FOH'ers Daily Smoke

[HarveyBoulevard]

New Years Eve morning was a Monte PE, followed up by a PLPC after lunch and capped the night off with a Mag 50. 
 

New Years Day started off with a Trinidad Coloniales and having a JL 1 now. 
 

Not sure what I will finish off the night with...

 

[Devo]

Happy New Year Cigar friends. Starting the year off with one of my top cigar of 2020: Monte PE (Jan 2018) courtesy of @GVan

 

[JohnS]

9 hours ago, sw15825 said:

  AGR SEP 10  Robustos T. Tons of life left. Only downfall was a wonky burn. I still don't understand why this cigar was discontinued after only a few of years of production. Does anyone have ideas as to why it was axed, given that shorter cc's were coming in vogue?

I have spent the last few weeks going over the history of this marca (as I intend to finish off the What's Smoking Hot 2020 Video Review Series with the new Trinidad Esmeralda, Media Luna and Topes releases) and let me tell you, if you were to follow the Habanos S.A story you'd only get a small picture of it.

The short story is that the Robustos Extra and Robustos T were discontinued due to poor sales in comparison to Cohiba as a premium marca. I've highlighted that last point in bold. The source of this information is from Christoph Walters when he first made mention of the languishing brand performance of Trinidad from his Hamburg LCDH blog website in 2012 below:

Trinidad cigar brand discontinued

Habanos S.A., Cubas cigar monopole, recently took the decision to discontinue the production of the Trinidad cigar line. But, it will not be the end!

When these high priced cigars were launched for public sale back in 1997 the brand consisted of only one cigar - the famous Fundadores ( 40 by 192mm). Shortly after these were available Cubas “dark years” in cigar production began and specifically almost 75% of the thin ring gauged cigars were plugged. Demand on these 38-40 ring cigars dropped to almost zero - just an understandable market reaction. Without causing too much noise back then the Fundadores was taken off production. Stocks sitting at importers warehouses did last until the line was re-launched in the early 2000’s. Some new sizes (Vitolas) were added, the entire line then made at Francisco Donatien cigar factory in Pinar del Rio, a new design, more new Vitolas, extensive quality control and finest tobacco blends then became corner stones of the legendary brand besides Cohiba - but sales were never up to par.

Now, considering the blend of any of the Trinidad cigars is excellent, the draw without equal and the presentation outstanding there is only one reason why the market never really accepted the brand as such - the nasty price tag. Consumers around the globe bought Cohibas instead and left these Trinidads sitting on the shelf.

The decision subsequently taken by Habanos S.A. is good. Let the “old Trinidad” cigar line rest in peace. In a distant future we will most likely see a second re-launch of this famous brand which then might follow the corner stones of the old line combined with new Vitolas and hopefully a very moderate price tag. Those loving the current Trindads shall stock up quickly - stocks will not last forever.

Happy smoking from Hamburg
Christoph Wolters
La Casa del Habano Hamburg

He added a further addition to his blog soon after to amend the initial statement:

More on Trinidad…..

We have posted some news about the discontinuation of Trinidad - and that has caused a lot of discussions. Even though we have been informed personally about what we have posted two days ago the NOW official statement is, that Reyes, Coloniales and Fundadores will not be discontinued but only the other sizes such as Robusto T and Robusto Extra. Sales figures are just too bad to justify a further production. Always good to see more news from Havana every day. Stay tuned for more

Happy smoking
Christopher Wolters
La Casa del Habano Hamburg

There is much more to say on the matter but from my dedicated research it seems to me that every prominent participant in the Trinidad story from Fidel Castro, Avelino Lara (former manager of El Laguito and source for the infamous Cigar Aficionado public unveiling interview of the Cuban brand in 1992), Adriano Martinez Ruis, Simon Chase and Christoph Walters discussed things like 'pieces from a puzzle'. The whole story requires a fuller appreciation of the Trinidad family starting the brand in 1905 and incorporating it in 1958 as TTT Trinidad. This 1958 date is much more significant than the traditional 1969 origin date Habanos S.A give for the brand because it led to a trademark dispute in 1997 in the US court system for the right to the brand name between the Trinidad family and Habanos S.A. Note well that this happened after the Trinidad family re-started selling a Non-Cuban Trinidad product in the US in 1997. It's no coincidence that a Cuban Trinidad product became a public brand in 1998 soon after. The Trinidad family won this dispute around 2001/02 and again, it's no coincidence that in 2003 the marca band was updated to reflect the TTT Trinidad name and new vitolas were added.

Altidis went into partnership with Habanos S.A in 2000 and in my opinion there was strong support for the Habanos Trinidad brand due to the legal disputes with the Trinidad family, the trademark rights in the USA and an emphasis on brand recognition after the initial legal issues were settled in 2001/02. When British Imperial Tobacco took over Altidis' 50% share in Habanos S.A in 2008 there was a renewed interest to support the 40th anniversary of Trinidad with new releases but this quickly waned due to the aforementioned poor sales. The Trinidad Habanos brand was left to languish for a few years in the 2010s until the recent 50th anniversary of the Habanos Trinidad brand with new releases which has resulted in a spectacular turnaround. Again, in my view, it's no coincidence that Imperial Tobacco pulled out of Habanos S.A in 2019 and a new player, Allied Cigar Corp invested in Habanos S.A, with a focus on the expanding Habanos market in China.

I could add further but I think I will incorporate a fuller account (of this intriguing and on-going story of Trinidad) into a new topic on our forum within the week.

[99call]

13 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Trinidad cigar brand discontinued

Is this a horrible joke?  what happened to 2021 being better.......

oh thank god! , I've just re-read the post

[J-Slay]

My first Punch Punch. It was a single, so not sure of the box code. I’m impressed. It was rich and a different sweetness than my other smokes this past week. Not a confectionary sweetness. A lot going on there. Happy New Year, everyone! 

[LLC]

TPX DIC 05 HU Mag 46. Wow what a great cigar. I have a couple of boxes of 2018’s that have been quite disappointing. Wish they were even close to how these are.




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[lovethehaze]

Last few 

[westg]

Epicure No 1. 0025hrs 2021 Happy New year 

[Dusk]

[TheFullMontecristo]

Leaving 2020 behind in class. New Years eve Sir Winston. ARU MAY 14.

Mag 54 watching Chic-Fil-A Peach Bowl

QD50 MSU SEP 19 watching Rose Bowl game

Reyes watching Sugar Bowl

[Bijan]

Reyes back in the snow. 48 minutes to the band... Seems cold weather doesn't speed up my smoking. Might actually be slowing it down.

[Kaptain Karl]

An imperiales and a claro wrapper Monte PE. Both great smokes! 

[Greenhorn2]

Figured since year 2020 was a turd, I'd start 2021 off on a positive note. Instead of black eyed peas, greens and pork, I went with fried grouper fillet, rice and slaw. Topped it off with a pre 2017 robusto. Grass,hay,some type of a peppery spice(can't put my finger on it) so far.

[havanaclub]

Didn’t get around to this cigar last night so how about the first of 2021 with a Nespresso Cuban coffee. Thanks to Rob and crew for this cigar! Hope you all have a safe and healthy 2021.

LGR DIC 18. With a nice maple syrup imperial stout. Pairs nicely!

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[JayHabanos]

Bolivar- Royal Coronas


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[Burningman]

[Islandboy]

First cigar of the new year, it’s a winner. Setting the tone nicely. Happy New Year gang!!!!


I’m finding the ERDM Tainos to be a beautifully versatile pairing cigar, equally at ease with Breakside Wanderlust IPA and Four Roses Single Barrel  

[MigsG]

10 hours ago, Kaptain Karl said:

Don’t hate on us cold temperature sensitive California boys!!! 

Exactly!

Wore winter golf gloves this afternoon while having a Diplo 2.

 

[Greenhorn2]

24 minutes ago, Islandboy said:

First cigar of the new year, it’s a winner. Setting the tone nicely. Happy New Year gang!!!!

If I  lived in your neighborhood,  it would be a happy new year!lol

[Paso]

La Fuerza  

[Raskol]

C&C time.

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[Markke]

Love these...

[CampDelta369]

RG Perlas doing its thing. Excellently 

[inter4alia]

Really great stick 

[Wookie]

Topes