New Thin Gauge Proposal

[greenpimp]

After reading (and re-reading) Rob's report from Havana, I was wondering what some of you guys would dream up for a new or re-released thin gauged cigar.

I keep thinking of how much I would love an Upmann or Bolivar Lancero/Laguito #1. I would smoke the **** outta these.

What about you guys?

[shrink]

Matt, I would love to have more "skinnies" to enjoy. You name it: Upmanns, Punch, Ramon Allones, even a Juan Lopez would be nice.

But... "fatties" seem to be the vogue these days, and that's what Habanos is flying, witness the Edmundo, the regional Punch and PL Robustos, Behike (ugh!), etc.

But, like most things, including neckties, what's old is new again, sooner or later.

[CWS]

» Matt, I would love to have more "skinnies" to enjoy. You name it: Upmanns,

» Punch, Ramon Allones, even a Juan Lopez would be nice.

»

» But... "fatties" seem to be the vogue these days, and that's what Habanos

» is flying, witness the Edmundo, the regional Punch and PL Robustos, Behike

» (ugh!), etc.

»

» But, like most things, including neckties, what's old is new again, sooner

» or later.

I just got into the skinnies inthe last year. Rounds out the humi nicely. An RA would be great.

[El Presidente]

The challenge that Habanos s.a has is:

How do we market a thin ring guage cigar to be sexy enough to be market acceptable.

They already have the product, it just does not sell in great numbers.

Partagas Lonsdale,

Cohiba Lancero

LGC 1/2/3

Montecristo Especial

SLR Lonsdale,

Fundadores

Partagas Serie De Connoisseur 1/2/3

etc etc etc.

Re-releasing one of these with different packaging will not work. (I don't think)

I have been toying with the idea of proposing a Connoisseur Signature series which consists of cigars under 42 ring guage and more than 6 inches.

I would launch he series with a new cigar a Por Larranaga Lancero . Boxes of 15. 3 year aged filler, binder, wrapper.

Under the Connoisseur Signature series I would bring the best of the best of the long thin vitola's, repackage for easier consumption (10's and 15's ( it hurt's but goodby 50 cabs of Lonsdales albeit they could run a one off cab release every 12-18 months).

I would pitch the Connoissuer Signature Series as the cigar for the discerning mature habanos lover and re-establish the vitola.

[stevejb]

They could market them with pics of a guy smoking one surrounded by skinny(yet curvy) women. The marketing slogan could be something like, "A Behike belongs in her mouth, not yours.":-D

I'd love to be able to have some Laguito #2 or Carlota from Bolivar, Upmann, and JL.

[CIGARHead]

» The challenge that Habanos s.a has is:

»

» How do we market a thin ring guage cigar to be sexy enough to be market

» acceptable.

»

» They already have the product, it just does not sell in great numbers.

»

» Partagas Lonsdale,

» Cohiba Lancero

» LGC 1/2/3

» Montecristo Especial

» SLR Lonsdale,

» Fundadores

» Partagas Serie De Connoisseur 1/2/3

»

» etc etc etc.

»

»

» Re-releasing one of these with different packaging will not work. (I don't

» think)

»

» I have been toying with the idea of proposing a Connoisseur Signature

» series which consists of cigars under 42 ring guage and more than 6

» inches.

»

» I would launch he series with a new cigar a Por Larranaga Lancero .

» Boxes of 15. 3 year aged filler, binder, wrapper.

»

» Under the Connoisseur Signature series I would bring the best of the best

» of the long thin vitola's, repackage for easier consumption (10's and 15's

» ( it hurt's but goodby 50 cabs of Lonsdales albeit they could run a one off

» cab release every 12-18 months).

»

» I would pitch the Connoissuer Signature Series as the cigar for the

» discerning mature habanos lover and re-establish the vitola.

Damn good idea Rob. I would love to see a PLL:-D

Im down to help you out as much as I can. Serious.

I see 2 sides to the skinny/fat debate. My opinion, when I have friends over for drinks and cigars, I almost always grab a robusto or corona gorda. Mainly because my focus is on the conversation and laughs. When I want to sit and enjoy a cigar all by myself with 2 hours to kill and a tops rum drink, I always will grab the skinny. I have to be in the relaxed "thinking" mood to enjoy my beloved Monte Esp. No 1.

I think that there is room enough for both. Just how to balance this out is up to us.

[DrAlejandro]

I'd love to see more slim cigars... it will be an uphill battle though, thick ringed cigars are very much stuck in peoples heads as being better, especially here in america :-(

[greenpimp]

Rob---

I am DOWN with that series idea. I think it's a winner and you would have no problem moving the product.

Por Larranaga would be sweet. I'm also prayin for Upmann and Bolivar out of pure selfishness.

Hope this works out. Thanks for going for it.

[Tampa1257]

Rob,

I like the idea, not only the product, but the packaging. That in my opinion is the largest draw back to some of the vitolas that are already on the market, The Cohiba and Trinidad items are skewed toward to upper end of the price scale, which tends to only attract cigar smokers that have very discerning palates. i.e., not your day in and day out cigar smoker. I have written and posted reviews about the Partagás Serie du Connaisseur 1's as they have been my favorite vitola and I feel that their sales have increased due to the public postings by not only myself, but other connoisseurs that have a love affair with flavor and complexity. The Partagás Lonsdale is an extremely difficult vitola to find since they discontinued the cab of 50 back in 2002. The LGC items are for many cigar smokers a change of pace type cigar and I fear that may be one of the reasons why their sales may be lagging. In other words, Habanos S.A. has been missing the boat by not offering thinner cigars in "Daily" marcas that people enjoy such as Ramón Allones, Bolivar, Vegas Robaina, Por Larrañaga, H. Upmann, Diplomaticos, etc Offering these Connaisseur sized cigars in affordable packaging of 10 and 15 cigars per box would in my opinion increase the sales and also increase visibility to the market, and thusly create a surge in sales as well as interest in the thinner sized cigars as a daily type of cigar to smoke and enjoy.

[Ginseng]

» The challenge that Habanos s.a has is:

»

» How do we market a thin ring guage cigar to be sexy enough to be market

» acceptable.

»

» They already have the product, it just does not sell in great numbers.

»

» Partagas Lonsdale,

» Cohiba Lancero

» LGC 1/2/3

» Montecristo Especial

» SLR Lonsdale,

» Fundadores

» Partagas Serie De Connoisseur 1/2/3

»

» etc etc etc.

»

»

» Re-releasing one of these with different packaging will not work. (I don't

» think)

»

» I have been toying with the idea of proposing a Connoisseur Signature

» series which consists of cigars under 42 ring guage and more than 6

» inches.

»

» I would launch he series with a new cigar a Por Larranaga Lancero .

» Boxes of 15. 3 year aged filler, binder, wrapper.

»

» Under the Connoisseur Signature series I would bring the best of the best

» of the long thin vitola's, repackage for easier consumption (10's and 15's

» ( it hurt's but goodby 50 cabs of Lonsdales albeit they could run a one off

» cab release every 12-18 months).

»

» I would pitch the Connoissuer Signature Series as the cigar for the

» discerning mature habanos lover and re-establish the vitola.

That's idea brilliant, Rob. I am also daydreaming a bit on greenpimp's suggestion of a Bolivar lanceros. Mmmmmmmmm.

Wilkey

[greenpimp]

» In other words, Habanos S.A. has

» been missing the boat by not offering thinner cigars in "Daily" marcas

» that people enjoy such as Ramón Allones, Bolivar, Vegas Robaina, Por

» Larrañaga, H. Upmann, Diplomaticos, etc Offering these Connaisseur sized

» cigars in affordable packaging of 10 and 15 cigars per box would in my

» opinion increase the sales and also increase visibility to the market, and

» thusly create a surge in sales as well as interest in the thinner sized

» cigars as a daily type of cigar to smoke and enjoy.

This is an EXCELLENT point, IMO. Much of the current failure of this size can be associated with this

[Trevor2118]

» "..... I like the idea, not only the product, but the packaging......... Offering these Connaisseur sized cigars in affordable packaging of 10 and 15 cigars per box....."

Absolutely with you there....boxes of 10 would be absolutely great (FOR ALL TYPES OF CIGARS).......with prices high (eg in Australia) boxes of 25 are just too expensive. The new packs of 3 & 5 in the major brands are a good idea but packs do not have the same appeal as a dress box.

I for one like a good range of sizes ... thin ... thick ... long ... short, different cigars for different times and moods.

PS I am with you on the thinner gauges, but I admit to neglecting them myself.....I must rectify this.

[univibe88]

I love your idea Rob. I'm also a fan of the long, thin vitolas and it upsets me to see so many of them discontinued or hard to find.

[habanablue]

» They could market them with pics of a guy smoking one surrounded by

» skinny(yet curvy) women. The marketing slogan could be something like, "A

» Behike belongs in her mouth, not yours.":-D

»

» I'd love to be able to have some Laguito #2 or Carlota from Bolivar,

» Upmann, and JL.

Steve, you have advertising executive written all over you! Top call mate.