Cigar Weekly

Choo Choo · 02-28-2002, 03:18 PM

Rookie Question:

Why are some brands referred to as "boutique"? Do some companies produce a variety of smokes under different labels?

Thanks, Choo Choo

flipflop · 02-28-2002, 03:46 PM

Boutique cigar operations can be compared to small batch bourbons or micro-brews.

Produced in small quantities, they are a destination cigar that you won't find in every smoke shop. Most of these manufacturers use tobacco that has had more time to age properly and roll them using only their hands.

Examples: Indian Tabac, Mayorga

Sacred cows make the best hamburger. --Mark Twain

love_this · 02-28-2002, 03:48 PM

What flipflop said.

La Luna is a popular one in these parts as well.

Mayhem · 02-28-2002, 03:55 PM

I dunno guys. You gots some 'splaining to do as to how Mayorga and LaLuna are "boutique" brands.

Don't put gum in my ashtray and I won't put my cigar out in your mouth. Deal?

TommyBB · 02-28-2002, 04:03 PM

Cupido is another.

Boutique brands are smaller than the big name labels from the conglomerates. For example General Cigars makes and sells : Macanudo, Partagas, all the Villazon brands, Temple Hall Estates...that's about ten to a dozen brands.
AltadisUSA sells: Don Diego, Montecristo, H. Upmann, Romeo y Julieta, Saint Luis Rey, and about five or six more I can't remember at the moment. Tabacalera Fuente is another; they make cigars for many other brands Sosa, Fonseca, Cuesta Rey, Montesino, Bauza, and many "house brands" in tobacconists around the world. They sell in the range of hundreds of millions of cigars per year as opposed to the boutique brands, even those with large patronage like Mayorga, La Luna, Cupido, Indian Tabac and other even smaller concerns.

"Somehow, strangely, the vice of men gets well represented and protected but their virtue has none to plead its cause--nor any charter of immunities and rights." Henry David Thoreau

Fishin Phil · 02-28-2002, 04:13 PM

Good explanation.

sambo · 02-28-2002, 04:36 PM

So what yer sayin' is, to paraphrase.

They makes cigars differenter than them big house boyz? Even though they is all cigars?

Any way you looks at is, I is likin' what I is smokin'.

Thanks TommyBB for the 'splainin'

(this post is not meant to offend, nor cause distress to anyone, if however there is a problem or ill feeling please delete post immediately)
Could it be that I am a cigar snob

gumby · 02-28-2002, 05:01 PM

I would add Camacho to this list. They have the distinction of being one of the few maufacturers of any size who grow all of their own tobacco.

"The Texans were my best soldiers. Not once did I see their backs in battle" Robert E. Lee

Mayhem · 02-28-2002, 06:11 PM

OK, well if the above posts are the consensus, then I can live with it, but I disagree. I consider boutique brands to be more of a marketing concept. Implyed cost, artwork or some other type of "hook" to get it to sell. I consider Lars, Acid and other brands who tried to capitilize on the trend to be boutiques. The brands listed in the other posts; regardless of how many are made, or where they are sold; are cigars made by people who are just trying to appeal to cigar lovers. I'm not sure I'm 'splaing this correctly, but I see a definite difference.

Don't put gum in my ashtray and I won't put my cigar out in your mouth. Deal?

aBuc · 02-28-2002, 06:14 PM

I agree with flipflop and TommyBB

Moore and Bode

£ aBuc £
I wanna be good. Honest

02-28-2002, 03:46 PM	#2
flipflop Contributing Editor CW Butt Whisperer Herf God Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Marietta, Georgia Posts: 50,560	Boutique cigar operations can be compared to small batch bourbons or micro-brews. Produced in small quantities, they are a destination cigar that you won't find in every smoke shop. Most of these manufacturers use tobacco that has had more time to age properly and roll them using only their hands. Examples: Indian Tabac, Mayorga *Sacred cows make the best hamburger. --Mark Twain* __________________ "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats." -- H. L. Mencken "I am the punishment of God. If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you." -- Ghengis Khan

02-28-2002, 03:55 PM	#4
Mayhem Club Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 1,112	I dunno guys. You gots some 'splaining to do as to how Mayorga and LaLuna are "boutique" brands. Don't put gum in my ashtray and I won't put my cigar out in your mouth. Deal? __________________ The older I get, the more I come to the realization that if it isn't in the Yellow Pages, it's exactly what I need.

02-28-2002, 04:03 PM	#5
TommyBB Editor-in-Chief Herf God Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 86,656	Cupido is another. Boutique brands are smaller than the big name labels from the conglomerates. For example General Cigars makes and sells : Macanudo, Partagas, all the Villazon brands, Temple Hall Estates...that's about ten to a dozen brands. AltadisUSA sells: Don Diego, Montecristo, H. Upmann, Romeo y Julieta, Saint Luis Rey, and about five or six more I can't remember at the moment. Tabacalera Fuente is another; they make cigars for many other brands Sosa, Fonseca, Cuesta Rey, Montesino, Bauza, and many "house brands" in tobacconists around the world. They sell in the range of hundreds of millions of cigars per year as opposed to the boutique brands, even those with large patronage like Mayorga, La Luna, Cupido, Indian Tabac and other even smaller concerns. "Somehow, strangely, the vice of men gets well represented and protected but their virtue has none to plead its cause--nor any charter of immunities and rights." Henry David Thoreau __________________ +In Memory of E.Guevara(Cubano67)W.Orlando(Shadow) A.Morris (Knife) D.Odom (dodom) D.Revermann (dgr) S.Bouchard (sb1396) M.Cole (Matt76) S.Faccenda (TOJE) R.Smith(IBMer) V.Vandermeer (van55)M.Davis(boxdoctor)S.Singer(bassman)K.Doetze l (drillrk1)D.Hart(garme1962)J.Coleman(John C 81)T.Gossett(Dartplayer1)J.Bolt (jb)E.J.Ferralles(CaballoPinto)M.Cataldo(FVFanMC)K Payne(SanchoPanza)F.Seltzer(Mowee)+LB+Connor Olson+Micah Kercheval+Maggie Bonefas+Karen

02-28-2002, 04:13 PM	#6
Fishin Phil Herf God Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Machesney Park, IL USA Posts: 17,425	Good explanation. __________________ The only thing better than fishing, is smoking a cigar while fishing.

02-28-2002, 04:36 PM	#7
sambo Herf Meister Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Senior Lefty, KKKali Djibouti Posts: 6,791	So what yer sayin' is, to paraphrase. They makes cigars differenter than them big house boyz? Even though they is all cigars? Any way you looks at is, I is likin' what I is smokin'. Thanks TommyBB for the 'splainin' (this post is not meant to offend, nor cause distress to anyone, if however there is a problem or ill feeling please delete post immediately) Could it be that I am a cigar snob __________________ Stop ruining my ideology with you logic!

02-28-2002, 03:18 PM	#1
Choo Choo Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chattanooga, TN USA Posts: 339	Rookie Question: Why are some brands referred to as "boutique"? Do some companies produce a variety of smokes under different labels? Thanks, Choo Choo

02-28-2002, 03:48 PM	#3
love_this Club Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 4,424	What flipflop said. La Luna is a popular one in these parts as well.

02-28-2002, 05:01 PM	#8
gumby Contributing Editor MOM November 2012 Emeritus Honorary MOM November 2021 Herf God Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 47,291	I would add Camacho to this list. They have the distinction of being one of the few maufacturers of any size who grow all of their own tobacco. "The Texans were my best soldiers. Not once did I see their backs in battle" Robert E. Lee __________________ I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson

02-28-2002, 06:11 PM	#9
Mayhem Club Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 1,112	OK, well if the above posts are the consensus, then I can live with it, but I disagree. I consider boutique brands to be more of a marketing concept. Implyed cost, artwork or some other type of "hook" to get it to sell. I consider Lars, Acid and other brands who tried to capitilize on the trend to be boutiques. The brands listed in the other posts; regardless of how many are made, or where they are sold; are cigars made by people who are just trying to appeal to cigar lovers. I'm not sure I'm 'splaing this correctly, but I see a definite difference. Don't put gum in my ashtray and I won't put my cigar out in your mouth. Deal? __________________ The older I get, the more I come to the realization that if it isn't in the Yellow Pages, it's exactly what I need.

02-28-2002, 06:14 PM	#10
aBuc Club Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Tampa Bay, FL USA Posts: 2,802	I agree with flipflop and TommyBB Moore and Bode £ aBuc £ I wanna be good. Honest __________________ £ aBuc £ aka Ol' King Dick of the Nutcrushers MC I wanna be good. Honest