Cigar Industry

[Colt45]

Rob, this line from one of your posts on another thread caught my eye:

"so that everyone has an idea as to how the industry works, operates and how it has developed over the past 10 years."

I for one would be interested in hearing more about it. I've read, as I'm sure many have, about tobacco being planted, harvested, and processed. But what happens

after the cigars are rolled? In what manner are they packed, shipped, distributed,

etc. How many people are in the chain, so to speak.

Perhaps if you had time to put something together, it could be posted as a side link,

as was your "hunting" saga, and previous Cuba excursions.

[Fatshotbud]

» Rob, this line from one of your posts on another thread caught my eye:

»

» "so that everyone has an idea as to how the industry works, operates and

» how it has developed over the past 10 years."

»

» I for one would be interested in hearing more about it. I've read, as I'm

» sure many have, about tobacco being planted, harvested, and processed. But

» what happens

» after the cigars are rolled? In what manner are they packed, shipped,

» distributed,

» etc. How many people are in the chain, so to speak.

» Perhaps if you had time to put something together, it could be posted as a

» side link,

» as was your "hunting" saga, and previous Cuba excursions.

In your spare time of course :-D

[Loki]

I'd be interested also. I've read that from seed to leaf atleast 12 people have been involved.

[El Presidente]

I will hold this over until Ken and I do our "Havana Diary 2006". We are interviewing several Habanos S.A. execs and I will get the process down correctly. We can start a seperate section on the Forum for interview pieces if need be.

[korryp]

Sounds interesting and would look forward to reading this.

[genevapics]

I too would be interested in learning more about the process. Are there any books out there that really detail the process? Thanks.

[The Privateer]

This would be a great project....the books I've read have only given a general overview of the process.

[Van55]

» This would be a great project....the books I've read have only given a

» general overview of the process.

You must not have read The Havana Cigar -- Cuba's Finest by Charles Del Todesco. This 1996 book gives a comprensive description of the process of creating Cuban cigars from the planting of the seedlings to final packaging. It also includes a listing and very brief tasting notes of all Cuban cigars in regular production at that time. Though a bit dated by now, the history and creation process text are still mainly accurate, I suspect. The photos are wonderful as well. I got my copy last year at Amazon dot com.

What is lacking from Del Todescos book as well as from Min Ron NEE's work that I would find interesting is what happens to the boxes of cigars from packaging to the vendor's shelves as well as what thinking goes into the decisions of what new cigars to release and what old favorites will be discontinued. Regrettably, I fear that these matters are closely guarded secrets within Habanos s.a. to which even those involved in the industry will never be made privy.

[El Presidente]

Van.

Our intent is to describe the Habanos s.a and Cubatobacco side of the equation.

Who determines how much and how many.

Process for coming up with new cigars and new Le's

Who determines who gets what and when

etc etc

[waldo]

I'm interested in the different distribution "quirks". Like why Ramon Allones (for one) seem to be more widely available in Europe than say, this area.

[Van55]

» Van.

»

» Our intent is to describe the Habanos s.a and Cubatobacco side of the

» equation.

»

» Who determines how much and how many.

» Process for coming up with new cigars and new Le's

» Who determines who gets what and when

»

» etc etc

I will look forward to any information that you can learn in Cuba and pass on to us. But from all accounts I have heard, that kind of information is closely guarded and what you "learn" may or may not be the truth.