Viaje Satori

[KPP]

The key difference that I see between what you mentioned there Brooks, and what I see that Pete has done (and this is all just one guys opinion, so take it FWIW)......is Pete has been able to target younger smokers (20-35 year olds). Whether through his branding, or his Monster releases, or what have you....I think THAT's what Ben is referring to, and certainly what I was relating to. Just more, crazy young bastids out there, throwing around testosterone....LOL!

 

[tmoney2007]

I think we agree but are saying it different ways.

Opus X? That's not really the same at all. They come out every year. Sure, other companies have made limited run sticks but I don't think other companies have done as many as pete or built their brand around micro-production cigars like viaje. all. They come out every year. Sure, other companies have made limited run sticks but I don't think other companies have done as many as pete or built their brand around micro-production cigars like viaje.

 

[Thomas M]

But that is just it, Pete did no such thing as "Start a Craze"...Ever heard of Opus X? How about VSG ER (Sold only with the 2001 Prometheus Ashton humidors, 100 cigars per humidor, 200 humidors ever made. These are Ashton VSGs with Opus X rosado wrappers in 2001)? Oliva Masterblends? Litto Gomez Small Batch No. 1? All came BEFORE pete was even in business with Tatuaje...And the list could go on and on...(and that does not event take into account the Cuban cigar LEs)...

Look, Tatuaje and Vaije are releasing quite a few Small Batch blends at the moment (of course, so is every other cigar maker, for the show, but I won't even get into that), but to say that Pete (or Viaje) "started the craze" of LE cigars is just downright incorrect.

~brooks

I am also puzzled by the comments in this thread. Very well said Brooks. Since when are LE's something to get upset over. I welcome all the creativity especially when the LE's being released turn out to be fantastic. I for one cant wait to try Red Label and Satori. Judging by their other releases, these too will be fantastic. So why put them down for being innovative? We live in a very special time for cigars. Ample supply and unprecedented quality. Embrace the new breed of cigar manufacturer.

 

[tmoney2007]

I think there is alot of frustration because most people can't afford to buy everything that these companies make. I know I feel it sometimes.

 

[Le Buzz]

Do you really believe Pete's cigars taste the same as Cuban Cigars?

I like Tats as well and Pete makes many great cigars not all do it for me but that's not the issue. Comparing Tats to Cuban Cigars is ridiculous. To borrow a term from the wine industry the Teroir is completely different. The terroir as Pete knows from his wine collecting in different areas have different minerals etc. in the soil which impart different flavors.

Why not say Pete makes great cigars as does Habanos and let each stand on their own merits rather than comparing them as if they are the same. I prefer to look at the cigars as good cigars from different places just like I would with wine from France, Italy, or California.

There is no doubt that Pete brought us "Cubanesque" cigars. I don't know if he was the first, but for me when I lite up a tat J21, or a havana VI Angeles, or a Cabaiguan I am reminded of Habanos.

To say they taste EXACTLY the same would be ludicrous. But they do have very similar profiles in general... I don't think you can doubt that.

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

There is no doubt that Pete brought us "Cubanesque" cigars. I don't know if he was the first, but for me when I lite up a tat J21, or a havana VI Angeles, or a Cabaiguan I am reminded of Habanos.

To say they taste EXACTLY the same would be ludicrous. But they do have very similar profiles in general... I don't think you can doubt that.

I'm definately in agreement with Le Buzz here myself, I'd take a Brown Label Unico over a Monte No. 2 any day of the week and twice on Saturday!

 

[jayro75]

There is no doubt that Pete brought us "Cubanesque" cigars. I don't know if he was the first, but for me when I lite up a tat J21, or a havana VI Angeles, or a Cabaiguan I am reminded of Habanos.

To say they taste EXACTLY the same would be ludicrous. But they do have very similar profiles in general... I don't think you can doubt that.

Or they taste Nicaraguan which is a good thing. Why try and make them something they are not? Pepin makes very good sticks for Pete with extremely high quality Nica tobacco. Why say they are Cubanesaque or Domincanesque etc. when they are Nica. Again this is a good thing and no I am not reminded of any Cuban cigars when I smoke his lines I am reminded of what great cigars are coming out of Nicaragua. Which as I said is a good thing and only benefits us.

 

[jayro75]

I'm definately in agreement with Le Buzz here myself, I'd take a Brown Label Unico over a Monte No. 2 any day of the week and twice on Saturday!

and I'd take a PSP2 over either of those every time, and it's great we have these choices.

 

[tatuaje]

But that is just it, Pete did no such thing as "Start a Craze"...Ever heard of Opus X? How about VSG ER (Sold only with the 2001 Prometheus Ashton humidors, 100 cigars per humidor, 200 humidors ever made. These are Ashton VSGs with Opus X rosado wrappers in 2001)? Oliva Masterblends? Litto Gomez Small Batch No. 1? All came BEFORE pete was even in business with Tatuaje...And the list could go on and on...(and that does not event take into account the Cuban cigar LEs)...

Look, Tatuaje and Vaije are releasing quite a few Small Batch blends at the moment (of course, so is every other cigar maker, for the show, but I won't even get into that), but to say that Pete (or Viaje) "started the craze" of LE cigars is just downright incorrect.

~brooks

Listen, i didn't start anything but Brooks I was in business in 2003 with the Brown Label and the Master Blend had not been put out yet. I beat them by a few months LOL.....Also I think you are confusing Small Batch with the Limitados that were released before I started my brand. The only thing i did was create a very small batch production cigar in Miami that tasted different to a lot at the time...Now that flavor profile is a dime a dozen......

Some small production stuff is meant to be fun and there are times when a limited amount of tobacco is available for only so many cigars where you have to limit production. I can tell you straight up that La Verite is limited amount of tobacco because we look for a certain quality of leaf. T110 is not. I can make that cigar again and again but when I say I am making only this many cigars, that is it....For someone that works in a very large factory to say that they only have a limited amount of tobacco every few months and that is why the production is small, in my opinion is full of shit.....

 

[tatuaje]

Or they taste Nicaraguan which is a good thing. Why try and make them something they are not? Pepin makes very good sticks for Pete with extremely high quality Nica tobacco. Why say they are Cubanesaque or Domincanesque etc. when they are Nica. Again this is a good thing and no I am not reminded of any Cuban cigars when I smoke his lines I am reminded of what great cigars are coming out of Nicaragua. Which as I said is a good thing and only benefits us.

Same reason why many people compare USA wine to French wine.....When you think of wine, you think of the history of French wine....When you think of cigars, you think of the history of Cuban cigars...The wheel always starts somewhere........

 

[jayro75]

Same reason why many people compare USA wine to French wine.....When you think of wine, you think of the history of French wine....When you think of cigars, you think of the history of Cuban cigars...The wheel always starts somewhere........

That's true, but don't you feel that a Hundred Acre Cab can stand on it's own as a great California Cab? Yes the tradition of a Lafite or Haut Brion is not there but it is a damn good example of what quality is coming out of Cali.

That's all I'm saying.

 

[njstone]

BTW, my source also has told me that there is the possibility that most of these LEs will be released at the same time every year, in the same blend and vitolas...so, Satori would be released this year around August (350 boxes total) then 350 more boxes next year, etc...

This is unconfirmed, but from a good source....so take it for what you will...

~brooks

I like that idea, I've said it many times with the Tats (some of which he DOES do on 3-year cycles like COhete and Noella Reserva) like the T110s that if he can't/won't put out a full line (which he SHOULD for the T110--it would be a huge hit), it would be cool to at least see a yearly release.

 

[tatuaje]

That's true, but don't you feel that a Hundred Acre Cab can stand on it's own as a great California Cab? Yes the tradition of a Lafite or Haut Brion is not there but it is a damn good example of what quality is coming out of Cali.

That's all I'm saying.

No you are right on the Cali Cab. It stands on its own in the world of cab....
Although, there are not a lot of french wines that are a 100% Cab....

When most wine makers do a blend of certain grapes, they don't call it a California blend...They normally call it a Bordeaux blend....

In the reverse, the french have learned a lot from the Cali makers and sometimes compare the individual components to Cali style......

I heard someone in France say that the Cab was very California style mixed with the elegance of Pomerol Merlot and Cabernet Franc.....Thought it was odd but cool that he was giving props....

 

[tatuaje]

I like that idea, I've said it many times with the Tats (some of which he DOES do on 3-year cycles like COhete and Noella Reserva) like the T110s that if he can't/won't put out a full line (which he SHOULD for the T110--it would be a huge hit), it would be cool to at least see a yearly release.

I am using the T110 blend for my new Fausto line in 2011....

 

[kockroach]

I am using the T110 blend for my new Fausto line in 2011....

Interesting. T110 blend in different sizes would be cool.

 

[BrooksW]

Hmmm...must have gotten my dates a little screwed up

My main point still stands...I enjoy the hell out of the smaller releases (from ANY cigar line) since it gives me a chance to taste the largest number of different cigars...and different is good (I say as I contemplate a box of the new HL Candela lol!)

~brooks

Listen, i didn't start anything but Brooks I was in business in 2003 with the Brown Label and the Master Blend had not been put out yet. I beat them by a few months LOL.....Also I think you are confusing Small Batch with the Limitados that were released before I started my brand. The only thing i did was create a very small batch production cigar in Miami that tasted different to a lot at the time...Now that flavor profile is a dime a dozen......

Some small production stuff is meant to be fun and there are times when a limited amount of tobacco is available for only so many cigars where you have to limit production. I can tell you straight up that La Verite is limited amount of tobacco because we look for a certain quality of leaf. T110 is not. I can make that cigar again and again but when I say I am making only this many cigars, that is it....For someone that works in a very large factory to say that they only have a limited amount of tobacco every few months and that is why the production is small, in my opinion is full of shit.....

 

[Reeve11]

brooks, I would love to see a picture of your humi

 

[jayro75]

No you are right on the Cali Cab. It stands on its own in the world of cab....
Although, there are not a lot of french wines that are a 100% Cab....

When most wine makers do a blend of certain grapes, they don't call it a California blend...They normally call it a Bordeaux blend....

In the reverse, the french have learned a lot from the Cali makers and sometimes compare the individual components to Cali style......

I heard someone in France say that the Cab was very California style mixed with the elegance of Pomerol Merlot and Cabernet Franc.....Thought it was odd but cool that he was giving props....

Your right as well it makes sense to pay homage to the traditions and history that have existed because as you said they are the benchmark.

I guess my point is and I hope you can appreciate it. The tobacco coming out of Nica just like the grapes grown in Napa are of such high quality that the finished product; in this case cigars can stand on their own without having to be billed as cubanesque. I know when I spoke to Pepin last November he was of the opinion that the tobacco coming out of Nicaragua was of a higher quality than anYthing he worked with while in Cuba.

Btw very cool to see the French giving props back to Cali!

 

[tatuaje]

Your right as well it makes sense to pay homage to the traditions and history that have existed because as you said they are the benchmark.

I guess my point is and I hope you can appreciate it. The tobacco coming out of Nica just like the grapes grown in Napa are of such high quality that the finished product; in this case cigars can stand on their own without having to be billed as cubanesque. I know when I spoke to Pepin last November he was of the opinion that the tobacco coming out of Nicaragua was of a higher quality than anYthing he worked with while in Cuba.

Btw very cool to see the French giving props back to Cali!

Agreed. The tobacco is far better quality in Nica right now.....Cuba's biggest problem is the fermentation.....
Even the Padron's say they make Nicaraguan cigars but in the Cuban tradition......

 

[BrooksW]

brooks, I would love to see a picture of your humi

Nah, I just talk big, I only actually smoke Kuba kubas

~brooks