El Presidente Posted March 9 Posted March 9 Cuban Cigars that no longer have a place? The Habanos friendless list? There are a cohort of Cuban cigars that are doing just fine under current pricing and current global cigar trends. There are another cohort of Cuban cigars that never quite found their feet after the 2022 Habanos Cigarmageddon pricing changes. To be fair some of these were stuggling before the price increases, but have now been relegated to current Habanos catalogue "fillers". Habanos no longer releases (to my knowledge) an annual "best seller" cigar numbers. The last time I saw it was around 2019 when Partagas D 4 pipped the Montecristo Number 4 as the best selling Habanos cigar in the world. I would guess that the Partagas Serie D Number 4 is still the No 1 selling Habanos cigar in the world today. I am guessing that the Montecristo Number 4 would now struggle to make the top 20. In your opinion, what are the Cuban cigars that are struggling? The Habanos "friendless". The cigars that are largely "catalogue fillers". 1
Li Bai Posted March 9 Posted March 9 For some marcas it would be faster to name those I'd keep 🤔 Without having a single idea as to how well they sell, my first thoughts went with the Short Churchill, the Petit Churchill, the D5 and the Petit Edmundo. 4
Popular Post JohnS Posted March 9 Popular Post Posted March 9 I would hazard to guess that most of the Trinidad marca, apart from the Fundadores, now colloquially sits on shelves collecting dust. Some others I think that struggle to sell would be a number of vitolas within the Romeo y Julieta marca such as the Short Churchill and Wide Churchill. Rafael Gonzalez was not a widely known brand before 2022. Afterwards, I would reluctantly believe that sales of the RG Petit Coronas and Perlas has slowed down further. 7
Popular Post griller Posted March 9 Popular Post Posted March 9 Agree with @Li Bai and @JohnS but imagine Cuaba is a challenged line and could be added to their respective lists, too. Maybe I'm way off... 5
gormag38 Posted March 9 Posted March 9 First things that came to mind was D5 and D6. Otherwise I'd have to say that some of the RyJ vitolas would likely make the list as well, like the Short Churchill, Sport Largo, etc. Trinidad is a shelf sitter right now; but mostly due to pricing. If they lowered pricing another 10-20% I think they'd start to move. 4
MrBirdman Posted March 9 Posted March 9 Monte and H.Upmann Half Coronas. No point buying them anymore - too small and inconsistent to justify even $8 a stick, let alone over $10. 2
Puros Y Vino Posted March 9 Posted March 9 8 hours ago, griller said: Agree with @Li Bai and @JohnS but imagine Cuaba is a challenged line and could be added to their respective lists, too. Maybe I'm way off... I don't see the need for Cuaba. There's some decent cigars in there but nothing exciting. IMO they should axe it and transfer some of the line to marcas without a perfecto, with a change of blend to suite the marca OFC. 2 2
gormag38 Posted March 9 Posted March 9 3 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said: I don't see the need for Cuaba Forgot about Cuaba. I agree in that the entire line could/should probably get the axe. 3 3
Popular Post Gubbins Posted March 9 Popular Post Posted March 9 Don’t see the point in Partagas Mille Fleurs. The Aristocrats are nicer and you also have the super Partagas. 5
BrightonCorgi Posted March 9 Posted March 9 If Habanos wants to axe a marca, it should be San Cristobal. It never had the trajectory of the other new marcas beyond the early LCDH series. I'd be curious to try one of those today. I finished my last box around 2010. They were fun, but nothing to write home about. 4
Popular Post mikec Posted March 9 Popular Post Posted March 9 I agree that the Romeo y Julieta line is overstuffed with some redundant vitolas for sure. I remember sitting with my wife in Cathedral Square on November 20th of 1999 for the launch party of the San Cristobal line of cigars and although impressed with the general presentation of the brand thinking that it was an unnecessary endeavour. The cigars we smoked that day where actually quite impressive and the actual boxes, bands and number of vitolas where very nice. I always thought that the San Cristobals where a non-starter and to this day they don't seem to have a core following. I am to this day still shocked that a premiere line like San Luis Rey is down to one robusto size and the fantastic Churchill, Lonsdale and Double Corona are long gone. You have to constantly wonder who is making these decisions? I'm also hearing that a great cigar like the Partagas 898 are barely being produced and will likely vanish before long. One of my favourite cigars was the Ramon Allones 898 which was cancelled for no reason as well. I also never got the Cuaba line either and the jury is out with me on the Quai d'Orsay but they seem to be picking up steam with a new following that also sells quite well from what I see. 7
Ford2112 Posted March 9 Posted March 9 Reyes has to be one of the main ones. That and Cuaba Exclusivos. 2
Popular Post El Presidente Posted March 10 Author Popular Post Posted March 10 11 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said: If Habanos wants to axe a marca, it should be San Cristobal. It never had the trajectory of the other new marcas beyond the early LCDH series. I'd be curious to try one of those today. I finished my last box around 2010. They were fun, but nothing to write home about. I hear you! My perspective is that whomever is running San Cristobal marketing (I assume no one) deserves a kick in the arse. San Cristobal has delivered some of the greatest light-medium blends the cigar world has ever seen. Principe/Fuerza...Oficios/El Morro/ Muralla! That is the "sweet spot" in todays global market. To be incapable of capitalising is a marketing crime. 5 1
Duder Posted March 10 Posted March 10 6 hours ago, El Presidente said: I hear you! My perspective is that whomever is running San Cristobal marketing (I assume no one) deserves a kick in the arse. San Cristobal has delivered some of the greatest light-medium blends the cigar world has ever seen. Principe/Fuerza...Oficios/El Morro/ Muralla! That is the "sweet spot" in todays global market. To be incapable of capitalising is a marketing crime. Amen! 1
zacca Posted March 10 Posted March 10 23 hours ago, El Presidente said: My perspective is that whoever is running San Cristobal marketing (I assume no one) deserves a kick in the arse. @El Presidente, this made me wonder — do the individual marcas have their own marketing/ops teams, or is it all centralized under HSA with one group running the whole portfolio? Or does HSA assign internal ‘brand teams’ that are responsible for each marca? 2
Popular Post loose_axle Posted March 10 Popular Post Posted March 10 11 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said: If Habanos wants to axe a marca, it should be San Cristobal. It never had the trajectory of the other new marcas beyond the early LCDH series. I'd be curious to try one of those today. I finished my last box around 2010. They were fun, but nothing to write home about. Oi! Take my La Punta away or the phenomenal Jarra Torreon and to quote Snatch: 1 5
cnov Posted March 10 Posted March 10 The Monte No.5 has gone from my collection and will not be making a return, purely due to price. 1
westg Posted March 10 Posted March 10 How dare you. May the Cuban Cigar Gods spare you. Not you Rob. You can't be saved. https://youtu.be/KuC1lFH0PKA?si=pZaPGtHtn4fetWJz 2
Popular Post ATGroom Posted March 10 Popular Post Posted March 10 A bit surprising to see the small 'everyday' kind of cigars getting called out here. I'd say probably reflects the generally more price-sensitive US market bent of this forum vs the global attitude. From my info, the top 5 sellers in terms of volume in 2025 were: 1. Romeo y Julieta Mille Fleurs 2. Monte 4 3. PSD4 4. Partagás Mille Fleurs 5. H. Upmann Half Corona 6 4 1
JDoughty Posted March 10 Posted March 10 I mean, maybe it's just that I'm used to them and like them, but I just don't ever see giving up my Partagas Mille Fleurs or Monte #4. There are better and more complex cigars out there, but I quite like them and intend to keep buying them. The price point has gotten silly, so I'll probably be reaching for them less often. But still more often than the really ridiculously priced ones that I also enjoy. 2
Montezüma Posted March 10 Posted March 10 On 3/10/2026 at 5:00 AM, Gubbins said: Don’t see the point in Partagas Mille Fleurs. The Aristocrats are nicer and you also have the super Partagas. I second the cut on Mille Fleurs but Partagas Shorts would be my winner between all of them. Still though, the best for that weight bracket is definitely Ramon Allones SCC, so much quality so much value. Its really hard to talk about SC Principes, it's that great daily cigar that no one actually wants to have. 1
Gubbins Posted March 10 Posted March 10 Quote @Montezüma I second the cut on Mille Fleurs but Partagas Shorts would be my winner between all of them. Still though, the best for that weight bracket is definitely Ramon Allones SCC, so much quality so much value. Its really hard to talk about SC Principes, it's that great daily cigar that no one actually wants to have. Agree on all points. RASCC vs Party Shorts probably comes down to flavour preference for a lot of people, but bang for buck there's not much beating RASCC, maybe some of the Upmann offering if that's ones thing. You could possibly argue the shorts bring a touch more complexity 🤷♂️ RE: the Principes I think they require more aging to start to shine, but do have a flavour niche. Where as shorts and RASCC are ready to go in no time. Principes don't quite have the same cache either. I saw a thread regarding the San Cristobel marketing, and I tend to agree on that front as well. Could probably use some of the Quai d'Orsay treatment. 2
BrightonCorgi Posted March 10 Posted March 10 5 hours ago, ATGroom said: A bit surprising to see the small 'everyday' kind of cigars getting called out here. I'd say probably reflects the generally more price-sensitive US market bent of this forum vs the global attitude. From my info, the top 5 sellers in terms of volume in 2025 were: 1. Romeo y Julieta Mille Fleurs 2. Monte 4 3. PSD4 4. Partagás Mille Fleurs 5. H. Upmann Half Corona Half Corona is the only reliable one at Duty Free Stores. 1
Allroz Posted March 10 Posted March 10 4 hours ago, Montezüma said: I second the cut on Mille Fleurs but Partagas Shorts would be my winner between all of them. Still though, the best for that weight bracket is definitely Ramon Allones SCC, so much quality so much value. Its really hard to talk about SC Principes, it's that great daily cigar that no one actually wants to have. Are you saying the Shorts would be your choice between MF and the Supers, or these no longer have a place? I might be in the minority camp but I personally don't see the value in Party Shorts nor do I get the hype, and I'm a big Partagas fan. Definitely agreed on the RASCC having significant value at its price point. 1
BG318 Posted March 10 Posted March 10 Adios Cuaba. San Cristobal would make a good Divino. If there was a home for a resurrected Diadema I'd be set. 2
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