Altadis may have worked out some of the trademark issues but General Cigar, which I believe produces NC brands Partagas, Bolivar, Hoyo de Monterrey, and Punch, still have trademark issues... Am I wrong?
I ment Altadis based in spain who has 50% Habanos share . Talking about General Cigars , what will happen to those Honduran Punch , Dominican Partagas etc ?
I don't know if the title of the thread is suggesting that non-Cuban tobacco is sub-par or not but the reality is there probably isn't that many regular cigar smokers who don't already buy Cuban cigars. Look at all the members here who regularly post in the look at me thread for Habano's or how many new guys get easily talked into buying the contraband. Would it be safe to say that 60% of all regular cigar smokers have the ability right now to get a box of Cubans? Maybe even higher?
I think it's safe to assume that there won't be the tremendous drain on Cuban cigars like everyone is speculating.
Ya, I know it sounds as if placing them as sub-par , plus by using a mildly offensive "non-cuban" word bunching up the respectful countries , but the topic is about the faith which sooner or later will effect every single smoker in the world cause the US market is too big to not cause an effect .
The reasons the 1998-2001 CC were so bad in quality had to do with the Nicuraguan and Dominican companies aere offering twice the pay to experienced rollers. That being said, only novice rollers weere rolling the cigars in Cuba and plugs, tight rolls etc were ther results.
As far as the initial question: Habanos SA and Swedish Match attend the TAA - and anounced last year, that when the embargo is lifted, they will have a 20% increase in the price of their cigars plus extras.
Example; Cohiba Siglo VI $26 usd plus $5.20 increase plus .40 cent per stick exsize tax means a Siglo VI could go as high as $31.60 usd plus OTP ( Other Tobacco Product tax). In CA, that means an additional 31.02% or $9.23 OTP $40.83 a stick. Ouch!
Ouch,,,, .
Well this time ,will it be the Cubans offering experienced Nicaraguan rollers a double pay ? Importing Dominican tobacco to fill the Monte 4 production , marketing them as 100% Cuban tobacco ,,,, . :assaultri
Here we have seen a very aggressive marketing program by La Aurora ( I imagine this came from the "Para Japon" project ) selling a very cheap (aprox 3.5 usd each ) 5pack long filler connie wrapped short robustos in street corner tobacco shops and kiosks .
This marketing seems to include educating shop owners how to maintain humidors, how to use cutters etc .
I imagine high ends will be high ends but what will make them fat will be these cheap mild every day cigars with massive retailing territories , so another wise move by La Aurora .
