RAFAEL GONZALEZ CORONAS DE LONSDALES

[Corylax18]

12 minutes ago, SCgarman said:

Did you have a chance to smoke the Rafael Gonzalez Lonsdale before it was axed? Curious as to why Habanos is trying to breathe new life into an obscure brand they have all but killed off?

So they can eventually give it the bands and lacquer treatment and crank the margins to the moon. That's the only reason anything still exists in the Habanos portfolio, as a stepping stone to the aforementioned step. 

[Low]

1 hour ago, Corylax18 said:

So they can eventually give it the bands and lacquer treatment and crank the margins to the moon. 

Absolutely cannot wait to pay $52 for a Brevas in 5 years  

[Corylax18]

22 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Although if they want to price the CdL at $6 I am not complaining. That's so cheap people are going to buy it just because it's a long filler Cuban robusto for $6. These will be massive hit in Spain. 

Yeah. If I'll have my eye open for a few boxes in Havana next week. 

 

8 hours ago, Low said:

Absolutely cannot wait to pay $52 for a Brevas in 5 years  

Maybe if its short filler. 😆

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, SCgarman said:

Did you have a chance to smoke the Rafael Gonzalez Lonsdale before it was axed? Curious as to why Habanos is trying to breathe new life into an obscure brand they have all but killed off?

Long ago. The last older RG I smoked was an early 2000s Coronas Extra about 5 years ago. @PigFish loves them and graciously parted with one for me. 

I think we're seeing several releases like this in minor brands lately. The first was QdO. Talk about a brand that was in the doldrums. Just two new high quality cigars has boosted it from the outhouse to the penthouse. PL Galanes is another success. LGC Turquinos are coming. They are slowly starting to add reasonably sized vitolas into some of these lower profile brands. I would say it makes quite a bit of sense since LGC has really zero models in regular production, Dip, SLR and SP have only one and RG, VR and ERDM have only two. 

[PigFish]

Anyone want to trade a single real Lonsdale for a whole box…. Let me know…. Before I change my mind! -lol

Now back to choking on my own mucus… yak!

-tP

[Cabbie]

I already see a vendor selling these... There's no way they have stock already, right?

[joeypots]

On 2/15/2023 at 4:54 PM, Corylax18 said:

You get Three Sizes in One! 

No wonder people refer to cigars from 48 to 55 Rg and 4.5” to 5.5” as robustos.

[99call]

3 hours ago, PigFish said:

Anyone want to trade a single real Lonsdale for a whole box…. Let me know…. Before I change my mind! -lol

Now back to choking on my own mucus… yak!

-tP

Ray, after consulting recent auction valuation, it's seems you have grossly undervalued your single RG Lonsdale.   It's seems you should also be factoring in their first born as your personal ash flunky. 

[MrBirdman]

However silly the name is, I'm not gonna complain much about a new release with a rg under 50. It's better than another baseball bat. 

[99call]

2 minutes ago, MrBirdman said:

However silly the name is, I'm not gonna complain much about a new release with a rg under 50. It's better than another baseball bat. 

Yep, true that.

The fact that the name existed in the 1960's is fine, and I enjoy celebrating CC heritage   But 'Coronas Lonsdales' whilst sounding clunky and confusing, is strangely  way more acceptable and normal sounding when compared to "Coronas de Lonsdales".  this just sounds like a Brit abroad butchering the Spanish language

[PigFish]

6 hours ago, 99call said:

 to "Coronas de Lonsdales".  this just sounds like a Brit abroad butchering the Spanish language

Mate, that’s a classic! Bravo!

[NSXCIGAR]

12 hours ago, Cabbie said:

I already see a vendor selling these... There's no way they have stock already, right?

Possibly. They may have hit shops this week as the Monte WE and RA 3 have. Always want to check to see if the vendor actually shows amounts in stock or has it up with the "notify me when available" line. 

7 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

However silly the name is, I'm not gonna complain much about a new release with a rg under 50. It's better than another baseball bat. 

Under 50 RG and $6? This baby's coming in hot. If it's at least average it'll be the undisputed king of value. If it's great they won't be able to roll them fast enough. 

[Cabbie]

1 hour ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Possibly. They may have hit shops this week as the Monte WE and RA 3 have. Always want to check to see if the vendor actually shows amounts in stock or has it up with the "notify me when available" line.

I sent them an email asking them if it was actual stock or if it was a pre-purchase thing, never got anything back (yet). I'm tempted to order a box for science, but idk.

[SwaggyPeanut]

On 2/16/2023 at 10:26 AM, KCCubano said:

They are $60 for 10cts on the Island as of now

Are you there right now ? 

[Midas]

10 counts and well priced, anyone know when they’re likely to hit the shelves?


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[alephilmac]

These are going to disappear so quickly when they hit shelves. Hoping I can snag a box by hook or by crook.

[alephilmac]

And they've landed in North America already!

[SwaggyPeanut]

3 hours ago, alephilmac said:

And they've landed in North America already!

As a fan of RG, I found a vendor who had them and I was like screw it and ordered a box. The excitement is keeping me up now!!

[NSXCIGAR]

On 2/20/2023 at 9:59 PM, alephilmac said:

These are going to disappear so quickly when they hit shelves. Hoping I can snag a box by hook or by crook.

I think it might take a little time for these to catch on like the QdOs did. RG is a virtually unknown brand worldwide. And it hasn't had many ERs. Asia did get the 88 but they took a while to move. 

The only region these will do well in off the bat is western Europe, particularly Spain and the UK which has an established history with the brand (in fact I believe RG was Britain's top brand in the 1940s-1950s.) The big markets like Asia, the middle east and north America won't really care about them at first. 

I think the first batch of these will take well into the year to move. After that, if these are good (at least as good as the QdOs) they'll become pretty hard to find. Then I'd expect a hefty price hike next year to about $8 or $9. Again, I think the QdO 50/54 are a pretty good model for how these will be received. 

[alephilmac]

10 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I think it might take a little time for these to catch on like the QdOs did. RG is a virtually unknown brand worldwide. And it hasn't had many ERs. Asia did get the 88 but they took a while to move. 

The only region these will do well in off the bat is western Europe, particularly Spain and the UK which has an established history with the brand (in fact I believe RG was Britain's top brand in the 1940s-1950s.) The big markets like Asia, the middle east and north America won't really care about them at first. 

I think the first batch of these will take well into the year to move. After that, if these are good (at least as good as the QdOs) they'll become pretty hard to find. Then I'd expect a hefty price hike next year to about $8 or $9. Again, I think the QdO 50/54 are a pretty good model for how these will be received. 

Thank you. I appreciate the breakdown of information.

[SCgarman]

10 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I think it might take a little time for these to catch on like the QdOs did. RG is a virtually unknown brand worldwide. And it hasn't had many ERs. Asia did get the 88 but they took a while to move. 

The only region these will do well in off the bat is western Europe, particularly Spain and the UK which has an established history with the brand (in fact I believe RG was Britain's top brand in the 1940s-1950s.) The big markets like Asia, the middle east and north America won't really care about them at first. 

I think the first batch of these will take well into the year to move. After that, if these are good (at least as good as the QdOs) they'll become pretty hard to find. Then I'd expect a hefty price hike next year to about $8 or $9. Again, I think the QdO 50/54 are a pretty good model for how these will be received. 

Rafael Gonzalez was a Grandee of Spain, apparently. So perhaps the marca is well known there at least with the "old timers". Only those in the know would chase this brand. Plain Jane white box, cigars inside plain white paper inside box. Call me weird, I love the brand personally. Contruction is usually spot on, and enjoy the blend. 

[Ford2112]

Perlas are some of my favorite small smokes. I'm crossing my fingers these have some oomph to them.

 

[Fugu]

7 hours ago, SCgarman said:

Rafael Gonzalez was a Grandee of Spain, apparently. So perhaps the marca is well known there at least with the "old timers".

Yup, but although the founder was a Spaniard, originally aimed at the English market (also why having honoured Lord Lonsdale). As a former Habanos ‘local brand’ it always came with limited production and limited distribution coverage. But nevertheless, well known in Europe and highly regarded among connoisseurs.

18 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

After that, if these are good (at least as good as the QdOs) they'll become pretty hard to find. Then I'd expect a hefty price hike next year to about $8 or $9.

From what I’ve seen so far, for the time being, their worldwide pricing is pretty much in line with (or almost exactly on) Por Larrañaga (PC, Hermosos 4) level. The only place where FdRG is heftily undervalued is Cuba.

[NSXCIGAR]

4 hours ago, Fugu said:

The only place where FdRG is heftily undervalued is Cuba.

Well, so much for price homologation. 

[Midas]

Only vendor I’ve seen them online have priced them at £169 a box. Think I’ll give them a miss unless I get lucky on my travels.


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