Hypothetical: If you could blend Cuban leaf with Non Cuban leaf?

[El Presidente]

Hypothetical: If you could blend Cuban Leaf with Non Cuban leaf? 

 

Cuban Leaf is the best in the world and most of you are familiar with it's qualities and what it can bring to the table. 

Many of you are also familiar with Non-Cuban leaf. 

Given the possibility in the not too distant future that quality Cuban leaf may be available to Non Cuban manufacturers, what blending do you think would work....would "sing". 

For the purpose of the exercise, think Robusto format (50 gauge cigar). Wrapper/Binder/Fillers

I have forwarded this question to Hamlet for his input. However, let us know your thoughts. 

[Kaptain Karl]

I’d imagine we’d see premium tobacco yields drastically increase in Cuba if/when NC manufactures get access to Cuban leaf? 🥹

[El Niño]

In my very, very, very limited experience blending, it's been a c**pshoot most of the time I put tobaccos together. I usually can't see the rhyme or reason it works or fails. Is Hamlet taking applications for interns? lol

BUT

I would love to see US tobacco blended with Cuban tobacco – Cuban fillers, PA broadleaf binder and a some sort of American claro wrapper. Also, I think Cuban cigars with Ecuadorian Habano wrappers would be delicious and increase yield (to @Kaptain Karl's point). Some light LGC or Cohiba style filler-binder blends with a vanilla-y Ecuadorian habano wrapper?? I'm in. 

 

[Mike Mecklenburg]

It would be interesting to match Connecticut Broadleaf Wrapper with Cuban filler and binder. You have the dark sweet rich wrapper and the creamy, woody, twang, etc.

[avaldes]

Don Carlos Robusto with Cuban tobacco could be a real winner.

[Ford2112]

Robusto Trinity with a Rosado Wrapper from Vuelta Abajo.

[Nevrknow]

Who doth speakage of such sacrilege? There is Cuban tobacco and Non-Cuban tobacco and never the twain shall meet!  Said someone famous (probably) but most likely just me!

[ReelMan]

I believe that a Connecticut Shade and a filler of a combo of Cuban Robusto and Trinidad Fundadores innards would create another world class cigar that would outclass the existing availabilities. New World seed is wonderful at the hands of Hammy, but the sweet spot will always be, to me, shade and Cubano.

Another option would be the incredible special leaf that Hammy found for the Ninfa, combine it with a H. Upmann #2 profile filler, and using a broadleaf wrapper.

[Dadof3]

5 hours ago, avaldes said:

Don Carlos Robusto with Cuban tobacco could be a real winner.

That was sort of my thought. Cameroon wrapper with Cuban filler. Maybe some sort of barrel fermented binder for a little extra depth.  

[BrightonCorgi]

Cameroon or Sumatra wrapper would be interesting.

[zacca]

It feels like when I first learned Lamborghinis would start having VW parts.

[SirVantes]

2 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Cameroon or Sumatra wrapper would be interesting.

A Cameroon wrapper on a Diplomaticos could work.

[Li Bai]

At this point, I don't even believe that somebody knows for sure that one could improve the Cuban experience with foreign tobacco but it would open the door to years of exciting experiments for sure. 👍

Eager to read your take and Hamlet's take on the matter Rob. 🤔

[laficion]

Hi all,

I don't understand, hasn't it been done before??? It was called " CLEAR HAVANAS " ???? Aside from the reason that it could lower the prices of cigars, plus the interesting experiments it could make with other tobaccos, why start this all over again??? History keeps repeating itself.

Amicalement,

Guy

[BrightonCorgi]

9 hours ago, zacca said:

It feels like when I first learned Lamborghinis would start having VW parts.

Had to drop off my wife's car at the mechanic yesterday and this is what they were working on. Both VW owned:

[BrightonCorgi]

4 hours ago, laficion said:

Hi all,

I don't understand, hasn't it been done before??? It was called " CLEAR HAVANAS " ???? Aside from the reason that it could lower the prices of cigars, plus the interesting experiments it could make with other tobaccos, why start this all over again??? History keeps repeating itself.

Amicalement,

Guy

P.G.C. Hajenius are supposed to have some Cuban tobacco in them.

[Duder]

Blasphemy. 

[ElLoboLoco]

Won’t be long, we will be smoking Rocky Patel Cuban 1994 Limitadas or AJ Fernandez Old World Cubans. Then a year later Cigar Bid is blowing out 10 packs for $19.95.

[Dadof3]

10 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Had to drop off my wife's car at the mechanic yesterday and this is what they were working on. Both VW owned:

As nuts as it sounds, there is an argument to be made that the VW parts in these cars make them more reliable than the one off parts that existed previously.  

13 hours ago, laficion said:

Hi all,

I don't understand, hasn't it been done before??? It was called " CLEAR HAVANAS " ???? Aside from the reason that it could lower the prices of cigars, plus the interesting experiments it could make with other tobaccos, why start this all over again??? History keeps repeating itself.

Amicalement,

Guy

I thought the Clear Havanas were just puros made with Cuban leaf in Tampa? 

[Namisgr11]

I haven't a clue what works or doesn't blending cigar tobaccos. Perhaps that'll be readily apparent in what I write next. But for curiosity sake, I'd be interested in seeing what a Chateau Fuente Opus X Dominican wrapper does to the flavor of an otherwise H. Upmann or Trinidad Cuban binder and filler. Or maybe there's another with classic Cuban flavors and twang that would work with this wrapper.

[Joeyjojo]

Given the subtlety of Cuban tobacco, I would be inclined to think of using Honduran tobacco given that it is less 'fuerte' than Nicaraguan tobacco. I would like to see what the Eiroa family could do with it, since they have some great Corojo, which they claim is the same lineage as traditional Cuban Corojo. Although in my mind, I'd be more interested what new world guys could do with Cuban soil. Take tobacco growing into the new century and redevelop the soil etc.  

[ElLoboLoco]

7 hours ago, Dadof3 said:

I thought the Clear Havanas were just puros made with Cuban leaf in Tampa? 

Yes, cigars made in the USA with usually Cuban leaf. Ironic as it sounds, it was cheaper than importing them rolled back then directly from Cuba.

[BrightonCorgi]

Clear Havanas with 100% Cuban tobacco would be my ideal if the embargo changes. It's going to be a while before trademark disputes come to a conclusion. Habanos could introduce a few new brands or resurrect trademark clear marcas. There must be a few marcas that are not in trademark dispute currently in production.  

Are the blends of Cuban and Non-Cuban tobacco really going to be that compelling vs. Cuban and Non-Cuban as it is today? Probably not.

[Dadof3]

16 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Clear Havanas with 100% Cuban tobacco would be my ideal if the embargo changes. It's going to be a while before trademark disputes come to a conclusion. Habanos could introduce a few new brands or resurrect trademark clear marcas. There must be a few marcas that are not in trademark dispute currently in production.  

Are the blends of Cuban and Non-Cuban tobacco really going to be that compelling vs. Cuban and Non-Cuban as it is today? Probably not.

If the embargo was lifted you’d expect some sort of deal to be worked out. There has to be more money for all if they work together in it.  

[BrightonCorgi]

9 hours ago, Dadof3 said:

If the embargo was lifted you’d expect some sort of deal to be worked out.  There has to be more money for all if they work together in it.  

Not if their lawyers can help it. How idealist and pragmatic of you!