Cigar quality control

[eggwhites]

I know that some manufacturers have better quality control than others, but with the creation of the binder and filler a lot can go wrong due to human error. I would say that the most consistent brands would be Pepin, Oliva, Nub, and Fuente.

[Lighthouse]

I would have to agree with the earlier notes. I have found that most sticks are basically uniform, but I have on very rare occasion found a stick in the box a little off. I basicially attribute that to the fact they are handmade, and believing that no two tobacco leaves are identical - kind of like a snowflake. While they are close to identical, they are different. When you work with natural products you are bound to get minor differences - some of which may be enough to pass a visual inspection but tend to alter the outcome of the combined product.

For most part, I believe manufacturers like those mentioned here and others who have successful premium brands have great quality control processes that serve to minimize the inconsistancies and preserve the delicate balances to deliver the perfectly blended products we love and enjoy. It may not be Six Sigma, but overall, for the sticks I like, it's near perfect!!!

Hope this makes at least a little sense!!

[joncaputo]

Even if they are hand made - I would imagine many of the makers have checks and balances before they box them up and ship them out

[Cigary]

Thank God that Pepin, Fuente and RP have great cigars and even the RP seconds taste and smoke just like firsts.

[Lighthouse]

Originally Posted by joncaputo

Even if they are hand made - I would imagine many of the makers have checks and balances before they box them up and ship them out

I'm sure that is the case. When it comes to rolling great sticks, some rollers take pride in the work they do and go to great measures to ensure the product is as good as it can be - while others may not. That's why guys like Pepin, Fuente, Patel only allow certain individuals/rollers who have the proven skills and acumen to roll specific products within their respective lines. I'm sure they also have a final quality control checkpoint before the product is boxed and shipped.

[LkyLindy]

Originally Posted by Lighthouse

I'm sure that is the case. When it comes to rolling great sticks, some rollers take pride in the work they do and go to great measures to ensure the product is as good as it can be - while others may not. That's why guys like Pepin, Fuente, Patel only allow certain individuals/rollers who have the proven skills and acumen to roll specific products within their respective lines. I'm sure they also have a final quality control checkpoint before the product is boxed and shipped.

The final checkpoint is my house--I keep all of the blems in my humi's

[tx_tuff]

Ok as far as the RP 2nds, nothing against the man, and I have bought the 2nds before. I just think that is another way to make money and they roll the 2nds as 2nds from the start. All cigars varey in color, and when they are boxed up at the factory they put them together by color.

I think like what has been said above, it a hand rolled product and they will just be a bad stick from time to time. Yes some companies are prob better then others, and I think some that have had problems before have improved.

[Itsme-Speedy-G]

Davidoff will not sell their 2nds. they destroy them. how bout that for QC

Doc Stogie Fresh mentioned it on a podcast

[jam]

I always thought they keep the humidity high so the cigars stay fresh to the touch longer
because when ever i get cigars from the internet there always like sponges more then a small shop

[joncaputo]

Originally Posted by Itsme-Speedy-G

Davidoff will not sell their 2nds. they destroy them. how bout that for QC

Doc Stogie Fresh mentioned it on a podcast

I can believe this - I have never had a poorly made davidoff

ever

[hayward_tenney]

Originally Posted by tx_tuff

Ok as far as the RP 2nds, nothing against the man, and I have bought the 2nds before. I just think that is another way to make money and they roll the 2nds as 2nds from the start. All cigars varey in color, and when they are boxed up at the factory they put them together by color.

Nope. How could you roll a second from the start?

Can you imagine? *cue Rocky voice* "Listen up tordedors, I need you to stop rolling cigars so well. And blenders, make sure you pick out the blemished wrappers. Today we're rolling seconds."

After sortation is complete, those which are found to have blemishes, but which are still perfectly constructed, are sold as factory selects. Those which have slight construction issues, or whose strength or flavor profile is off by a hair, are sold as seconds.

[hayward_tenney]

Originally Posted by Itsme-Speedy-G

Davidoff will not sell their 2nds. they destroy them. how bout that for QC

Doc Stogie Fresh mentioned it on a podcast

I've heard this as well. I imagine not being able to recoup costs for all that destroyed tobacco contributes to their sometimes ridiculous price point.

There has been a persistent rumor about Davidoff's Private Stock cigars being seconds...I don't believe they are.

[buttah]

Originally Posted by Itsme-Speedy-G

Davidoff will not sell their 2nds. they destroy them. how bout that for QC

Doc Stogie Fresh mentioned it on a podcast

This is definetly true and you can't argue with Davidoff's QC but this also a good chunk of the reason behind their price.

As far as RP's seconds being rolled as seconds and this only being for money. IMO it doesn't really matter to me if the inferior leaves are chose pre or post roll. I don't see it so much as a way to make money as much as I see it as a way to keep the price point of his cigars down. By selling factory selects, seconds and X-Outs he is at minimum recouping the majority of his investment on every cigar and most likely making a little money on every one.

Pepin rerolls them to accomplish the same thing. I've also read that Pepin sells his "seconds" under different names to places like Thompson.

Davidoff destroys the seconds, hence the price.

To me I'd rather them sell their seconds and keep their prices lower than have a bunch of companies trying to keep on par with Davidoff and pricing themselves right out of my humidor.

[hayward_tenney]

Originally Posted by buttah

This is definetly true and you can't argue with Davidoff's QC but this also a good chunk of the reason behind their price.

As far as RP's seconds being rolled as seconds and this only being for money. IMO it doesn't really matter to me if the inferior leaves are chose pre or post roll. I don't see it so much as a way to make money as much as I see it as a way to keep the price point of his cigars down. By selling factory selects, seconds and X-Outs he is at minimum recouping the majority of his investment on every cigar and most likely making a little money on every one.

Pepin rerolls them to accomplish the same thing. I've also read that Pepin sells his "seconds" under different names to places like Thompson.

Davidoff destroys the seconds, hence the price.

To me I'd rather them sell their seconds and keep their prices lower than have a bunch of companies trying to keep on par with Davidoff and pricing themselves right out of my humidor.

Excellent post, sir.

[tekeeladude-cl]

If you want to see some real construction issues, take a look at this old thread I created showing the problems with General Cigars. Even the replacements they sent to replace the bad ones had problems. For the most part, I stay away from General Cigar products due to all the problems I have had.

http://www.cigarlive.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8712