What brands should co-brand with Habanos

[BrightonCorgi]

Off the coat tails of

What brands do you think would make a good association or partnership with Habanos?  Keep in mind it has to work for both sides.  Need to think of the short and long term effect of being associated with tobacco, Cuba, and cigars...

[NSXCIGAR]

Actually a interesting question.

As an association with tobacco of any kind is radioactive for PR these days it would have to be a mainly men's brand--possibly cars or golf or something already in the "vice" category such as a major alcohol brand like Johnnie Walker or Hennessey. Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche could be possible. Could be done similar to an ER so only Diadema would have the Ferrari line, H & F would have the Johnnie Walker line and SEITA would have the Hennessey line for limited production and/or exclusivity. 

[ayepatz]

You’d think Pol Roger would be onto a winner with the Churchill connection.

 

[BrightonCorgi]

1 hour ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Actually a interesting question.

As an association with tobacco of any kind is radioactive for PR these days it would have to be a mainly men's brand--possibly cars or golf or something already in the "vice" category such as a major alcohol brand like Johnnie Walker or Hennessey. Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche could be possible. Could be done similar to an ER so only Diadema would have the Ferrari line, H & F would have the Johnnie Walker line and SEITA would have the Hennessey line for limited production and/or exclusivity. 

Celebrity association, retired athlete, thinker, chef.  There have been chef wine/port releases; why not with a cigar?  Liquor business is low lying fruit.  Does high fashion or ultra premium brands get any value of cigar association (Hermes, Goyard, Rolex, AP...)?  Are cigars mostly toxic to co-branding and that is why it has happened?  The imagery does not ago away once you introduce it.

[oliverdst]

Bucanero Fuerte

[Colt45]

39 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Does high fashion or ultra premium brands get any value of cigar association (Hermes, Goyard, Rolex, AP...)?

As already mentioned, with it being increasingly taboo to be associated with tobacco, I'm not sure what value there could be. Then there is the issue of being seen as aligned with the government...

[MrGlass]

59 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

There have been chef wine/port releases; why not with a cigar? 

Davidoff actually did this back in 2016 with the Chefs Edition:  https://halfwheel.com/davidoff-chefs-edition

[Jimmy_jack]

I don’t think of a bran when I think of Cuban cigars. I think of what flavor profile I’m in the mood for. Could care less about the label. It’s not like they will be made at a Dunhill or Ralph Lauren factory.

[Fuzz]

Considering the way HSA have decided to go with big RG cigars, Trojan Magnum or Doc Johnson.

[canadianbeaver]

I am a purist. When the NC market came out with Pappy Van Vinkle cigars, I thought, “oh brother, what a company will do to sap cigar guys!”

However, hypothetically, how about matching an edition with Havana Club.

CB

[ErikB]

Maybe invite some famous ex- Cubans (Don Pepin , AJ Fernandez) to blend a limited edition , for instance a San Cristobal by Don Pepin . I heard rumours he was involved with San Cristobal back in the day anyway . But this , of course , will never happen , for several reasons. And I wouldn’t buy them anyway , but perhaps many Americans might

 

 

Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk

 

[Kaptain Karl]

Dion giolito of illusione would make absolute magic out of Cuban tobacco 

[cigcars]

   WARPED CIGARS COMPANY ALL THE WAY!!!!!      

[gweilgi]

If we are thinking of cigar brands, I would suggest Davidoff, Fuente, Padron.

If other luxury consumables: certain brands of rum such as Zapaca, and definitely any number of Scottish Single Malts -- take your pick.  

If we are talking brands in general, I would say that only luxury goods would make sense.  Dunhill has shown the way how one can branch out into all sorts of luxury accessories sold in the penumbra of cigars, from ashtrays and tubes to travel humidors and lighters and all manner of gadgetry.  I am sure that the sort of customer who shells out on Elie Bleu desktop humidors to store his Cohiba Behikes might well be tempted by a Louis Vuitton or Hermes leather-covered traveldor or smoking jacket.  Thinking further, how about furniture?  Linley in London already makes humidors costing many *many* tens of thousands, built and designed not only to house cigars but to be designer interior decoration showpieces.  Or audiophile gear: how many of us enjoy high-quality music reproduction while puffing away and relaxing?  

[Puros Y Vino]

I think "where" would be more of a factor than "who".  Tobacco is an anathema in North American and Europe.  I don't think any luxury brand cooperating with the cigar business has anything to gain.  I can see China as a place where this could work.  Smoking is still prevalent and the cigar demand seems to be booming.  A localized campaign by a luxury brand mixed in with Habanos would probably work well there.

[cigcars]

3 hours ago, bundwallah said:

I think "where" would be more of a factor than "who".  Tobacco is an anathema in North American and Europe.  I don't think any luxury brand cooperating with the cigar business has anything to gain.  I can see China as a place where this could work.  Smoking is still prevalent and the cigar demand seems to be booming.  A localized campaign by a luxury brand mixed in with Habanos would probably work well there.

     *If China does with cigars and especially Cuban cigars what its done with 95% of the rest of the world's products from cheaply made products with inferior materials, ad infinitum then I think that (sorry and really no offense meant) I just don't think China would be a very good option for our very prestigious and highly enjoyable quality product in Habano tobaccos. The other prior suggestions of Padron for example would be ookaaayyy  it's just that as their pride and possibly intended use of their own Nicaraguan tobacco - and justifiably so- I think they'd probably utilize 90% Nicaraguan and slip only a little Cuban tobacco in it just to say it's got "Cuban" tobacco in the mix. Truly, I think Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame just might give us a truly H-A-B-A-N-A-E-S-Q-U-E worthy product here as well as the Warped Cigars company I'd mentioned earlier. Just my humble 2 cts.