601 Blue reblend?

[BigCat]

I stopped in a local B&M yesterday to pick up a couple 601 blue lables, as I was considering buying a box and wanted to smoke a couple more before committing. They were cleaned out. I asked the guy running the shop when they would get more in - he said the line was done, that they were being renamed and repackaged, and that the blend was being changed. He said it was being made milder. That was the first I'd heard of this. I knew there was a merger with Rocky Patel and EO, but I thought blends were supposed to remain unchanged. I googled it today and found this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIOfn1Xvj1s

Rocky says the blue label isn't changing. I don't think he'd be the first cigar maker to claim a blend was the same when it wasn't. Has anyone heard anything else on this, one way or the other? I'd be pretty disappointed if they reblended these.

[jonumberone]

Somewhere, a single tear is rolling down Macs cheek!

[E.J.]

I'd be pretty disappointed if they reblended these.

X 2

[NCRadioMan]

Haven't heard a thing about a re-blend.

[awsmith4]

Not sure about the Blue but my local B&M said the 601 Black is going to be discontinued and this makes me sad because I love the Black label.

Edit: Greg my local rep said that Rocky bought EO???

[NCRadioMan]

Not sure about the Blue but my local B&M said the 601 Black is going to be discontinued and this makes me sad because I love the Black label.

Edit: Greg my local rep said that Rocky bought EO???

Sorry, you are both correct. I missed that. He did acquire 50% of EO Brands. Let's hope they don't move away from Don Pepin.

[jmsremax]

Noooooooooooooooo!

[bishjd123]

I seem to remember something about the Red being reblended to make it a bit stronger, but the blue and green were to remain unchanged.

[elderboy02]

Eddie told us on his forum that he isn't changing the blends. Check out: http://forum.eobrands.com

[gmiranda33]

The black was discontined. The Red, Green & Blue are getting a new band and box, but the blends are remaining the same. And yes Pepin is still making them.

[BigCat]

Eddie told us on his forum that he isn't changing the blends. Check out: http://forum.eobrands.com

Thanks, I'll check that forum out.

The black was discontined. The Red, Green & Blue are getting a new band and box, but the blends are remaining the same. And yes Pepin is still making them.

Rocky said in the video link I posted that the red was changing, but that the blue and green were not.

[kelmac07]

I also heard that the Blue wasn't changing blends at all...only the labels were supposed to be changed. I'll be really upset if these change...might have to hoard the 2 boxes I have now and start looking for some more NOW!!! :D

[elderboy02]

Thanks, I'll check that forum out.


It is a pretty cool board. You get points for participating and you can cash the points in for 601 and Cubao cigars :tu

[JJG]

The Red, Green & Blue are getting a new band and box, but the blends are remaining the same. And yes Pepin is still making them.

Thank God they are leaving the reds alone, as they are one of my all time favorite cigars. but damn, the Black labels I've smoked were excellent too.

[elderboy02]

Thank God they are leaving the reds alone, as they are one of my all time favorite cigars. but damn, the Black labels I've smoked were excellent too.

I am going to miss the black labels. I might have to buy a box to stock up.

[pinotguy]

The Red is getting tweaked slightly. I believe they are going to try and make it just a little more full-bodied.

Just as important, their other brands (especially the Cubao) will remain unchanged. It is unfortunate the Black is going away. Maybe Pepin will introduce another brand that uses the CT. Shade capa (here's hoping anyway).

[neoflex]

Sorry, you are both correct. I missed that. He did acquire 50% of EO Brands. Let's hope they don't move away from Don Pepin.
That can't be good. Sorry to any Rocky lovers out there but I am not much of a fan.

[T.G]

I heard they were coming out with a candela with a fuchsia band! But it was only going to be sold in states that had an odd number of letters in their names! :wo :wo :wo

[Dunkel]

I loves me some 601 Red, Blue, and Green, and I loves me some Cubaos. I hope none of them change. Black can go away, no loss there IMO.

[AlohaStyle]

Eddie himself says the Red label will be changed slightly to give it a more full-bodied profile in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3z2TUezJ8I&NR=1

Eddie has also said the Blue and Green and his other cigars will not change at all besides the packaging/bands. However, I am very skeptical of this in the long term as EO's agreement with Pepin Garcia will only last so long. Pepin does not work with Rocky Patel and the blending/making he does for EO will only last until their current agreement expires IMO.

It is too bad because I really enjoy the Blues and the Murcielagos.

[njstone]

I have no reason to doubt what Eddie himself has said, so I assume the blends won't change other than perhaps a tweak to the Red, as he has said he "wanted" to do (not sure if he has gotten around to it."

I love the 601s, Cubao, Murcielago, and Mi Barrio. I wish none of them was being discontinued. The 601 Black will be missed--that's the fullest-bodied Connecticut cigar I've ever smoked!

This whole mess is just another example of the fact that cigar reps are an outdated mode of sales that need to either tossed out entirely or they need to do their freakin' jobs and get the correct facts to their customers (the shop owners). I

have heard so many negative rumors like this that likely started from either reps not doing their job, spreading rumors, or shop owners not understanding what the reps said (therefore the rep must not have said it clearly). This kind of crap is bad for the industry, and I don't understand why the manufacturers put up with it.

[MiamiE]

Why would EO leave Pepin for Rocky? That's taking a step back instead of forward.

[jsnake]

If you guys want the inside scoop on things sign up at http://forum.eobrands.com and earn points for free cigars and swag for posting. Not to take away from this great forum but Eddie set that forum up and has been giving stuff away and has big plans for more free stuff.

I saw him at IPCPR and he is very much involved with everything and he seems to be very happy with the changes that have come about.

[Nickerson]

From what I heard they are re-blending the Red label only. I know they discontinued the black label, which I was disappointed about cause I had yet to try one, and it isn't high enough on my to try list to go snatching up boxes while they are still available.

[kelmac07]

Very curious to see what the new band is gonna look like on the Blue. I LOVE everything about the current one...including the band :2

[Nickerson]

Very curious to see what the new band is gonna look like on the Blue. I LOVE everything about the current one...including the band :2

I've seen the bands posted elsewhere... they seem kind of cheap. I much prefer the current bands over the new ones. Though I suppose it is part of their way to cut costs.

[elderboy02]

Very curious to see what the new band is gonna look like on the Blue. I LOVE everything about the current one...including the band :2

Join the eoforums that I posted above. He has the pic there of all the new bands :tu

[Nickerson]

Why would EO leave Pepin for Rocky? That's taking a step back instead of forward.

They aren't. Pepin is a blender, Rocky is a distributor. They are using Rocky Patel for distribution purposes only.

Rocky Patel has some great cigars, but I do share the common view that over time his quality has gone down in order to produce a quantity of cigars. His best stuff is his earlier releases. Decade, Vintage 1992 & 1990, The Edge, Sun Grown. His newer stuff is still above average, but really nothing great.

[kelmac07]

New bands...I liked the old ones better. :2

http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv82/kelmac07_photo/601-new-rings-thumb1.jpg

[elderboy02]

I like the new bands better. They stand out more.

[Kreth]

New bands...I liked the old ones better. :2

http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv82/kelmac07_photo/601-new-rings-thumb1.jpg
:tpd: They look kinda cheesy...
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[Snake Hips]

I like the new bands, actually (gladly, "Hardcore" will not be used). I liked the bands as they are now, too. Whatever the case, I don't care. All I care about is the loss of the black label. My favorite Connecticut of all time.