A New Look For Rafael Gonzalez

[El Presidente]

Feb 24, 2022 | By Gregory Mottola

 

https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/a-new-look-for-rafael-gonzalez

 

[NSXCIGAR]

Finally!

A rebranding is what RG deserves. Hopefully QdO is the template and we'll get some new models soon. I know the Coronas de Lonsdales are on the way.

I hope SP is next.

[99call]

Not usually a fan of rebranding, but this is low key and tasteful, fitting for such a suave reserved marca. 

I'm a fan

[99call]

Wait a bloody minute.......they've removed the classic RG shpeal on the old boxes.  WHY!!!    I take it all back, they are absolute idiots,  the outer box is now awful.         'Heritage' people!!!!!!! you can modernise, whilst maintaining heritage. 

 

[bishop532]

19 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I know the Coronas de Lonsdales are on the way.

Is that an RE / LE or will it be production? Love to see a new production cigar in that size…

[Spaceman Spiff]

1 hour ago, 99call said:

Wait a bloody minute.......they've removed the classic RG shpeal on the old boxes.  WHY!!!    I take it all back, they are absolute idiots,  the outer box is now awful.         'Heritage' people!!!!!!! you can modernise, whilst maintaining heritage.

100% agree, that writing always set RGs apart from other boxes. I like the new bands well enough but removing the writing is a bad move.

[NSXCIGAR]

5 hours ago, bishop532 said:

Is that an RE / LE or will it be production? Love to see a new production cigar in that size…

Supposed to be regular production. May be a LCDH/HS but it won't be special production.

Hermosos No. 4 in 10 boxes. Yes, it's an odd name for a Hermosos No. 4. But we are getting a Hermosos No. 4 which is a huge win.

 

5 hours ago, 99call said:

they've removed the classic RG shpeal on the old boxes.  WHY!!! 

Hopefully they retain it on the inside of the lid or the bofeton like Monte does. Obviously if they left it it would probably have been obscured by the health warning stickers.

I say bring back the creepy picture of Lord Lonsdale!

[bishop532]

2 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Hermosos No. 4 in 10 boxes. Yes, it's an odd name for a Hermosos No. 4. But we are getting a Hermosos No. 4 which is a huge win.

hermosos no. 4 is almost as good as a lonsdale. Much better than the rest of the sizes they’ve been releasing lately!  

[NSXCIGAR]

1 minute ago, bishop532 said:

hermosos no. 4 is almost as good as a lonsdale. Much better than the rest of the sizes they’ve been releasing lately!  

Yes, I would say next best thing for sure. A Cervantes or Dalias is highly unlikely to happen. Realistically a Hermosos No. 4 is probably the best, especially considering they've been going buck wild with 50 and 52 Short Robustos lately. 

I would love to see RG add a Bohemios or a Genios. If you've had a Connie 2 the Bohemios is actually a great vitola. 

Unfortunately, with this revamp I fear a Montesco or Sublimes in RG's future.

[bishop532]

4 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

considering they've been going buck wild with 50 and 52 Short Robustos lately. 

Man you’re not kidding. It’s like they forgot how to make anything but those vitolas. 

4 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I would love to see RG add a Bohemios or a Genios. If you've had a Connie 2 the Bohemios is actually a great vitola. 

Unfortunately, with this revamp I fear a Montesco or Sublimes in RG's future

Haven’t had a Connie 2 yet but I do like genios, and do not particularly like the other 2. I could see a genios working well with RG flavors, for sure.  

[NSXCIGAR]

2 hours ago, bishop532 said:

Haven’t had a Connie 2 yet but I do like genios, and do not particularly like the other 2. I could see a genios working well with RG flavors, for sure.

Yeah, I'm definitely burnt out on Magicos and Petit Edmundos, D5 and Paraisos. Galanes are just long enough but my minimum for 52 is pretty much Edmundos. I only smoke Monte PE because there's no substitute and they are great and I also think highly of the Hoyo De Luxe which is possibly the most underrated Hoyo. 

I am just excited to see what they are able to do with a RG 48 RG. I haven't had any of the three RG ELs but they've had such a great track record with Hermosos No. 4 I'm encouraged. I smoke Famosos and Connie 1 probably more than anything else so obviously I'm thrilled they're going with Hermosos No. 4. 

[NSXCIGAR]

4 minutes ago, Psiman said:

it's only a slight change. I wouldn't call it a total rebrand like what they did with Quai D'Orsay and Vegueros. they need to rebrand a bunch like Diplomatico, Saint Luis Rey and a few others and bring the brands back to life. LGC would be a good place to start. It did wonders for Quai D'Orsay.

You may be right but RG, like QdO, was the lamest most lackluster marca in the catalog. Now we get new bands and a new model...I'm thinking it's more likely than not it's a QdO-style rebrand. 

I'm not opposed to SLR and Dip rebranding but I think LGC just needs more models. And I think without a doubt they should shift to the colored bands they used for the Gloriosos and the Britanicas. Very attractive bands the brand deserves. They already use the varnished box and the dress boxes are quite nice also. Just bands and new models needed. Would love a LGC Hermosos No. 3 or 2.