Romance of a Cigar

[NicM0411]

Just watched a really good interview on Stogie Review with Pete Johnson and George Brightman of W.Curtis Draper. Pete talked about "the lies in the cigar industry" and that is why he created La Verite, to give consumers the truth about whats in that particular cigar.

Pete didn't elaborate any particular cigar manufactures that do "lie". It got me wondering who he was referring to. Anyone is aware of manufacteres that mislead consumers and tobacconist about how their cigar is produced?

 

[BeerAdvocate]

One person that comes to my mind is RP and his "staining" of cigars

 

[GoingPostal]

Of course RP is an easy call on his staining cigars. From the interview was a little unclear to me what he believes to be a lie. He seemed to be focusing more on marketing language i.e. bullshit. Terms like "multiple fermintation process" and calling a lower grade of tobacco premium. IN MY OPINION every cigar maker bends/manipulates truth to try and increase sales cause that is the bottom line. that's why it's important to judge All cigars on thier own merit and not the marketing or popular opinon.

 

[Alwayslit]

One person that comes to my mind is RP and his "staining" of cigars

....and unlimited supplies of "vintage" cigars.

 

[javajunkie]

i would be interested, but only in corroborated fact. this can easily become an exercise in rampant rumor mongery. do i agree with pete that there is a lot of room to loose facts between the fields and the humidor? yes, absolutely. do i think an industry based on sales is subject to internal spin control? another big yep. would it change my buying habits? no.

if you know and adhere to your palate, you really cannot be misled. if you are happy with a ten or fifteen dollar stick, every time, and found out it was grossly inflated in value, you still had positive smoking experiences.

smoke what you like, like what you smoke!

 

[Craig Mac]

I don't think it is directed at RP in particular, from what I understand the two of them are friends. I think in the case of Verite it is one of the only true Vintage cigars on the market, and not just saying Vintage on the band. Pete is a smart business man and I imagine he isn't going around hating on specific people, most likely it is reference to actually doing something authentic and not just putting it in the band.

 

[kuzi16]

A good chef will never give out his secret recipe. if he does, all of the other chefs will take his recipe and the original will be nothing special. they may let out some of the most basic info, but not everything about that dish.

cigars are big business. the seed, aging, fermentation, and exact specifications of a blend and process are a secret for a reason. they dont want people to make the same cigar.

i dont feel that it is a lie, but rather a secret. a secret of how t make their own cigar and have a unique profile. they will let out the origin of the tobacco, but not every single thing that goes into making it.

 

[Clint]

Somewhere her on BOTL there is a very compelling thread that shows how RP stains their wrappers to achieve a maduro appearance.

Rather than piling on, I will say that I for one believe that RP does this.

The most interesting thing about this subject is that RP has never spoken about this.

Doesn't mean that they are guilty just because they did not defend themselves, but it does make me wonder why they wouldn't at least try to ease the fears that all the negative press must have created.

I have also read similar 'accusations' in other forums and on websites.

 

[Mickeymorris626]

i would be interested, but only in corroborated fact. this can easily become an exercise in rampant rumor mongery. do i agree with pete that there is a lot of room to loose facts between the fields and the humidor? yes, absolutely. do i think an industry based on sales is subject to internal spin control? another big yep. would it change my buying habits? no.

if you know and adhere to your palate, you really cannot be misled. if you are happy with a ten or fifteen dollar stick, every time, and found out it was grossly inflated in value, you still had positive smoking experiences.

smoke what you like, like what you smoke!

Well put!

 

[Xingpao]

Honestly, the word "premium" popped into my head right away, as did the insanity that is Gurkha.

Again, that's what popped into my head, and certainly not a rumor or accusation of any kind.