This is very much the way I feel, though I don't have the luxury of wonderful memories that go back as far as yours. I posted earlier about my "end of the innocence" experience with the store, so I think we're on the same page here with our disappointment equaling or outweighing our outrage.You see I have a big problem with this whole mess due to the fact that when I was a boy of 4 to 6 years old, my Grandfather would take me down to Holt's original storefront every couple of weeks to purchase his cigars and pipe tobacco. Mr. Levin Sr. would greet my Granddad by his first name and always took the time to lean down and give me his hand and welcome me as well. They would then stand around and talk while I got to walk through the store with big eyes while taking deep breaths of the wonderful smelling pipe tobaccos.
These are some of my earliest and fondest memories of my youth and I must say that without those trips to Holt's (and taking puffs from Pop-pop's smokes when Nana wasn't looking), I might not be a cigar and pipe smoker now.
So that some asshat marketing genius has now sullied the (IMO) good name of Holt's and in doing so tarnished some of my more golden memories makes me pretty damn mad.
I can almost hear Pop-pop and Mr. Albert Levin rolling in their graves.
I've never bought from Holt's online, but every time I was back in PA. I always made the trip to visit the store. Now I probably will no longer bother, the deliberate slurring of the name of one of the makers of some of the better cigars out there, just went way too far over the line for me to accept it.
"Buh-bye" Holt's
*edit* "Buh-bye" ... god how kindergarten can you get?
tigger started a thread over at CF to bring up the same issue, quoting my post in this thread. While many people doubted his source ( :sign: ), here was one post that was just made. I thought it appropriate to copy here in light of Ernesto's post:
On behalf of Holt's, I want to issue an apology to Ernesto Padilla and Padilla Cigars for the tenor of recent comments in our Father's Day 2008 Catalog. The tone of these comments and the copy in question steps over the line of good taste. I assume personal responsibility as part of my role at Holt's is to approve final copy, and in the rush of going to press, this one slipped past me. For over 100 years, Holt's name has been synonymous with high-quality products, premier customer service and a respect for our customers and our industry and this copy does not comport with those high standards.
Sincerely,
Sathya Levin
Holt's Cigar Company
This is very much the way I feel, though I don't have the luxury of wonderful memories that go back as far as yours. I posted earlier about my "end of the innocence" experience with the store, so I think we're on the same page here with our disappointment equaling or outweighing our outrage.
That's funny they say discontinued because Ernesto just said on this thread that they will continue just that they will be manufactured in their new factory? It's so confusing!
Thanks for the update Tim.
I'm glad to hear that all you current lines will continue.
You guys make some fine cigars.
Hey Guys, I have been reluctant to post anything but it seems that many people on both Cigar Family and Cigar Pass are associating this happening to both Pepin and I.
I cannot comment on what happened between Sathya and Ernesto as none of it involves Me or the Garcia family but I will pass on a message from Jaime(Pepin's Son)
Jaime wanted me to relay that his concern is not to get involved with this commentary but only to make more cigars with better quality for you the consumer. Period!
I agree with this. Let's move forward and get back to making this industry stronger not divided.
Pete
I guess this one "slipped by" Sathya, too, huh? High-class all the way.While cigar nuts nationwide stare wide-eyed at the Usual Suspects with drool hanging off of their chops, our shoddy competitors will be grinding their teeth and turning green with envy. If you’re a chump famous for putting out raggedy catalogs chock full of garbage, you need to throw in the towel. Holt’s is just too strong!