Unraveling the Truth
Alex Svenson
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I spend a lot of time poking around the internet, reading what people say about certain things and listening to comments about blends etc. A lot of times I get some great ideas for new products and projects but a lot of times I also read some stuff that kind of gets my blood pressure up, especially when I think people are being unfair. That said, I understand how many online cigar communities work and therefore try not to insert myself places I may not be welcome. The truth is that there is a great deal of bad/ false information floating around cycber space, and while I cant stop it or even control it by any means, I have decided that I would at least use our forum to bring some truth to things for those who are interested in learning. Hopefully this will become a regular thing.
I just read a post on another forum where someone posted some information about cigar factories making too many lines. the author was very critical of some of the cheaper lines associated with this factory despite the fact that the factory makes some amazing premium cigars (which the author also admitted).
For a brand owner who does not own a factory, it is very easy to get exactly what you want. You contract with any number of factories and work within a budget and make a premium blend. However, the factory has a very different set of circumstances. When they purchase tobacco from a farmer or when they grow it themselves, everything is done in proportions. For example, if you want to buy a pound of ligero, you have to buy 3 pounds of viso and 6 pounds of seco. If you want to buy 1 pound of grade A, you may have to buy 5 pounds of lower grade grade tobacco. This process or method allows for some price stabilization. Otherwise, everyone would want to buy just grade A ligero and no one would want any low grade seco and laws of supply and demand would sku pricing.
So, lets say someone goes to a factory to contract the production of a very premium cigar. The factory is going to have to also find use for all of the tobacco they get stuck with in order to make a cigar to their customers specifications. As you can imagine, materials management is a full time job. So if you look at most premium brands and factories, most make a full array of inexpensive cigars which you may not even realize. Some factories who make cheap cigars dont care if people know who makes what but others try to hide the inexpensive stuff they make to maintain a reputation for their premium lines. Take Fuente, they have Montesino but do some inexpensive bundles for certain clients. Davidoff (arguably the most premium brand) makes Private Stock and 3 x 3 as well as a multitude of inexpensive bundles which many consumers may not even realize. It is a reality of doing business at that level.
While all factories make inexpensive cigars, like I said, some do a better job of hiding this knowledge. I would encourage consumers to understand that this is a necessary cost of doing business and rather than penalize any factory for an inexpensive cigar, instead look to their premium production. The way a blender works with his premium tobacco is the true mark of his abilities. the cheap cigars he makes are more or less a means to an end. That said, some of these cheap cigars can be a great value and not something that should be overlooked when looking for good everyday smoke.
For example, why the Davidoff Millenium may be testament to the true blending talents of Hendrik Kelner, the private stock line is not a bad smoke at an everyday price. Even consider someone like AJ Fernandez. Truly the San Lotano Habano, Ruination or Diesel is a testament to his abilities. That said, the Cuban Legacy line he makes for Gurkha that sells at $2 a cigar is a tremendous value but it isnt necessarily a cigar I would use to evaluate AJ's blending abilities. There are lots of examples just like this. Pick any factory really.
Just food for thought.
I just read a post on another forum where someone posted some information about cigar factories making too many lines. the author was very critical of some of the cheaper lines associated with this factory despite the fact that the factory makes some amazing premium cigars (which the author also admitted).
For a brand owner who does not own a factory, it is very easy to get exactly what you want. You contract with any number of factories and work within a budget and make a premium blend. However, the factory has a very different set of circumstances. When they purchase tobacco from a farmer or when they grow it themselves, everything is done in proportions. For example, if you want to buy a pound of ligero, you have to buy 3 pounds of viso and 6 pounds of seco. If you want to buy 1 pound of grade A, you may have to buy 5 pounds of lower grade grade tobacco. This process or method allows for some price stabilization. Otherwise, everyone would want to buy just grade A ligero and no one would want any low grade seco and laws of supply and demand would sku pricing.
So, lets say someone goes to a factory to contract the production of a very premium cigar. The factory is going to have to also find use for all of the tobacco they get stuck with in order to make a cigar to their customers specifications. As you can imagine, materials management is a full time job. So if you look at most premium brands and factories, most make a full array of inexpensive cigars which you may not even realize. Some factories who make cheap cigars dont care if people know who makes what but others try to hide the inexpensive stuff they make to maintain a reputation for their premium lines. Take Fuente, they have Montesino but do some inexpensive bundles for certain clients. Davidoff (arguably the most premium brand) makes Private Stock and 3 x 3 as well as a multitude of inexpensive bundles which many consumers may not even realize. It is a reality of doing business at that level.
While all factories make inexpensive cigars, like I said, some do a better job of hiding this knowledge. I would encourage consumers to understand that this is a necessary cost of doing business and rather than penalize any factory for an inexpensive cigar, instead look to their premium production. The way a blender works with his premium tobacco is the true mark of his abilities. the cheap cigars he makes are more or less a means to an end. That said, some of these cheap cigars can be a great value and not something that should be overlooked when looking for good everyday smoke.
For example, why the Davidoff Millenium may be testament to the true blending talents of Hendrik Kelner, the private stock line is not a bad smoke at an everyday price. Even consider someone like AJ Fernandez. Truly the San Lotano Habano, Ruination or Diesel is a testament to his abilities. That said, the Cuban Legacy line he makes for Gurkha that sells at $2 a cigar is a tremendous value but it isnt necessarily a cigar I would use to evaluate AJ's blending abilities. There are lots of examples just like this. Pick any factory really.
Just food for thought.
Comments
its makes good business sense.
i dont even mind if they come out and say that they do so.
in fact, i would like it if they did explain this and market many of the "extra" blends as such. people would get a great deal and they would know what they are getting into. I dont like it when "2nd rate" or unused tobacco is passed off as new in blends that are sold at first rate prices.
granted, i dont see that happening too much, but im sure it does.
again, this is why i like ccom. i dont feel that they will sell blends that are trying to pull the wool over my eyes.
And in terms of branding, Davidoff only seems to attach their name to Davidoff and Zino. So would it be safe to say while under the same roof it is not in fact the same brand.
As a matter of fact the only time I see the other brands associated with Davidoff are from retailers.
Good post.
On that line of thought, one thing I've appreciated about all the folks here is that we accept that people have different tastes. I never see comments ( or almost never ) like "You wuss, you smoke Connecticuts? Man up!" To each his own. Personnally, I like different strengths at different times. Keep up the great work Alex, it is appreciated.
Thanks for the info Alex. This is exactly the kind of transparency that the cigar industry needs more of. It is one reason why I love the twitter cigar community, because people like Guillermo Leon and Jose Blanco are always online, and completely open with their customers (which results in amazing things like the 107 Lancero/Twitter cigar). Jon Drew is another guy that comes to mind, who is completely forthright about how his company works, and how his cigars come to be. I think being accessible to the consumer makes for a much better experience in the end.
Now you're saying there's a thriving market for lower grade tobacco, as well as factories that make comfortable margins with it.
So why, if there's a market for the tobacco that a factory doesn't want, are they being forced to buy it? If there's a market for the bargain tobacco, or leaves that some factories don't want, why are other factories being force to buy it on the premise that "if we didn't force you to buy it, the market would be thrown up"?
When you order by phone from ccom, pick their brains. Kelly and Andrew have made some great inexpensive suggestions for me. Andrew turned me on to the ccom Sungrown and it's a really good cigar and I just ordered another box today.