FOH Choppers: Cigar Brand Rebuild : Diplomatico

[El Presidente]

Your Mission:

You have been given the brief to revitalise the near defunct Diplomatico Brand. 

You have been entrusted to 

1. put together three vitolas
2. describe their packaging
3. describe their body/flavour profile

They must be:

1. Immediate commercial market successes
2. Not more than one LE. You do not have to have any LE at all but a successful LE can lead into a long term regular production cigar with as the Trinidad Topes. 

Keep in mind. 

1.  Are you thinking with your heart or your head?
2.  Is this truly commercial 
3.  Is it adding or cannibalising?

 

Poll will be put up on the weekend for the most popular suggestions. Passed on to PCC for  future regional consideration. 

Good Luck  

[Wookie]

1. Re-labeling for sure...a la QdO. Their bands are kinda like a 1977 Chevrolet. 

2. 52-54RG vitolas...americano, large robusto/montesco

3. Tweak the blend...I have a few boxes and I like them but blend could use a better differentiator....more body, add some floral or other sweet character if possible? 

[Habana Mike]

While I'd love to bring back the #6 or #7 I question the immediate commercial vitality of these vitolas, though CoLa, Monte Especial seem to, plus La Reina and the coming Italian Punch Mantua RE may put rest to the rumor skinny cigars don't sell.....

Vitolas I think would work are to bring back the #1 Lonsdale, add a Robusto Extra and a Montesco in keeping with the current rage.

Stick with the traditional bands and boxes.

They would lean toward the fuller side of medium - notes of cocoa, baking spices, brioche and cream.

[xelzh]

1) Corona, Ammunition regular production, Bushidos part 2

Box of 25 for Corona, Box of 10 for Ammunition 50 cab for bushidos

Stick to same band and box design

Gingerbread creamy nutmeg latte toffee

 

[Burningman]

A perfecto LCDH cigar so the bosses upstairs can charge a pretty penny. Preferably a throw back perfecto that isn't too large. Something like the LGC Flechas.

A cañonazo.

Reinstate the #4 or #5 depending on if the trend toward having mostly perlas available as small cigars continues or if the top dogs want to allow a pc back on the market.

No blend adjustments required but offer everything in dress boxes of 25 and cabs of 50 seasonally.

[Astar20]

1.) the violas would be:

a Dalia box of 10, cab of 50;

a Churchill box of 25, box of 10; 

a conanzo or double Robusto box of 10 or box of 25

2.) I feel this blend needs more of a subtle fruit aspect like the SLR or the JL. A berry or citrus aspect with some slight cocoa and a baking spice note with some sourdough and cream flavor while having a medium to full body. 

3.) I definitely would redesign the brand with new boxes and new brands. 

 

[benfica_77]

I would bring out 3 cigars to compliment the Dip 2 ... a Petite Corona, Re-release the bushido and make it a permanent part of their production line and a corona gorda in between those two sizes. 

Update the logo but keep it old school and classy.  Really play up the diplomat part in the name. 

Then as a marketing ploy work with different embassies across the world to come out with a release that have an embassy in Cuba and make an LE.  To play up the diplomacy part. 

[Wailbait]

Love the idea of a Diplo rebrand.  Part of me would KILL to work on the account.  
 

My first observation is that as long as it’s “pale” yellow, it will live in the shadow of the more luxe Montecristo.  First thing is differentiation.  Normally I’d suggest pivoting the yellow into “gold” but there are so many blingy brands that it would be redundant.  Maybe figure out how to incorporate royal Blue.  It’s powerful, masculine and no other brand is using it so it gets differentiation.  

[Hammer Smokin']

rebranding means they'll up the price for similar quality.

but the trade off is hopefully a few new additions to the brand.

unfortunately the additions will be all thick ring gauges.

a rebrand isn't necessary. Just re-release the Diplo 1 and 3 again ... watch the popularity rise.

[HDGSN]

HDGSN Diplomaticos - 3 Chopped Vitolas

1. Diplomaticos No. 6 - Laguito No. 1 - Limited Edition Humidor - This is a limited edition, specially-designed humidor of 100 lancero cigars. The 100-count humidor is a callback to the 100-count humidors of Diplomaticos No. 6 that used to exist (according to CubanCigarWebsite). As the Diplomaticos were meant to cater to the French market, this humidor will be designed in the style of the French Embassy Residence in Havana (https://cu.ambafrance.org/La-Residence-de-France-a-La-Havane-1076). The bands would be the same logo but with special coloring with French-flag colors (blue, white, red) and shiny gold leaf. As it is a one-off expensive release of long, skinny cigars, it will be dead medium bodied in strength with a bigger influence of the Montecristo-like chocolate and dark cream than the bell pepper and spice of Partagas. Again, with the French focus, I would want the blend to try and contain French cafe flavors - sweet chocolaty coffee drinks with maybe a savory breakfast dish.
2. Diplomaticos No. 4 - Marevas - Anejados Series Release - This is intended to be a re-release of the petit corona Diplomaticos No. 4, but as part of the Habanos Anejados line to try and make it more marketable today. The packaging would be a standard 25-count Semi Boite Nature box but with the Diplomaticos emblem char-branded into the wood box (much like the new Quai d'Orsay boxes), and the bands would be the standard Diplomaticos band but with both the carriage and red stripe in the bands as a red hologram and, of course, the second Anejados band. These would be medium-full bodied in true Diplomaticos tradition with a focus on big transitions and unique flavors - sweet then savory then sweet then savory...you get the idea.
3. Diplomaticos Behike - Standard Release - This is intended to piggy-back on the popularity of the Behike 54 sized cigars. The packaging would have standard bands - no bells and whistles. But, the boxes would be lacquered 10-count and 25-count boxes. These would be medium to under-medium bodied cigars designed to cater to the Instagram influencers - light shade wrappers preferred. The blend should have viscous smoke with lots of umami and the most bell pepper of the three Vitolas.

 

[Hammer Smokin']

yah, those won't be cheap!

but love the creativity!

[Chas.Alpha]

1) The Diplomatico #2. Same great blend, same crappy packaging.

2) The Diplomatico Rubusto Extra. Cross between a Dip #2 and a Bolivar Belicuso. Manly yet elegant. Put them in individually numbered boxes, 1-10000. We’re all dumb enough to pay an extra $50 for individually numbered boxes!

3) The Diplomatico 898. Medium to full, in a clever lacquer box. I think the years of the 55+ ring gauges are coming to a close. Also, we have an affinity towards the 898 packaging.

[SenorPerfecto]

Diplomaticos Gold -- Oro Diplomaticos

Gold bands

Gold boxes

Gold Tubos

All sizes come only in 10-ct wooden tubo boxes in a velvet bag. Is this packaging overkill? You betcha. We're Habanos, hombre. Medium-plus body, medium-minus strength.

4 x 55 Oro Lunes

5.5 x 55 Viernes Noche

7 x 55 Fin de Semana

[shrink]

I would go for an LCDH ongoing release of Dips in the same size and 10-box as the H.U. Royal Robustos.

Oh, and make 'em full-flavored. They'll sell. 

[in0gravity]

For the three new standards:

1. a Half Corona in a cab of 50 and tins of 5
2. a Mareva Grueso in 25 dress box
3. a Paco in 8-9-8 varnished box

As an EL I would bring back the Dip. No. 6

Regards
Lars


Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

[El Presidente]

 

1.   Diplomatico Number 4  as a LE or Regional.  Cabs of 50 only.  Use this as the tester to bring back into full production but only in cabs of 50 ala PLPC

2.   109 Bushido in a Slide Lid Box of 10. 

3.    Diplomatico Celestiales Fino. Slide Lid Box of 25.   Full bore Diplomatico flavours. 

[Meklown]

1. Petit edmundo. Dress box of both 10 and 25. Potentially a redesign of the brand/logo to something a little more elegant / less gaudy. 

2. Corona Gorda as a EL/ER - in a lacquered box of 10 (I'm thinking of the Monte 1935s, but a dull, dirty yellow). I feel that this size is somewhat on the upper end of acceptable for small-RG smokers, while on the lower end of acceptable for large-RG fans, hence it is able to appeal to both types of audiences.

3. Double Robusto. Slide lid box of 25 but on rare occasions you may find SLB of 10s too. This should put it right in the ballpark of the HU Mag 50s with a different flavour profile. If we're talking about PCC / Asian market, chances are larger formats may be more well-liked.

[GavLew79]

Brand uplift like Qd'O. Maintain the yellow, black and red colour scheme and homage to yesteryear but revamp. 

1. Robusto in lacquered box of 20 ($<275 USD), special lacquered cab of 50 (<$600 USD.)

2. Dalia in new dress boxes 10 and 25

3. Topes in 50 cab

Flavour profile to bring out the sweetness and baking spice to complement the earthy tobacco of the Dip 2. 

[99call]

43 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

 

1.   Diplomatico Number 4  as a LE or Regional.  Cabs of 50 only.  Use this as the tester to bring back into full production but only in cabs of 50 ala PLPC

2.   109 Bushido in a Slide Lid Box of 10. 

3.    Diplomatico Celestiales Fino. Slide Lid Box of 25.   Full bore Diplomatico flavours. 

Pretty much beat me to it, apart from last part. 

3,  A 'Black Prince'  Not a maduro, but guaranteed dark dip wrappers.  Fonseca Invictos size,  Black Ribbon on the bundle, & black crown branded onto the box.  SLB 25, full bodied blend

Oh and I'm surprised they haven't made a tacky royal carriage humidor, (as featured on the bands). Something like this, but with working headlights haha!

[Fugu]

On 1/29/2020 at 1:02 AM, Habana Mike said:

They would lean toward the fuller side of medium - notes of cocoa, baking spices, brioche and cream.

I have the feeling the latest Dip 2 (2018 for me) are exactly like this.

 

On 1/29/2020 at 3:04 AM, SenorPerfecto said:

Diplomaticos Gold -- Oro Diplomaticos

Gold bands

Gold boxes

Gold Tubos

All sizes come only in 10-ct wooden tubo boxes in a velvet bag. Is this packaging overkill? You betcha. We're Habanos, hombre. Medium-plus body, medium-minus strength.

4 x 55 Oro Lunes

5.5 x 55 Viernes Noche

7 x 55 Fin de Semana

Jeez, you just forgot the "Lluvia de Oro" with gold-sprinkled-wrapper.... haha.

[jackupster]

11 hours ago, El Presidente said:

 

1.   Diplomatico Number 4  as a LE or Regional.  Cabs of 50 only.  Use this as the tester to bring back into full production but only in cabs of 50 ala PLPC

2.   109 Bushido in a Slide Lid Box of 10. 

3.    Diplomatico Celestiales Fino. Slide Lid Box of 25.   Full bore Diplomatico flavours. 

Damn!! I would buy all of these!

 

[JoeyBones777]

7 hours ago, FatherOfPugs said:

I really like the first 2 options, think they would be a big hit. For #3 I would  go with something the size of QdO 54, San Juan, or Rio Seco to stay with current market trends

Market trends be damned! Give me a dalia in 343 and 898 along with the 10 ct Bushido and 50 ct RE #4. Keep the #2 and modernize the packaging.

[Habana Mike]

The #1 was essentially a Dalia so a common theme among a few here.

[Wilzc]

LOL!!!

Band needs to be nice.

One small hitter like the Royales

One Corona Gorda for the medium smoke

109 with a triple flashy band to milk the new name!

 

[Fugu]

I am certainly the wrong to ask... but if you insist.... (disclaimer: this is what I would like to see)

First: Let's keep it classy, HSA: Don't continue to follow the NCish design and format path (while NC producers try to mimic CCs). Be proud of what you got and what sets you apart!

In a perfect world:

No. 1, 2, 4, plus the Perlas (seems to work for Monte and RaGo, why shouldn't it here?). Yep, leave out the Coronas - nobody wants Coronas. And - I am with @Habana Mike - absolutely, bring back the two Laguitos! Production of those two perhaps organized in temporary limited runs, depending on market demand (as in Monte Esp., SW, etc). Add the No. 1 to that scheme as it won't sell, I am fully aware of that...

Nice idea to have a regular 109 (but find a new name for it), and for heaven's sake have a Petit Eddy added, for those who need a "modern" quick-fix format. But nobody really needs a Diplo 'Mag56', no?

I guess such a range of formats could make everybody happy, and it would take a bit of the 'pressure' from Montecristo. (should these turn out not to sell, simply tweak using the proven marketing weapons: Double the pricing (for no particular reason), add foot bands (because you can), brand a '8888' onto boxes (just for the fun of it), and thus make it plain and clear to all fomos that it's another "must-have" brand).

Packaging - no question about that: Reinstate the original semi boite nature boxes of the 60s - incl. glassine and cedar sheet, not the tacky bofeton-flap of late - for all formats. All in 25-ct, bar the No.2 and the 109 which are to be offered in 25- as well as 10-ct. Dress boxes only for ERs and ELs from there on.

Bands have already seen a revamping for the regionals. Not a necessity if you ask me, but the new graphics, modestly gilded inlay and the newly added embossing: Fine. Almost there. But - please, please! - change base colour from that cheapish piss-yellow glitch back to the classic standard colouration!!

Keep pricing at 15-20% below Monte.

In a real world, however:

Four formats: Montesco, Edmundo and Petit Edmundo, stuffed with volado and short enough for not making it too ambitious wrapper-wise. Perhaps keep the No.2. Presentation: Shiny 20-count boxes at pricing of a 25-ct.