Pepin Whores Re-Unite!!!

[OHMatt]

Good to see this thread!

Here is an area this Pepin Ho is unclear and I would like some insight from you all.

Cabaiguan is still my favorite Pepin creation. I crave the Coronas Extra and Belicoso Fino yet have a hard time finding them. My most frequented cigar store the past year has been the Party Source in Bellvue, Kentucky. Micah in there is quite helpful, but when I asked him about getting in the "original" Cabaiguns he said the cigars he has in stock "Guapos" are the originals.

All of the Cabaiguans at The Party Source have this band:

This band I first saw on the Nicaraguan-made Guapos and Guapos RX (maduro)

The original Cabaiguans had this band and were rolled in Miami


On the Tatuaje web site it now states "made in Nicaragua".

So my questions for all of you:
1) Have you seen any Cabaiguans with the old label?
2) Where does the box they are in say they were rolled (if not in bins)

[Mr. Ed]

Originally Posted by OHMatt

Good to see this thread!

Here is an area this Pepin Ho is unclear and I would like some insight from you all.

Cabaiguan is still my favorite Pepin creation. I crave the Coronas Extra and Belicoso Fino yet have a hard time finding them. My most frequented cigar store the past year has been the Party Source in Bellvue, Kentucky. Micah in there is quite helpful, but when I asked him about getting in the "original" Cabaiguns he said the cigars he has in stock "Guapos" are the originals.

All of the Cabaiguans at The Party Source have this band:

This band I first saw on the Nicaraguan-made Guapos and Guapos RX (maduro)

The original Cabaiguans had this band and were rolled in Miami


On the Tatuaje web site it now states "made in Nicaragua".

So my questions for all of you:
1) Have you seen any Cabaiguans with the old label?
2) Where does the box they are in say they were rolled (if not in bins)

Hmmm, interesting. I'm willing to bet that the originals with the old labels are still available online. I saw a box with the original band about 2 and 1/2 months back in a local B&M, but I think they had been sitting for a while. I would PM Greg (NCRadioman) and he'll probably clue you in; he knows a lot about Pepin products.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by OHMatt

So my questions for all of you:
1) Have you seen any Cabaiguans with the old label?
2) Where does the box they are in say they were rolled (if not in bins)

Good question, Matt. I am not 100% sure but I think the original's are still rolled in Miami and the Guapos come out of Nica. The Guapos are definitely not the original.

My shop just got in a few boxes of original Coronas Extras and they are stamped Sept. 09 and were rolled in the ERdLH factory and do have that original band.

[OHMatt]

I went to Jungle Jim's yesterday and they had 3 boxes stamped APR 09 and Miami.. So along with the information you provided it seems

1.) Pete doesn't send TPS/Micah Cabaiguan originals or Micah only wants to carry the Guapos
2.) Some time this year production of the originals moved from Miami to Nicaragua.

Very intereting - thanks for the input!

[OHMatt]

Last night I had one of the new San Cristobal Seleccion Del Sol cigars.

What struck me at first when I saw them; the cigars were a bit less expensive than the originals. How often does selecting a "a very special sun-grown wrapper grown on the Garcia family's "Estrella" farm in Esteli, Nicaragua." and a second band reduce the cost of a cigar? I hesitated to grab one, but like any self-respecting Pepin Ho I must smoke them all.

The flavor had a bit less pepper and a bit less acidity than the originals but was remarkably similar. It burnt flawlessly, which sometimes isn't the case with special wrappers.

I smoked 3 cigars last night and the San Cristobal was the least expensive. I still can't decide if this or the MJ12 was my favorite however they both stomped the flying pig.

[TomHagen]

had a Mucielago (by DPG for 601 brands)... nice looking natural box press, construction issues and a pretty one dimensional strong maduro... nothing to write home about.