Reactions to new high end Cohibas?

[Big_T_UK]

Okay people I need some help understanding your thinking on something?..

When the Cohiba Grand Reserva came out I gave it a few tries and wrote about it on here. The general reaction was that people did not want to try a cigar that cost ?85 quid no matter how good it was; apparently nothing could be worth that much.

Less than a year later Cohiba launch the Behike range, another expensive but not quit so expensive cigar. People wait with baited breath, pay significant money to attend London launch parties and several people buy entire boxes without having even tried one.

WHAT THE HELL? Why the difference? There is a price difference yes. A box of Grand Reservas is way more than a box of even the Behike 56 but not to even try one Grand Reserva seems illogical when you are willing to pay far more for a box of a reputedly lesser cigar. If you are going to spend crazy money on a cigar once in a while then why not try ?supposedly? the best?

Is it because you guys like to see a shiny box in the humi? Is it because of the reputation that the new range tried to inherit from the original ultra-rare and ultra-expensive Behike?

I just cannot understand the difference in thinking and differing reactions to ?two? EXPENSIVE cigars from the same cigar house. Is it hypocrisy or am I clearly missing something more subtle, which is would be very like me.

Anybody?

T.

[nicwing]

Interesting question T and a quick response here before I dash off to a meeting.

I witnesses a very interesting phenomenon in one London store where a regular customer popped in asked for two boxes of 'those new Cohibas' (one for him and one for a friend) handed over his gold card and left, all done in 4 minutes.

He wanted to try them and there was little doubt he had the funds. I have also seen amazing responses to my blog/facebook posts because of the fuss created around the launch.

Triumph of marketing over product? Time will tell.

Slightly academic point anyway as most of the UK stores are out of stock and I can't get anyone in the know to confirm what the likely future supply will be like.

Are they worth the money? Time will tell. Can the brand support all these different sizes and variants? Hell yes!

[Jimmeh]

people find it easier to justify spending the ?40 less on the behike? you can buy two bhk 56's for the price of one GR?

[r0lan6]

I think it is more to do with a so-called "price limit" perception that we unconsciously all share, which may arguably be influenced by our shared social, financial, and economic values. For me, anything above ?50 for a cigar is simply not worth it, much the same as spending over ?200 for an ounce of beluga caviar. With the behikes they are just on the cusp of opportunity costing. It is not a question of not being able to afford a Cohiba Grand Reserva, but more of a question of would you want to buy it.

Anyone with money can afford to purchase a top of the range ?1m+ Patek Philippe, but the question is can they appreciate it enough to spend that amount of money? Of course the extensive vetting procedures by PP prevent anyone from simply buying a grande complication, whereby one needs to convince them that they are true collectors, and not one that buys for a quick investment or New Money who simply wishes to prove an arrogant point.

((By the way does this count as a 'constructive post'? ))

[Lascaux]

great way of doing it... releasing super super rare behikes, then tales fly around cigar lounges all over the world for a few years of these supreme cigars... and now they release something named the same to the general public
wow i want me some of that pie!!

[G-man]

Well said

great way of doing it... releasing super super rare behikes, then tales fly around cigar lounges all over the world for a few years of these supreme cigars... and now they release something named the same to the general public
wow i want me some of that pie!!

Bravo

[daverave999]

I'm unlikely to ever smoke either if I'm paying for it!

[Ramon]

A good question Big-T, especially when you can get the Seleccion Reserva's, already aged now, if you look around. They're much better VFM IMHO, and I know they smoke brilliantly.

[Big_T_UK]

I hd a conversation about the Cohiba SR a while ago. A conclusion was reached that these got marketed very poorly if memory serves, the bands not even that special when compared with the Partagas and Monty. I only vaguely remember the conversation. The opinion was strongly held by some that only one of the cigars in the selection was really exceptional. I will try to ask the guys again and refresh my memory.

[Simon-JG-hr]

I seriously wish that I could justify the Gran Reservas. I seriously wish I could justify the BHKs...

What did it for me with the BHK Launch (for I still wouldn't buy a box) was that for ?150 I would get: an excuse to meet up with you wonderful people in London, a total of seven cigars (two care of Mitch), lots of Champagne, possibly some brandy, canapes, a little bit of entertainment, and so on and so forth. That for me offered excellent value for money.

As for the cigars themselves... I've now smoked a couple of BHK52s, and I would say that they are cracking cigars, but not worth how much they cost. Now, maybe the 54 and/or the 56 will blow me away... but I doubt it. I suspect that they will just be great cigars too. But not worth me (personally) spending ?40 on.

I think some of it boils down to r0lan6's reference to 'price-limit'. For me, there are plenty of good enough cigars around for ?20. If I reach a position when my own personal price limit would allow me, with a clear conscience, to buy a box of BHKs, then I would have enough spare cash to buy the Gran Reservas too. I suppose I have a threshold between limit/non-limit (rather than an incremental limit)... Many would say ?20 on a cigar is frivilous anyway, so that is my maximum until cost is not really a consideration at all...

[Big_T_UK]

For a "regular" smoke I can utterly understand the price limit, but not for a once or twice try of something "exceptional". Just a different point of view I guess.

[satch]

I wouldn't be able to get the thought out of my mind that paying ?85 for what is, in the end, just a cigar, the seller would walk back to the till with a little smile on his face and giving a secret "wanker" sign.
Not that I'm cynical, y'understand.

[Lee Nub]

Lol

[mb55317]

I have a box of the BHK 54's and 56's. I bought them based upon my own experience of smoking a 54 at LCDH and the many great reviews from people I know and from written comments/ reviews on them. I think pretty much everyone i know (or those whose opinion matters to me) liked them.

Whilst the price is on the high side I approach the BHK as a 'special' cigar and on that basis the price is not prohibitive for me. I actually plan to keep them for 5 years before trying one from the box. I have since smoked all 3 of the vitolas and like them all so I am pleased with my purchases.

The GR did not have great reviews from everyone and therefore considering the price point I was less interested in trying one. 85 is a lot to pay for a great cigar let alone one that isnt that great. To pay over 1k for 15 cigars when some may or may not be good is prohibitive for me. In summary the price point and the reviews of others kept me away.

[Vision]

As for the cigars themselves... I've now smoked a couple of BHK52s, and I would say that they are cracking cigars, but not worth how much they cost. Now, maybe the 54 and/or the 56 will blow me away... but I doubt it. I suspect that they will just be great cigars too. But not worth me (personally) spending ?40 on.

Perfectly said.