Are Taboo Cigars high-quality?
- Thread starter TomHagen
- Start date
I'm glad to see we don't all agree.
I throw/give away cigars that many of you would give your right arm for.
But, that doesn't mean I'm right, or wrong. We all have different taste in everything, including wine, women, politics and much more.
I enjoy smoking cigars with folks that love smoking what I would call a "dog turd" but they call "heaven".
I think it's the people that smoke cigars that WE ALL enjoy. Otherwise, Club Stogie would not exist. We can argue about any cigar until the day we die.
My "Taboo Cigar" goal is very simple:
To provide my customers with the best blends at the best prices possible and to provide up to 15 blends that most folks will enjoy and be more than happy with quality/overall value of their purchase.
It is my opinion that SOME "big name" cigars/blends are over priced.
It is NOT my goal to make the "maximum margin" possible, but rather maximize repeat business with happy customers.
Every decision I make from leaf to shipping is "for" the customer.
I am NOT CONCERNED with what any of the "Big Boys" have or do. I do (and have) learn from watching them and most importantly, listening to my customers.
The only thing I am concerned with is "my customers".
This is what I do know:
7 out of every 10 local customers walk out this door with Taboo. Most of the locals have tried all the blends.
Some were Padron, Fuente, Oliva and other "big name" smokers. Some even enjoy/enjoyed Cubans.
We also have HUGE ONLINE support.
High quality?
No.
NOT YET, anyway....The next blends you see from Taboo are definitely moving in that direction.
The Taboo Twist is the BEST BARBER POLE I have ever had.
Most (if not all) of the current Taboo blends are made by what you guys are calling "high end" manufacturers.
For the most part, I would say the current blends are medium quality compared to what we will be coming out with soon.
Some of the Taboo blends are even better than some of the "high quality" names that have been mentioned here.
Notice I said, "some of the Taboo" and "some of the high quality names".
I would also say that some of the Taboo blends are even better than some of the blends these "high quality" manufacturers make for themselves.
Why do 7 out of 10 customers love at least one to three of the Taboo blends?
(Only speaking for those that try 10 or more of the premium Taboo blends. Currently 11 plus one mix filler.)
Probably because some of the Taboo tobacco comes from the same farmers that some of the big boys buy from and only "high end" manufacturers are producing Taboo Cigars. I don't think I have a factory producing for me that have not had several scores in the 90's (in C.A. or Smoke mag.) with some of their own blends.
Most of the Taboos sell in the $3-$5 range. It has been my goal to have some of the best cigars in that range. The majority of my customers will agree that we have done this.
We are about to step into the $6-$8 range with the new "Taboo Limited Reserve". I expect customers to be more critical of the brand in this price range. I DO believe these new blends will be more comparable to several of the "big name" sticks, but at a much lower price.
They will be blended by a well known Cuban Blender. The tobacco will be coming from one of the top farms in the world.
For those of you that support Taboo Cigars, THANK YOU!
You are not alone!:tu
For those that don't, THANK YOU for trying. Please try our new blends that will be coming out or maybe revisit some of the blends that are highly talked about. Maybe you had a bad stick or just a bad day. I have days that everything ( I mean all brands/all my favorites) taste bad. I don't know why this happens, but it does.
I am in the cigar business for the Customer. That's it.
Thank You very much to everyone that smokes cigars. I don't care if you smoke only Cubans, Padron, Pepin or whatever. Taboo Cigars would not be here without all of you.
I wish everyone the best and a special "thanks" goes out to all the Taboo smokers!
Rob
So, High Quality? No, but plan to get there without the "High Price".
Great Quality/Value? Very much so.
I throw/give away cigars that many of you would give your right arm for. But, that doesn't mean I'm right, or wrong. We all have different taste in everything, including wine, women, politics and much more.
I enjoy smoking cigars with folks that love smoking what I would call a "dog turd" but they call "heaven".
I think it's the people that smoke cigars that WE ALL enjoy. Otherwise, Club Stogie would not exist. We can argue about any cigar until the day we die.
My "Taboo Cigar" goal is very simple:
To provide my customers with the best blends at the best prices possible and to provide up to 15 blends that most folks will enjoy and be more than happy with quality/overall value of their purchase.
It is my opinion that SOME "big name" cigars/blends are over priced.
It is NOT my goal to make the "maximum margin" possible, but rather maximize repeat business with happy customers.
Every decision I make from leaf to shipping is "for" the customer.
I am NOT CONCERNED with what any of the "Big Boys" have or do. I do (and have) learn from watching them and most importantly, listening to my customers.
The only thing I am concerned with is "my customers".
This is what I do know:
7 out of every 10 local customers walk out this door with Taboo. Most of the locals have tried all the blends.
Some were Padron, Fuente, Oliva and other "big name" smokers. Some even enjoy/enjoyed Cubans.
We also have HUGE ONLINE support.
High quality?
No.
NOT YET, anyway....The next blends you see from Taboo are definitely moving in that direction.
The Taboo Twist is the BEST BARBER POLE I have ever had.
Most (if not all) of the current Taboo blends are made by what you guys are calling "high end" manufacturers.
For the most part, I would say the current blends are medium quality compared to what we will be coming out with soon.
Some of the Taboo blends are even better than some of the "high quality" names that have been mentioned here.
Notice I said, "some of the Taboo" and "some of the high quality names".
I would also say that some of the Taboo blends are even better than some of the blends these "high quality" manufacturers make for themselves.
Why do 7 out of 10 customers love at least one to three of the Taboo blends?
(Only speaking for those that try 10 or more of the premium Taboo blends. Currently 11 plus one mix filler.)
Probably because some of the Taboo tobacco comes from the same farmers that some of the big boys buy from and only "high end" manufacturers are producing Taboo Cigars. I don't think I have a factory producing for me that have not had several scores in the 90's (in C.A. or Smoke mag.) with some of their own blends.
Most of the Taboos sell in the $3-$5 range. It has been my goal to have some of the best cigars in that range. The majority of my customers will agree that we have done this.
We are about to step into the $6-$8 range with the new "Taboo Limited Reserve". I expect customers to be more critical of the brand in this price range. I DO believe these new blends will be more comparable to several of the "big name" sticks, but at a much lower price.
They will be blended by a well known Cuban Blender. The tobacco will be coming from one of the top farms in the world.
For those of you that support Taboo Cigars, THANK YOU!
You are not alone!:tu
For those that don't, THANK YOU for trying. Please try our new blends that will be coming out or maybe revisit some of the blends that are highly talked about. Maybe you had a bad stick or just a bad day. I have days that everything ( I mean all brands/all my favorites) taste bad. I don't know why this happens, but it does.
I am in the cigar business for the Customer. That's it.
Thank You very much to everyone that smokes cigars. I don't care if you smoke only Cubans, Padron, Pepin or whatever. Taboo Cigars would not be here without all of you.
I wish everyone the best and a special "thanks" goes out to all the Taboo smokers!
Rob
So, High Quality? No, but plan to get there without the "High Price".
Great Quality/Value? Very much so.
Last edited:
longknocker
SilverBack
Very well stated, Rob! Thanks for all you do, Bro!
Greg
Greg
I would agree, thank you. This cigar is rolled by some of the most skilled rollers in the world. I guess you could say this stick is "high quality". Is it for everyone that smokes cigars? Absolutely not.
Is it our #1 selling blend? Do we sell more of the Taboo Twist than any "Big Name" stick we carry? yes and yes.
I'm gonna add my opinion since I have "enlightened" a lot of people to Taboo at various herfs. Are they "high-quality" cigars?? I've ordered 5-6 bundles of SFBC smokes, taken 90% to herfs, and have had not one problem with wrappers, burn, or anything else. I really enjoy Taboo cigars because the price on them is great and I absolutely love smoking an inexpensive cigar that makes me enjoy it for the entire smoke. I know who blends the Special Forces Boot Camps and they're one of my most favorites, so that too is a bonus.
I've smoked damned near everything out there and have been quite disappointed in many "super premiums". There are many that I would never smoke again, even though they're supposed to be so highly rated.
Straight truth...if you have a problem with Taboo, call and talk with Rob or Patrick and they'll take care of you. Dislike their cigars, and they'll take care of you. I've talked to Rob a bunch of times and he's one hell-of-a-guy. His customer service is better than any other cigar company I've ever dealt with.
Bottom line, buy a sampler and try them. If you don't like them or aren't satisfied, I'll buy the leftovers. If you do like them, you've found a diamond in the rough that's only going to get better.
I've smoked damned near everything out there and have been quite disappointed in many "super premiums". There are many that I would never smoke again, even though they're supposed to be so highly rated.
Straight truth...if you have a problem with Taboo, call and talk with Rob or Patrick and they'll take care of you. Dislike their cigars, and they'll take care of you. I've talked to Rob a bunch of times and he's one hell-of-a-guy. His customer service is better than any other cigar company I've ever dealt with.
Bottom line, buy a sampler and try them. If you don't like them or aren't satisfied, I'll buy the leftovers. If you do like them, you've found a diamond in the rough that's only going to get better.
I think this is an interesting question. I am struggling to define "high quality". Is it in complexity, flavor, burn quality, value (not going down that rat hole), consistency, etc????
I can tell you this. I personally judge a cigar brand or model as "quality" based on whether I want to smoke it. Not mowing the lawn or at a high end restaurant on my anniversary, but the other 99% of the time I find time to sit down and enjoy a smoke.
For me, the biggest reason to smoke cigars is based on:
1. Flavor - this is HIGHLY subjective, so it is hard to make an assessment here, but I find Taboo to offer the flavor I enjoy (especially Twists and Special Forces, depending on the day and/or mood). Are they as good in flavor (to me) as an Opus or PAM, no. Are they as good in flavor as an 858 or Padron 2000, yes.
2. Harshness. To me, I hate when cigars are either harsh all around, or become harsh in the 1/2 to 2/3 range. This is one of my pet peeves of smoking. I must say that Taboo is one of the least harsh cigar brands I have ever tried, they are always "smokeable and enjoyable" to me. I do find many premium cigars to be absent of this harshness as well.
3. Consistency. The one aspect of Taboos that I find traditionally less "premium" is that they are very consistent from start to finish. Now, that is either good or bad. Some cigars change in flavor throughout the experience and if these flavors are all enjoyable to me, then they are awesome. But, some cigars start out good and go south or vise versa and that makes it a bad characteristic. While not overly complex, Taboos (again for me) are impressive in that I know what I'm getting and can rely on consistency.
4. Burn. I find Taboos on par with many of the mid-grade premium brands offerings. Honestly, Anejos, Opus, PAM, etc. are rarely, if ever, victim to poor burning (in my experience). While I find the occassional burn issues with Taboos (mostly the cheaper exotic blend II), I do not find it to be significantly different frequency that the mid grade Padrons, Fuentes, Tats, CAOs, etc.
So, in my honest opinion, I find Taboo's offerings to satisfy my needs for "quality" cigar to smoke when I want to sit back and enjoy a good drink and cigar on the back deck. Am I glad to have other options, you bet, and I will continue to smoke a variety of cigars from the big brands and little brands, but for me lately I am finding myself reaching for a Taboo more often than not. That makes them "Quality" to me.
I think someone said it best- 'smoke what you like, and like what you smoke'. If we all agreed on what we like, it would be terribly boring.:tu
I can tell you this. I personally judge a cigar brand or model as "quality" based on whether I want to smoke it. Not mowing the lawn or at a high end restaurant on my anniversary, but the other 99% of the time I find time to sit down and enjoy a smoke.
For me, the biggest reason to smoke cigars is based on:
1. Flavor - this is HIGHLY subjective, so it is hard to make an assessment here, but I find Taboo to offer the flavor I enjoy (especially Twists and Special Forces, depending on the day and/or mood). Are they as good in flavor (to me) as an Opus or PAM, no. Are they as good in flavor as an 858 or Padron 2000, yes.
2. Harshness. To me, I hate when cigars are either harsh all around, or become harsh in the 1/2 to 2/3 range. This is one of my pet peeves of smoking. I must say that Taboo is one of the least harsh cigar brands I have ever tried, they are always "smokeable and enjoyable" to me. I do find many premium cigars to be absent of this harshness as well.
3. Consistency. The one aspect of Taboos that I find traditionally less "premium" is that they are very consistent from start to finish. Now, that is either good or bad. Some cigars change in flavor throughout the experience and if these flavors are all enjoyable to me, then they are awesome. But, some cigars start out good and go south or vise versa and that makes it a bad characteristic. While not overly complex, Taboos (again for me) are impressive in that I know what I'm getting and can rely on consistency.
4. Burn. I find Taboos on par with many of the mid-grade premium brands offerings. Honestly, Anejos, Opus, PAM, etc. are rarely, if ever, victim to poor burning (in my experience). While I find the occassional burn issues with Taboos (mostly the cheaper exotic blend II), I do not find it to be significantly different frequency that the mid grade Padrons, Fuentes, Tats, CAOs, etc.
So, in my honest opinion, I find Taboo's offerings to satisfy my needs for "quality" cigar to smoke when I want to sit back and enjoy a good drink and cigar on the back deck. Am I glad to have other options, you bet, and I will continue to smoke a variety of cigars from the big brands and little brands, but for me lately I am finding myself reaching for a Taboo more often than not. That makes them "Quality" to me.
I think someone said it best- 'smoke what you like, and like what you smoke'. If we all agreed on what we like, it would be terribly boring.:tu
Quality, perhaps the most subjective term used on this site. A degree or grade of excellence or worth, to be at a high degree of excellence; something that is good or well done. The quality of a product refers to the perception of the degree to which the product meets the customer's expectations. We see phrases like; "for the money it's a great smoke" or "at that price it's a great buy". I smoke a lot more 3 dollar cigars than I do 10 dollar cigars. Comparing the 2 cigars fairly must take into account the cost. Can a good 3 dollar cigar compare evenly with a good 10 dollar cigar? No. There are good cigars in all price ranges and Taboo is another choice. I won a free box of twists and found I did not like them as much as I thought I would. I have since given almost all of them away. I have been sampling various other blends and have found a few that will probably make it into the daily rotation.
Try a few, and enjoy the search for your favorite cigar :cb
Chas
Try a few, and enjoy the search for your favorite cigar :cb
Chas
Bold statement. I'll take 'em.
:ss
As the thread starter, I appreciate your (tccigar's) straightforward approach in your post, just wish the advertising/buy-in/discount thing was the same way, but your customer service seems to be great. Good luck to you in creating your brand!!
A BOTL is kickin' me down a few Taboo in addition to a trade. I look forward to trying them. I will keep you guys posted on my "personal" impressions.
I think this thread really has continued to answer my questions about Taboo. I agree about the subjective nature of taste, but wanted to hear from other BOTL's who have similiar perspectives on stoges that I do, and what their take on Taboo was.
~ Thanks ~
Not sure what you mean about my adver/buy in/discount not being straight forward?
Here it is:
Current Discounts:
20% for all CS Members
25% for all CS Members with the Taboo Bar in their sigs.
and higher "private" discounts for folks that have been loyal to Taboo.
Sorry if I confused anyone. If you feel that way, you probably are not alone. I know I probably run too many specials and will try to keep things simple in the future. Heck, I get confused sometimes!
I also like to hear from my customers. PM me after you try some Taboo and I will give you a direct #. Love to chat with ya.
I can't make everyone a Taboo smoker, but I can take VERY GOOD care of the customers that do.
If you don't like a Taboo, let me know. This helps when creating new blends. Have have fans for every current blend. None of us like ALL the Taboo blends. We are not suppose to.
Like I said, we are at 70% blend satisfaction. With a few more blends from a new factory or two, maybe we can reach 80-85%?
Smoke Taboo Cigars
Rob:ss
Rob, thanks for posting and being straightforward and honest. This is one of the reasons why I will be a loyal Taboo customer for years to come. No schtick or gimmicks. Your honest about your product and stand behind it 100%. Not to often do you see this nowadays even in the cigar industry.
With the new line or lines you have coming, do you have anything in the works as far as a full bodied smoke? With your description I think I may have an idea where you may be getting your leaf from and if that is the case am excited to see the final product. As far as this club that was mentioned by the OP, where would one find this on your website? Is it the mailing list or a membership type thing that allows you to take advantage of special discounts offered throughout the year? If this is the case I know I would be interested. A local B&M here has this type of membership and it allows you pretty nice discounts every last Friday of the month so if anyone knows please direct me in the right direction.
With the new line or lines you have coming, do you have anything in the works as far as a full bodied smoke? With your description I think I may have an idea where you may be getting your leaf from and if that is the case am excited to see the final product. As far as this club that was mentioned by the OP, where would one find this on your website? Is it the mailing list or a membership type thing that allows you to take advantage of special discounts offered throughout the year? If this is the case I know I would be interested. A local B&M here has this type of membership and it allows you pretty nice discounts every last Friday of the month so if anyone knows please direct me in the right direction.
?????? Do you not agree with my statement?
Search is your friend, friend.