Balls and Strikes: Would a H. Upmann Petit Robusto work? Your thoughts.

[El Presidente]

The 2012 Seleccion Petit Robusto comprised 2 each of Petit Robusto for the 5 major brands. They were unique offerings at the time. 

Cohiba Petit Robustos

Montecristo Petit Robustos

Partagás Petit Robustos

H. Upmann Petit Robustos

Romeo y Julieta Petit Robustos

 

Of those, the Romeo y Julieta  Petit Robusto came into fruition as the Romeo y Julieta Petit Churchill. I think the R&J Petit Churchill is a fine cigar in its own right. Unfortunately, it carries some of the R&J marque perception baggage that persists. 

It is interesting to see what direction Habanos has gone down with the others. Let's call some balls and strikes 

 

Cohiba Petit Robusto ......OUT.  (2016) Cohiba Medio Corona  IN (52 ring gauge by 102 mm/4.0 inches). 

You can't knock Habanos on the call as the Cohiba Medio Siglo has been a success. It's not a Cohiba Robusto "knock it out of the park" success, but a success regardless. You might see some Siglo I and II sitting on shelves alongside mates Panetela/Exquisito...but you won't see Medio Siglo hanging around too long. 

Call: Strike 

 

Montecristo Petit Robusto .......Out.  (2015)  Montecristo Medio Siglo ......IN (44 ring guage by 90 mm/3.5 inches)

Habanos already had the highly successful Montecristo Petit Edmundo (2006) in the stable. Why muddy the waters and cannibalise sales? Better to bring out the 44 gauge hybrid and it has indeed been highly successful. 

Call: Strike 

Partagas Petit Robusto ........Out  Partagas Serie D No 6 .......IN

I think the release of the Partagas Serie D No 5 (2011/50 × 110 mm/4⅜″) and the Partagas Serie D Number 6 (2014/50 × 90 mm/3½″) to be one of the great Habanos cigar release missteps of the 2010's. 

They are both excellent cigars. They have both been absolute sales failures. For the love of Christ, they released the 6 in a timber box of 20. From an e-commerce perspective it will never fly. Throw in the fact that they were searching for close to D4 pricing and you begin to understand why both the 5 and the 6 struggle. Habanos already had the number 5 in their portfolio when they floated the Partagas Petit Robusto. Give or take, the No 5 is 10mm longer. The No 6, 10mm shorter. WTF were they thinking? 

Recommendation would be to scrap both and bring in the Partagas Petit Robusto packaged and priced correctly. 

 

 

Call : Fail 

That leaves the H. Upmann Petit Robusto 

The H. Upmann Half Corona was launched 2011 so it was already in the Upmann portfolio and kicking arse. 

The H. Upmann Petit Robusto has never made it to regular production outside of the Seleccion pack and would have no direct competitors.  

I think this would be a winner for Upmann and Habanos S.A. 

 

Your thoughts?  

https://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/cigar/multi-brand/seleccion-petit-robustos

[westg]

Would love to see them bring back the Petit Coronas. 46 × 6 .5 perfecto, for the love of Chris,t would be perfect. I had realized but edited too late for the Hoyo. 

[El Presidente]

2 minutes ago, westg said:

Hoyo Petit Robusto ? 

It wasn't part of that Petit Robusto Seleccion Pack so I left it out of the discussion. 

[westg]

The Half Coronas can be practical for a quick smoke. Never really been a fan for the Petit Robusto across any line. Just as they seem to really get going, it's over. Doesn't help that I smoke like a pig.  🤪

[El Presidente]

4 hours ago, westg said:

The Half Coronas can be practical for a quick smoke. Never really been a fan for the Petit Robusto across any line. Just as they seem to really get going, it's over. Doesn't help that I smoke like a pig.  🤪

I am also not a fan of the Petit Robusto Vitola. Albeit I think some blends are superb. 

Still, in parts of the world, Petit Robusto are wildly popular. 

[Glass Half Full]

I'm with Westy on this (and we haven't even met!  yet  ) 

For goodness sake, the HU Petit Corona has the complete package -- a story AND a pedigree of excellence. (It really is a great cigar... despite the hoopla...)

https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/great-moments-kennedy-cuba-and-cigars-7840  

[Chibearsv]

40 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

Still, in parts of the world, Petit Robusto are wildly popular. 

[panpan]

Strong flavour burst with rich aroma.

 

[JohnS]

I've had a few of those H.Upmann Petit Robustos from some Seleccion Petit Robustos boxes I acquired around five or six years ago. Apart from one that was ordinary because it was unbalanced in it's smoking (i.e. too powerful!), the other three were very, very good to outstanding.

Whilst I wholeheartedly agree with @westg's view that the H.Upmann Petit Corona should be brought back, as a cigar enthusiast, I want to say that another Petit Robusto offering is not what we need. However, I know that it would be a popular choice amongst consumers worldwide and Habanos S.A. would do well do seriously consider it a regular production addition, if and when they are able to (given present circumstances).

[Duder]

The HUHC is so popular I think a petit Robustos would fly. I really wish they would limit any of these newer short formats to 4" minimum though. Leave the 3-3.5" to cigarillos please. 

[Li Bai]

I love almost everything Upmann so a Petit Robusto would be a nice addition but it's definitely not a vitola I gravitate towards though...

[Allroz]

I am a huge HU fan but this doesn’t seem needed, and will almost certainly be priced somewhere that only makes sense to Habanos. Watch them make it an EL.

[Ford2112]

Petit Robusto sized cigars would be better if they were 22 mm longer.

[ha_banos]

1 hour ago, Ford2112 said:

Petit Robusto sized cigars would be better if they were 22 mm longer.

Gran Petit Robusto

 

[Chibearsv]

Adam Rainer (left) and a man of average height, c. 1930
Born	February 22, 1899 Graz, Austria-Hungary
Died	March 4, 1950 (aged 51) Vienna, Austria
Known for	Being both a dwarf and giant
Height	122.55 cm (4 ft 0.25 in) (Age 18) 234 cm (7 ft 8 in) (Age 51)

Adam Rainer (22 February 1899 – 4 March 1950) was an Austrian man who is the only person in recorded history to have been both a dwarf and a giant.^[1]