Horrifying Revelation

**EGQ** · 12-20-2010, 11:15 AM

So I was in my local B&M this past weekend, and I may or may not have been picking up some choice sticks for an upcoming Secret Santa package... I was talking to the proprietor when a woman came in -- she came straight over and asked if they had any Kuba Kubas... He said they were out, but they had most of the other Acid's in stock -- he helped her pick out a few other "choice" smokes and sent her on her merry way. Not 5 minutes later, the exact same thing happened again -- another woman, more Kuba Kubas, same song and dance. Finally I asked him -- how many of those shit sticks he sells -- he told me that he sells more Acids than his next 9 or 10 top selling brands combined.

He credits the Acids with keeping him afloat over the last few years, but he admitted he'd rather smoke a cat turd wrapped in newspaper from the bottom of a chicken coop.

I find this utterly baffling. How are so many people smoking these things? Is the marketing that pervasive? I really didn't think so. At least I had my choice of the Fuente Anejos.

**badwhale** · 12-20-2010, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by EGQ

So I was in my local B&M this past weekend, and I may or may not have been picking up some choice sticks for an upcoming Secret Santa package... I was talking to the proprietor when a woman came in -- she came straight over and asked if they had any Kuba Kubas... He said they were out, but they had most of the other Acid's in stock -- he helped her pick out a few other "choice" smokes and sent her on her merry way. Not 5 minutes later, the exact same thing happened again -- another woman, more Kuba Kubas, same song and dance. Finally I asked him -- how many of those shit sticks he sells -- he told me that he sells more Acids than his next 9 or 10 top selling brands combined.

He credits the Acids with keeping him afloat over the last few years, but he admitted he'd rather smoke a cat turd wrapped in newspaper from the bottom of a chicken coop.

I find this utterly baffling. How are so many people smoking these things? Is the marketing that pervasive? I really didn't think so. At least I had my choice of the Fuente Anejos.

Similarly, I'm sure my beer shop doesn't make their income on cases of Dogfish Head, and Troeggs....

Will

**EGQ** · 12-20-2010, 11:56 AM

Mmmmmmmmm -- Keystone Light...

**nhcigarfan** · 12-20-2010, 03:01 PM

My local shops have told me the same thing.

**ryan54** · 12-20-2010, 05:47 PM

It makes perfect since to me. Think about it. How many people start off smoking cigars with gas station dog rockets? They walk into a cigar shop and decide they want to try a "premium" cigar. They ask the tobacconist for help, and in the process they tell the tobacconist that they are use to smoking swisher's or something. Naturally they suggest something like the ACID cigars. Customer goes out and smokes it realizes it’s a "premium" dog rocket, gets hooked and keeps on smoking them. Those of us that like to smoke real cigars our taste are tuned to smoking them. Several months ago I was given a box of Kuba Kuba cigars. Having already experienced them and not really liking them I just hung on to them as give away cigars. I went to a work party and brought the box, now several of my coworkers have humidors full of ACID cigars. I have tried to sway them to "real" cigars but it isn’t happening. I feel like I did them a disservice but they like them so whatever.

**Alcibiates** · 12-20-2010, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by EGQ

Mmmmmmmmm -- Keystone Light...

Oh Keith Stone... You're so smooth!

I haven't seen my B&M sell a lot of Acids... There's another shop in town that handles most of those cigars. They have a small selection, but they're segregated to a separate cabinet in the corner of the store

**ggiese** · 12-21-2010, 02:32 PM

Similar experience - I was in a local B&M when a guy walks in with a band from an Acid Blondie. He told the proprietor that his wife had been out with girlfriends at a local bar, and the guy nearby had been smoking the Blondie. She immediately fell in love with the smell - grabbed the band from the guy - and brought it home to her husband with an edict to find some.

I truly think it has more to do with the effect the aroma has one some - versus it being a good cigar. However - anyone caught smoking one in our local shop will be drawn and quartered, tarred and feathered - and driven out of town on a rail.

Apparently - it's most likely so popular because of the whole wooing the female of the species angle.

**craig** · 12-21-2010, 03:45 PM

What I don't understand is why flavouring is deemed acceptable for pipe tobacco, but not in a cigar.

(I'm not talking about the quality of particular cigars or pipe tobaccos, but the general concept.

**mrtr33** · 12-21-2010, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by craig

What I don't understand is why flavouring is deemed acceptable for pipe tobacco, but not in a cigar.

(I'm not talking about the quality of particular cigars or pipe tobaccos, but the general concept.

....in the same vein, why shisha tobacco doesn't smell like tobacco at ALL, though I suspect it's not generally accepted by the cigar/pipe crowd.

**badwhale** · 12-21-2010, 03:57 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe traditionalist pipe smokers generally frown upon aromatics too.

Will

**craig** · 12-21-2010, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by badwhale

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe traditionalist pipe smokers generally frown upon aromatics too.

Will

I'm sure some do, but it seems to me that the feeling is not as vehement generally, either among smokers or within the respective industries.

The only thing I could think of is that cigars that say that they are flavoured are not the best to begin with - Graycliff being a notable exception.

... and a traditionalist cigar smoker would stick to 40-odd-ring Cubans, no?

**bigwhiteash** · 12-22-2010, 08:29 PM

There's only one or two aromatic pipe tobaccos I can tolerate... and only once in a great while.

htc incredible using tapatalk

**cigarsarge** · 12-22-2010, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by craig

What I don't understand is why flavouring is deemed acceptable for pipe tobacco, but not in a cigar.

(I'm not talking about the quality of particular cigars or pipe tobaccos, but the general concept.

There are a few nice aromatic blends...Shortcut to Mushrooms, Dan's Blue Note, CAO Cherrybomb ect. Most are poor tobacco cased to mask the real flavor.

**Eville** · 12-22-2010, 09:28 PM

That's a great question, craig. Personally, I just like to hate things.

**craig** · 12-22-2010, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by Eville

That's a great question, craig. Personally, I just like to hate things.

I used to hate things, but then my doctor adjusted my meds

**ggiese** · 12-23-2010, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by Eville

That's a great question, craig. Personally, I just like to hate things.

"Hate" has such negative connotations.

...I prefer "strong dislike".

**ggiese** · 12-23-2010, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by cigarsarge

There are a few nice aromatic blends...Shortcut to Mushrooms, Dan's Blue Note, CAO Cherrybomb ect. Most are poor tobacco cased to mask the real flavor.

True dat!!!

...and it's meant to curry the favor of the opposite sex! Why else would they market tobacco that smells like my wife's underwear drawer!

**ashauler** · 12-23-2010, 09:42 AM

Well, I've found during my research that virtually all pipe tobaccos are cased in one manner or another. True, some are only cased to provide moisture during fermentation, however, virtually all are treated one way or another. The pipe tobacco manufacturers don't guard the recipes for their "sauce" for nothing.

Here's a link with some info:
http://www.mac-baren.com/TopMenu/Exp...Tobacco-1.aspx

I was very surprised at the mechanics of preparing pipe tobaccos as opposed to cigar leaf. Steaming.....stoving......cooking....saucing....pr essing....etc...etc...

**craig** · 12-23-2010, 03:16 PM

Interesting link, thanks!

Casing with other than water happens with cigars too - not all of course. I've only heard of Padron coming right out and saying that they use only water.

The most common alteration seems to be taking the tobacco "offal" - stems and scraps - and soaking them in water, and then using the resulting mixture in casing.

It seems like there is a continuum of methods of 'helping' tobacco.

Discovery channel had a "Modern Marvels" show on tobacco a few years back that covered primarily US cigarette production, but also had bits on cigars (Opus X), pipe tobacco (Cornell and Diel <sp?>), and a little bit on chewing tobacco. Most of the show seems to be on YouTube (or there are torrents available).

**Devil Doc** · 12-23-2010, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by craig

What I don't understand is why flavouring is deemed acceptable for pipe tobacco, but not in a cigar.

(I'm not talking about the quality of particular cigars or pipe tobaccos, but the general concept.

It's not acceptable. Most of the pipe smokers I know hold flavored pipe tobacco smokers in disdain.
But keep in mind, the Cherry blend and Acid smoker of today is the straight Virginia Flake and Opus smoker of tomorrow, or so we hope.

Doc.