In pics: El Laguito cigar factory in Havana, Cuba

[Derboesekoenig]

2 minutes ago, Corylax18 said:

They aren't even honest about WHAT factory they where rolled in, let alone WHEN. Are you familiar with the Phonecian 35th release? The box literature stated every single cigar was rolled at El Laquito, then the cigars were released with THREE different factory codes. 

I don't remember exactly who, but somebody was able to ply what they called an "explanation" from Phonecian trading company as it was told to them. Supposedly they rolled all the cigars at EL, then drove them over to the La Corona and Upmann Factory's to be boxed, banded and stamped. As I've said before, if you believe that, I have some beautiful ocean front property in Colorado that I'll sell you for CHEAP.

 

Ah yes I do recall that, but I thought that was the regional's fault, that they alone threw that in there. 

[Corylax18]

2 minutes ago, Derboesekoenig said:

Ah yes I do recall that, but I thought that was the regional's fault, that they alone threw that in there. 

Plausible. And a perfect cover story after the fact. However, the distributor does not add the literature to the box after they receive them. That would require the cigars to be sent without the HSA Sticker and green warranty seal applied. I've seen plenty of "cooperativa" cigars with the DIY sticker kits, but never the real thing. 

My point is, I don't trust the marketing of Cuban cigars or any cigars for that matter. 

[TheMonk]

4 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

Plausible. And a perfect cover story after the fact. However, the distributor does not add the literature to the box after they receive them. That would require the cigars to be sent without the HSA Sticker and green warranty seal applied. I've seen plenty of "cooperativa" cigars with the DIY sticker kits, but never the real thing. 

My point is, I don't trust the marketing of Cuban cigars or any cigars for that matter. 

This... may not always be the case. Nevertheless, I do believe in most cases it is, so what happened is that they probably agreed to roll everything at EL, but came to the conclusion that it would be an impossible task, with all those Talismans to push onto the market, as well as the upcoming La Reina - these I seriously doubt won't be fully rolled at EL.

[El Presidente]

On 4/6/2019 at 1:47 PM, Derboesekoenig said:

Do they really do this?? Lie about the box date? Anybody know for sure? Then why do so many people even care so much about them lol

Upmann Anejado has three box dates spanning 4 years.

[Corylax18]

7 hours ago, TheMonk said:

This... may not always be the case. Nevertheless, I do believe in most cases it is, so what happened is that they probably agreed to roll everything at EL, but came to the conclusion that it would be an impossible task, with all those Talismans to push onto the market, as well as the upcoming La Reina - these I seriously doubt won't be fully rolled at EL.

OK. But it IS the case here.

The literature for these was Adhered to the underside of the box as shown below. It would be quite the trick to apply a sticker to the inside of the box after the box has been sealed shut. The Modified inserts, that Phoenicia had printed after they caught HSA's mess are pictured 2nd. I'm sure Phoenicia was TOLD by HSA that all the cigars would be rolled at EL, but that order obviously didn't make it all the way down the ladder. 

The Phonecia's were a 2015 release, I'm not sure how the Talismans, which are still being rolled (all over the island,) and especially the new La Reina's would have affected these 3 + years into the future. 

They have been short on Cohiba leaf for years and subsequently the EL rollers have been rolling Trinidad, Partagas, Monte, and who knows what else over that time frame. While at the same time Cohiba are being rolled at several other factories. There is NO rhyme, reason or consistency to where they roll what. El Laguito is the undisputed best of Cuban Cigar factories, the rest are in a dead heat for last place. 

[El Presidente]

I feel for distributors.  They appear to be screwed time and time again. 

[TheMonk]

16 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

OK. But it IS the case here.

The literature for these was Adhered to the underside of the box as shown below. It would be quite the trick to apply a sticker to the inside of the box after the box has been sealed shut. The Modified inserts, that Phoenicia had printed after they caught HSA's mess are pictured 2nd. I'm sure Phoenicia was TOLD by HSA that all the cigars would be rolled at EL, but that order obviously didn't make it all the way down the ladder. 

The Phonecia's were a 2015 release, I'm not sure how the Talismans, which are still being rolled (all over the island,) and especially the new La Reina's would have affected these 3 + years into the future. 

They have been short on Cohiba leaf for years and subsequently the EL rollers have been rolling Trinidad, Partagas, Monte, and who knows what else over that time frame. While at the same time Cohiba are being rolled at several other factories. There is NO rhyme, reason or consistency to where they roll what. El Laguito is the undisputed best of Cuban Cigar factories, the rest are in a dead heat for last place. 

The Talisman and La Reina's were merely a current example the type of situation that might have happened at the time to force HSA to go back on their word to the distributor, and manufacture the cigars somewhere else - I have no idea what exactly happened in 2015. Nevertheless I agree with you, it's definitely not the right way to do business, but I suspect distributors make more then enough money with HSA to make up for any casual disappointments, and I'm sure HSA knows it as well.

I know most people constantly bash on HSA for their business practices, and I agree that some of them are simply silly, but I have to say I personally can, on occasion, find some logic to their madness, even if I don't agree with it.