El Laguito Factory Visit

[Wailbait]

56 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

Well, from what I can see,  at least operating at the same time for a period. LGR is La Corona. Francisco Donatien were operating a couple of codes for at least a quarter of 2019. 

 

Great point.  I had meant to ask this exact question at some point but forgotten.  Trinidads had possessed only one code for a long time but suddenly I started seeing both RAG and ARS turning up with equal frequency (during same time frame AUG 17 to present). Always wondered if it was second factory or second code at same factory.  

[ElJavi76]

Of note as well was that these were for the Chinese duty free market. The lector at La Corona laughed when I said, "me la pusiste en China, literalmente". 

It's a phrase Cubans use when we want to say you made something difficult for me. When I asked where I could buy those she said fly to China.

The stamper was also stamping twice. Top right and bottom right on every box. One of the guys with me asked why you stamping twice... The guy snapped back, "cause some genius here told me to". We all bursted into laughter. He was rather stoic. 

[Doctortrent]

Thanks for sharing Fantastic post! 

 

[BrightonCorgi]

Do all the cigars marcas rolled there go through that misting cabinet?

[SigmundChurchill]

On 11/27/2019 at 5:24 PM, BrightonCorgi said:

Do all the cigars marcas rolled there go through that misting cabinet?

I got the impression that every wrapper made at the factory went through this process.  But I don’t know that for a fact.  During the tour, no other marca was even discussed.  I remember thinking about that when we were watching the rollers.  They pointed out the Behikes, Lancero, etc, but never once did they say “This is a Partagas.” or any other marca.

[Corylax18]

On 11/27/2019 at 3:24 PM, BrightonCorgi said:

Do all the cigars marcas rolled there go through that misting cabinet?

All wrapper, in all the factories should go through this misting process. It is intended to moisten and soften the leaves so that they are less fragile and easier for the rollers to work with. 

On 11/25/2019 at 2:08 PM, El Presidente said:

I agree. Let's pool the resources. 

For the record, ROM was a predominantly 2016 /2017 code. A quick check shows Fonseca 1 being predominantly ROM coded (the ones we received at least) + Monte Double Edmundo + JLS2. All are regularly rolled at La Corona. 

The question is why is ROM being used again in 2019. LGR is being used on Dip 2's as late as AGO 19.

 

 

 

For what its worth, I have it on Very good authority that El Laguito switched codes earlier this month. From UAO to MAR. All the factories may be going through a code change right now. I cant explain the possible re-use of ROM though. 

[UnionCityCubano]

On 11/22/2019 at 1:14 AM, SigmundChurchill said:

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey by chance did you see any Cohiba Novedosos in any of the LCDHs? Thank you 

Do they do tours normally? Or is this very exclusive? Great post thank you

[SigmundChurchill]

1 hour ago, Corylax18 said:

All wrapper, in all the factories should go through this misting process. It is intended to moisten and soften the leaves so that they are less fragile and easier for the rollers to work with. 

For what its worth, I have it on Very good authority that El Laguito switched codes earlier this month. From UAO to MAR. All the factories may be going through a code change right now. I cant explain the possible re-use of ROM though. 

They told us that they were the only factory that has the Moja or Moistening Chamber.

[SigmundChurchill]

34 minutes ago, UnionCityCubano said:

Hey by chance did you see any Cohiba Novedosos in any of the LCDHs? Thank you 

Do they do tours normally? Or is this very exclusive? Great post thank you

The LCDHs there didn’t even have CoRos (at least not boxes), let alone Novedosos.  They were supposed to have been launched in Spain back in September, but I dont know whether or not that actually happened.  Maybe someone here knows more?

As to tours, they don't do them normally.  Meaning, you cant just show up there, or buy tickets or something like that.  When I was in Cuba, an old friend of mine who was there, introduced me to an old friend of his, who is in the industry.  He brought me as his guest.  The other guys I was with, managed to get a tour as well, but it was also through someone in the industry.

[HDGSN]

38 minutes ago, SigmundChurchill said:

They told us that they were the only factory that has the Moja or Moistening Chamber.

Not sure if it is the same, but the James Suckling documentary (The Heart and Soul of Cuba) has a scene with a misting cabinet. The factory workers take a stack of leaves in a bunch and shake them to loosen them and spread them out to hang in the cabinet for a few minutes and then they are ready to go to the rolling floor. Pretty sure he was at El Laguito too. His documentary is available in Spanish on YouTube or in English on Vudu.

 

EDIT TO ADD: Nevermind, I found the scene. Starts just before 31:00 minute mark. He is at La Corona. The documentary is from 2011.

 

[Corylax18]

50 minutes ago, SigmundChurchill said:

They told us that they were the only factory that has the Moja or Moistening Chamber.

I don't doubt they are the only factory with such a sophisticated and dedicated room, but this process has to happen to all wrapper leaf to ensure its workability. The link below is from the HSA website, one photo shows a cabinet similar to the one shown in the video above. 

http://www.habanos.com/en/el-mundo-del-habano/como-se-hace-un-habano/

[UnionCityCubano]

36 minutes ago, SigmundChurchill said:

The LCDHs there didn’t even have CoRos (at least not boxes), let alone Novedosos.  They were supposed to have been launched in Spain back in September, but I dont know whether or not that actually happened.  Maybe someone here knows more?

As to tours, they don't do them normally.  Meaning, you cant just show up there, or buy tickets or something like that.  When I was in Cuba, an old friend of mine who was there, introduced me to an old friend of his, who is in the industry.  He brought me as his guest.  The other guys I was with, managed to get a tour as well, but it was also through someone in the industry.

Yea, I heard the 500 year anniversary festivals wiped out must of the stock. Thanks for Reply!!!!

[SigmundChurchill]

44 minutes ago, HDGSN said:

Not sure if it is the same, but the James Suckling documentary (The Heart and Soul of Cuba) has a scene with a misting cabinet. The factory workers take a stack of leaves in a bunch and shake them to loosen them and spread them out to hang in the cabinet for a few minutes and then they are ready to go to the rolling floor. Pretty sure he was at El Laguito too. His documentary is available in Spanish on YouTube or in English on Vudu.

 

EDIT TO ADD: Nevermind, I found the scene. Starts just before 31:00 minute mark. He is at La Corona. The documentary is from 2011.

 

 

27 minutes ago, Corylax18 said:

I don't doubt they are the only factory with such a sophisticated and dedicated room, but this process has to happen to all wrapper leaf to ensure its workability. The link below is from the HSA website, one photo shows a cabinet similar to the one shown in the video above. 

http://www.habanos.com/en/el-mundo-del-habano/como-se-hace-un-habano/

Cory, maybe this is what they were trying to say.  There was someone translating for us, so perhaps something got lost in the translation.

[ElJavi76]

I went to the Despalillo facility in Viñales, near HLP's farm. They have a steam room there as well which is massive. The guys are commissioned with turning the leaves over after the overnight steam bath. Here's a pic of the room. The fact is this was at a facility and not a factory like El Laguito. So Laguito might be the one factory with such facilities.

 

[BoliDan]

Those aging barrels actually exist? 

Good stuff. Looks like a good a time.

[Derboesekoenig]

I have crossed out most of Cuba bucket list items, save for just a handful, and this is at #1 for a reason. Maybe one day, but the stars have to align for this to happen. You cannot expect (even if you have friends and "connections") to just head there and get a factory tour. These very rarely happen.

[Nino]

22 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

All wrapper, in all the factories should go through this misting process. It is intended to moisten and soften the leaves so that they are less fragile and easier for the rollers to work with. 

For what its worth, I have it on Very good authority that El Laguito switched codes earlier this month. From UAO to MAR. All the factories may be going through a code change right now. I cant explain the possible re-use of ROM though. 

They do @Corylax18 I have seen it done in all other factories.

I can confirm the El Laguito box code just being changed to MAR as of this month.

[Derboesekoenig]

So LGR is La Corona, what is LRG?

[El Presidente]

3 minutes ago, Derboesekoenig said:

So LGR is La Corona, what is LRG?

..a misprint 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Derboesekoenig]

51 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

..a misprint 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indeed. Thought they were trying to confuse us. There are LRG boxes, correct? Just making sure I've not developed dyslexia ?