Crowned Heads - La Imperiosa
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Have some cheese with that whine
Me too lol
I like you and your cigars John screw the whiners
Mr. McSquirelly
Joe Bananas
Awesome, @JonHuber. Really excited! Keep up the great work.
THEMISCHMAN
SGT Hulka
If I remember correctly it is a regular production cigar, it's just a regional one. Just like the Tennessee Waltz but only sold in Texas.
TraderCigarCo.
Alex
That new Angel's Anvil is pretty damn good though.
TraderCigarCo.
Alex
This is correct
After reading back, I've never heard of the LC14's because I never knew they existed until joining here earlier this year. Since I missed out on that limited release, I was introduced to the LC15's while stopping by a local B&M in Florida. BTW, the employee talked up Crowned Heads real good and showed me the selection. Of course, since here in NY, I couldn't find any for the life of me. I couldn't pass up to buy a few because after all it's a limited release and once they're gone...well they're gone and I'm shit outta luck. I managed to find a fellow BOTL here who I purchased a 5-er from to add to the CH stash that's now slowly taking over my humidor. I've had some bombs send my way including some Jericho Hill smokes and others from Crowned Heads which are resting.
I FINALLY got my hands on the La Imperiosa's. Actually, saw my local B&M post it up on Instagram the other day. So I had to get to there before they fly off the shelf. I forgot what sizes they had left, but whatever was on the shelf that was it until their next shipment (hopefully). So when I got home, I sat down with some buffalo trace bourbon and my very first La Imperiosa cigar I said to myself, I should've checked to see if this too is a limited edition....because if I like this a lot....I'm going right back to the B&M and buying a box if I could still gets my hands on them. Well, this was one of the top 10 cigars I've ever smoked. The price point is also right in my range so I'm not breaking the bank.
I figured to jump on the laptop (since I'm mostly on tapatalk) and check here to see if anyone before me asked if this is going to be a regular release cigar. And I'll admit, I figured it was a really dumb question to ask. But it seems like this one will now be a regular production cigar if I'm reading back correctly??? If so, I'm STOKED and I'll be purchasing a sampler pack and going to see which size I like best and then save up to get myself a box.
I FINALLY got my hands on the La Imperiosa's. Actually, saw my local B&M post it up on Instagram the other day. So I had to get to there before they fly off the shelf. I forgot what sizes they had left, but whatever was on the shelf that was it until their next shipment (hopefully). So when I got home, I sat down with some buffalo trace bourbon and my very first La Imperiosa cigar I said to myself, I should've checked to see if this too is a limited edition....because if I like this a lot....I'm going right back to the B&M and buying a box if I could still gets my hands on them. Well, this was one of the top 10 cigars I've ever smoked. The price point is also right in my range so I'm not breaking the bank.
I figured to jump on the laptop (since I'm mostly on tapatalk) and check here to see if anyone before me asked if this is going to be a regular release cigar. And I'll admit, I figured it was a really dumb question to ask. But it seems like this one will now be a regular production cigar if I'm reading back correctly??? If so, I'm STOKED and I'll be purchasing a sampler pack and going to see which size I like best and then save up to get myself a box.
Thanks to @Craig Mac mine arrived on Monday. Letting them get over jet lag while I am in Chicago. Gonna spark one or two up on Sunday when I get home.
If you are looking for some LC15's, Tampa Humidor has some in stock.
FULL DISCLOSURE - I HAVE NOT READ THIS ENTIRE THREAD BUT I WANTED TO COMMENT ON THIS
I have no clue what CH intent was, is or may ever be. I know they are good people, I like them, I like their work, but my comment has nothing to do with them or even this particular situation. [ADDED - until the PS part]
I want to add my two cents to the general concept of: Why would a maker release a LE to then a later make it into a Regular Production item rather than just make it Regular Production to start.
Short Answer: Tobacco and/or Cash
Long Answer: When creating blends you are often working with a combination of materials, some the factory has deep inventories of, some the have limited inventories of, and many times sample tobaccos you got from your various growers and brokers. Sometimes one of these blends for which there are not enough materials really sings to you, but the only way to release it is do it in a LE style as there is maybe only enough leaf to make say 2,000 or even less at times.
Now you have to look at this from two different perspectives: the FACTORY & BRAND OWNER (FBO) vs. the BRAND ONLY (BOO) OWNER...
FBO Perspective: If really love the blend and it is for one of my brands, then I can decide in advance of ever selling it I am going to go deep and start buying the tobacco needed right away to develop and grow the brand... might launch with the intent of it being limited, but have in my head and typically in my sales pitch, that it will be limited in the beginning, but intend on making more as we are making the cash commitment to grow the brand. BUT if I am the FBO and the BOO comes up with something that requires serious in advance tobacco commitments I am going to be unwilling to make them as I have no guarantee that the BOO will ever order beyond those initial few thousand boxes. I mean why would I start buying on a 3-year plan tobacco for someone else's brand??? No one would with a brain...
BOO Perspective: Not only do I not have as deep of pockets as the FBO, but even if I do am I going to trust them to hold 3-year's of my leaf in their factory? Fire, theft, poor fermentation, and on and on... way way too risky. And no offense intended, but most BOO don't know nearly enough about tobacco to truly buy, select and work their own leaf... I know they often say they do, but they don't so they have to work with the Factory partners to make their product come to fruition. Plus the cigar market is one hell of a fickle mother, who the hell knows what will catch and what will not catch? Sometime you make something you think will be a homerun and you foul out, other times you make this little bitty house blend for some store in bumfuck wherever and it goes gangbusters... so when you get a "winner" I completely understand the BOO's desire to make it into a continually produced item - gives the vast majority of the consumers what they want and gives you what you need: ongoing sales.
Ultimately, this is the cigar BUSINESS. And in order for either the FBO or the BOO to continue doing what they do they must do what makes good solid business sense. And imo, to do otherwise is just plain stupid.
I know that if I were to release a LE and it turned out to be a huge success with my customers I would try to find a way to make more of it. And this is why I am very careful to never say never, if I ever do a LE I typically year code the release and always leave the door open for there being more.
As a maker, the entire secondary post retail sales market is nonsense imo.
You should NOT be buying cigars at these crazy prices - a little extra because you want to try it and can't find it, fine I understand that, BUT when you buy cigars at crazy inflated prices then this is a risk YOU assume. The maker didn't make a dime of that and protecting the interest of these consumers is not nor should it be their responsibility. Take the Habanos Trinidad 7x38 craze - the diplomatic boxes exceeded $10K each in the secondary and auction market! Only for Habanos to then release the same blend in regular production in a 7X40 format a year later and at pricepoint lower than their Cohiba line .. talk about getting tatoo'd, but whose fault is that? Habanos never promised they would never release Trinidad to the general cigar public, all they did was have a special cigar they were sharing in limited quantities and when they saw there was demand they did what they could to meet it. Those crazy communist capitalists! <snicker>
Secondly, they are f'ing cigars - as a maker we are in the business of making more and I can tell you in my 30+ years there will always be another great cigar to smoke.
BR,
STS
ps: I personally bought three boxes of the 2014 Las Calaveras and am glad they are releasing the blend again... Had it been me though I woulda' kept the Las Calaveras on it as I think they are wasting the brand equity, but I don't know jack shit about what they said or didn't say or what they are thinking, so my opinion is purely from my fat ass.
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Out if his fat ass at that
Mr. McSquirelly
Joe Bananas
Since this thread has come back to life again, I just re-read the whole thing. But here we are now and most of us have tried La Imperiosa. I've already smoked two 6 3/8 50s with little rest. It is just a fantastic cigar. What really amazed me, after removing the band, is that the band is an authentic Cuban band, with the same minuscule diamond figure at the end of it! This not only shows a wonderful attention to detail, but demonstrates @JonHuber's genuine passion for this art-form. Capitalism is a fine thing when practiced with integrity!
Spectacular post. I really wish you would consider doing a "From the Mind of Saka" thread and just treat it like a blog. I find your insights into the industry very gripping and informative, and I appreciate that you take the time to share these with us. Keep up the good work, sir.