Pepin Whores Unite!

[Glacierman]

Originally Posted by DennisP

And just a slight correction/addition, Holt's owns Ashton brand. But, they don't make it exclusive to their store.

Quite true. Same as La Aroma de Cuba and the Ashton brand itself in all its incarnations. BTW, the trademark for San Cristobal (artwork, etc.) was actually registered by Holt's (info from US Copyright & Trademark Office). It gets a bit confusing at times. Oy!

[jkorp]

Originally Posted by Sawyer

I agree too. They are my least favorite DPG, but they are still very good.

The JJ just didn't have what I want when smoking a Pepin. Way overpriced for what you get I think. Thats just me. Maybe if I had first smoked a JJ than that would be my baseline for Pepin blends. But I am looking for kick, spice, flavor and power and JJ Nat didn't do it for me. I can get a cab of Black for around $85, that is the shizzle!

I know it's personal preference but here is my order of preference in what I have tried from Pepin.

1. DPG Black
2. DPG Blue
3. Padilla 1932
4. 5 Vegas Miami
5. Padilla Miami
5. DPG White Nat

Pepin Black just seems to really do it for me, Blue is close, but the price difference makes the Black real sweet.

[JBI]

Originally Posted by Glacierman

A couple of minor corrections to JBI's excellent post above.


Not exclusive to Holt's. This is an Ashton brand and is available elsewhere (online: Serious, TexCigars.com, Cigar.com, etc.)



El Rey de los Habanos is not a Cigar King brand, but I think John knows that and just made a little oopsie. It is hard to find, however. One source I know of (other than Cigar King) is Pleasant Smoke Shop, Malden, MA.

Cheers to all Pepin addicts!

Yes, correct. What I meant was that Holts owns Asthon (which they wholesale elsewhere) as well as the San Cristobal trademark/brand and it's a blend created by Pepin for Robert Levin (Owner of Holts/Ashton). They've had that trademark for years but never used it until recently. They do wholesale the SC (which they own) to others and you can get it much cheaper than what Holts' charges since they won't uncut their customers (whom they wholesale to, B&M's etc...) who sell it as well. Old Henry hasn't been found elsewhere yet and I don't think they wholesale this to others. It is their blend and brand though like the others.

As far as CigarKing/Phatash, some of those blends are exclusive to them, but they have started to wholesale some to others also. The ERDLH was Pepins' first cigar made in Miami I believe and it is sold elsewhere obviously because I just bought a cabinet of churchills for $70 a few weeks ago at a shop in CA. It use to come in bundles. Although, it wasn't widely available like some of his other lines.

The CK/Phatash stuff is a little confusing, especially since I bunched it all together (they were the major seller of the ERDLH in the beginning though, but it's not their brand). Anyway, food for thought.

[JBI]

I forgot to add the 601 Habano (EO Brand made by Pepin, which I really like, the Conn. is good as well, the others not so much IMO), the 5 Vegas Miami (ditto, which can be snagged in the $50 range sometimes) and the Padilla Miami (too pricey though).

There are so many good ones


One of the only knocks I have is that many of his blends have similar profiles (which you either like or you don't, and obviously I like) and a few per box don't seem to deliver the same punch and flavor. That is, sometimes you get a few flat ones if you will.

I think the 2 best cigars of 2007 are the San Cristobal and JJ Series Maduro in the Sublime size (the JJ Maduro blows the reg. JJ away IMHO).

[txmatt]

Originally Posted by denverdog

While I do enjoy most of the Pepin blends, it does worry me to see him whoring himself out ala Patel and Ghurka. If he keeps this up, all of his blends will be Cigars International exclusives soon.

Denver, you pushed the soap box button!!

there is a HUGE difference between Pepin and Rocky Patel. In cigar magazines you will see pictures of Rocky standing in the tobacco fields and in the curing barns but he really never has been the manufacturer, grower, or blender of cigars bearing his name. Jesus Fuego and Nestor Plascencia blended his cigars, and they are rolled in Nestor's factory with Nestor's tobacco. I really wish Rocky would stop trying to pretend to be Carlito..

It is downright OFFENSIVE for you to comare Pepin to Gurkha. K. Hansotia designs bands and packaging and puts them on cigars he buys from Torano. Of all designer brands (besides Rocky, Gurkha, there is CAO and others) Gurkha is the most ridiculous IMHO. In contrast, Lew Rothman buys up large lots of cigars from General and Altadis, throws them in a paint can without bands and sells them for 1/3 the price of the brand name cigar. Gurkha buys Torano cigars; puts a huge honking band on, squirts a bit of cognac and packs it into a glass tube and sells the damned thing for $750. Both Lew and K.H. are cigar marketers - Lew makes me laugh (Flor de Baloney) and K.H. makes me cringe..

Pepin doesn't own tobacco fields and doesn't pretend to. Pepin blends his own cigars, personally rolls some vitolas, and runs the factories. No matter how many "different blends" he comes out with -- he will NEVER be like Rocky or Gurka. As long as he can keep buying good tobacco and his factories continue to produce delicious and consistent cigars I do not care how many different fontmarks his factories produce.. My favorite local store has a lot of Gurkah advertisement signs & banners, even a 6' tall wood Patel '90 cigar. I can't find any signs for Pepin products in the store; what I have seen is empty spaces on the shelf where my Cabaiguans were the last visit..

/Soapbox..

[beamish]

Originally Posted by jkorp

The JJ just didn't have what I want when smoking a Pepin. Way overpriced for what you get I think. Thats just me. Maybe if I had first smoked a JJ than that would be my baseline for Pepin blends. But I am looking for kick, spice, flavor and power and JJ Nat didn't do it for me. I can get a cab of Black for around $85, that is the shizzle!

I know it's personal preference but here is my order of preference in what I have tried from Pepin.

1. DPG Black
2. DPG Blue
3. Padilla 1932
4. 5 Vegas Miami
5. Padilla Miami
5. DPG White Nat

Pepin Black just seems to really do it for me, Blue is close, but the price difference makes the Black real sweet.

I thought the same thing about the jj natural until I let them sit in the cooler for 6 months ,now they are kick ass...

[beamish]

I am a pepin freak as well,can you guys tell me how I would like the 5 vegas Miami? does it have all the typical pepin flavors?

[jkorp]

Originally Posted by beamish

I thought the same thing about the jj natural until I let them sit in the cooler for 6 months ,now they are kick ass...

That's what I'm gonna do with the rest I have.


I forgot Tatuaje Brown, that would be right after 5 Vegas Miami, this definitely didn't live up to the hype and price, to me.

Granted, some of these are first impressions, but then again, the Black got me on the first one...

[kheffelf]

Just a couple things, anyone try the new Old Henry Lancero yet?
http://www.holts.com/category.html?i...2&trail=201274
And Holts is also running a pretty good deal on some 1932 Lanceros.
http://www.holts.com/category.html?i...4&trail=201277

[kheffelf]

So nobody has tried the new Old Henry Lancero?

[bobarian]

Split??

[jkorp]

Originally Posted by bobarian

Split??

I'm down.

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by jkorp

I'm down.

Cool, you wanna order or me? Drop me a PM.

[montecristo#2]

Anyone try the old henry lanceros?

I was not a fan of the old henry robusto that I smoked, too full-bodied for me and a little one dimensional, but I love lanceros.

Also, anyone try the new San Cristobal corona the Francisco? I went out and bought the robusto, the toro and the lonsdale, but would have bought the corona over the lonsdale if it had been available when I bought these.

[jkorp]

Originally Posted by montecristo#2

Anyone try the old henry lanceros?

I was not a fan of the old henry robusto that I smoked, too full-bodied for me and a little one dimensional, but I love lanceros.

Also, anyone try the new San Cristobal corona the Francisco? I went out and bought the robusto, the toro and the lonsdale, but would have bought the corona over the lonsdale if it had been available when I bought these.

Bob and I just split a box of OH lanceros. They are very nice. To me they are full bodied, with some good spice, but not a lot of pepper. They have that Pepin taste, and smoke great all the way. I can see the one dimensional aspect, but I think they will improve nicely with some time. I would definitely look to get more in the future and highly recommend them.