Por Larranaga Robusto Press Release

[El Presidente]

Press Release For Immediate Release

7 Nov 2007

Por Larranaga Robusto

2007 Regional Edition For Asia Pacific

Made exclusively by Habanos SA under the request of The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd for the Asia Pacific, a new cigar size in the Por Larranaga brand.

Available in the coming weeks of November 2007, the 2007 Regional Edition – Por Larranaga Robusto – will be launched across Asia Pacific by The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd. This rare and special cigar will be exclusive to The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd for two years.

The Por Larranaga brand was registered in 1834 by Ignacio Larranaga at 94

O’ Reilly Street, Havana. The name, Por Larranaga, means “by Larranaga”. By the end of the 19th Century, Por Larranaga was a well-known cigar brand favored by the rich and famous. Despite the fame, Por Larranaga has never been a brand of large output, the cigars produced are always in selected quantities and are often sought after by discerning aficionados.

Por Larranaga cigars have a caramel sweet taste. This is the hallmark of the brand. The cigars are also subtly aromatic. The Por Larranaga cigars age extremely well, with aromas and flavors enhancing over time.

The robusto size was chosen as the 2007 Regional Edition because this is a popular size among smokers and it is unique; as Por Larranaga has never made a robusto cigar in its portfolio. This 2007 Regional Edition produced by Habanos SA for The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd exclusively for its Asia Pacific markets is a special production that may not be re-produced again. This robusto cigar has all the trademark aromatic caramel sweetness. It has a length of 124mm with a 50 ring gauge size (19.8mm diameter). The Por Larranaga Robusto cigars will come with a double ring band and it will be much sought after by cigar aficionados and collectors because of its rarity and aging potential.

This Por Larranaga Robusto – 2007 Regional Edition cigars will be available to Asia Pacific cigar smokers in late Nov 2007 in all the Pacific Cigar Company cigar shops and prestigious cigar shops across the market. The Por Larranaga Robusto comes in box of 25 sticks.

Por Larranaga Robusto – 2007 Regional Edition:

Ring gauge : 19.8mm diameter (ring gauge 50)

Length : 124mm

Sticks : 25 sticks / box

[tapewormboy]

I'm just wondering why the UK and Asia Pacific markets both have a Por Larranaga regional edition this year? The sizes are somewhat different and the PL bands are also slightly different...but why release them the same year?

Seems to me that they will just snipe business from each other.

[El Presidente]

» I'm just wondering why the UK and Asia Pacific markets both have a Por

» Larranaga regional edition this year? The sizes are somewhat different

» and the PL bands are also slightly different...but why release them the

» same year?

»

» Seems to me that they will just snipe business from each other.

Not really. The Regional Releases are market specific. I doubt there are more than a 100 boxes of UK Regional Release Ramon Allones Belicoso in the Asia Pacific (outside of Hong Kong). Cannibalisation of each others market is not really a problem.

Each regional distibutor works independently of the other. When it comes to Regional Release product they don't consult each other but rather work up concepts and submit them to Habanos s.a approval.

PCCHK has no interest in how the cigar sells outside of the Asia Pacific. They look at internal demand. They have a year to sell their Regional Release stock (before the next RR arrives) and in all honesty it will be gone well before then for the PL Robusto as the size format appeals to a broad range of cigar lovers.

[tapewormboy]

» » I'm just wondering why the UK and Asia Pacific markets both have a Por

» » Larranaga regional edition this year? The sizes are somewhat different

» » and the PL bands are also slightly different...but why release them the

» » same year?

» »

» » Seems to me that they will just snipe business from each other.

»

» Not really. The Regional Releases are market specific. I doubt there are

» more than a 100 boxes of UK Regional Release Ramon Allones Belicoso in the

» Asia Pacific (outside of Hong Kong). Cannibalisation of each others market

» is not really a problem.

»

» Each regional distibutor works independently of the other. When it comes

» to Regional Release product they don't consult each other but rather work

» up concepts and submit them to Habanos s.a approval.

»

» PCCHK has no interest in how the cigar sells outside of the Asia Pacific.

» They look at internal demand. They have a year to sell their Regional

» Release stock (before the next RR arrives) and in all honesty it will be

» gone well before then for the PL Robusto as the size format appeals to a

» broad range of cigar lovers.

Good points Prez.

I had thought about it differently as a US buyer since I have the choice between the UK and Asia versions. No way I would buy the UK version since it costs close to 3x more.

I assume there are far fewer potential buyers (based on your comments) that can purchase outside their region.

[El Presidente]

» I assume there are far fewer potential buyers (based on your comments)

» that can purchase outside their region.

Certainly connoisseurs seek out RR cigars from around the world. Yet, in reality it is a minor % of purchasers when you consider the number of purchasers from within a region itself.

In the first weeks of a release the % of outside reigion puchasers is quite high but it dies down quite quickly and then the local bricks and mortar purchasers come to the fore and remain.

[Sandman]

>>This rare and special cigar will be

exclusive to The Pacific Cigar Company Ltd for two years.<<

2 years?!?!?!?

[El Presidente]

After two years the rights to the Por Larranaga Robusto reverts back to Habanos s.a.

The 2 years refers to the rights....not the production.

[Sandman]

» After two years the rights to the Por Larranaga Robusto reverts back to

» Habanos s.a.

»

» The 2 years refers to the rights....not the production.

Oh, gotcha. Thanks.

[n2advnture]

How many boxes do they expect to produce or is it a pre-determined number?

All I see is "two years" which broadens the exclusivity/limited availability that they first touted the REs to be.

~Mark

btw can't wait to get mine :-P :-D

[El Presidente]

» How many boxes do they expect to produce or is it a pre-determined number?

»

» All I see is "two years" which broadens the exclusivity/limited

» availability that they first touted the REs to be.

»

» ~Mark

»

» btw can't wait to get mine :-P :-D

150,000 cigars, 6000 boxes Mark...fixed.

Regional Release rights were initially 3 years. Habanos s.a has cut it back to 2.

[Claudius]

» Regional Release rights were initially 3 years. Habanos s.a has cut it back to 2.

Right, that's the info we got over the years indeed. Now wouldn't that mean that the Ramon Allones Belicosos rights to the UK have expired and that we should see it as a worldwide release? All I am seeing is that this will be another ER next year (in France).

I have trouble understanding the ER concept: exclusive for 2 years to one importer, ok. But after that: worldwide release, partial release, another ER release or no release? Or is this still undetermined?

[Colt45]

» But after that: worldwide release, partial release, another

» ER release or no release?

Claudius, I believe this is what's known as hand release.......

[El Presidente]

» » Regional Release rights were initially 3 years. Habanos s.a has cut it

» back to 2.

»

» Right, that's the info we got over the years indeed. Now wouldn't that

» mean that the Ramon Allones Belicosos rights to the UK have expired and

» that we should see it as a worldwide release? All I am seeing is that

» this will be another ER next year (in France).

» I have trouble understanding the ER concept: exclusive for 2 years to one

» importer, ok. But after that: worldwide release, partial release, another

» ER release or no release? Or is this still undetermined?

It surprises me that France is doing a RE RA Beli next year.

Essentially the rights to exclusivity of any given RE release reverts back to Habanos s.a at the end of that term.

Habanos s.a has the "option" of:

1. Putting the cigar in abeyance and doing nothing with it.

2. Releasing the cigar as a general release.

If France indeed has applied for and had approved (by habanos s.a) a

RE RA Beli for 2008 they must have run the numbers and believed that a higher dollar yield could be achieved going down that path. I am just being honest here. I would have thought it better to say to France...no...we will hold that cigar back for a few more years...pick another. This would have at least maintained the integrity of the UK release.

In effect when License holders put forward their requests for a Regional Release they put forward one or two cigars. This is not a given. Habanos s.a must approve the Regional release.

[Claudius]

I saw this on the list of 2008 ERs that's posted all over the boards. Are you saying this list is not approved and final?

[El Presidente]

» I saw this on the list of 2008 ERs that's posted all over the boards. Are

» you saying this list is not approved and final?

Claudius I have not paid attention to the France RE for 2008. If it is on the list then no doubt it is approved.

I think it is a dumb decision by France and Habanos s.a

[Claudius]

» » I saw this on the list of 2008 ERs that's posted all over the boards.

» Are

» » you saying this list is not approved and final?

»

» Claudius I have not paid attention to the France RE for 2008. If it is on

» the list then no doubt it is approved.

»

» I think it is a dumb decision by France and Habanos s.a.

Off the top of my head, France get a "Petit Libertador" (petit robusto - Bolivar) and the RAB. Makes no sense to me either, the RAB. The French usually smoke Hoyos and other volado rolls :-D ... let's see how long these last. The Petit Lib' is a follow-up of the sublimes last year, that makes much more sense. Or, say, that's at least what I thought; maybe it's just a random idea they had? LOL

If they had said "we like the RAB so much we want to release it elsewhere", no doubt close to everybody would agree that's not a bad idea. Like Australia or some other place on the other side of the planet. But releasing it in France, the country closest to the UK, when the UK are still sitting on them, is totally unreal :-D

[cvm4]

Welcome to crazy town!

[Vinny]

» Off the top of my head, France get a "Petit Libertador" (petit robusto -

» Bolivar) and the RAB. Makes no sense to me either, the RAB. The French

» usually smoke Hoyos and other volado rolls :-D ... let's see how long

» these last. The Petit Lib' is a follow-up of the sublimes last year, that

» makes much more sense.

I was pretty disappointed with the libertador... Don't get me wrong, it is a good cigar, but when you buy bolivar you expect better, stronger and something richer. The libertador gives you nothing more that the GM except for the price.

So I hope the small one will give a little more nerves...

I heard something similar with the DC in dubai... I hope it s not true, because I'm really interested in a Boli DC

[habanohal]

Recieved my box on MOnday( Thanx Lisa !!!!) I might actually have 1 tonight. If I dont smoke 1 now, I will never try them, which will lead to me not smokeing them at all and holding onto them for 5-10 years or so. Then turning around and selling them.. I have the same problem with ELs' So once I smoke 1 I cant sell the box then :-D

[Vinny]

Happy guy! ;-)

[Claudius]

» I was pretty disappointed with the libertador... Don't get me wrong, it is

» a good cigar, but when you buy bolivar you expect better, stronger and

» something richer. The libertador gives you nothing more that the GM

» except for the price.

I like the Libertadors a lot. You're right, they're not strong like the Coronas or other Bolivars, but I wouldnt really expect a Sublimes to be very strong, anyway. I find the Libertadors similar to the Cohibas (taste wise) in the first half, and stronger and more Bolivar-like after half the cigar.

A petit robusto should be interesting!

[Vinny]

I find the Libertadors similar to the Cohibas (taste

» wise) in the first half, and stronger and more Bolivar-like after half the

» cigar.

» A petit robusto should be interesting!

I totally agree! ;-)