Rumours...Quai d'Orsay

[El Presidente]

Some jungle drum beats that Quai d'Orsay is the next marque to get the "spit and polish" + new repositioning treatment. 

The drums are faint but they keep popping up. If you are a lover of QD and see them at a decent price, it may be worth squirreling a higher proportion of your normal spend their way over the next 6 months. It could amount to nothing but a "heads up" is never a bad thing. 

 

[MagicalBikeRide]

I’m a fan of the CC, 50 and 54. Would hurt to see them go the same way as Trinidad. 

[JohnS]

Thank you. I appreciate the 'heads up'!

[Çnote]

<sigh>

[99call]

5 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Some jungle drum beats that Quai d'Orsay is the next marque to get the "spit and polish

Hasn't that already happened to some degree? I realise the prices could soar, but the fancy band change and new sizes seemed to be a telegraphing this move a long way off. As much as I might hate this move (and I will hate it). The greater question should be if a Cohiba Corona is worth X. Then how is a QDO Corona not worth the same? The quality is the same. The consistency is the same.

The real question should not be Is Trinidad or QdO worth the same as Cohiba? Rather that Cohiba is not worth it's ridiculous premium placed on it...The market however obviously doesn't agree with me.

 

[El Presidente]

4 hours ago, 99call said:

Hasn't that already happened to some degree? I realise the prices could soar, but the fancy band change and new sizes seemed to be a telegraphing this move a long way off. As much as I might hate this move (and I will hate it). The greater question should be if a Cohiba Corona is worth X. Then how is a QDO Corona not worth the same? The quality is the same. The consistency is the same.

The real question should not be Is Trinidad or QdO worth the same as Cohiba? Rather that Cohiba is not worth it's ridiculous premium placed on it...The market however obviously doesn't agree with me.

 

                          The greater question should be if a Cohiba Corona is worth X. Then how is a QDO Corona not worth the same?.

                          The real question should not be Is Trinidad or QDO worth the same as Cohiba?  Rather that Cohiba is not worth it's ridiculous premium placed on it

If they all end up at the same stratospheric price point.....then which one is most overpriced is  mute 

[99call]

27 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

If they all end up at the same stratospheric price point.....then which one is most overpriced is  mute 

[teamrandr]

I hope to try a CC before this happens.

[benfica_77]

Appreciate the heads up! Might need to snag some 54's in 10's before they get the Trinidad treatment!

[Lt4-396]

The #54s have been hit or miss but the #50s have been great, the QDCC however is phenomenal. Surprisingly consistent as well. All of my boxes from '20 onwards are terrific. Glad I stacked way to many boxes before prices went crazy. Was planning on waiting a bit longer to try my #52s but may need to rethink that now.

[gormag38]

Snagged a box of the 52s as the lone single I had earlier in the year was phenomenal. Currently out of the 50s and 54s, but may seriously consider grabbing at least the 50s. Outside of a terrific single I smoked, the 54s I had just didn't do it for me

[Fugu]

14 hours ago, 99call said:

Hasn't that already happened to some degree? I realise the prices could soar, but the fancy band change and new sizes seemed to be a telegraphing this move a long way off. As much as I might hate this move (and I will hate it)

Yeah, appears quite hard to believe for me, too. After the recent total relaunch of a brand, that had for a very long time just been a local-brand with very limited reach? And in terms of pricing has always been positioned at the lower end of the spectrum?! With the Coronas Claro having for long been among the biggest bargains coming out of Cuba. But now to re-reposition Quai d’Orsay as a ‘premium-premium’? Seems pretty far-fetched (to me). But, hey, it’s HSA, you never know…

For those perhaps interested, there is a very nice recent (2020) little book on the history of QdO. Providing some “inside” background (including interesting sales numbers) from its very beginnings as a local (French) brand, over the failed trial of its repositioning in 2005, up to the first Regional Edition and the following successful relaunch of the completely refurbished brand with new formats in 2017 (much to the dismay of many lovers of the classic QdO-formats mostly discontinued in the course).

[Li Bai]

9 hours ago, gormag38 said:

Snagged a box of the 52s as the lone single I had earlier in the year was phenomenal. Currently out of the 50s and 54s, but may seriously consider grabbing at least the 50s. Outside of a terrific single I smoked, the 54s I had just didnt do it for me

I second this about the 52, it can be a phenomenal cigar, more like the 54 when it's on, but longer.

I was never convinced by the 50 though. That being said, I'm not a fan of short robustos so I've never really sought after them 🤔

[Edicion]

I'm never right, but when I am it's always for the wrong reasons. I actually called it 2 years ago and sorry if I look like an... It's not my purpose, it's cause I still believe it's for the below reasons

On 8/3/2022 at 3:25 PM, Edicion said:

The Trinidads must have been seen as the second best premium brand after Cohiba to be relaunched as the next cash cow for HSA. I think of it as Rolex and Tudor.

But there's still room for another premium brand to be bumped up. 

Criteria I would look for is good reputation, air of mystique, exclusivity, history (why it's is there in the first place), and what the current "branding" looks like.

With this in mind I think the next brand to be bumped up is Quai D'Orsay in 2-3 years with the gold band. 

I always "feel" they are in a different class, a bit more classy and in terms of brands I would add them together with Cohiba and Trinidad. I'm not saying they are premium, but that's the way I perceive them. 

(I did also think Diplomaticos was an alternative up n' coming brand but given it's often used for regionals and few vitolas etc it might not be the next one getting a bump.)

[NeoGeo]

I think the 50s are one of the best short robustos out there, and have been (IMO) for a long time. Sure, they have issues every once in a while, but flavor wise, have been pretty steady for me one of my favorite options for a brief stroll or break in the day smoke. I would hate for them to go the path of Cohiba and become completely unaffordable. As you say El Pres, I guess it may be time to start hoarding for a rainy day.

I'd consider doing similar with QdO CCs, but they're so elusive in today's world. I also find that the flavor evolution did not keep me as interested. If they could replicate years 2013-2015, I'd buy the hell out of them, but I just don't get the same experience any more. Still a good cigar, just different. Am I crazy, or do others feel similar?

[Ford2112]

Other than the Corona I don't ever think about these. 

[99call]

3 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

Other than the Corona I don't ever think about these. 

To me the 54s are capable of greatness, as will the 52s...but I think the latter will take a lot longer to hit their sweet spot.

50s leave me completely cold.

[Greenhorn2]

To me, the QDO's are too mild/bland for me, especially the 50's. The 54's are a little better but I have yet to park my money on these. Would love to try the CC's, but have yet to run across any. 

[Jaks93]

Appreciate the heads up, hopefully it doesn't actually go through smh! 🤞

 

 

[SMELTZ]

The Coronas Claro was my favorite Quai D'Orsay, until I tired a 52. Wow, honey comb all day long, closest thing to a Cohiba for me. 

[ha_banos]

6 hours ago, SMELTZ said:

The Coronas Claro was my favorite Quai D'Orsay, until I tired a 52. Wow, honey comb all day long, closest thing to a Cohiba for me. 

You're working for Habanos! A hidden influencer!

[Arabian]

The perfect coffee & after lunch cigar. Creamy, citrusy. Love 'em.

[BrightonCorgi]

Haven't been a fan of the QdO line up since the reintroduction. They were fantastic in the early 2000's, but newer ones are just blah to me.

[gormag38]

21 hours ago, NeoGeo said:

If they could replicate years 2013-2015, I'd buy the hell out of them, but I just don't get the same experience any more. Still a good cigar, just different.

I have thought the same thing for a couple years now. I was gifted a handful of singles from 2012-2015. Needless to say the couple I have tried have been out of this world good. A few years back I bought a 2020 box that I sampled from a few times; each one was just kinda 'blah'. I ended up selling the box. Maybe I didn't give the 2020s enough time to develop, but it didn't even have the backbone of a great cigar imo. 🤷‍♂️

[Reuben]

On 8/14/2024 at 7:52 AM, 99call said:

Hasn't that already happened to some degree? I realise the prices could soar, but the fancy band change and new sizes seemed to be a telegraphing this move a long way off. As much as I might hate this move (and I will hate it). The greater question should be if a Cohiba Corona is worth X. Then how is a QDO Corona not worth the same? The quality is the same. The consistency is the same.

The real question should not be Is Trinidad or QdO worth the same as Cohiba? Rather that Cohiba is not worth it's ridiculous premium placed on it...The market however obviously doesn't agree with me.

This is true and probably a better way to be thinking about this.