Pepin Whores Unite!

[Fumioso]

Who makes Padilla Hybrids and Cedros?? I didn't care for the cedros too much when I first got them, but after 9 months they're smoking really well. And the Hybrid is quite nice as well, though not a Pepin flavor profile at all.

I did a quick search and couldn't find an answer as to who makes these two, though it appears it's NOT Don Pepin.

[volfan]

Originally Posted by Fumioso

Who makes Padilla Hybrids and Cedros?? I didn't care for the cedros too much when I first got them, but after 9 months they're smoking really well. And the Hybrid is quite nice as well, though not a Pepin flavor profile at all.

I did a quick search and couldn't find an answer as to who makes these two, though it appears it's NOT Don Pepin.

Those should be part of Ernesto Padilla's blends. I really like the habano line and when you can find them on sale they are quite nice for a $4 cigar. Pepin has only been involved in the 1932 Signature, Achilles, and Miami lines.

scottie

of course I am not an expert so this is purely based on what I have read.

[Fumioso]

The results of an internet dredge: The Padilla Habano line is made by Oliva in Nicaragua, and A.S.P. Enterprises (Alfredo and Silvia Perez) has a hand in the Hybrid, at least as far as tobacco production. Nothing on the Cedro though. The blends are Padilla's, of course.

I'm looking forward to trying the Achilles - got a fiver on the way!

[montecristo#2]

Are the new Pepin Black Labels the same as the Cuban classics?

http://www.seriouscigars.com/types/B...pin&Cat=Cigars

2guyssmokeshop has them listed as black labels, while seriouscigars has some new Pepin's listed as cuban classics.

[tiptone]

I was wondering the same thing and was just about to dig up this thread.

I picked up one of the Perla 1952 along with a Blue Label Invictos this weekend at Serious. 2Guys didn't have a photo available for the Black Label, but the Cuban Classics at Serious do have a black label.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by montecristo#2

Are the new Pepin Black Labels the same as the Cuban classics?

Yes, they are the same. The Black Labels have a secondary label that says Cuban Classic.

As seen here: http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=48082

[montecristo#2]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

Yes, they are the same. The Black Labels have a secondary label that says Cuban Classic.

As seen here: http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=48082

That is what I figured, since in that picture, there are several different vitolas with the black labels and they looked similar to the sizes listed on seriouscigars.

If those are the only sizes that are going to be made, the new black label series complements the blue labels very nicely since there are several larger blue label vitolas. The new black label has several smaller ring gauge cigars which is nice.

I just order at least two of each. They also have some new limited cigars you can get if your order is over $100, including a couple of different anejos at close to MSRP.

[Trumpet]

Anyone know about the "Sam's GS Stash" from Black Cat? Says they're very full bodied and made only for the guys at Black Cat. Is this really a "Black Cat only" blend or is it one of his other blends just renamed for them? They're not cheap at $60 per five.

[omowasu]

Looks like the new Illusione blends are hitting the shelves - it appears to be a dark maduro rolled in Pepin's Nicaraguan factory. Initial feedback is positive, what little I could find.

[montecristo#2]

Originally Posted by omowasu

Looks like the new Illusione blends are hitting the shelves - it appears to be a dark maduro rolled in Pepin's Nicaraguan factory. Initial feedback is positive, what little I could find.

I am not 100% sure, but I don't think the illusione cigar line (http://www.illusionecigars.com) has any connection to Pepin. Also, I don't believe they are rolled in the new factory in Nicaragua.

These cigars are a house blend of Fumare in Reno, NV. The owner Dion, is a member of CS and goes by the username Vudu9, so if you have any questions, you could probably shoot him a PM. I have bought from him before with no problems, great customer service. I know towercigars.com in Sacramento (Mark is also a CS member) recently added the illusione line of cigars to their website. I have bought a couple, but have not had time to smoke one yet (I hate being sick). They also sell a culebra, which is pretty cool. Very few companies produce this vitola these days.

This is some info I got from Dion on the illusione cigar line:

"As for the illusione cigar line, they're a puro Nicaraguan - medium to full bodied and in some cases, strong and spicy. They come out of Tabacalera Valley Jalapa, a subsidiary factory of Tabacalera tropical. 8 pairs of master rollers produce them for me. It's taken about a year or so to get the blends right and they're smoking superbly right now."

Edit: This is assuming we are indeed talking about the same cigars. Maybe there are two different lines with the same name?

[omowasu]

Yeah, info is pretty limited, I had seen these on two other cigar boards (of which I am not a member) where they were said to be rolled in the Pepin factory:
* safe link to another cigar board *
http://www.stogiechat.com/cigar-foru...145&forum_id=3

I am not sure if they are correct, info is pretty limited as far as I can find. Dion would probably know, he is referenced on the other board as well.

[Trumpet]

Originally Posted by Trumpet

Anyone know about the "Sam's GS Stash" from Black Cat? Says they're very full bodied and made only for the guys at Black Cat. Is this really a "Black Cat only" blend or is it one of his other blends just renamed for them? They're not cheap at $60 per five.

Anyone with intel on these?

[montecristo#2]

Originally Posted by omowasu

Yeah, info is pretty limited, I had seen these on two other cigar boards (of which I am not a member) where they were said to be rolled in the Pepin factory:
* safe link to another cigar board *
http://www.stogiechat.com/cigar-foru...145&forum_id=3

I am not sure if they are correct, info is pretty limited as far as I can find. Dion would probably know, he is referenced on the other board as well.

Dion (vudu9) posted some more information about these in that thread on stogiechat, the illusione cigars are indeed not related to Pepin.

[txmatt]

Originally Posted by Trumpet

Anyone with intel on these?

I just checked the Black Cat site, interesting story there. Pepin works on custom blends for retailers so the paragraph there makes sense. I will add them to the list soon, if anyone figures out if they are made in Miami or Nicaragua let me know. At twelve bucks a pop hopefully they are Miami made..

Originally Posted by http://www.blackcatcigars.com/samsgsstash.html

Pepin Garcia began making this cigar for my personal enjoyment several years ago during one of blending and tasting sessions in his Little Havana, Miami factory. I still receive a shipment every month. Pepin has agreed to make more of these so some of our customers can also enjoy them.

These cigars look and feel so good, you will begin to enjoy them even before you light up. Thick, oily, and very full-bodied, these cigars are a slice of heaven and will take you back to Havana, circa 1950.

Available only in my favorite size, 6½ x 52 Ring.

[montecristo#2]

I posted this in another thread talking about the new Pepin CI Legends from Cigar International. I probably should have posted it here since I have a feeling not very many people viewed that thread. I would love to get some feedback from some other BOTLs on this subject.

Here is my post.

I am beginning to wonder, Pepin must be making like 100 - 200 different cigars with all the different labels and vitolas. At some point, there must be some overlap and rebanding going on. I know he is a fantastic blender and roller, but do you think it is possible for one person to create that many different flavors?

I figure the stuff he is doing with Pete Johnson (the Tatuajes) is probably unique, but I am beginning to wonder about everything else. With all the different DPG lines, all the stuff for cigarking, the stuff with Padilla, the old henry's for holts. . . and now these for CI. Personally, I don't think I have smoked enough of the different varieties to say that two cigars are the same, but it wouldn't shock me.

I know Pepin is still a relatively new player in the NC cigar industry and amazingly enough, his stuff is not as mainstream as some of the traditional players. There are several B&Ms that have never heard of Pepin. (On a side note, this always makes me wonder, do B&M owners not read cigar magazines?) But this only supports my point, it seems like Pepin has more labels than Fuente and considering all of these cigars at one time were suppose to be rolled by 8-12 rollers in Miami (before the nicaraguan plant was opened), it just seems like some of them have to be the same cigar with different bands.

I am going to continue my rant, so I apologize up front. Does anyone else feel the cigar industry is getting a little bloated at the moment? Look at all the different varieties produced by Rocky Patel, Fuente, La Flor Dominica. . . It is impossible to keep up with all the new cigars that are being produced. Kind of feels similar to what happened to the baseball card industry (actually the entire sportscard industry as a whole) a couple of years ago.

One last thing, I still love the Tatuajes and most Pepin's, I just wish there weren't so many to try.