for blenders who can barely keep the classic lines consistent.

[BrightonCorgi]

What about the story line on the filler being a different strain?