1f1fan: Development of a cigar

[El Presidente]

1f1Fan Question:

1. How long does it take once the crop is harvested until the cigars are actually boxed and ready to distribute...Example, what major crop (year) is being used to make 04/05 cigars.

2. Why are certain cigars discontinued? Lack of demand, or lack of tobacco to blend the cigars. Example, H Upmann #4

1. Not so easy to assess as it is dependent on size of crop and appropriate leaf. As a rule 05 stock uses 04 tobacco. It is possible that late 05 production uses early 05 harvested tobacco.

2. Lack of demand. Lack of profit. Too large a line (i.e Punch Punch, Punch SS2, Punch RS11). Once upon a time it did not matter. Now with partners who have put in 500 Million.....it most certainly does.

[The Privateer]

»

» 2. Lack of demand. Lack of profit. Too large a line (i.e Punch Punch,

» Punch SS2, Punch RS11). [/i] Once upon a time it did not matter. Now with

» partners who have put in 500 Million.....it most certainly does.

That's a pity. While overall quailty does seem to have improved, the lesser known vitolas (which have always been pretty consistent anyway) are sorely missed. RA Coronas especially.

[1f1fan]

Thanks for the quick reply Rob.

[El Presidente]

Don't fret too much Privateer.

We will see them come back. It is just important that Habanos s.a comes up with a way of marketing them properly. Remember, all the members of all the boards combined may be only one percent of the total Habanos sold worldwide.

For RA Coronas I am a fan of releasing them only in Cabs of 50 once a year (100,000 sticks/2000 Cabinets) in a special "Connoisseurs release".

Do the same for Punch SS2, PL Lonsdales etc etc. DO 10 Connoisseur releases a year in the same format and re-release every 1-2 years.

[The Privateer]

» For RA Coronas I am a fan of releasing them only in Cabs of 50 once a year

» (100,000 sticks/2000 Cabinets) in a special "Connoisseurs release".

»

» Do the same for Punch SS2, PL Lonsdales etc etc. DO 10 Connoisseur

» releases a year in the same format and re-release every 1-2 years.

I certainly hope such a project materializes. From the success of the PSD4 Reserva, I'd imagine that such a venture would be well received.

I'd only be concerned about the pricing of such Connoisseur editions.

[jwrussell]

» 1. Not so easy to assess as it is dependent on size of crop and

» appropriate leaf. As a rule 05 stock uses 04 tobacco. It is possible that

» late 05 production uses early 05 harvested tobacco.

Hmmm....I saw somewhere that it took 2-3 years? Let me do a search...

Here we go: Blog discussion with Alejandro Robaina

Maybe it varies from line to line???

[El Presidente]

JW.

Our information came from Nestor Valera. It all comes down to demand and supply. They can and do produce say late 05 from early 05 stock if early 05 is all they have. Foreign currency demand rules.

If they have older...they use older. The 2-3 year rule is very romantic however ;-)

[Fatshotbud]

» Don't fret too much Privateer.

»

» We will see them come back. It is just important that Habanos s.a comes up

» with a way of marketing them properly. Remember, all the members of all the

» boards combined may be only one percent of the total Habanos sold

» worldwide.

»

» For RA Coronas I am a fan of releasing them only in Cabs of 50 once a year

» (100,000 sticks/2000 Cabinets) in a special "Connoisseurs release".

»

» Do the same for Punch SS2, PL Lonsdales etc etc. DO 10 Connoisseur

» releases a year in the same format and re-release every 1-2 years.

Got my vote

[kab55]

Wouldn't mind seeing the Punch SS2's come back, mine will be gone by the end of the year :-P