Differing Grades of Quality Habanos Cigars Shipped in the World

[smpf67]

Thanks to everyone who responded! Your feedback was enlightening, and it was a fun topic to discuss!

Sean

[bassman]

I use the PSP/ HQ stock for Montecristos. SO many mediocre ones out there, but the ones from Czar are fantastic. And as for stock in obscure countries, I go to Argentina a lot & can always find a great box at the BA LCDH. Might have to look at a few first, but that great one is always there.

[smpf67]

Thanks to Everyone! Great Responses indeed!

[LeafLover]

Just reading and getting schooled. That's what I love about FOH. Thanks to you all for taking the time to educate everyone else.

[gammon]

Yes ........ There are about twenty different grades of cigars, some of the lower grades are sold in the local market for the local tourists. (Same Brand). Then, there are the others, which are graded according to who, and where it will be shipped. I have a few selcetions of Monte Cristos and a couple boxes of Cohiba Maduros, I have smoked a couple and now waiting for a box (Maduro) coming directly from Hong Kong to Canada.

The prices.. the retailers rakes in more than 200%, Without revealing the prices, the retailer pays three times the price for the Maduros than for the common Montecristo, in general.

The retailer pays more for the "Bovida" in relation to the cigar, that it is keeping in proper humidity and tempertaure.

Travelling between the three countries, I have never had to buy my cigars in Canada, I cannot say how the cigars compare to the ones sold in Cuba and Hong Kong.

[Jimmy2]

All the same cigars ......

[DrunkenMonkey]

Yes ........ There are about twenty different grades of cigars, some of the lower grades are sold in the local market for the local tourists. (Same Brand). Then, there are the others, which are graded according to who, and where it will be shipped.

I can't tell if you're serious or joking. If you're serious, where did you learn this? If you're joking, you have a very dry sense of humor.

[android]

Yes ........ There are about twenty different grades of cigars, some of the lower grades are sold in the local market for the local tourists. (Same Brand). Then, there are the others, which are graded according to who, and where it will be shipped. I have a few selcetions of Monte Cristos and a couple boxes of Cohiba Maduros, I have smoked a couple and now waiting for a box (Maduro) coming directly from Hong Kong to Canada.

The prices.. the retailers rakes in more than 200%, Without revealing the prices, the retailer pays three times the price for the Maduros than for the common Montecristo, in general.

The retailer pays more for the "Bovida" in relation to the cigar, that it is keeping in proper humidity and tempertaure.

Travelling between the three countries, I have never had to buy my cigars in Canada, I cannot say how the cigars compare to the ones sold in Cuba and Hong Kong.

[Jimmy2]

LOL CA !!!! They had AMS American Market Select to before Castro its was the shade of wrapper and EMS back than was a Shade of wrapper to that were perfered by each country.

Had to nothing with quality back than and it definitely has nothing to do with it today it all a marketing gimmick to justify their crazy high prices...

[gammon]

I can't tell if you're serious or joking. If you're serious, where did you learn this? If you're joking, you have a very dry sense of humor.

.

Nope... not a Joke.... let me say... the company who gets their stock, gets them monthly and regularly, about four to five hundred boxes a month, double that amount, during special events like christmas.

True there are only few distributors.... or should I say only one..... but Cuba's future horizon is changing, many people are stepping up and taking those options..

A cigar from Cuba is a quality cigar of the same brand, I have yet, to buy a fake cigar from the locals selling them, in the hotels and tourist grounds, some are a bit to a drier side.

Not all cigars are made by the same person or from the same plant, unless they are machine rolled. so to say it is all , (unless you have some knowledge), it is difficult to prove. From time to time, you will get cigars, which are not to par as the previous box, this might explain the reason!, When you use the term "close, but no cigar" rings so true, from time to time

[Colt45]

A cigar from Cuba is a quality cigar of the same brand, I have yet, to buy a fake cigar from the locals selling them, in the hotels and tourist grounds, some are a bit to a drier side.

Are you saying you've never purchased a cigar off the street? - That's good practice. Or, are you saying you've purchased street cigars and none

have been illegitimate? That's wishful thinking.

Not all cigars are made by the same person or from the same plant, unless they are machine rolled. so to say it is all , (unless you have some knowledge), it is difficult to prove. From time to time, you will get cigars, which are not to par as the previous box, this might explain the reason!, When you use the term "close, but no cigar" rings so true, from time to time

Yes, so how would it be possible to set aside the "cream of the crop" for any distributor? Highly unlikely, even if they wanted to.

Regardless, you might consider posting an introduction - in this case, it would certainly be in order.

[DrunkenMonkey]

.

Nope... not a Joke.... let me say... the company who gets their stock, gets them monthly and regularly, about four to five hundred boxes a month, double that amount, during special events like

so what I asked was, where you learned about these 'about twenty' different grades of quality for each brand that you mentioned.

[Jimmy2]

This guy is funny has some funny stories too..

[gammon]

so what I asked was, where you learned about these 'about twenty' different grades of quality for each brand that you mentioned.

The twenty different grades of quality information comes from those, who supply the cigars, that is the difference between the ones the local tourists buy from the vendors in the so called "official stores".

Not getting into details, when a Beautiful Country like Cuba wants certain commodities for their country, they will go to great lengths to satisfy the free trade of goods. A tap on the forearm and a solid hand shake makes a difference

[DrunkenMonkey]

The twenty different grades of quality information comes from those, who supply the cigars, that is the difference between the ones the local tourists buy from the vendors in the so called "official stores".

Not getting into details, when a Beautiful Country like Cuba wants certain commodities for their country, they will go to great lengths to satisfy the free trade of goods. A tap on the forearm and a solid hand shake makes a difference

I understand that you'd prefer to cultivate an air of mystery and all, but why 'not getting into details'? I just wanted to know how you learned this amazing thing that no one else seems aware of? It seems like if every cigar were meticulously sorted into one of 20 categories, there would have to be a lot of people doing this sorting, and it wouldn't be a very well kept secret. That's why I was surprised at what you said before, and why I asked you twice before, where did you learn of this secret sorting process? OK, now I've asked three times.

[gammon]

I understand that you'd prefer to cultivate an air of mystery and all, but why 'not getting into details'? I just wanted to know how you learned this amazing thing that no one else seems aware of? It seems like if every cigar were meticulously sorted into one of 20 categories, there would have to be a lot of people doing this sorting, and it wouldn't be a very well kept secret. That's why I was surprised at what you said before, and why I asked you twice before, where did you learn of this secret sorting process? OK, now I've asked three times.

The air of mystery is not for me to say.... Yes, there is a grading system, much of the country's internal ways of working things out, is their own, the layers of different securities they have, and the mention of Castro's name, puts the fear of God in the locals. Each person have to fend for themselves after their social security of meger money, they make, ........yes, ...... they have many factories and many hands to check and sort the different grades.

My source comes from the supplier within the country.... it will be difficult for you to leave this at that, but I cannot go into further details... you will just have to smoke and enjoy the cigars and find the difference.

[DrunkenMonkey]

I think Android and Jimmy nailed this one.

[Jimmy2]

I would think this is a set up for a peddler..But thats just me as i dont trust no one...

[gammon]

I would think this is a set up for a peddler..But thats just me as i dont trust no one...

True... U cannot trust anyone....

neither do I

[semery74]

There certainly are color classifications, but some how I don't think that is what Gammon is trying to allude. When you mention, "twenty different grades of quality information comes from those, who supply the cigars", do you mean Cubatabaco, Habanos, Regional Distributor (PCC), the Retailer, or the Parallel Importer? Your vagueness has us questioning your intentions.

Any wonder if there was ever a HK, Russian, or Swiss Market Selection? Perhaps those markets never cared for the Marketing gimmick.

Spanish Market Selection - Colorado Maduro

English Market Selection - Everything in Between

American Market Selection - Claro Claro

Emery Market Selection - All of the above

[gammon]

There certainly are color classifications, but some how I don't think that is what Gammon is trying to allude. When you mention, "twenty different grades of quality information comes from those, who supply the cigars", do you mean Cubatabaco, Habanos, Regional Distributor (PCC), the Retailer, or the Parallel Importer? Your vagueness has us questioning your intentions.

Any wonder if there was ever a HK, Russian, or Swiss Market Selection? Perhaps those markets never cared for the Marketing gimmick.

Spanish Market Selection - Colorado Maduro

English Market Selection - Everything in Between

American Market Selection - Claro Claro

Emery Market Selection - All of the above

I believe, I said "about twenty", they are from Habanos in Cuba. The grading is Cliente specific. Depending on the contract, if the product are not to par, the receiver will burn them (the term 'burn' can be construed to what you wish). The amount the receiver pays, I believe they would burn the unsatisfactory ones and not pay for them, majority of the customers pay for the quality.

As to the type and grade the other distributors receive, I have no knowledge.

there is a marketing strategy for the english to put their own label on the top of the ones from Habanos. It will not suprise me, if the English check all the boxes they receive, then, grade them according to the clientes, who buy them. My experience with the English have not bee a good one. When buying six apples from the stall, they will give you two good apples and include four bruised ones in a brown paper bag!.

As to the other marketing gimmicks for the other countries and states, I have no answer. The grades of cigars they receive will vary according to the contract.

The cigars in Vegas are far better in quality than from most places, you buy your products. (From the high end stores-store specific). The texture feel, the aroma, the taste, the burn and the smoking of the cigar of a higer grade quality compared to the ones you get from the local vendor in Cuba is different. You have to love and know your stoogies to acknowledge the difference. [note; if you know the vendor in Cuba, they will get one from the factory within a few days]

The grades, the receiver gets all depends on the tap on the forearm and solid handshake. There are varying degrees of grades, but as long as it is within the receiver's range, thay are accepted. afterall, the product is handmade and the grading are subject to human follies. This grade the company receives is inversely proportion to the country helping Cuba and the arm length political association. Cuba has a highly educated population but lack the instruments (tools) to improve the country.

[smpf67]

I find all of this extremely fascinating, that is why I posed the question!

So, by reading through the thread, all I know is that we just don't know for sure that there are differing grades of Habanos shipped to different locations in the world!

What I would love to do is to travel to Australia, go to Sydney with Rob and Smithy when they are picking out their new stock of Habanos from Cuba, just to see how they pick and choose what product to bring back with them! Perhaps by observing how they decide what is great enough to sell to us, valuable insight into the industry may be gained. Howeve, seeing all of those boxes and cabs all in one place may send my heart into an anxiety attack, leaving me in a hospital in Sydney!!

I wonder if Rob may have posed this question to the "Higher Ups" at the Habanos Festival this past week? Maybe?

[chuck1rar]

Just my two cents, the majority of the cigar industry from the top down is all smoke and mirrors.

The distributors say what is beneficial for themselves and so do the retailers as well as the old BM stores.

There is so much disinformation it puts the OSS of the time to shame..

All this is said I believe without solid facts, maybe there is some truth in what most people say but who the hell has the time to sort thru all the rubbish trying to find the truth...Have heard stories from various people at all levels except anyone in Cuba tobacco and not even sure I would totally believe it if I heard it from the horses mouth directly as Cuba is hardly a transparent corporation.

Not meant to be a rant and definitely not having a go at anyone..but I guess it comes out like a rant anyway.

[Mel]

Wow what a thread! I have more questions than answers for sure but I agree with Jimmy that we are talking about burning plant leaves for pleasure hear and not rocket science.LOL

If there are 20 grades are they rolled that way on purpose or after willy-nillly random rollers work for a week does some master nose come in and re-arrange all the piles?

With out smoking a cigar how much can you really know about it?

Why is Rob dropping the ball so badly to have only three or four grades?

[MontrealRon]

Why is Rob dropping the ball so badly to have only three or four grades?

Because he doesn't handle the seventeen lower grades...