Black Shank problems in Vuelta Abajo

[jqmunro]

» Perhaps the difference in "Stockpiling" extra leaf and earmarking certain

» leaf for specific production vitolas is what I was thinking about.

»

» I have known that Habanos was aging certain stocks for use in specific

» vitolas, but in general having "Stockpiles" just laying around brings a

» much different idea to the forefront in my opinion. Thats the reason why I

» asked the sourcing question.

»

» Well, another is that I do not take anything that Cigar Aficionado says as

» gospel as they have never been known to talk out of both sides of their

» mouth before.

Agreed that CA isn't always accurate, but it's obvious that the number of aged products that Habanos is putting out over the last few years has taken a sudden jump. The only reason that Habanos is able to do this is because of the abundance of aged leaf they have stocked. The level of production of cigars with aged tobaccos from Cuba over the last 15 years has never been as it is now.

Some more articles:

Based on an interview with the VP of Habanos Javier Terres, which was published by Reuters:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/3976078a4560.html

Evidence of lack of aged tobaccos in Cuba in the late 90's, 3/4 of the way down... José Manuel Sisto, a farmer in Vuelta Abajo claims that tobacco at the time was aged much less then before... the boom was in fact a low point for aging tobacco...

http://billbeuttler.com/work31.htm

Also, an interview with Alfons Mayer talking about aging of tobacco back in the day compared to around 1992 and in 2005. He is well in tune with the tobacco quality and aging from different periods.

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Pr...547,208,00.html