stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet

Originally Posted by Addiction

Fixed.

Don Pepin speaks no english. I've met with him twice once with Pete Johnson and Once with the head of 5 Vegas both times required someone to translate for me.

I'll have to brush up on my espanol.

Donde esta los cigaros

He he he he.

[Kreth]

Originally Posted by Legend

Donde esta los cremosas

Fixed that for you.

[Col. Kurtz]

Originally Posted by Legend

Why not? I can't imagine it going so badly.

"Mr. Garcia, we've noticed that many times the cigars from our lounge are better than ones we buy online from the big guys. Is there a difference?"

"you and the rest of you bastards from your lounge down here to tour my factory get out. I can't believe you would ask such a question" followed by ranting and rambling in Spanish.

Nope. I don't see it. What's the harm?

Some others have covered this, but I said I wouldn't ask him. You can do what you want.

The implication is that he sells an inferior/different product to the online retailers and is less than honest. That would be an embarassing subject to broach for both, and if I were his guest, I wouldn't dare. I would not disrespect the man in his own house. Much less what will be lost in translation.

But hey, feel free to make an a$$ of yourself and let us know how it goes.

Not intended as a personal attack Legend, just my explanation / reasoning of my prior statement.

[SeanGAR]

Originally Posted by Legend

he said while they do have humidified warehouses etc. they are stored in their boxes and celo wrapped which isn't the best for cigars.

Well, that explains why MRN stores boxes for aging in ziplock bags.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

Well, that explains why MRN stores boxes for aging in ziplock bags.

Not to mention the Dark Lord.

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

Well, that explains why MRN stores boxes for aging in ziplock bags.

MRN???

[Stick]

Originally Posted by Legend

MRN???

Min Ron Nee, author of "An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post Revolution Havana Cigars."

http://www.cigarmony.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=248

Originally Posted by Stick

Min Ron Nee, author of "An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post Revolution Havana Cigars."

http://www.cigarmony.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=248

Thank you

[SeanGAR]

Originally Posted by Legend

MRN???

I was being facetious with my statement.

MRN wraps cuban cigar boxes in zip lock bags to slow the aging process and supposedly IMPROVE the quality of the cigar during storage. So Mr. Ortega's explanation that a box wrapped in cello is not good for the cigars does not jive with what at least one respected Cuban cigar collector is doing.

But it does bring up another possible difference .. that the cigars in the B&M age faster because boxes are opened .. which isn't exactly age per se, but might affect the taste. So equal age 1 YO cigars, one that spent its life in a cello covered box, and the other that was in a B&M humidor might taste different for that reason.

[MajorCaptSilly]

Originally Posted by Legend

OK. I spoke with Eddie Ortega of 601 Cigars tonight at my cigar lounge and his perspective on this subject was very interesting.

He said his cigars are all the same, but his reasoning for the local being better is not the aging at the B&M, but the storage at the big internet guys. he said while they do have humidified warehouses etc. they are stored in their boxes and celo wrapped which isn't the best for cigars.

Now 601 is a smaller producer of cigars and the reports I got were from some larger cigar makers, So when I go to Nicaragua in May I'll ask Don Pepin about his. So for now I am have some egg on my face.

That's pretty much what I said very early in this thread.


MCS

[Whee]

Originally Posted by MajorCaptSilly

Do you really think that cigar manufacturers make varying quality cigars for B&Ms vs internet retailers? I just don't think that's possible. I do think that long-term storage can be a problem at some of the internet retailers. Many tend to keep cigars at higher humidity levels so they can ship better. If cigars are kept at over 70% humidity for long periods of time, I can see some chemical changes happening that could cause problems. I've also been at some B&M's with serious humidity issues. I just don't buy the fact that B&M's are getting "better" cigars.

MCS

Originally Posted by MajorCaptSilly

That's pretty much what I said very early in this thread.


MCS

True story...post #8.