Designing a beginner sampler

[El Presidente]

To the great minds of the board

One of the questions that Di an I get asked by those new to Cuban Cigars is to suggest a sampler that represents the diversity of flavour's representative of Cuban Cigars.

So if I were to do say a 12 cigar sampler ...a "Quintessential Cuban Sampler" what would you include.

Keep in mind it should encompass:

• A variety of sizes
  
• A kaleidoscope of flavour profiles
  
• Regular Production.
  

Have a think and list your 12

[Skyfall]

In no order:

1. Monte 2
   
2. Partagas Short (or D4)
   
3. Cohiba Robusto
   
4. HDM Epi 2
   
5. Boli PC
   
6. RASS
   
7. HU Mag 50 (or 46)
   
8. QDO Corona
   
9. VR Famosos (Or Unicos)
   
10. R&J Short Church or WC
    
11. ERDM CS
    
12. Dip 2
    

[jacktarnold]

Bolivar PC

Cohiba Siglo VI

Cohiba Lancero

Montecristo N 2

Partagas 898

H Upmann Sir Winston

Trinidad Reyes

Juan Lopez #2

Hoyo de Monterey #1

Punch Punch

Ramon Allones Specially Select

RyJ Short Churchill

[Skyfall]

In no order:

1. Monte 2
   
2. Partagas Short (or D4)
   
3. Cohiba Robusto
   
4. HDM Epi 2
   
5. Boli PC
   
6. RASS
   
7. HU Mag 50 (or 46)
   
8. QDO Corona
   
9. VR Famosos (Or Unicos)
   
10. R&J Short Church or WC
    
11. ERDM CS
    
12. Dip 2
    

^ I'd buy this!!!!

Hell, I have bought this repeatedly!!!!

[tmac77]

Hard to pick only 12 but for the sake of diversity in Vitola and Marca here is my 12:

Partagas Short

Monte 4

CORO

RASS

Upmann Mag 46

Quai d'orsay Corona

HDM Des Dieux

BBF

Upmann #2

VR Unicos

Monte Especial #1

Punch DC

[Skyfall]

I'd make it a 15 cigar sampler, and add the

13. Trini Reyes x2

and a second Partagas short

to my original list

[PigFish]

… just about every cigar in the catalogue is a beginner cigar in my book. They have killed the connoisseur selection, both literally and figuratively. The Tabacuba answer; sell everyone a robusto or a second rate expensive cigar and tell them it is good based on the price that they are asking for it! This plan has worked in the cigar world thus far, so why not beginners? …Oh, I forgot, the plan really isn't working!!!

Tabacuba's pricing model and model reduction plan has ruined the entry cigar market. Government taxation has not helped either!!

The schmucks should reintroduce a marevas for every line! That would be a start.

Sorry to be no help! -the Pig

[El Presidente]

Thank you for your contribution Piggy

[Sutton]

Pretty much agree with everyone else:

Cohiba Robusto

PSD4

RASS

RyJ Wide

Boli PC

PLPC

SLR A

QDO corona

Parti lusi

Sir Winston

Monte 2

VR Unicos

[Smallclub]

• Upmann Connoisseur No.1
  
• Juan Lopez No.2
  
• SLR Serie A or Regios
  
• Partagas D4
  
• Partagas Lusitania
  
• Montecristo Petit Edmundo
  
• RyJ Exhibicion No.4
  
• Hoyo de Monterrey: Epicure 2 or Epicure de Luxe
  
• RA Superiores or Gigantes
  
• Trinidad Reyes
  
• Bolivar pc (or Royal Corona)
  
• Cohiba Robusto
  

The Quai d'Orsay line is too subtle for a beginner, IMHO.

[Habanos2000]

1. Cohiba Esplendido

2. Cohiba robusto

3. Boli RC

4. Bolivar PC

5. Monte Edmundo

6. Monte #2

7. Party SD4

8. Partagas 898

9. Upmann Mag 46

10. Upmann Mag 50

11. Hoyo DC

12. RASS

[srbbones]

I tend to think a beginner might get palate overload with 12 different sticks. I would make it 3 each of 4 different sticks:

Monte 2

Boli PC

Cohiba Robusto

Trini Reyes

Tell them to smoke the 3 over a one week period, taking notes, and rating how much they like them

[Ssmith114]

Great lists! But I can't believe no one mentioned a PLPC!

[riazp]

I'm going to suggest options in each size so when it comes to avail you can pick and choose

Partagas Short or RASCC

ERDM Choix Supreme

Rass or PSD4

Hoyo Epi 2

Upmann Mag 46 or SLR serie a

Monte 2 or Upmann 2

Bolivar Petit Corona or Monte 4

Partagas Lusitania

Upmann Sir Winnie

Cohiba Sig 3 or Party 898

Qdo Imperiales

And last one, you can add whatever EL or RE you want to give them a tase of the double banders

Cheers!

[dangolf18]

1.) Montecristo No.4

2.) Partagas Serie D No.4

3.) QDO Coronas

4.) Cohiba Siglo II

5.) HDM No.2

6.) Punch Punch

7.) SLR Serie A

8.) HU Magnum 46

9.) Bolivar RC

10.) RyJ SC

11.) RASS

12.) Party Short

[stogieluver]

Rob, do you just wake up every day and pinch yourself?

"Let's see...what shall I do today for my job? Oh, I think I'll design a sampler of fine Cuban cigars while smoking fine Cuban cigars while selling fine Cuban cigars while associating with some fine Cuban cigar smokers who are great friends".

You make me sick.

[oliverdst]

I think I will not help a lot but I would consider a beginner sampler with no more than 6 different cigars (3 of each).

With 18 cigars (good amount) and with 6 diferent brands/models it would be easier to the newbie compare them.

With 12 different (having 1 or 2 of each) probably he would get lost.

[bresdogsr]

As a beginner, I think I would buy any of the above samplers. I do like the idea of some duplication e.g. pairs x6 or pairs x7 + a RE/LE.

[bresdogsr]

I think I will not help a lot but I would consider a beginner sampler with no more than 6 different cigars (3 of each).

With 18 cigars (good amount) and with 6 diferent brands/models it would be easier to the newbie compare them.

With 12 different (having 1 or 2 of each) probably he would get lost.

Or what he said 6x3 would work as well.

[NJP]

I love the Pig.

[mjj100025552775]

Since I am really new to CC, I would love to express my humble opinion:)

Section 1: Robusto and PC, very popular vitola to newbies

1) CoRo

2) Partagas Serie D No.4

3) HDM #2

4) Siglo 2

5) Monte 4

Section 2: U can't go wrong with torpedos/Corona Gorda

6) HU Magnum 46

7) Monte 2

8) BBF

Section 3: long smoking experience

9) RYJ Churchill

10) Cohiba Esplendido

Section 4: the magic from Habanos,

11) A good EL or Behike

I have a lot of cohibas in.. it's Habanos' flagship brand after all...

Thanks,

Howard

[TomBolivar]

My suggestion...

1.) MC no. 2 - Just and all around classic pyramid

2.) RASS - Robusto with loads of flavor

3.) BBF - Great after a heavy dinner

4.) HDM E no 2 - Something more delicate

5.) PLPC - Great with a latte

6.) JL No. 2 - just a cigar I really enjoy at anytime of the day

7.) Par Lusitania - Loads of Partagas flavor, IMO best DC

8.) Fonseca No 1 - Great when you want something different

9.) Cohiba Lancero - To me it really represents what Habanos are all about

10.) RJ Short Churchill - If they're "on" you get great RJ flavor

11.) SLR A - My favorite CG

12.) RJ Caz - Demonstrates potential strength in cigars

[Jeremy Festa]

If I were in your shoes.

I would produce a 12 cigar blind sampler set. Numbered 1 to 12.

You send this 'Sampler Set' out with a little FOH/Czar Welcome Card.

A little blurb on the back on how to store, cut and light a cigar.

Maybe something saying 'what to look out for' when smoking, tasting, enjoying a cigar.

On the back, numbered 1 through12, are little boxes to tick for ratings (maybe 1 to 5) and a couple lines to make some notes on the flavour profile.

Upon completion, they (the beginner, me included) sends the card back.

You may, or may not, provide some feedback, of what each cigar was, the flavour profile and the rest is history.

I would like one of these sampler packs.

Word,

Jeremy

[fookite]

I think an important point to get across to a beginner is the importance of age to a cigar. I mean, it's a pretty hard sell to tell a noob that the RASS is a fantastic stick, but he needs to smoke one and forget about the rest of the box for a year or more.

What I would do is pick three staple cigars: for each, include a in a fresh one, one with a year or two on it and one with 3+, years. That's nine sticks, call it 150% of the six cigar aged sampler, so ~$165. For a $200 price point, you could toss in a BHK or LE or something else fancy and make it an even ten sticks.

[PigFish]

Thank you for your contribution Piggy

… well I was going to suggest that you send every new member to the forum 10 free cigars!!! But, I thought it might put you in a tough spot. That is why I did not post it!!! -LOL

Love ya' mate! -R