Cuban Quality

[Emaresee]

This makes for a fairly brutal critique of Cubatobacco and Habanos.

https://ministryofcigars.com/the-current-state-of-cuban-cigars/

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[PeeJay]

This makes for a fairly brutal critique of Cubatobacco and Habanos.

https://ministryofcigars.com/the-current-state-of-cuban-cigars/

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That was a very interesting read and may well be part of the reason that modern releases from Bolivar are so much milder than the old time Bolis. As for the comments about aging tobacco, I was looking at a 2018 release from La Barba that is made with 13 year old tobacco. That's vintage in Cuban terms.

[gojira]

OK, I have around 2800 CCs to trade for a box of Rocky Patels.

I'm gonna go to bed and cry myself to sleep now.....

[PeeJay]

OK, I have around 2800 CCs to trade for a box of Rocky Patels.

I'm gonna go to bed and cry myself to sleep now.....

I don't that's the point he's making Mike. We all know about Cuban quality control and this goes some way towards explaining it.

[gojira]

I don't that's the point he's making Mike. We all know about Cuban quality control and this goes some way towards explaining it.

I know John. It was a joke. There are still some stellar cigars coming out of Cuba, but I agree, it could be better. But the main problem aren't cigars with draw issues anymore, it's all those underfilled cigars. And the quality of the wrappers that are used nowadays. From what I have seen lately (and I have inspected quite a few boxes in the last few months) I would say that around 20% of the wrappers used on current production and especially on REs are crap. Some are so rough that I wouldn't even use them to wipe my butt.

[Vitola]

A very interesting read indeed. I must admit I don?t think I can remember having a non Cuban cigar with draw or construction issues. Sadly, I can?t say the same thing about Cuban cigars - I think one of the comments following the article says it all. When you are in love it is always easy to forgive the flaws.


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[Emaresee]

I know John. It was a joke. There are still some stellar cigars coming out of Cuba, but I agree, it could be better. But the main problem aren't cigars with draw issues anymore, it's all those underfilled cigars. And the quality of the wrappers that are used nowadays. From what I have seen lately (and I have inspected quite a few boxes in the last few months) I would say that around 20% of the wrappers used on current production and especially on REs are crap. Some are so rough that I wouldn't even use them to wipe my butt.

I watched the FoH grading video the other day. It?s fascinating that within a single master case there are boxes of regular production that can be simply dismissed at a glance.

Now .... take that into consideration when reviewing EMS stock. Who is doing the sorting and when? In Cuba? At the H&F binder warehouse? But i would guess they are applying a similar but looser filter. I genuinely find that the stock in London?s oldest and most prestigious cigar store walk in humi, to be utterly disappointing. Better condition sticks in all of my desktops and other stores....

I guess it?s a natural product with limited acreage etc etc so they can?t all be the same. But quality could unquestionably be enhanced ...

[PeeJay]

I watched the FoH grading video the other day. It’s fascinating that within a single master case there are boxes of regular production that can be simply dismissed at a glance.

Now .... take that into consideration when reviewing EMS stock. Who is doing the sorting and when? In Cuba? At the H&F binder warehouse? But i would guess they are applying a similar but looser filter. I genuinely find that the stock in London’s oldest and most prestigious cigar store walk in humi, to be utterly disappointing. Better condition sticks in all of my desktops and other stores....

I guess it’s a natural product with limited acreage etc etc so they can’t all be the same. But quality could unquestionably be enhanced ...

Please tell me you don't really think EMS is a sign of quality

[gojira]

I watched the FoH grading video the other day. It’s fascinating that within a single master case there are boxes of regular production that can be simply dismissed at a glance.

Now .... take that into consideration when reviewing EMS stock. Who is doing the sorting and when? In Cuba? At the H&F binder warehouse? But i would guess they are applying a similar but looser filter. I genuinely find that the stock in London’s oldest and most prestigious cigar store walk in humi, to be utterly disappointing. Better condition sticks in all of my desktops and other stores....

I guess it’s a natural product with limited acreage etc etc so they can’t all be the same. But quality could unquestionably be enhanced ...

I personally think that EMS is a load of bull! In Germany they have a 5th Avenue quality control seal on all boxes and it's a joke. It's all a marketing gimmick in my book.

[PeeJay]

I personally think that EMS is a load of bull! In Germany they have a 5th Avenue quality control seal on all boxes and it's a joke. It's all a marketing gimmick in my book.

You're right Mike. Originally English Market Selection referred to the reddish brown coloured wrappers that we preferred here and had nothing to do with quality. American Market Selection referred to candela wrappers.

[ha_banos]

We've been hearing basically the same story for years. Remember the turn of the century https://www.havanainsider.com/7436-2/ ?

I don't believe I'm the luckiest punter out there. I've seen like literally a few plugged sticks in all my years. A few.

But then I'm not a prolific smoker. Long may my luck continue!

I've only tried a few handfuls of NC at most. Mostly premium.

I try not to get drawn into marketing hype... [emoji849]

[Emaresee]

Please tell me you don't really think EMS is a sign of quality

No.... no I don?t but they believe in it ....so it has to actually mean something


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[Emaresee]

We've been hearing basically the same story for years. Remember the turn of the century https://www.havanainsider.com/7436-2/ ?

I don't believe I'm the luckiest punter out there. I've seen like literally a few plugged sticks in all my years. A few.

But then I'm not a prolific smoker. Long may my luck continue!

I've only tried a few handfuls of NC at most. Mostly premium.

I try not to get drawn into marketing hype... [emoji849]

Good point


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[Alexw33]

I’m with Banos, if Cuban cigars are so bad then I must be the worlds luckiest cigar smoker. Yes they could be better, but then again what product couldn’t?

Also, on the whole, I think the quality in the last few years as been very high. It had started to decline in the last 6-12 months as the shortage of good wrapper leaf took hold but hopefully the worst of that is over and the quality will spike again.

This is of course is just my humble opinion.

[oskihen]

We've been hearing basically the same story for years. Remember the turn of the century https://www.havanainsider.com/7436-2/ ?

I don't believe I'm the luckiest punter out there. I've seen like literally a few plugged sticks in all my years. A few.

But then I'm not a prolific smoker. Long may my luck continue!

I've only tried a few handfuls of NC at most. Mostly premium.

I try not to get drawn into marketing hype... [emoji849]

I echo that, tbh ? plugged or bad cigar is a rarity for me 99% have all been as expected, maybe I'm just lucky. Tbh I rarely smoke 'new' sticks and prefer aged smokes but I've just opened a cab of jl2s 2017 and it was spot on

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