El Laguito Factory Visit

[SigmundChurchill]

I met with the director of the El Laguito factory today.  I got a very nice tour and didn’t leave empty handed.?

The two of us in his office.  A really nice guy.

He gave me a cigar to smoke on the tour. A Novedosos.

The fermentation room.

These are the wrappers hanging with a cool mist to smooth them out.  I was told this is the only factory that does this.

medio tiempo

this is the tobacco that goes into the Behike.  The amount here makes 75 Behike 54s.

The quality control room.

This roller is rolling what I believe to be the Behike 58s.  They told me there are no plans to sell these outside of the special humidor that they will come in.

We had a long talk about the different Cohibas.  I told the director my thoughts on the dark vs light Talismans.  He then brought me the darkest one and the lightest one he could find and told me to keep them.

As I was getting into the car, one of the workers ran outside with these two cigars for me.  2 Siglo VIs.  Earlier, I might have mentioned to the director that this was my favorite cigar.

 

A quick demonstration of the de-veining process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RDB]

Super! Thanks for this, v interesting. There can’t be many people who have real Cohibas without bands.

Especially cool of the director to find you those dark and light Talismans. Did he give you his thoughts on the impact of wrapper shade?

[mtapia3]

You're a very lucky man. 

[Bram Smoker]

Outstanding post. Really enjoyed the photos and information you provided. Keep enjoying the island and those amazing looking cigars you were gifted.

[Puros Y Vino]

Great pics. Got to visit in 2012.  It's a relatively small operation compared to the La Corona factory in terms of # of rollers.  Great experience.

[SigmundChurchill]

1 hour ago, RDB said:

Super! Thanks for this, v interesting. There can’t be many people who have real Cohibas without bands.

Especially cool of the director to find you those dark and light Talismans. Did he give you his thoughts on the impact of wrapper shade?

He said that only the most experienced cigar smokers can taste the difference, but I think maybe he just found a way to defend his product, while paying me a complement at the same time.

[SigmundChurchill]

33 minutes ago, bundwallah said:

Great pics. Got to visit in 2012.  It's a relatively small operation compared to the La Corona factory in terms of # of rollers.  Great experience.

Is La Corona a lot bigger?  I would love to see some other factories to have a point of reference, but unfortunately there is no time on this trip.

[Puros Y Vino]

1 minute ago, SigmundChurchill said:

Is La Corona a lot bigger?  I would love to see some other factories to have a point of reference, but unfortunately there is no time on this trip.

Yes.  It's in an old, industrial building.   Several stories high.  Every floor is a different part of the operation.  10x the rollers too I'd say. 

[xelzh]

Interesting photos! Thank you for sharing! 

[helix]

Thanks for sharing. You got the rare VIP treatment congrats.

[El Hoze]

I don’t think I’d be able to sleep the night before an experience like that. Awesome! And thanks for sharing, great pics! 

[Ry27]

Awesome!!! The aroma in that room must’ve been indescribable 

[SigmundChurchill]

1 minute ago, Ry27 said:

Awesome!!! The aroma in that room must’ve been indescribable 

Yes.  The most interesting to me was the smell of the medio tiempo leaves.  When you get your nose right up to them, they have a very sweet smell.  

I planned to ask about this, but forgot.  I assume it’s something like the way grapes turn into raisins.  With these leaves being from the top of the plant, given time and sunlight, the sugars become more concentrated.  If someone knows more about this, please correct me if I am wrong.

[bbguardsp]

Awesome post!  Wondering if you saw the packaging area and if it's still UAO at the moment. 

[Cayman17]

Thanks for sharing. Love the pics! 

[99call]

11 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

As I was getting into the car, one of the workers ran outside with these two cigars for me.  2 Siglo VIs.  Earlier, I might have mentioned to the director that this was my favorite cigar.

Was this all standard warm welcome? (seems very generous)  or did you find a golden ticket in one of the 100,000,000 boxes of Siglo VI that you've converted into sweet blue haze?

Great post, looks like you had a brilliant time. Hats off to you Sir

 

[MC4]

Cool pics and story.  Thanks.

@SigmundChurchill how does one get a  private tour and meet the director?

[Hammer Smokin']

likely being a good customer does it

[Colt45]

Very well done 

[slowsmoke]

Awesome pics, thanks so much for sharing.

I think we can all agree on one thing.  Too bad those drawmaster machines don't work any more.  There was once a hamster inside with a small wheel that connected to the gauge, but he died long ago.

[99call]

1 hour ago, MC4 said:

Cool pics and story.  Thanks.

@SigmundChurchill how does one get a  private tour and meet the director?

Your blood has to test positive for hay and honey

[JoeyBones777]

1 hour ago, 99call said:

Your blood has to test positive for hay and honey

Seems fair. ?

[SigmundChurchill]

5 hours ago, bbguardsp said:

Awesome post!  Wondering if you saw the packaging area and if it's still UAO at the moment. 

I didn’t think to check.  But I have some UAO OCT 19 cigars that I bought here, so it was still UAO as of last month.

i did learn that BRE is La Corona though.  I don’t know if we already knew that or not.  I asked them where the Monte Gran Pyramids were rolled and that is where they said.  My box is BRE.

[SigmundChurchill]

3 hours ago, MC4 said:

Cool pics and story.  Thanks.

@SigmundChurchill how does one get a  private tour and meet the director?

They seemed to really, really like the person who invited me.

[SigmundChurchill]

1 hour ago, slowsmoke said:

Awesome pics, thanks so much for sharing.

I think we can all agree on one thing.  Too bad those drawmaster machines don't work any more.  There was once a hamster inside with a small wheel that connected to the gauge, but he died long ago.

I stuck my finger in one and they turned it on. They still work.  I can attest to that.  Their effectiveness is a different story.  
 

Felt really weird around my finger, like someone was sucking on it.  That is when I realized why there were only women working in that room.