What is the difference between Factory Selects and 2nds?

[baboruger]

The title says it all, what is the difference between Factory Selects and 2nds. I assume that there are some differences, Famous has both Rockey Patel 2nds and selects of the Sun Grown, and I am curious as to the difference.

[tx_tuff]

Never heard of the selects, the 2nds are suppose to be the same as the teg line except they are off color or have blotches etc. I have had the Vintage 2nds and they were very good. If the price is right try them.

[baboruger]

I've had the vintage seconds from CI and I thought they were good, if you liten to the audio of Rocky Patel talking about these on CI he talks about Selects, but they cut him off prior to him telling what they are.

I thought the vintage seconds used to be a GREAT buy on Cbid, but boy the prices have risen on those...

[OutlawD]

As explained to me by Rocky on my trip to Honduras last year..

Factory Selects are cigars that dont make color grade,they dont match up with the rest of the production run, that is the only thing "wrong" with these cigars.

Seconds are cigars he wouldnt put his band on, wrapper blemishes, inconsistent wrapper color, many things denote a "second". They are still long filler cigars, that usually will smoke just fine. These are usually sold as bundled cigars and most of the time they are not defined as "Edge Seconds" or "Vintage Seconds" they are just sold as RP seconds, undefined and unexplained.

Factory Selects and Seconds are usually sold to Internet shops, OR, B&M's that cant or dont cater to smokers looking for a brand name, but gear more towards inexpensive bundle sales.

Rocky's standards for box grading is very high, he has a 40% rejection rate for box grade cigars, he has to do something with these cigars and most become "Factory Selects".