Cigar company owner's personal blends

[tekhnu]

I was lucky enough to have one of the Pete Johnson's Tatuaje Black Labels which was sacrificed to the fire on new year's eve. It was one of the best tasting smokes I've ever had.

The question comes to mind: If the personal cigar blend of the brand owner is that good and they are in the business of making profit, why not release it to market?

Is it:
Limited availability for some or all of the leaf in the blend?
The burn, look or shape is outside of general cunsumer preference?
Strength is way over the limit of what will sell in the numbers needed to make a profit?

I've also had Lito Gomez's 100% Ligero personal blend and one puff will put most smokers face first in the dirt due to the power that it packs. Great taste, very thin short smoke, smoother than you would think for such a strong cigar and ugly as all get out. However, I want as many of them as I can get my hands on but you cant buy them anywhere. Go figure.

[terrasco-cl]

I would guess that it would be an issue of supply. Really good leaf is rare enough not to support a decent production run.

[foolwithnohair]

I'm guessing that it is the leaf, and all the associated costs of bringing a new brand to market, and also to have something special for meet'n'greets.

Also, announcing something that people can't buy and B&M's can't get isn't good business.

[tekhnu]

On the other hand the Camacho Diploma is the personal blend of the owner that is doing well in the market today. In that case they are able to produce enough for distribution.

There is one that the produce a hand full of boxes to market called The Leon Jimenes Don Fernando made by Guillermo Leon (master blender for Leon Jimenes and La Aurora) for his father, Don Fernando Leon. The price is very good and the smoke stands out among mild cigars. Too mild for me. The point here is it's very rare yet the price is still at or under $10 and you can at least find them if you want one stick or a box.

[brianhewitt-cl]

Supply could be the reason. From a business stand point, it could also be they're not sure the cigar to be embraced by the market, due to strength, size, or quirks of the flavor. I don't know the details, but I assume there's considerable cost to bringing a new cigar to the market. And just a bit of embarrassment if the new cigar fails miserably.

I'd say Pete is one savvy guy. He makes a very small amount that he can regularly enjoy, with enough extra to leak out to the market and gauge reaction. If people don't like it, he can keep making a small amount for himself. If they do, he can ramp up production. I'm not saying that I know for sure that this was his plan, but I would guess it was something like that.

Unless there's been an update to the contrary, the Black Label is supposed to be on the market sometime this year, last I heard.

[patefengreen]

Yeah, what BriBri said!

[nootje]

Did'nt this happen with the oliva el cobre?

[happy1]

I want to try one of those Tatuaje blacks

[tekhnu]

Let me throw this at you....

How much of the enjoyment of a cigar is subjective? I've noticed that some cigars are well liked by others BECAUSE a big named person in the industry likes them. Not lumping Pete Johnson's Tatuaje Black's in that category here in any way.

There is also something to be said about people wanting what they can't have.

[brianhewitt-cl]

Originally Posted by nootje

Did'nt this happen with the oliva el cobre?

As I recall from Walt's review (or possibly the YQMA that followed the review), these were actually made for a retailer as a joke. The retailer enjoyed them so much, he worked out a deal with Oliva to make them for him exclusively. And with zero marketing, these have really caught on.

Anyway, not quite the same scenario, but close.

[mikejh-cl]

only experience ive had with this is the leon jimenez don fernando, pretty good for a cameroon and i dont really like cameroon flavor profile, cigar was 8 dollars for a petite corona, so not a bad cigar but you could get a short story for a few dollars less

[RoBolton]

Originally Posted by tekhnu

There is also something to be said about people wanting what they can't have.

Well Put!!!

[m69c44]

Originally Posted by tekhnu

.



There is also something to be said about people wanting what they can't have.

I think you hit the nail right on the head. I also think some of that goes for the
"Cuban Seed " thing

[LkyLindy]

Supply and demand-never fails

[Lok17]

Ok let's face it.. how many of you have ever had an Oliva or Tat. that you havn't liked? Now make it next to impossible to get your hands on.... do the math