haha, that was my question, WHERE will the answers be, in an issue of the magazine, cigar insider or some other purchased publication, or right where the questions came from? Some of those Q's are easily attainable through some simple research, though.
Posts: 650 | Location: New Orleans, LA | Registered: July 01, 2002
Are there other CC's which are finished with pigtails? The Montecristo Especials,Trinidads and Lanceros are few to be mentioned which I know that are.They all very fine smokes although they have smaller ring sizes then I normally smoke.
Posts: 95 | Location: sayreville,new jersey usa | Registered: October 02, 2004
Punch Punch, RS11 & SS#2 are far from the same. If you're used to smoking a PUnchPunch, a SS#2 will surely get your attention with it's considerable extra strength.
Cañonaso...it's not safe to walk anywhere in Havana these days.
During the past 3 weeks, 2 tourists were reported as murdered in Havana Vieja, but motives are unclear since they were found with their wallets intact. Another was murdered in the suburb of Alamar...an Italian married to a Cubana, working in Vedado, was found murdered. Curiously, the Rotweiler they owned was taken to the Vet that day by the wife; the alarm system was deactivated; and a back patio door was unlocked...the conclusion was that the wife was in on it (not rocket science). Purse and backpack snatchings are common, not merely commonplace. Jewelery theft is also very common (watches, necklaces, earrings).
Beware! Also - Customs (Bureau of Homeland Security) is now taking a ZERO TOLERANCE stance on the importation of cigars. The $100 limit for US travelers with licenses to be in Cuba was tossed over a year ago, but they'd allow a box here or there. But no longer. They will ask you to destroy all the cigars (and help you!) right then and there. Artwork and arts and crafts stuff can still be imported...they (customs) are after cigars.
There is a very conspicuous absence of US travelers and participants at the Festival de Partagas going on at this time. There were, however, many US interests being represented at the recent trade fair, with lots of contracts for items allowed (medicine, food, and so on) being secured by US merchants and brokers.
Lots of the other questions have already been answered ad nasuem. The one that is not being asked is what the heck do they think they're doing raising prices as they have? Prices are up on EVERYTHING, including cigars, by at least 30%, and on top of that, US dollars get hit with a 20% reduction, so the price of a box of cigars in Cuba is about 50% higher than it was a year or so ago. Abroad, the prices have not been so dramatically affected.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: ryj7x47,
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER (not Ann)! VIVE CPD! Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go...(Oscar Wilde)
Posts: 10291 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
Most of your questions will be answered in a column for the magazine in January and I plan to post it as well on the web. Probably the most important thing to know is that the hurricane did very little damage to anything concerning tobacco and cigar production. Many seed beds were apparently washed away but they are replanting which will delay slightly the crop. A few drying barns were knocked down. But otherwise, all is well.
I found plenty of cigars in the shops and a good selection. The quality looks very good. Prices are very high compared to a couple years back. They are up 30 percent and with the exchange rate and the silly commissions on currency and credit cards, it makes little sense to buy in Havana. Prices are very close to Spain now.
I also visited the two new factories -- Upmann and La Corona. The working environment was perfect and the QC looked very good. The cigars on the benches looked excellent. I even grabbed a mareva off one desk and smoked it to see how the bog standard smoke was, and it was just fine. It drew well and showed plenty of taste.
The new limitadas for next year are going to be a re-release of past vitolas in celebration of five years of limitadas. There will be three sizes....
Havana in general didn't seem any different than before. Just a little bit more quiet. I didn't feel any more desperation than before and my Cuban friends didn't think it was anymore dangerous than normal. So that's good news.
Posts: 152 | Location: Tuscany | Registered: April 26, 2002
Most of your questions will be answered in a column for the magazine in January and I plan to post it as well on the web.
How about posting them BEFORE January ? Afterall, why would we have to buy the magazine to read your answers ? Sounds like a cunning marketing plot -....
"What's the deal with golf? You hit a ball with a stick and then you walk after it and you hit it again! I say if you hit it and then you find it, you got f...king lucky, pal! Put it in your pocket and go home. (Lemmy, White Line Fever)
[QUOTE]The new limitadas for next year are going to be a re-release of past vitolas in celebration of five years of limitadas. There will be three sizes....
LMAO..Typical..I can just see the marketing meeting went down something like this:
Altadis Chief Marketing Officer (ACMO): Ok guys we have run out of ideas for the 06 El's anyone have any idea's which factory has some old leaf we need to move.
enter Jose head of production Pina region: Ah no boss we have got rid of all the left over leaf in the last batch of 05 El's
ACMO: Great job Jose..well done, we thought we might have been stuck with that last lot of old leaves..they have been lying around the factory for the last few years and no one could figure out what to do with them. Those rolers of yours can be too picky about which leaf they reject..dont they know we cant afford to let good leaf lying around unused
Jose: Yes, boss...but it was not great leaf that is why it was rejected by the rollers.
ACMO: yeah, yeah whatever
Jose: Do you think people will buy those RyJ Hermo #2 as the leaf was not the best you know
ACMO Laughing: Dont worry Jose we will slap a nice shiny band on them stick em' in an EL box and the suckers..ooops I mean customers will gobble em up.
Jose: uhh ok boss.
ACMO: SO what are we going to do for the next batch of 2006 El's any idea's Jose
Jose: Well uhh we have already got rid of all the leftover leaves from most of the factories thank goodness. That EL idea was genius boss
ACMO laughing: I know, I know those collectors will buy anything as long as we package it right
Jose looking serious: But boss what about our reputation as providers of the worlds best cigars?
ACMO now looking agitated: Jose whats wrong with you man, I have senior management breathing down my neck for more profits what the heck am I supposed to do. There only so much premo leaf to go around..we have to think of new gimmicks..opps I mean strategies to move more product.
Jose laughing: yes boss, the American way
ACMO: Now your getting it
ACMO: SO Jose I was thinking that maybe we could re-issue the PSD#3 and Partagas Pirimides EL from 2001 for the 2006 run what do you think? the suckers oop's I did it again..I mean customers are sure to go nuts if we re release them?
Jose looking concerned: But boss that leaf is all used up already after the initial run??
ACMO: Ehh well lets just find some leaf somewhere and that will do. The suckers...darn....I mean customers, most of them cant tell the difference anyway..and here is the kicker Jose..most of them will be bought by collectors and they wont be smoked anyway so we will be fine LOL!
Jose shaking his head: yes, boss
The End.
Posts: 234 | Location: NY, NY | Registered: May 08, 2002
You give the Cubans way too much credit for their marketing and economic acumen. Your farce is way too organized a depiction of the way things might go down.
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER (not Ann)! VIVE CPD! Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go...(Oscar Wilde)
Posts: 10291 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
