Reserva/GR/Anejados

[dowjr1]

32 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

The Anejado program has produced some "decent" cigars in the Partagas and the Monte Churchill. Get a great box of those and you will likely be a happy camper. 

Overall however there is no "Wow" factor. The vast majority of boxes are bog average. The HDM is appalling when compared to a good HDM Epicure Especial. 

Take in the price premiums and it is a no brainer. Quantum Fail. 

Ah sure makes sense. Yes I was thinking the Parte and Montes looked decent. How about the Romeo?

[El Presidente]

8 minutes ago, dowjr1 said:

Ah sure makes sense. Yes I was thinking the Parte and Montes looked decent. How about the Romeo?

I have had some good Romeo Anejados. Those are the ones that have Rosado wrappers with sheen.  

They are a 2 in 100 box find. 

In general, a good R&J Wide Churchill or Churchill leaves them for dead. 

[Bartolomeo]

5 hours ago, Smallclub said:

I agree on the price point, but the few Reservas I've smoked (Siglo VI, Monte 4, D4…) were superb cigars, much better than regular production… If I could afford them I'd probably smoke them…

Agreed 

I was referring to the GR and not the Reservas on my post but agree w you

[bigbanana14]

I've had very good experiences wih GRs; I'm particularly looking forward to the upcoming Sir Winston GR, which should be an amazing cigar. GRs are poor value compared to regular production cigars, but they definitely serves a purpose for me as a special occasion smoke.

I'll echo what everyone here says about the Anejados though - have not had good experiences with any of them and would much rather have one of my usual regular production cigars.

[planetary]

HSA really missed the boat with their Anejados offerings.  I imagine the PCC Vintage program, but on a much larger scale.  It could have been great.

[BrightonCorgi]

HSA should do a "10 year" box program.  Each box is just their best regular production cigars from the best factories, held in storage for 10 years and then released.  They'll have a 2nd band and something else on the box.  Start now and every year after a decade they'll have a these boxes to promote for a premium.  There will be no BS story about they are different; just aged by Habanos and that's it.  Not an expensive undertaking.

[TheMonk]

14 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I've been paying attention since the Reservas came on the scene, and as an impartial observer reading as many opinions as possible, there's a great deal of evidence that the Reservas are a step above regular production, and pretty consistently so. They're clearly doing something right with these, and the results lead me to believe that they are telling the truth about the program and the methods used. It appears they had the idea, experimented, found success, decided to produce them and have executed it well. The results don't lie--even the worst reviews I've seen of them rate the cigars as undeniably very good. Whether they are worth the price or a good value is a separate issue altogether. 

That brings me to the Anejados. These generally are mediocre cigars at best--some really suck. There are about a dozen logical inconsistencies in this program, which I won't get into, but again--HSA has shown that they know how to have a vision and execute new ideas successfully. In addition, quality has been trending upwards as a whole over the last 15 years. So when the results of something like the Anejado program are so poor, it leads me to believe it isn't due to technical reasons. This is something else and we're getting smoke blown up our skirts about it. It may have been a failed experiment HSA is trying to liquidate. But they almost certainly are not what HSA says they are nor were they probably rolled with the intention of being what they are today.

 

My thoughts exactly. I do understand that they're dealing with a natural product, and so unexpected results can and will occur (happens with wine all the time), but they should do some small batch testing and not bring failed experiences in full force to the market, much less at a premium. They're basically assuming their customers, of which we are a part of, are completely unknowledgeable and unexperienced to the point that we'll just take whatever they throw at us. And they really should know better by now.

[subport]

23 hours ago, dowjr1 said:

Why do you think they aren't selling Prez?

Because we don't buy 'em

[David88]

I think the anejados are a tough sell. While I really enjoyed the couple of partagas corona gordas I tried, the price made me question making a box purchase. Also having a vitola that is not available in regular production means you cannot compare it to a 'non-anejados' version (or is it un-anejados?) to see the supposed benefit. I would be interested in seeing sales figures for specific cigars. I imagine that a shiny second band and a feeling of getting something unique or limited may be enough for a casual cigar buyer. Having said that the anejados releases have typically been smaller ring gauges rather than the monsters that are currently in fashion. So who knows! 

[Puros Y Vino]

11 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

HSA should do a "10 year" box program.  Each box is just their best regular production cigars from the best factories, held in storage for 10 years and then released.  They'll have a 2nd band and something else on the box.  Start now and every year after a decade they'll have a these boxes to promote for a premium.  There will be no BS story about they are different; just aged by Habanos and that's it.  Not an expensive undertaking.

They already have a 3 and 5 year program known as the Reserva and Gran Reserva.   Look how much those cost!  The Anejados IMO are some kind of weird clearance Habanos is pushing.  Why the new vitola/Marca combo?  Monte's never had a Churchill. BOOM! Churchill,Anejados.  A lot of interesting commentary in this thread, I personally don't care for them. I'd rather age my own or track down a true aged box of something I'm familiar with and enjoy.

[BrightonCorgi]

1 hour ago, bundwallah said:

They already have a 3 and 5 year program known as the Reserva and Gran Reserva.   Look how much those cost! 

Those are not the regular cigars just set aside for future release; they are different cigars than the production one, no?  

What I am suggesting is what wine makers do as "Ex-cellar bottles".  Nothing special about the cigars other than Habanos picked some nice boxes and put them in storage for a decade before releasing

[Fugu]

1 hour ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Nothing special about the cigars other than Habanos picked some nice boxes and put them in storage for a decade before releasing

Hmm, that would demand HSA/Tabacuba's QC having knowledge about which ones the nice boxes are....

[garbandz]

"basically assuming their customers, of which we are a part of, are completely unknowledgeable and unexperienced to the point that we'll just take whatever they throw at us."

This has merit.

 

 

And they really should know better by now.

 

The customers, or HSA  ?       Either way, a damn shame...........

[BrightonCorgi]

46 minutes ago, Fugu said:

Hmm, that would demand HSA/Tabacuba's QC having knowledge about which ones the nice boxes are....

Will take a Revesado box any time!  Haven't had one in many years though. 

[Puros Y Vino]

2 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Those are not the regular cigars just set aside for future release; they are different cigars than the production one, no?  

What I am suggesting is what wine makers do as "Ex-cellar bottles".  Nothing special about the cigars other than Habanos picked some nice boxes and put them in storage for a decade before releasing

Yes, they are not regular boxes. It's "nicer" tobacco that would have been used to make that particular cigar, set aside and aged then rolled.  AFIAK, it's the same leaf that would have gone into a Sig VI, Monte 2, RyJ WC , etc, but set aside because it was of higher quality therefore, it could be used to make a product with a higher margin. I get what you mean in regards to the wine thing.  Habanos could do that, but some distributors/tobacconists have been doing that for some time too.  IMO, save your money, buy more boxes of what you enjoy smoking, set some aside for 5/10/10+ years and enjoy. It will certainly be cheaper per cigar and you'll have more to smoke too. 

[BrightonCorgi]

2 hours ago, bundwallah said:

I get what you mean in regards to the wine thing.  Habanos could do that, but some distributors/tobacconists have been doing that for some time too.  IMO, save your money, buy more boxes of what you enjoy smoking, set some aside for 5/10/10+ years and enjoy. It will certainly be cheaper per cigar and you'll have more to smoke too. 

I don't think distributors are doing that for a decade; it would not make financial sense.  Even storing at distributor 5 years would not be wise financially.  Habanos would get higher profit margin especially on domestic sales.  Tourists may be willing to pay that 20-50% more for a Habanos aged box of their favorite smokes.

Beyond that it is just wise for them to hold back cigars as a reference and for whatever reason they may need to do something with cigars 10-30+ years old.  Any bespoke manufacturer needs a library and reserve if not for posterity.

[Puros Y Vino]

18 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

I don't think distributors are doing that for a decade; it would not make financial sense.  Even storing at distributor 5 years would not be wise financially.  Habanos would get higher profit margin especially on domestic sales.  Tourists may be willing to pay that 20-50% more for a Habanos aged box of their favorite smokes.

Beyond that it is just wise for them to hold back cigars as a reference and for whatever reason they may need to do something with cigars 10-30+ years old.  Any bespoke manufacturer needs a library and reserve if not for posterity.

I think Habanos/Cuba needs the money sooner than later.    Plus given their "business acumen" fat chance of this happening.  Distributors AFIAK, don't hold stock for that long.   Under the EMS program I believe the cigars would be given a few years rest before sale.  On FOH  you see the odd PCC Vintage Program boxes that Rob gets his hands on.  The LCDH's up here (Canada) seem to make an effort to have vintage stock on hand.  I know the Toronto and Montreal one has boxes at least 10 years old. Sometime full boxes or Petacas.  2000 RG Lonsdales, 2005 Trinidad Robusto Extras, 2005 Mag 46's..etc. 

[BrightonCorgi]

1 minute ago, bundwallah said:

  I know the Toronto and Montreal one has boxes at least 10 years old. Sometime full boxes or Petacas.  2000 RG Lonsdales, 2005 Trinidad Robusto Extras, 2005 Mag 46's..etc. 

I can say for Montreal the old stock is most likely due to lack of sales or interest.  Prices are about as high as they can be for any place in the world...

[Puros Y Vino]

Just now, BrightonCorgi said:

I can say for Montreal the old stock is most likely due to lack of sales or interest.  Prices are about as high as they can be for any place in the world...

Touche'! That is definitely a factor. But they do have a decent selection and you can smoke it there.  The sting from the price is worse in Toronto as the only place you can smoke is on the sidewalk.  Don;t know about other LCDH's outside of Cuba and Canada. I'm sure they move stock around.  If you catch the running joke here, is that if anything makes sense to do. Habanos won't do it.

[BrightonCorgi]

1 minute ago, bundwallah said:

Touche'! That is definitely a factor. But they do have a decent selection and you can smoke it there.  The sting from the price is worse in Toronto as the only place you can smoke is on the sidewalk.  Don;t know about other LCDH's outside of Cuba and Canada. I'm sure they move stock around.  If you catch the running joke here, is that if anything makes sense to do. Habanos won't do it.

LCDH Montreal lounge needs a refresh.  Couches are worn out, decor is little drab and dark.

[Puros Y Vino]

13 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

LCDH Montreal lounge needs a refresh.  Couches are worn out, decor is little drab and dark.

I love that lounge.  The couches are like an old catchers mitt.  To each their own of course. But that is one comfy spot, they make a mean Mojito and great coffee's.  Classic cigar lounge IMO.  We don't have the luxury of many cigar lounges in this country, so we treasure the one's we have.  Stogies is a great spot during the day.  Jazz music, not too loud. But at night it's a different vibe. Loud house music. Ugh.

[BrightonCorgi]

Just now, bundwallah said:

 Stogies is a great spot during the day.  Jazz music, not too loud. But at night it's a different vibe. Loud house music. Ugh.

Never a fan of Stogies.  Queue d'Cheval (original location) had a smoker's lounge in the bar I use to like.  Not sure if the new restaurant in its location has the same?

For my girlfriend and I it's a toss up between high tea at the Ritz or a cigar at LCDH.

[LLC]

LCDH Montreal lounge needs a refresh.  Couches are worn out, decor is little drab and dark.

I only wish we had that kind of problem in Toronto.


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