The most influential cigar release since 2000?

[El Presidente]

 

In your opinion , which has been the most influential cigar release since Altadis purchased 50% of Habanos S.A. in 2000?

[Colt45]

I'm a simp, so how would you define / what is the context of influential?

[JohnS]

In regards to regular production, I would think that the 2002 release of the Cohiba Siglo VI has been highly influential for a number of reasons. Firstly, to no-one's surprise here, that cigar didn't hit the market really until 2003. Secondly, its 52 ring gauge set forward a trend towards larger ring gauge cigars. Thirdly, the Siglo VI was an addition to the successful Linea 1942 series (i.e. Cohiba Siglo I,II,III,IV and V) released in 1992 which has been repeated since. (For example, the Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de San Juan and de Rio Seco additions to the Le Hoyo line)

In regards to special release cigars, the success of the Limited Edition Series in 2000 surprised Habanos S.A. (there were no Limited Editions in 2002, probably because Habanos S.A. needed more time for the wrapper leaf to mature). The extra cash-flow allowed Habanos S.A to rationalise poor-selling regular production cigars and maintain other historical brands and vitolas. The success of the Limited Edition series led to the Regional Edition series five years later, which has also been a great source of up-front capital for Habanos S.A ever since.

[El Presidente]

6 minutes ago, Colt45 said:

I'm a simp, so how would you define / what is the context of influential?

Having the greatest influence on direction

[mbflash80]

Gotta be behike no? I mean that turned the corner for Habanos and really put the foot to the gas as far as getting the consumer to snatch up the same tobacco that was around forever and pay 3x for it...and look where we are now

[Colt45]

4 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

Having the greatest influence on direction

Off the top of my head no specific single cigar, but generally speaking, the EL program.

[Ken Gargett]

3 minutes ago, Colt45 said:

Off the top of my head no specific single cigar, but generally speaking, the EL program.

agree. 

if i had to pick a single cigar, i'd also agree with john, siglo vi. 

[Astar20]

All of these EL 54+ RG due to all these LE and Regional releases have been getting out of hand! 

[SenorPerfecto]

BHK56.

[LLC]

LE program for bring a new concept and getting people to collect (chase) new releases. Behike for opening their eyes to what they can do to create a premium market and raise margins.


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[NSXCIGAR]

I would have to agree--Siglo VI really represented the quintessential 21st century release. 

We're not talking about influential program. Obviously the EL program, considered by most at the time to be risky and mainly an underhanded way to blow out crap wrappers, paved the way for all future programs. But as far as one cigar, the vitola, the brand, the time--Siglo VI really was the birth of an entire approach to marca expansion and the large RG trend at a time when all sorts of classic vitolas and models were getting cut en masse. 

[lordlister]

The Cohiba siglo VI grand reserva is the most significant. The release started the trend of an increasing number of limited hard to find releases and increasing speculation in this segment of the market. When these came out, they sat on the shelves for 6 to 8 months despite universal praise. When they sold out the prices on the secondary market went through the roof in short order and people were clamoring for more. It seems like there’s a new special release out every month or so now, prices going up and up, with none seemingly available at less than 2x msrp. 

[RichUK]

I'd say the BHK, really felt like it reset the LE cigar.

[BrightonCorgi]

Cohiba Gran Reserva would be it for me.  Really set a new level of excellence and a high end benchmark.

[X-Man]

16 hours ago, Colt45 said:

Off the top of my head no specific single cigar, but generally speaking, the EL program.

Of all the EL releases, the Cohiba Piramides banded 2001 (actually came out in 2002) was most significant and influential. Despite being one terrible cigar, (as I remember Cigar Aficionado gave it a low 80’s rating under the torpedo category) it was one of the most sought and successful release at that time. Perhaps it was due to the same model previously appeared during the 1994 Dinner of the Century event. Then following that success, which prompted  HSA to release the Siglo VI, Canonazo, as I recalled some article stating it was a straight torpedo. It then led to 40th Aniversario Behike, which some called it a cross between Esplendido and Siglo VI. And that led to the BHK releases.

[Colt45]

1 hour ago, X-Man said:

Of all the EL releases, the Cohiba Piramides banded 2001 (actually came out in 2002) was most significant and influential.

Very likely, as is the Siglo VI in regular production. The Cohiba EL I always think of as getting a lot of buzz from around that time was the '03 Double Corona.

[The Squiggler]

I don't pretend to know the history well enough to say one way or another, but I did notice this:  Since the BHK52 was awarded 'Cigar of the Year' by Cigar Aficionado in 2010 Habanos SA's yearly profits have steadily increased and are currently around 50% higher than they were (on average) between 2005 and 2010 (this could obviously be a coincidence/attributed to a multitude of other factors/etc., but I'd say it has at least contributed to the increased commercial success of Havana cigars in recent years). The Bolivar Royal Corona also received that accolade in 2006, but the Behike seems to garner far more mystique than a cigar like the BRC ever could (due to the price point, presentation, lore, etc.). 

[smitte3]

Cohiba Siglo 6

[Bill Hayes]

Probably the Siglo 6 in 2003. I remember smoking one NYE 2003 and thinking a cigar couldn't get much better but then the Cohiba Double Corona LE 2003 came along which for me personally was the most sought after.

[Ryan]

R y J Wide Churchill. I may be wrong but I think it was the first Montesco sized cigar, 55rg.

Look at the number of montescos released since then.

[La_Tigre]

Monte Open. 
 

first. ?

[X-Man]

2 hours ago, La_Tigre said:

Monte Open. 
 

first. ?

A different direction????