Which Marque would you put your money on for refurbishment?

[El Presidente]

5 hours ago, Tstew75 said:

La Gloria Cubana, Cuba's oldest marca....it deserves it.

I'd launch the following (keeping current trends in mind) & aim to keep the prices fair (let's say under Trinidad):

• Lancero
• Reinstate the #2 (Lonsdale)
• Dbl Robusto

I would be all for it but don't think that you could successfully (commercially) do both a Lancero and Lonsdale. 

Personally I think the brand shines best in an under 50 gauge. 

However, would it beat out a Ramon Allones Lonsdale/898. 

History, existing brand recognition (RASS/SCC/CG), connoisseur market. 

Which is the safer bet? 

[El Presidente]

6 hours ago, JoeyBones777 said:

Diplomaticos

10 count 109's in 343 akin to bushido

25 count robusto in cabs akin to El Embajador

Re package No.2 similar to PSP No.2

Always a fan of Dip expansion. The Bushido quashed the fear that the Asian market wouldn't accept the Dip marque. 

10count and 50 cab 109. Winner. 

They would be nervous about the Robusto after PL Picadores.  Another Robusto in a crowded market?......they can do better/safer. 

[La_Tigre]

7 hours ago, Hammer Smokin' said:

what's wrong with the picadores?

do they not sell well (not popular)? cause I love 'em.

I’ve seen stacks of boxes from the release year sitting unsold. 

[Derboesekoenig]

32 minutes ago, La_Tigre said:

I’ve seen stacks of boxes from the release year sitting unsold. 

Same, they have NOT been popular at all. I've seen plenty of 2014 boxes around

[Puros Y Vino]

If you were given the job to revitalise one of the brands outside the top 6, I'd do a bit of what I would want to to and what I think I should do.

1. which would it be - La Escepcion

2. what 2 -3 cigars would you launch within that brand to make it a surefire success?

I wouldn't touch the newer stuff for sure. The SF was lightning in a bottle.

I would relaunch the Coronas Extra Largo.  It's a Lonsdale more similar to a Churchill in terms of size. 

There'd be a 52RG 109 Format cigar.  Bigger cigars are becoming the norm, no matter how much I dislike it.  I'd call it "La Habana" and it'd have a litte "500" centered below the brand to celebrate Havana's 500th Anniversary. And given that it's never too late when it comes to Habanos' releases. It'd be ok. 

And finally a Petit Robusto sized stick. I'm not too crazy about the vitoala, but it seems to be popular and working. I even find myself enjoying them when I don't have that much time for something larger.  One twist though. It'd have a 109 style head similar to the Bombones.

I think it's time for this marca step into the regular lineup once more.  As a final touch, I'd make the marca only have RE releases for Italy and that would happen every 3 years.

[JoeyBones777]

4 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Always a fan of Dip expansion. The Bushido quashed the fear that the Asian market wouldn't accept the Dip marque. 

10count and 50 cab 109. Winner. 

They would be nervous about the Robusto after PL Picadores.  Another Robusto in a crowded market?......they can do better/safer. 

Yeah, robustos are one of my least favorite vitolas but are king in the US market...or at least, they used to be. I have no idea about globally. Personally, I rather see the 109 10 ct and 898 dalias but they seem to be shying away from the dalias currently. ?

[Thirds]

I know what would help Unicos sales...production of Unicos.  Where have they gone?  

Man I hope they choose VR to revamp.  I’m a fan of current banding but would accept a new band in favor of keeping the brand around awhile. 

How have the VR ER releases done globally from sales standpoint?  Seems to have had a fair amount of regional releases in its relatively short life.  

Bring back the Clasicos and Don Alejandro once a year as a limited or regional and I’d be fine. It’s lazy but it seems to work. 

[dominattorney]

I would do something a bit different if I were the guy in charge. There are numerous issues with any one brand expansion. There was a nice idea albeit failure to launch with the anejados program. I'd look to some of the auccesdul releases of the last, ala the ramon allones superiors and upmann royal robusto, as well as bolivar liberator. In short, I would expand the lcdh marque. Everything that comes out with that extra band seems to do well and seems to be head and shoulders above the rest of the cigars in the "marque" they come from. I would consider rotating the releases every year or so through the tried and true that already exist, and try to breathe some life into lgdc with a taco in 10 packs, along with a montesco or Edmundo (maybe an edmundo with an extra half inch even) from ERDM. Finally, I would go with a corona gordan lcdh from sancho panza. That should get the juices flowing through the marques. The price is usually right in the lcdh releases as well, and the sizes selected are indicative of what the market is buying lately. Finally. It should generate some interest in the other cigars in the marques highlighted by the lcdh releases. 

[BrightonCorgi]

2023 will 70 year anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.  How about  refresh of popular cigars at that time like Don Candido, Dunhill Selection's or PL Candela's in bigger sizes like Churchill and DC?  Keep the blends as close as to they were.

[dshot]

Interesting question. I'd say Guantanamera since you already have a newbie awareness. You could gateway them into some higher quality vitolas. Rebrand with a back story about "Guajira Guantanamera" people will eat that shit up for breakfast. Have a launch party where they play that song over and over again. ha! I can see the LGC rebrand as a success as well. I dunno hard question.

[westg]

Sancho LCDH 50 and 54 double robusto Maduro. New shiney purple Brown bands with gold . New packaging . 

The non plus have gone . Throw a little panetela extra in to keep the RG company . The panetela would be normal production in cabs of 50 and 100. 

[The Squiggler]

Two words: Vegueros Filters

[FatPete]

I'd try and revitalise Punch. It's missing smaller cigars and I would bring out a Perla, and for the folks that like them fatter, one the size of the Trinidad Vigia. May work ?

 

[DeeBeezy]

HSA would never do this but they should revive robaina.

1.Montesco size

2. scrap the famous and make a robaina robusto

[NSXCIGAR]

15 hours ago, El Presidente said:

SLR currently has a struggling hermoso 4.  The only way is up 

Where do you move however.  Piramide? Possible but up against some venerable company. and some of those are struggling (Unicos). Smal and mid  formats such as PC and A a fail in the past. Rebranding as per QD? Possibly. Are there other lower hanging fruit? Likely. 

No, SLR can't get much lower. And before they cut it down to the Regios it was a Corona Gorda and a Prominentes--not good.

Campanas, Robustos, Genios, Sublimes--SLR is wide open for 50-54 RGs. I'm with you on Piramides--a little too crowded. A Rodolfo would be great though. For a smaller offering how about a Petit Piramides?

[havanaclub]

I would go for LGC. As others have mentioned, there is the NC counterpart so it is likely recognized compared to say SLR, or Dip.
Apparently the Recent LGC robusto italy regional is very good, the Spain D5 is great and the Swiss 109 Orgullosos is absolute!!
Toss in regular production the robusto, D5, maybe a belicosos, 109(make seasonally like the SW), MdO2 again and boom you have a winner. Add a montseco to make the big RGers happy . Where is my contract from HSA?

Honourable mention to diplomaticos . Their regionals are always excellent imo.


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[earthson]

18 hours ago, 99call said:

Reading this makes you sad that the most marginalised brands have the most distinctive blends. Really sad people don't smoke them more, if they only gave them a chance they would be life long converts

THIS.  The raging success of the Upmann Connie A demonstrates to me that people really like cigars that hit all the notes and have all the flavors at the expense of a well-defined character.  My favorite Havanas are those that are idosyncratic.

[Derboesekoenig]

How about one limited edition 50 cab per year? One cigar that currently isn't regular production in 50 cabs. 

[Euripidespants]

Davidoff and/or Dunhill. It would take a miracle, especially considering HSA would probably never let the outside influence in to make it happen. Nevertheless you can charge what ever you want and the cigars would sell as ultra premium. 

otherwise... PL magnum as a flagship and revitalize the brand from there

[El Presidente]

11 minutes ago, Euripidespants said:

Davidoff and/or Dunhill. It would take a miracle, especially considering HSA would probably never let the outside influence in to make it happen. Nevertheless you can charge what ever you want and the cigars would sell as ultra premium. 

otherwise... PL magnum as a flagship and revitalize the brand from there

Davi and Dunhill will never happen under the current regime.

PL Magnum? My favourite cigar ?

I have long pushed to get rid of Anejado and to introduce  heritage release.

 

[BoliDan]

44 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

I have long pushed to get rid of Anejado and to introduce  heritage release.

 

As long as the dilettantes with money keep buying Anejados, it will never happen. And let's be serious, us people on this site (combined) spend millions, but it is nothing compared to the power of the uneducated spendthrift that also buys 30 year scotch without any knowledge of how the 12 year expression compares for $500 less.

[El Presidente]

5 hours ago, BoliDan said:

As long as the dilettantes with money keep buying Anejados, 

The good news is that the program to date is somewhere between disappointing and luke warm.

There is always an opportunity cost with tobacco. Hopefully the penny drops

[Fuzz]

On 12/17/2019 at 7:16 PM, 99call said:

Haha not suggesting there isn't a market for cheapies but Jesus HSA should see the Guantanemera as an opportunity to win new burgeoning enthusiasts. Make them at least as good as a JLP Cazzie. 

I disagree. HSA should invest a huge amount of money into turning Guantanamera into a super premium brand, just like Ghurkas....

[SCgarman]

Diplomaticos. Should keep the #2 and add a variety of vitolas to revive the brand. It was originally a lower priced Montecristo, so price the marca accordingly and use good quality leaf.

Robaina is basically dead. 

LaGloria has been trumped by the non Cuban version. 

Por Larr is OK as is. 

[dowjr1]

On 12/16/2019 at 7:52 PM, HDGSN said:

PUNCH

Robusto Extra (10- and 25-count dress boxes)

109 (10-count varnished clasp boxes and 25-count SLB)

Churchill (Tubos with commemorative 2nd band)

 

This is a well thought out answer.