I look forward to the review and the pics of the cigar.I have a few of them to review, I will let you know
~brooks
Dirty Rat will be regular production cigar?
- Thread starter bmony
- Start date
Its the reason why they say the dirty rat in a toro or churchill vitola would be easier and cheaper to make. Both the toro and the corona are using the same tobacco but because it has so many different leaves in it, it's actually easier to put it into the toro. With the corona you have to scale down everything into such small quantities that it becomes VERY precise and difficult. Thats why it's so expensive to make.
While I am here I might as well post on this too...
The cost is high because of the reason KPP and Lilo posted. It actually cost exactly $0.03 less to make a "Dirty Rat" vs. a T52 Corona Doble, so the MSRP is actually too low on the cigar margin wise, but we just couldn't bring ourselves to make it $14. Also, we always have an internal battle royal when it comes to cigar prices, left to Jonathan we would sell every cigar for a $1 less than it costs to make, import and sell! He is definitely a man of the people and we would definitely be bankrupt inside of a year...
Ultimately I do not expect this cigar to be a big seller, it is too peppery for most and too expensive regardless of what it costs to make for the typical cigar smoker. I love this little cigar and typically smoke 1 or 2 every day, but I get a really really good price... ;>
Unlike the FP, it is not a limited production item... other than by the tobacco we have to make it just like all the other LPs, but as time goes on we will have more leaf and in turn, can make more cigars. So as I have said before: It is not a limited edition, it is just a pain in the ass to make.
But if people are willing to pay for it, we will make it. Time will tell... <shrug>
Sidebar: Fwiw, I am not a fan or believer in limited edition cigars. A couple of "halo" projects are fine, but using this methodology to routinely sell cigars for a true manufacturer who really owns a factory and buys millions of dollars of tobacco every year is ultimately counterproductive imo. If we had enough tobacco ready to go to triple LP production we would. If you are company that gets its cigar made by others in batches, then going the LE route makes sense as it is nearly impossible for any jobbed cigar to be consistent for longer than a year or two. Who am I am kidding? Many don't taste the same batch to batch...
The finished "Dirty Rat" blend has been around since February 2009 or so. All of the original samples did not have the fan-twist head, but rather a finished triple cap. Some of the early samples were labelled "Rata Sucia" - same name just in Spanish. I changed to the twist to save a little time plus it just goes with the name.
The name did not originate from the famous James Cagney quote, but rather from a cool iconic graphic Jesse in our Subculture Studios created which has a rat dressed in various bits of regal (top hats, sunglasses, backpacks, etc.) and smoking a cigar. An inside joke at the factory is that there is a "little dirty rat" inside all of us... Now whether Jesse's inspiration was the quote, I dunno - I will ask him during my next trip to Nica. Maybe JD knows this.
The DR blend has the same capa and capote as the T52 liga, but the filler recipe is different - it is Esteli Valley-centric.. We have made samples of it in larger vitolas, ie. 6 x 44, 7 x44, 6 x 46, 7 x 46, 6 x 48, 6 x 52 and in 6 x 54. I have been affectionately calling these "Ratzilla". I have concluded the current blend doesn't work for me once you exceed the 46 ring gauge mark. No plans yet, still trying to figure out what is best and whether any are worthy of following the existing 5 x 44. However, I do like saying "ratzilla", it just makes me smile... <lol>
The internet buzz on this product is ridiculous. 99% of it is from bloggers and smokers who have reviewed this cigar on their own accord most of whom have received samples from JD, MS or myself over the last year or so as we would do events. And while I am sharing I will say the buzz makes me uneasy. It is so difficult for any cigar to meet expectations when they are so high... imo, it is a fabulous little cigar, but after reading some over-the-top glowing comments that have been written I don't know if this smoke stands a chance.
The pragmatist in me is going to stick with the "it is too strong and too expensive for 98% of cigar smokers" viewpoint until I am proven wrong.
And I am seldom wrong... ask my Mom! <snicker>
BR,
Steve
President, Drew Estate
ps: I am going to stop posting now and do some work - I had forgotten just how much time writing posts takes!
The cost is high because of the reason KPP and Lilo posted. It actually cost exactly $0.03 less to make a "Dirty Rat" vs. a T52 Corona Doble, so the MSRP is actually too low on the cigar margin wise, but we just couldn't bring ourselves to make it $14. Also, we always have an internal battle royal when it comes to cigar prices, left to Jonathan we would sell every cigar for a $1 less than it costs to make, import and sell! He is definitely a man of the people and we would definitely be bankrupt inside of a year...
Ultimately I do not expect this cigar to be a big seller, it is too peppery for most and too expensive regardless of what it costs to make for the typical cigar smoker. I love this little cigar and typically smoke 1 or 2 every day, but I get a really really good price... ;>
Unlike the FP, it is not a limited production item... other than by the tobacco we have to make it just like all the other LPs, but as time goes on we will have more leaf and in turn, can make more cigars. So as I have said before: It is not a limited edition, it is just a pain in the ass to make.
But if people are willing to pay for it, we will make it. Time will tell... <shrug>
Sidebar: Fwiw, I am not a fan or believer in limited edition cigars. A couple of "halo" projects are fine, but using this methodology to routinely sell cigars for a true manufacturer who really owns a factory and buys millions of dollars of tobacco every year is ultimately counterproductive imo. If we had enough tobacco ready to go to triple LP production we would. If you are company that gets its cigar made by others in batches, then going the LE route makes sense as it is nearly impossible for any jobbed cigar to be consistent for longer than a year or two. Who am I am kidding? Many don't taste the same batch to batch...
The finished "Dirty Rat" blend has been around since February 2009 or so. All of the original samples did not have the fan-twist head, but rather a finished triple cap. Some of the early samples were labelled "Rata Sucia" - same name just in Spanish. I changed to the twist to save a little time plus it just goes with the name.
The name did not originate from the famous James Cagney quote, but rather from a cool iconic graphic Jesse in our Subculture Studios created which has a rat dressed in various bits of regal (top hats, sunglasses, backpacks, etc.) and smoking a cigar. An inside joke at the factory is that there is a "little dirty rat" inside all of us... Now whether Jesse's inspiration was the quote, I dunno - I will ask him during my next trip to Nica. Maybe JD knows this.
The DR blend has the same capa and capote as the T52 liga, but the filler recipe is different - it is Esteli Valley-centric.. We have made samples of it in larger vitolas, ie. 6 x 44, 7 x44, 6 x 46, 7 x 46, 6 x 48, 6 x 52 and in 6 x 54. I have been affectionately calling these "Ratzilla". I have concluded the current blend doesn't work for me once you exceed the 46 ring gauge mark. No plans yet, still trying to figure out what is best and whether any are worthy of following the existing 5 x 44. However, I do like saying "ratzilla", it just makes me smile... <lol>
The internet buzz on this product is ridiculous. 99% of it is from bloggers and smokers who have reviewed this cigar on their own accord most of whom have received samples from JD, MS or myself over the last year or so as we would do events. And while I am sharing I will say the buzz makes me uneasy. It is so difficult for any cigar to meet expectations when they are so high... imo, it is a fabulous little cigar, but after reading some over-the-top glowing comments that have been written I don't know if this smoke stands a chance.
The pragmatist in me is going to stick with the "it is too strong and too expensive for 98% of cigar smokers" viewpoint until I am proven wrong.
And I am seldom wrong... ask my Mom! <snicker>
BR,
Steve
President, Drew Estate
ps: I am going to stop posting now and do some work - I had forgotten just how much time writing posts takes!
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BrooksW
BoM June '09
WOW, that is a lot of info! LOL!
Steve, I think that if any cigar can live up to the hype, it will be this one...I have smoked quite a few of them, and they have been amazingly consistent...
I am just astounded they will be regular production...
~brooks
Thanks for chiming in Steve. Lots of great info. I must say i am really excited now because I have smoked a few of the dirty rats from early 2009 and i am glad that was the finished blend i smoked. I was worried the blend might have been tweaked since then and the finished product wouldn't live up to what i smoked. I look forward to smoking the final product. I like the fan twist head you guys went with as well. While the dirty rat has strength and pepper i don't think it's too much for your everyday smoker. It has a lot of complexity and the flavors are very easy to distinguish. It's balanced perfectly and is just an all around easy cigar to smoke. These attributes will make the strength of the cigar easier to handle for the average consumer.
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SkinsFanLarry
Craft Beer Addict!
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2008
- Messages
- 14,355
No, come on Steve, I've never ever heard anybody refer to you in that kind of language! :stretchgr
whodeeni
the Cigar "Gangsta" ;0(
:headroll:
Thanks for the info sir. I was fortunate enough to be able to smoke one of these a week or so ago and I can tell you, I will spend my money on them for sure. I may have to sell one of my twins to get my hands on some lol
Awesome info Steve...thanks for taking the time to share it with us. Man.....A 6x46 vitola would be amazing if you were to put that into production! A little more length, without sacrificing too much in the way of RG would make for a stick I would ABSOLUTELY be interested in buying. But who am I to talk....I've already got a couple boxes of Rats on order that I can hardly wait for!! :clap:
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Docbp87
Smoke Into Oblivion
Been looking forward to trying one of these for a long ass time now. Probably (if possible) going to go for a 5er first, and if it does indeed live up to the hype, then a box will definitely be in the future for my wallet and humidor.
njstone
BoM January 2010
Thanks to Steve for chiming in--and JD, yes we ARE crazy, lol. But we're big fans and buy product, so I'm afraid you're stuck with us 
I plan to get a box of T-52 FPs asap, and if they're as good as I hope, I'll probably get 1-2 more boxes. The #9 pig is my favorite in that marka, but lately I've been into the T-52 more.
FWIW, my 4 cigars this week have been, in order of ENJOYMENT:
T-52 Toro
Dirty Rat
PAM '26 #35
PAM '64 Principe
I plan to get a box of T-52 FPs asap, and if they're as good as I hope, I'll probably get 1-2 more boxes. The #9 pig is my favorite in that marka, but lately I've been into the T-52 more.
FWIW, my 4 cigars this week have been, in order of ENJOYMENT:
T-52 Toro
Dirty Rat
PAM '26 #35
PAM '64 Principe
Thanks for the background and other info you guys have been up to in the mad lab. The T-52 is my top smoke right now. When the guy at the local cigar shop mentioned that he ordered some T-52 FPs, I had a box set aside for me on the spot...and I've never even had one! I've never done that before.
I'm also stoked about the DR's coming out....
I'm also stoked about the DR's coming out....
The LP line is just ridiculous and it seems that each new blend they come out with is better than the last, IMO. I was fortunate that KPP had an extra for me and we smoked one a couple weeks back (maybe with a little too much RZ XO) and it was stellar.
Great write up , thanks for the time. Met you at cigar king in scottsdale and tried a dirty rat. I will be buying a box. good luck with it.
Dear Mr. Saka.
It is true my friend - "There is a Dirty Rat in all of us". This is definitely a Fatbody Jessi quote. He's down 15 pounds by the way, just 600 to go. LOL
JD
It is true my friend - "There is a Dirty Rat in all of us". This is definitely a Fatbody Jessi quote. He's down 15 pounds by the way, just 600 to go. LOL
JD
Got a couple of Dirty Rats last night along with a Box of T-52s. Almost afraid of smoking the DR as I am afraid I will be hooked on yet another DE stick and i will have to cash out some of my 401(k)!
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