News: RoMa Craft Tobac to Sell CroMagnon Atlatl & Slobberknocker
Skip Martin of RoMa Craft Tobac announced on Twitter that the CroMagnon Atlatl and Slobberknocker would be offered for sale shortly through Tim Podwika’s podmancigars.com. Atlatl, a 7 x 38 Lancero, and Slobbernocker, a 7 1/2 x 56 double-capped Parejo, have previously been offered by Martin and his partner Michael Rosales at some 20 events around the country since this summer.
“We had so many people asking us for these,” Martin told halfwheel. ”They were created to spur innovation in our factory, Nica Sueno, and to be something special for events but Tim has been doing so well with the line that we wanted to give him something special and give those who aren’t close to an event a chance to try them.”
Martin says he expects the cigars to arrive next week with the Atlatl retailing for $9.50 and the Slobberknocker retailing for $12.00. He said he expects Podwika to offer three-packs to start and left the possibility of expanding the two offerings to other accounts.
“Ultimately, we don’t want it to be a ‘unicorn’ cigar,” said Martin. “We want it to be something that represents what we believe is our strategic advantage that being that we own our own factory and produce very high quality cigars with superior tobacco at a very competitive price point.”
Both cigars will still be offered at events. As of this post, the cigars are not on Podwika’s website for pre-order or sale.
Yo! Its a smack down! =)
First...if J Dizzle says it, it is the gospel. Take that to the bank!
Seriously though, I agree with you. $9.50-$12.00 is more than I would pay for almost any cigar. There are so many great cigars out there for less.
The quotes in the story come from a patchy DM conversation, so for what it is worth this is what I was trying to say:
-We didn't want this to be a 'unicorn' cigar - a cigar you hear people talk about, but never see or have a chance to try...so we gave them to my man Tim for PodmanCigars.com. He does a great job reaching out to the guys most likely to appreciate the chance to get their hands on them. We will continue to feature the Atlatls and the Slobberknocker (along with our new Intemperance LE, the A.W.S. IV a lonsdale) at events.
-We want to make sure everything we do is consistent with our brand which we believe is based on consistently making high quality cigars with great tobacco in our own factory which allows us to sell them for less than similar cigars.
I will say that I agree with JD. These are 'fairly priced'. The Slobberknocker consumes 2x the filler of the Mandible and 5x the wrapper (the binder is the Aquitaine Ligero Ecuador Habano wrapper leaf vs. Cameroon). Also they come in 10 count boxes, which is more than double the cost per cigar for packaging, freight etc. Most importanly, these cigars are made without molds to ensure a consistent draw. Our best roller can only make 1/3 as many in a day so we pay 3x the cost to produce them.
I wouldn't smoke the Slobberknocker on the regular because of the time commitment, but the Atlatls are the tits.
The Chief.
@RoMaCraft "Oye. Conyo ...."
I'm a lancero whore so I'm all over this!
As much as I truly adore Skip, I must take a little issue with his assertion that $9.50 and $12.00 (before tax!) are competitive prices.
I understand that CroMag is one of the best cigars on the market, but that statement just left me a little put off.
That being said, will I buy them? Are Jewish boys circumnavigated?
@AronL Aron ... I share your respect for Ole Skippy. He is great. But I would disagree with you in regard to the pricing for those products - based on their quality. In no way am I saying that 9.50-12 is cheap or competitive to a more mass made item, but those guys are really making short runs on this stuff. Their factory is right near mine and they sleep at my place while they are down their. I have an intimate knowledge of their production and the price is spot on for the quality and blend - PROVIDED that they can keep it consistent.
Please don't be upset with me for making this response to yours. I like you and read your posts all the time. I am in no way being argumentative, and even squinted myself when I read the "competitive" word. But here is the weird thing - with the quality of materials they are using and small batch, precision manufacturing the cigars are at minimum "fairly priced".
Very best to you, Aron.
JD
@Jonathan Drew @AronL Joining the scrum on the side of "fairly priced"....LOL. This are the flat out BOMB, and the guys that have smoked them at our shop are begging, I say BEGGING for more. Actually, just come down for the Kentucky Derby, we'll be sure to be able to talk Skippy out of one. Or two.
@Jonathan Drew @AronL JD, please forgive me for not getting back to you sooner. I've been meaning to respond to your very kind comment on the other thread, but I am currently moving house.
Rest assured I will give you every bit as much attention as you deserve. Your conduct has greatly changed my opinion of yourself. :)
Aron
@AronL @Jonathan Drew Thanks Aron. Sometimes a goofball like me can come off a bit eccentric. I'm aware of that. But I have served my time in this industry and care deeply about it, all of it ... not just DE, not just Nicaragua, but all of it. Thanks for speaking your mind and giving me the opportunity to clarify. JD
@Jonathan Drew @AronL
Yeah, shameless dittos on respect for Chief Hava and that RoMa Craft sticks are fairly priced...
That said, I myself have some questions/observations to add:
- Aside from Halfwits like me, are lanceros and presidentes a particularly high demand stick normally? If not, wouldn't opportunity cost also factor into the price, i.e. resources spent making Atlatls and Slobberknockers could be used toward more profitable sticks?
- Is it true that high grade broadleaf is horrendously expensive? With the double whammy of very low yield per pound Given the expense, where would production levels have to normally be to enjoy economies of scale on those particular vitolas, let alone the rest of the lines?
- Wasn't Skip GIVING these away at events? If so, I'd say he's entitled to charge whatever he needs to...
Anyway, I was one of those who pestered Skip incessantly to offer these for sale...I'm still hoping to snag at least one of those ten-count boxes of Slobberknockers I've seen pictured...
@djshalifoe
-Lanceros are not very popular these days among mainstream smokers. IMO lanceros is one of, if not the, most difficult size to roll for a complex blend. So people who believe this appreciate the complexity and seek them out when they are available in a line.
-US Connecticut Broadleaf Ligero Maduro, like we use on the CroMagnon and Slobberknocker, is the bane of my existence. It is impossible to find and the yield sucks. It is crazy expensive. It is also my favorite when matched with strong Nica filler. Love-Hate. I would have never used this wrapper if I had known CroMagnon would be a production cigar.
Yes. We still feature these cigars at events. Thanks for the support brother.
@djshalifoe @Jonathan Drew @AronL
1. Lanceros are not popular at all. One cigar maker once told me there are probably 500 non-retailers/non-bloggers/non-manufacturers who prefer them. They are pain in the ass to make relatively speaking as they require the most skilled rollers and large amounts of wrapper.
2. Yes. Also difficult to find and process.
3. Yes — I think. And Yes.
This sounds interesting.
Awesome, Skip Martin I the man!! Smoked a couple Atlatls and have a box of Slobberknockers resting!!!
can not wait
Excellent news! I can't wait to give these a try, I've heard great things about the Altal.