IMHO Pepin is the "new kid on the block" as far as NCs (not counting his cuban blending) and Fuente is tried and true. They both make good cigars, but Pepin seems to be on fire. The new Ashton is really spectacular, so I think in that regard there may be some direct competition, but otherwise I think both can coexist. The more competition the better as far as I'm concerned. This forces everybody to raise the bar.
Is Pepin starting to pass Fuente?
- Thread starter RJT
- Start date
Zoomschwortz
Craving GOF
I've never had a Pepin so I can't compare. I like Fuente cigars (some better than others) but I'm always up for something new.
How are Pepin prices compared to the upper end Fuente's and which Pepin would you recommend?
Thanks
Ken
How are Pepin prices compared to the upper end Fuente's and which Pepin would you recommend?
Thanks
Ken
They're all relative, it really depends on where you buy. My top Pepins are:
Tatuaje Cojonu 2003
San Cristobal
Pepin Blue Label
601 Black (original) Connecticut
Guitarman-S.T-
...Got Metal?
but for the price of a Anejo you could have picked up Many Oh so delicious Pepin products..
LONG LIVE DON PEPEEEEEEEEN!
I like Pepin's too, but...as Mr. Wolf said to Jimmy, Jules and Vincent: "Well, lets not start s*****g each others' d***s just yet."
Pepin has a long way to go before being considered to be on Fuente's level. When they've done it at their current high level for as long as Fuente has at this point, then we can have a good body of evidence by which to judge.
Pepin has built his reputation on sheer, brute strength; yes, his cigars are more than that, but everyone who samples on acknowledges that they are nicotine powerhouses.
Fuente's Opus and Añejo's are strong, yes; but there's also a depth of flavor, a complexity that you...well, that I don't get from a Pepin or a Tatuaje.
Plus, there is no baseline for comparison of the real, true test of a cigar's quality - age.
Pepin hasn't been around long enough (in this present incarnation; El Rey de Los Habanos has been at the same spot since I can remember) to have had any of his cigars stand the teat of time, which only a cigar with genuinely fine tobaccos and impeccable construction can.
Don't get me wrong; I'm not down on Pepin at all; but the facts are irrefutable - they just haven't earned the chops that Fuente has.
An interesting exercise would be to find some Pepin's from their inception; then find some Opus and Añejos from the same year. Put them away for aging, and taste a sampling in 5 years...another in 10.
Pepin has a long way to go before being considered to be on Fuente's level. When they've done it at their current high level for as long as Fuente has at this point, then we can have a good body of evidence by which to judge.
Pepin has built his reputation on sheer, brute strength; yes, his cigars are more than that, but everyone who samples on acknowledges that they are nicotine powerhouses.
Fuente's Opus and Añejo's are strong, yes; but there's also a depth of flavor, a complexity that you...well, that I don't get from a Pepin or a Tatuaje.
Plus, there is no baseline for comparison of the real, true test of a cigar's quality - age.
Pepin hasn't been around long enough (in this present incarnation; El Rey de Los Habanos has been at the same spot since I can remember) to have had any of his cigars stand the teat of time, which only a cigar with genuinely fine tobaccos and impeccable construction can.
Don't get me wrong; I'm not down on Pepin at all; but the facts are irrefutable - they just haven't earned the chops that Fuente has.
An interesting exercise would be to find some Pepin's from their inception; then find some Opus and Añejos from the same year. Put them away for aging, and taste a sampling in 5 years...another in 10.
I recently picked up a couple of the 601 red labels at the B&M.
A few days later I went in and bought the rest of the box.
-it seems the msrp on top25 is a little high for these($7?) I was able to find them locally for $5/ea here in Houston.
I don't have anything negative to say about AF, but it's come to the point where I find myself only buying Pepin smokes and nothing else, (with a few *ahem* exceptions)
Top 3 NCs would have to be Tatuaje cabinet, blue label, and 601s, in that order.
A few days later I went in and bought the rest of the box.
-it seems the msrp on top25 is a little high for these($7?) I was able to find them locally for $5/ea here in Houston.
I don't have anything negative to say about AF, but it's come to the point where I find myself only buying Pepin smokes and nothing else, (with a few *ahem* exceptions)
Top 3 NCs would have to be Tatuaje cabinet, blue label, and 601s, in that order.
thunderbucks
Guerilla
In terms of numbers? I can't imagine it would be so...it just seems like there are so many Fuente lines/sizes and anybody who's anybody carries Fuente. Not to mention many of Pepins blends are small in production as it is.
But as far as like-ability goes? I certainly hope so! Other than the OpusX (and I have yet to have an Anejo) I haven't liked the Fuentes much. Ok, the Hemingways are pretty good too...lol! So maybe they're not as bad as I think them to be.
But that ^^ doesn't change the fact that Pepin's sh*t does, in fact, smell like roses!
But as far as like-ability goes? I certainly hope so! Other than the OpusX (and I have yet to have an Anejo) I haven't liked the Fuentes much. Ok, the Hemingways are pretty good too...lol! So maybe they're not as bad as I think them to be.
But that ^^ doesn't change the fact that Pepin's sh*t does, in fact, smell like roses!
When I did this post it was not a bash AF or promote PG. I was wondering what people thought about how the market was going for both makers. I just have noticed a lot more Pepin stuff in some catalogs than AF stuff. Like I said and a few other have said I think it is great for consumers in that it makes makers take notice. Healty competition is good for consumers. :tu
IMHO Pepin stuff is far superior in taste and quality over Fuente. However, Fuente has mastered the marketing game with advertising and deliberate short supplies of popular smokes to keep the prices up.
I'll take a Pepin over an Opus, Anejo, Don Carlos or Hemingway anyday, especially since they are cheaper and more readily available. However, everyone has different tastes and thats what makes room for all the players.
One man's favorite is another man's dog rocket.
I totally prefer Pepin, but I wouldn't turn away a Fuente if given to me. :tu
I'll take a Pepin over an Opus, Anejo, Don Carlos or Hemingway anyday, especially since they are cheaper and more readily available. However, everyone has different tastes and thats what makes room for all the players.
One man's favorite is another man's dog rocket.
I totally prefer Pepin, but I wouldn't turn away a Fuente if given to me. :tu
I know that it was an obvious typo - but I still found it to be funny as hell . . .
:ss
Ron
Lenguamor:
I can't quite agree with these comments. Firstly, Pepin made his bones back in Cuba, so he has all the heritage and knowlege he needs.
As for all strength, I don't find the Cabaiguan line strong, but extremely complex in flavor. To me Opus are very unbalanced and strength over taste. So this falls under a personal taste thing.
As for construction, Pepin's are just as good if not better than Fuente in this regard (from my personal experience only).
And as for aging. I don't age my smokes and don't see the need for it. They are meant to be smoked not put away for 5+ years, where imho they mellow to the point of boring. Buy'em and smoke'em :ss
I don't want to take anything away from Fuente, but I personally feel their reputation is overly hyped up. They make a good cigar and are experts at marketing.
I can't quite agree with these comments. Firstly, Pepin made his bones back in Cuba, so he has all the heritage and knowlege he needs.
As for all strength, I don't find the Cabaiguan line strong, but extremely complex in flavor. To me Opus are very unbalanced and strength over taste. So this falls under a personal taste thing.
As for construction, Pepin's are just as good if not better than Fuente in this regard (from my personal experience only).
And as for aging. I don't age my smokes and don't see the need for it. They are meant to be smoked not put away for 5+ years, where imho they mellow to the point of boring. Buy'em and smoke'em :ss
I don't want to take anything away from Fuente, but I personally feel their reputation is overly hyped up. They make a good cigar and are experts at marketing.
I was not talking about advertisments in mags like CA. I was refering to retailer mail order style catalogs like Holts. These catalogs seem to have a lot of DP in relation to AF. :ss
Guitarman-S.T-
...Got Metal?
HAHA No Advertisments for Fuente... BAH!
ANy one catch those AWESOME Short story add's in Aficionado related to budwieser i believe. Oh and those awesome OPUS 2 page add's.. Just Gorgeous :hn Just goes to show with out those the possibly Interest in the over hyped smoke known as The Opus would loose its fame.. But i highly doubt FUente will ever drop it from the magazines. Cause hell.. i dont see getting a tin of 3 fuente FOrbidden X for less than 100++ any time soon :chk:chk
- DOn Pepin NEEDS no advertisements, Nor has he ever really relied on them. Possibly a few tatuaje thats about it. :mn
Guitarman-S.T-
...Got Metal?
Wah Wah WEE wah, Get that man a prize
Right in the same both with ya brotha.
Even fuentes PRAISED and RARE Double Chateau SUN grown isnt the best for the money out there. iD rather have a Cuesta Ray Centro FINA sun grown any day :mn:mn
montecristo#2
Chestbeating Pack Leader
I think Fuente makes like 35 million cigars a year and Pepin probably makes around 3-5 million - so in terms of numbers, Fuente is still a much bigger player in the cigar market.
It is true that Pepin and Litto Gomez are gaining in popularity, but Fuente has been around a long time. I have no doubt there are many B&Ms across the country who have never heard of Pepin. Plus, a lot of the Pepin house brands that we talk about here on CS are probably only known to people who frequent those B&M's or people who post on cigar forums (like us). The new association with Ashton should increase his popularity, but it is going to take a while. Also, from what I have heard, it is pretty difficult to get a new Pepin account these days, so this is going to limit his growth to some degree (this is probably by design so they don't grow too fast).
For all we know, Pepin might not even be interested in becoming the top player. If my memory serves me right, I remember reading an article about Litto Gomez and he was happy making about three million cigars a year. Maybe Pepin feels the same way. I know Pete Johnson did an interview a while back and said he was happy making about one million cigars a year.
It is true that Pepin and Litto Gomez are gaining in popularity, but Fuente has been around a long time. I have no doubt there are many B&Ms across the country who have never heard of Pepin. Plus, a lot of the Pepin house brands that we talk about here on CS are probably only known to people who frequent those B&M's or people who post on cigar forums (like us). The new association with Ashton should increase his popularity, but it is going to take a while. Also, from what I have heard, it is pretty difficult to get a new Pepin account these days, so this is going to limit his growth to some degree (this is probably by design so they don't grow too fast).
For all we know, Pepin might not even be interested in becoming the top player. If my memory serves me right, I remember reading an article about Litto Gomez and he was happy making about three million cigars a year. Maybe Pepin feels the same way. I know Pete Johnson did an interview a while back and said he was happy making about one million cigars a year.
I think it's a bit silly to pick one or the other... both Pepin and Fuente make fantastic cigars, with a broad range of tastes to ensure that some you'll like, and others you won't.
I wish them both great success.
As for where the market is going, it's a somewhat streaky market... check back in 5 years or so, and we'll see where things are at.
I wish them both great success.
As for where the market is going, it's a somewhat streaky market... check back in 5 years or so, and we'll see where things are at.