New Cohiba Lancero release - El Habano Moderno

[Marco_011t556]

Interestingly, I read a post whereby someone posted his Lancero with Alex‘s cigar band. I wonder how it would taste? Alex can we make some orders (but I wonder if you authorize it, lol)?

 

[benfica_77]

@ATGroom Mr. Groom did you know about this? 

[zacca]

Wow, I really hope Alex is behind this but seeing all those pics, I have my doubts. Call me cynical, but nothing goes together like China and counterfeits. It wouldn’t surprise me if they took regular CoLa, created that band, and are selling it for 3x as some special edition to wealthy Chinese clout chasers. I would absolutely be delighted to hear that’s not the case though and instead Alex really got to create his own Cohiba blend.

[El Presidente]

7 hours ago, zacca said:

Wow, I really hope Alex is behind this but seeing all those pics, I have my doubts. Call me cynical, but nothing goes together like China and counterfeits. It wouldn’t surprise me if they took regular CoLa, created that band, and are selling it for 3x as some special edition to wealthy Chinese clout chasers. I would absolutely be delighted to hear that’s not the case though and instead Alex really got to create his own Cohiba blend.

You are out on a ledge! 

Alex is trying to get a flight back to Oz. No doubt he will shed light upon his return. 

[ha_banos]

I'm sure he would have mentioned this last night!

[JohnS]

Occam's Razor suggest the truth is much, much simpler than one would think. This specimen was taken during the mid-2023 launch of El Habano Moderno. I will let Alex tell us the story when he gets a chance.

[ATGroom]

Haha, never thought I'd be doing authentication of the EHM bands.🤣

The story is that about 1000 of these bands were printed for the book launch parties.

First event was in Melbourne in July 2023 where I put them onto two boxes of Monte Especial 2s.

In September I did events in Hong Kong and Macau where they put them on Coronas Especiales and Lanceros. In both cases I handed the hosts a baggie with 100 or so, so they may have had extra for counterfeit production.

I also gave some to the hosts of an event in Kuwait in January 2024, but they wanted to use thicker rg cigars so they printed their own bands with a similar design.

The remaining 500 are in a drawer in my study.

I'm guessing the Lancero in the post is probably one someone saved from the Macau event.

Like any souvenir vanity band, the point is that it's a memento of an event or meeting a person or what have you. It doesn't indicate anything special about the cigar. If one were to counterfeit these bands I guess it would be in order to pretend they attended a launch party? Seems a bit of an empty flex to me.

[zacca]

@ATGroom that’s really cool. I had no idea bands were produced for the launch party in the first place, so I was thinking the entire idea came from an enterprising individual abroad looking to capitalize on your opus. But like @JohnS said, Occam’s Razor and all 🤦‍♂️ 

[benfica_77]

Thanks for the clarification...slightly disappointed that they weren't a special Alex Groom blend of the CoLA rolled on virgin thighs. 

[ATGroom]

3 hours ago, benfica_77 said:

Thanks for the clarification...slightly disappointed that they weren't a special Alex Groom blend of the CoLA rolled on virgin thighs. 

Ah yes, sorry, please ignore my previous post. What I meant to say was that these bands are strictly applied to cigars I roll personally when in Cuba (it is not widely known, but actually I am a level 11 torcedor). Because of my extremely high connections in the Cuban government I am able to choose the very best bails from the warehouses in Havana, which is what I use for these cigars.

Under normal circumstances they are only given to VVVIPs of the highest level, however, as it happens I produced a few extra on the last batch which I am willing to part with for a very reasonable fee of $5000 USD per stick.

[ha_banos]

This will be lore in about 5 years time. Someone get hold of those remaining bands!