Is HSA giving specific marcas 'resurrection bumps' in selected high quality tobacco?

[99call]

So to explain,  I'm currently on a big Punch buying spree.  from late 19 onwards, I feel as if the standard across the board has moved from:

Before:     Dull, over packed, linear, uneventful, woody, papery

After:        Cloves, cream, Juicyfruit, opulent, legs for decades, classic profile.  Cuban 'twang' like no other

When we look back over what happened with QDO we really get an insight into how 'night and day' a turnaround in quality can be..........that said I thought QDO was a class act before the revamp. 

In conclusion do you see other lines "getting the love"  a sudden uptick in quality?   

 

[Tstew75]

I think it's merely a factor of the insanely great leaf quality they had to roll with in 19/20...in fact I think 19s will go down as all time greats IMO

Punch appeared to make a comeback, as well as SCLH. That's the only 2 I can really think of that made big strides

[99call]

Just now, Tstew75 said:

SCLH

To me this brand it really weighted by its wrapper. The unique mahogany coloured wrapper that features on SCLH is either available.....or it's not. 

In conclusion, there have been many brands. Partagas and Bolivar (the worst offenders) that have released cigars that have ranged from candela to oscuro,  to me it's a little misguided if your brand had a specific body or power, and you're continuously releasing cigars that do not exemplify those standards

[El Presidente]

10 minutes ago, Tstew75 said:

Punch appeared to make a comeback, as well as SCLH. That's the only 2 I can really think of that made big strides

Trinidad went from inconsistent embarrassment in  2016/17 to gold in 2019/20. 

[JohnS]

In general, yes, 2019/20 stock has been of high quality. However, when it comes to turnaround marketing via re-branding I would concur that quality leaf is required to resuscitate these brands. Recent beneficiaries include Quai d'Orsay, Trinidad, Punch.

In other instances it might not be a re-branding but a campaign to make a line (or series) stand out from its marca, such as the Partagas Maduro Line.

[99call]

10 minutes ago, JohnS said:

In general, yes, 2019/20 stock has been of high quality. However, when it comes to turnaround marketing via re-branding I would concur that quality leaf is required to resuscitate these brands. Recent beneficiaries include Quai d'Orsay, Trinidad, Punch.

In other instances it might not be a re-branding but a campaign to make a line (or series) stand out from its marca, such as the Partagas Maduro Line.

This is great @JohnS, @El Presidente and it really hits home to my thoughts. Momentum doesn't really gather if someone say's "Jeese, coloniales are on the up"  For a marca to really make any headway, if has to be quality across the board.   Trinidad, have managed that.......and how!!   I have a prediction that the Trinidad Casilda will out perform Cohibas in time. 

If I had to guess, I would commit to thought that HSA were giving certain marcas a 'rev up' ahead new releases etc. lets hope....i love Punch, let's hope for a new lease of life.

[NSXCIGAR]

I think it's just 19-20 being a step up.

Punch: Punch Punch and DC have been solid since 14-15. 48 has been solid since release although 19-20 seems like a step up. Short de Punch has been great since release but that's brand new. Punch ERs of recent years have been consistent. 

QdO: I don't think the 50 & 54 have fluctuated at all since release and Coronas have been the same for many years. 

Trini: I haven't seen a major shift since 2010 although I agree with Rob that 16-17 was a bit of a rut. The new releases have all been good but again are pretty new. 

 

[99call]

1 minute ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Punch: Punch Punch and DC have been solid since 14-15.

HHmm I've had PP  PDC from 15-16-17 and they were all pretty crappy.   

QdO whether old or new ...............is all gold in my book

Trini, has been an obvious uptick, love the blend, and it's great to see Cohiba given a proper challenge for the top spot

[NSXCIGAR]

1 minute ago, 99call said:

HHmm I've had PP  PDC from 15-16-17 and they were all pretty crappy.   

QdO whether old or new ...............is all gold in my book

Trini, has been an obvious uptick, love the blend, and it's great to see Cohiba given a proper challenge for the top spot

Did you have any Punch DC from 07-14? Yikes. I think Punch's reemergence began 5 or 6 years ago and is continuing to grow. 

And the early 2010s Trini was great. I would say quality was right there with 19-20. Robusto Ts, Robusto Extras were outstanding. Take the 15-17 dip out of the equation and Trini has been solid for at least 10 years.

[Tstew75]

2 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Trinidad went from inconsistent embarrassment in  2016/17 to gold in 2019/20. 

Nice add. The ARS-coded 19s were all fire, 20 Laguito boxes are friggin' brilliant as well. Thankfully I wasn't a big Trini fan a couple of years ago lol

2 hours ago, JohnS said:

In general, yes, 2019/20 stock has been of high quality. However, when it comes to turnaround marketing via re-branding I would concur that quality leaf is required to resuscitate these brands. Recent beneficiaries include Quai d'Orsay, Trinidad, Punch.

In other instances it might not be a re-branding but a campaign to make a line (or series) stand out from its marca, such as the Partagas Maduro Line.

I really really like the Partagas Maduro cigar additions.

RE: QDO, I have to slightly disagree with some mentions above. While the marca has seen a complete turnaround, I find the offerings wildly inconsistent...I've come across some absolute atrocious looking 19/20 boxes, with some good ones sprinkled in.  I honestly think they're just pumping these out with very little eye for quality.
 

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, Tstew75 said:

I really really like the Partagas Maduro cigar additions.

They haven't been around long but I think the No. 1 hasn't been better than it is today. I hate the vitola but I've had the best flavors from the No. 2 and the No. 3 has been pretty good but maybe a tad behind the No 1. That said, they're not cigars I really love. 

As far as QdO, I kind of look at it differently. I consider QdO to have undergone a complete revamp. The two new models are too new to have a track record. Any fluctuations in quality can only be chalked up to standard variation at this point. Let's see the 50 and 54 after 5 more years.