Using Cuba to market Non-Cubans

[frankg]

I think there are too many non-Cuban brands that use either the terms "Cuban" or "Habano" in either naming the cigar or the tobacco in it or even just describing the cigar.
For example, does it really matter that the seeds come from Cuba? They are not grown in Cuban soil. And what about all the names like "Gran Habano", "Havana Classico", "Free Cuba", "La Vieja Habana" "Indian Tabac Cuban Corojo", "Sol Cubano".....the list can go on forever.
I'm not knocking these cigars, just questioning why Cuba is used as a marketing tool for non-Cuban cigars. And does it really influence the consumer's buying decision?

[CHRIS7891011]

It influences the cigar buyer 100%, especially if the buyer is inexperienced. You hear Cuban seed and think it's the same as Cuban tobacco, even though it's not true.

When you say cigars most people think of Cuba. it's only natural that manufactures and marketers play to that and add it to the name/description. It makes you think you are getting a quality product.\

Is that good or bad? It's marketing...

[CubanoLou]

I stand 100% by Chris, If you have the word cuban on it, odds are that it will sell and yes soil and seeds are not the same but you could only imagine on how could be if they were.

Maybe one day we all could experience the truth without seeking elsewhere.

[Tha Criddler]

I would say it has more to do with the fact that most cigar makers outside of Cuba are of Cuban descent or full blown Cuban and they have great pride in their heritage. A lot of these people feel that they were driven from their homeland and miss it greatly. I'm sure some of it is marketing but I think a good more is just what they believe is their own anyway.

Just look at Pepin Garcia, everything about his cigars is a representation of what was his cigar making life in Cuba and I don't really look at that as a marketing scheme as him trying to continue Cuban cigar making traditions outside of Cuba.

[bobbyg29-cl]

I think for the most part Nick is exactly correct. When people like Don Pepin name one of this cigars "Cuban Classic" it is because he is following Cuban traditions (e.g., using a triple cap). He is considered on the greatest cigar masters in Cuban history so he knows what the name means. But I am sure there are a few people out there who use it just for marketing purposes too.

I really have no problem with it. As an analogy, the Irish Rovers have been living in Canada for almost their entire career. Should they stop putting "Irish" in their song titles and change their name? No, because they are all originally from Ireland and play traditional Irish music.

[chrisguinther]

I have heard interviews with Nick Perdomo and Mike Chiusano putting down current Cuban production due to quality issues and labor costs. It kind of burns me that some cigarmakers will stoop to this level to say their cigars are better. I'm certainly not putting down their products or saying their cigars are inferior to Habanos, but let your cigars speak for themselves. Cuba will always be Cuba.

[Jonjonmacky]

I think its what nick said, and yes a little bit of the o.g. poster, I mean, I'll be in a B&M and will hear the stupidest things come out of peoples mouths, from calling a Torano Exodus 1959 a "More expensive Macanudo" to La Flour (pro. like the dough making substance). Some of the lower brands will of course flock to this ignorance and utilize it for sales, just like any business.. cause it is a business. But, there are other brands who you can tell are more passionate about their cigars and really are referring to the style and finesse that their families and tradition used to make their cigars in Habana

[Tha Criddler]

Originally Posted by chrisguinther

I have heard interviews with Nick Perdomo and Mike Chiusano putting down current Cuban production due to quality issues and labor costs. It kind of burns me that some cigarmakers will stoop to this level to say their cigars are better. I'm certainly not putting down their products or saying their cigars are inferior to Habanos, but let your cigars speak for themselves. Cuba will always be Cuba.

Mike Chiusano shouldn't have the balls to trash talk King Edwards his cigars are so nasty. We have a couple regular customers that order his crap at the store I work at and we always make fun of his cigars by picking one up and squeezing it as hard as we can. One of their company slogans is "Draws like a straw" what the hell is that. Like they think under filled cigars are cool.....give me a break.

[Webmeister]

Originally Posted by Tha Criddler

I would say it has more to do with the fact that most cigar makers outside of Cuba are of Cuban descent or full blown Cuban and they have great pride in their heritage. A lot of these people feel that they were driven from their homeland and miss it greatly. I'm sure some of it is marketing but I think a good more is just what they believe is their own anyway.

Just look at Pepin Garcia, everything about his cigars is a representation of what was his cigar making life in Cuba and I don't really look at that as a marketing scheme as him trying to continue Cuban cigar making traditions outside of Cuba.

Agreed... It's less about Cuban seeds and soil, and more about Cuban tradition.

[degarbie]

Originally Posted by chrisguinther

... putting down current Cuban production due to quality issues and ... I'm certainly not putting down their products or saying their cigars are inferior to Habanos, but let your cigars speak for themselves. Cuba will always be Cuba.

I hear this quite often (in fact it was the first thing I was asked about when I set foot in a B&M in the US), but I've yet to run into anything that would suggest that Cuban cigars suffer more quality control issues than non-Cubans. I've had the odd burn & draw issue but nothing that would seem out of the ordinary or excessive. As usual, YMMV - this is my experience only.

[Research-Colin-cl]

Originally Posted by degarbie

I hear this quite often (in fact it was the first thing I was asked about when I set foot in a B&M in the US), but I've yet to run into anything that would suggest that Cuban cigars suffer more quality control issues than non-Cubans. I've had the odd burn & draw issue but nothing that would seem out of the ordinary or excessive. As usual, YMMV - this is my experience only.

As someone who 'observes' Cuban cigars on a very regular basis (as I live in England and write for a cigar magazine), I must say that the bad construction issue that has been mentioned is not a tall tale. In the last few years, I have not had a single draw problem on an Oliva, Fuente, Ashton, Padron, Davidoff, or a handful of other brands. There are a few non-cuban brands that have issues occasionally but not the ones mentioned above.

In Cuban cigars, especially Cohiba, and ring gauges under 45 in most brands, you can expect to have a few cigars in each box with draw issues. I don't mean to be a killjoy but this is just reality and one should be aware of this.

As for Mike Chiusano talking about the Cuban production... why shouldn't he? Customers want to know about comparisons and about Cubans so he should be able to talk about them if he wants.

C

[degarbie]

Originally Posted by Research-Colin

As someone who 'observes' Cuban cigars on a very regular basis (as I live in England and write for a cigar magazine), I must say that the bad construction issue that has been mentioned is not a tall tale. In the last few years, I have not had a single draw problem on an Oliva, Fuente, Ashton, Padron, Davidoff, or a handful of other brands. There are a few non-cuban brands that have issues occasionally but not the ones mentioned above.

In Cuban cigars, especially Cohiba, and ring gauges under 45 in most brands, you can expect to have a few cigars in each box with draw issues. I don't mean to be a killjoy but this is just reality and one should be aware of this.

Thanks for the information, Colin. I'm wondering now what differs between Cuban and non-Cuban tobacco that could account for the draw problems. It just seems strange cigars made from one kind of tobacco should have this problem prevalent versus another. Is it rolling method? Conditions? Aging? There's probably too many variables to account for come to think of it.

[Research-Colin-cl]

Originally Posted by degarbie

Thanks for the information, Colin. I'm wondering now what differs between Cuban and non-Cuban tobacco that could account for the draw problems. It just seems strange cigars made from one kind of tobacco should have this problem prevalent versus another. Is it rolling method? Conditions? Aging? There's probably too many variables to account for come to think of it.

That's a good question. I wish I had the answer. I am sure that the manufacturers who have draw problems wish they had the answers too. It is usually blamed on construction but there are a number of other factors that can be the problem. I think that you've named most of 'em.

On another note, the best way to avoid this in cubans is to hand select yours from the shop. The next best way is to buy larger ring gauge cigars. They tend to have the problem less. If they are plugged they are also easier to 'fix' by poking a hole through them. I keep a poker nearby for such occasions.

-C

[tx_tuff]

Originally Posted by degarbie

Thanks for the information, Colin. I'm wondering now what differs between Cuban and non-Cuban tobacco that could account for the draw problems. It just seems strange cigars made from one kind of tobacco should have this problem prevalent versus another. Is it rolling method? Conditions? Aging? There's probably too many variables to account for come to think of it.

I know some if not all of the brands Colin mentioned as not having a draw problem have machines that test the draw on their cigars before they put the wrapper on them, thus they have fewer problems. I would think that maybe all the Cuban factorys don't have them yet, or at least not all of them.

[tx_tuff]

I think the Chris and Nick both have it right. It goes both ways, as with Pepin using the Cuban name as to Cuban cigar making traditions or somebody using the term Habano which I believe is a name of a type of tobacco. But I also agree that some use it just to try and sell cigars mainly to people new to cigars. Either way just smoke what you like