MadMonk
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2008
- Messages
- 6,657
This was on Facebook. I thought folks here would find in interesting or helpful:
Steve Saka, I really like the Muestra de Saka concept. I did have some questions about it which you can feel free to answer or ignore as you see fit:
1. Have you released all the Exclusivos that you plan to release?
No... we are still shipping. It takes a lot longer than people realize to process orders. I suspect we will be shipping them for another week plus. Really depends on retailers getting back to us in a timely manner to reaffirm their orders.
I never claimed this was a limited production item, but it was something we took pre-orders on and it was a small batch production item.
My intent is to not make anymore in the near term, I would prefer to move on to the Muestra de Saka Nacatamale - a totally different and stronger liga in a 6x48 format.
--
2. How many boxes is the total production of Exclusivo?
Initial production order was for 1,650 boxes - that being said there are some "stranded" cigars - you ALWAYS overproduce everything so that way you can do a proper color and final quality control sort on the color tables.
As a result, there is a certain number of cigars that were perfectly great, but not needed to fulfill the initial 1,650 box order. Next time I am in Nica I am going to review these cigars and depending on their number I will decide what to do with them.
Until I get an accurate count with my own eyes it is impossible to know exactly how many there are or what may become of these.
That being said, I will be genuinely surprised if there is enough to pack another 50 boxes.
--
3. The packaging is fantastic. What is the cost of that compared with Mi Querida or Sobremesa?
Thank you - I really dig it myself - even though it has my name on it...
I say that because I have for years refused to put my name on any of my ligas or brands out of a sense of decorum. I now realize this was a mistake, while everyone of any import in our industry and educated cigar consumers know who I am, the average cigar consumer has no idea who Saka is which probably hurts me now that I am 100% independent.
At the same time, I am just not the flashy guy that seeks attention so doing this one line with my name and given the personal nature of it, I decided this may be the product to break with my own conventional wisdom. Funny part is all of my cigars are extremely personal... I don't know, this is a branding question I have always struggled with. There are plusses and minuses to affixing your name to your cigars - much longer discussion.
I want people to judge all my cigars based on the cigars themselves and not based on my history - you are only as good as the work you are doing today in my book.
Sorry - got off topic there...
MdS packaging costs more than either Mi Querida or Sobremesa, due to the individual coffins and custom screened ribbon bands.
These items add almost a $1 in direct cost to the consumer at the retail register...
I can already hear some people decrying this expense...
First off it is my cigar and my brand and I get to decide how to package it - I want the coffins and I want the silk rings.
You as a consumer gets to decide if it is worth the money and then choose whether to buy it or not buy it.
I NEVER envisioned this as being a cigar anyone would buy regularly to smoke. I actually believe almost all of them will be sold as Individual coffins vs. even the low 7ct boxes. To me, the coffin denotes how it is different than other cigars.
Muestra de Saka is meant to be something extra special to try - to get a glimpse at something totally different from me as a ligador.
Everything about producing these tiny batches is expensive - MdS is NOT for those consumers that are concerned about spending a few extra dollars.
My two current core lines are tremendous values - Sobremesa would be a $15+ cigar if it were to be produced by any of the known companies and Mi Querida is an outright steal at $8-$10. It kicks the snot out of other much pricier broadleaf cigars in the market imo. [fwiw, I have had at least 6 retailers tell me I made a mistake and should have priced MQ near other top tier broadleaf ligas...]
Sobremesa and MQ are cigars I do hope people will add to their rotation, so in both cases I have priced them extremely competitively for the quality.
But ultimately, none of my cigars are for the guy looking for cigars on the cheap. I don't smoke budget cigars nor do I make them, when someone buys a cigar associated with me I want them to have confidence that they are "Sin Compromiso".
There are thousands of lower priced cigars in the marketplace for consumers to choose from.
--
4. How many MDS blends are you working on and how many have you finalized?
I have about 20 different worthy Muestra de Saka ligas finished - each with their own character, style and flavor currently.
However, I only was able to import about 7 or 8 prior to Aug 8, 2016 FDA date - remember at that time we were under the impression that the branding, packaging and product itself had to be 100% exact in order for it to ever be imported again pending the substantial equivalency requirements. It was nearly impossible to get the cigars and boxes made during that mad 90 day rush from the May 10th announcement to the August 8th deadline - remember EVERY cigar factory and maker was going bonkers to get as much accomplished as possible - it was total insanity.
So how many MdS ligas there are in the marketplace ultimately depends entirely on the FDA, not me, I am constantly crafting ligas that get me excited.
Free of absurd government regulation, I would love to be able to share two or three ever year for the rest of my career.
--
5. When are you coming back to do an event near home, so I can ask you important questions in person?
My next currently scheduled event near home is at Two Guys Smoke Shop Nashua, NH on Friday, June 2nd and in their Two Guys Smoke Shop Salem, NH store on Saturday, June 3rd. Doing the The Cigar Authority radio program with David Garofalo that Saturday also.
Also, Cindy Saka and I are THINKING about going up north this weekend to join Penny Piva and Valentino Mennitto for their grand opening of Cigar Shenanigans, Cigar & Cocktail Lounge. Very tough due to our existing schedule, but we both are hoping to figure out if we can make this happen so we can express our support for their new endeavor in person.
Steve Saka, I really like the Muestra de Saka concept. I did have some questions about it which you can feel free to answer or ignore as you see fit:
1. Have you released all the Exclusivos that you plan to release?
No... we are still shipping. It takes a lot longer than people realize to process orders. I suspect we will be shipping them for another week plus. Really depends on retailers getting back to us in a timely manner to reaffirm their orders.
I never claimed this was a limited production item, but it was something we took pre-orders on and it was a small batch production item.
My intent is to not make anymore in the near term, I would prefer to move on to the Muestra de Saka Nacatamale - a totally different and stronger liga in a 6x48 format.
--
2. How many boxes is the total production of Exclusivo?
Initial production order was for 1,650 boxes - that being said there are some "stranded" cigars - you ALWAYS overproduce everything so that way you can do a proper color and final quality control sort on the color tables.
As a result, there is a certain number of cigars that were perfectly great, but not needed to fulfill the initial 1,650 box order. Next time I am in Nica I am going to review these cigars and depending on their number I will decide what to do with them.
Until I get an accurate count with my own eyes it is impossible to know exactly how many there are or what may become of these.
That being said, I will be genuinely surprised if there is enough to pack another 50 boxes.
--
3. The packaging is fantastic. What is the cost of that compared with Mi Querida or Sobremesa?
Thank you - I really dig it myself - even though it has my name on it...
I say that because I have for years refused to put my name on any of my ligas or brands out of a sense of decorum. I now realize this was a mistake, while everyone of any import in our industry and educated cigar consumers know who I am, the average cigar consumer has no idea who Saka is which probably hurts me now that I am 100% independent.
At the same time, I am just not the flashy guy that seeks attention so doing this one line with my name and given the personal nature of it, I decided this may be the product to break with my own conventional wisdom. Funny part is all of my cigars are extremely personal... I don't know, this is a branding question I have always struggled with. There are plusses and minuses to affixing your name to your cigars - much longer discussion.
I want people to judge all my cigars based on the cigars themselves and not based on my history - you are only as good as the work you are doing today in my book.
Sorry - got off topic there...
MdS packaging costs more than either Mi Querida or Sobremesa, due to the individual coffins and custom screened ribbon bands.
These items add almost a $1 in direct cost to the consumer at the retail register...
I can already hear some people decrying this expense...
First off it is my cigar and my brand and I get to decide how to package it - I want the coffins and I want the silk rings.
You as a consumer gets to decide if it is worth the money and then choose whether to buy it or not buy it.
I NEVER envisioned this as being a cigar anyone would buy regularly to smoke. I actually believe almost all of them will be sold as Individual coffins vs. even the low 7ct boxes. To me, the coffin denotes how it is different than other cigars.
Muestra de Saka is meant to be something extra special to try - to get a glimpse at something totally different from me as a ligador.
Everything about producing these tiny batches is expensive - MdS is NOT for those consumers that are concerned about spending a few extra dollars.
My two current core lines are tremendous values - Sobremesa would be a $15+ cigar if it were to be produced by any of the known companies and Mi Querida is an outright steal at $8-$10. It kicks the snot out of other much pricier broadleaf cigars in the market imo. [fwiw, I have had at least 6 retailers tell me I made a mistake and should have priced MQ near other top tier broadleaf ligas...]
Sobremesa and MQ are cigars I do hope people will add to their rotation, so in both cases I have priced them extremely competitively for the quality.
But ultimately, none of my cigars are for the guy looking for cigars on the cheap. I don't smoke budget cigars nor do I make them, when someone buys a cigar associated with me I want them to have confidence that they are "Sin Compromiso".
There are thousands of lower priced cigars in the marketplace for consumers to choose from.
--
4. How many MDS blends are you working on and how many have you finalized?
I have about 20 different worthy Muestra de Saka ligas finished - each with their own character, style and flavor currently.
However, I only was able to import about 7 or 8 prior to Aug 8, 2016 FDA date - remember at that time we were under the impression that the branding, packaging and product itself had to be 100% exact in order for it to ever be imported again pending the substantial equivalency requirements. It was nearly impossible to get the cigars and boxes made during that mad 90 day rush from the May 10th announcement to the August 8th deadline - remember EVERY cigar factory and maker was going bonkers to get as much accomplished as possible - it was total insanity.
So how many MdS ligas there are in the marketplace ultimately depends entirely on the FDA, not me, I am constantly crafting ligas that get me excited.
Free of absurd government regulation, I would love to be able to share two or three ever year for the rest of my career.
--
5. When are you coming back to do an event near home, so I can ask you important questions in person?
My next currently scheduled event near home is at Two Guys Smoke Shop Nashua, NH on Friday, June 2nd and in their Two Guys Smoke Shop Salem, NH store on Saturday, June 3rd. Doing the The Cigar Authority radio program with David Garofalo that Saturday also.
Also, Cindy Saka and I are THINKING about going up north this weekend to join Penny Piva and Valentino Mennitto for their grand opening of Cigar Shenanigans, Cigar & Cocktail Lounge. Very tough due to our existing schedule, but we both are hoping to figure out if we can make this happen so we can express our support for their new endeavor in person.
