One of my first box purchases many, many years ago was CI Legends Purple. They served their purpose as my gateway cigar to premiums, but I soon grew tired of them. IIRC, they were well constructed, somewhat nutty, but a bit mild and one-dimensional. Over the years I've received Graycliffs in various samplers; 1666, G2 (turbo?), Blue, and I think one or two others....and every one of those was particularly sucky. Always heard good things about the DE's, but they seemed pretty pricey and since I'd decided Graycliffs suck, I didn't bother.

Fast forward to 2012 and I must say, I've done an about-face. I've had multiple Crystals, and DE's over the last couple months and yesterday, my first Red. Hard to believe those three lines carry the same name as the dog rockets I'd had in the past. These three, at least, don't suck. Outrageous MSRP, perhaps, but pretty tasty.

I was surprised to learn last week that La Palina is made by Graycliff. Not that I smoke those either but have seen the brand mentioned elsewhere.

Greycliff

Gurkha

La Perla Habana

Carlos Torano Noventa

and many more.

I agree, in fact was able to pick up a mazo of 15 last night on the free fall.

I guess you and I are the only ones who get upset over this crap. Noventa, eh? I kind of suspected it, as the ones I got here recently where no where near the ones I had gotten elsewhere. Even told a friend that I suspected that these where knockoffs, but he thought they tasted the same as he remembered.

Care to name the other labels that are being knocked off?

Yes !

The Black Label

If you noticed the whole back story changed on the Carlos Torano Noventa from when it first hit. Carlos Torano found this long lost pallet of Carlos Torano Noventa from 2006 and CI got a great deal on them. Now it's some other fairy tale. how can you sell a box of cigars that originally go for 300.00 for 50.00. Just like CI has multiple websites they have multiple in house brands to maximize profit.

Hey believe what you want do the home work for your self and you will see that only certain cigars are bought here and it's not an exclusivity thing ether. DP proved most of my point with the La Perla Habana Morado sale a few weeks ago completely different box and presentation of cigars in the box then the ones you can currently buy. the La Perla Habana and the Gurkha Beauty have been documented cases of bait and switch by CI on these forums and on blogs. And yes if you use google and find the Gurkha Beauty review of B&M and Cbid / CI ones you will fine they were two very different cigars size, color, burn and taste. There a level of trust involved they describe and tell you about these cigars and could if fact give you any crap leaf the bought. This is a sungrown wrapper picked by forty virgins under the full moon and you couldn't prove them wrong now could you.

You're gonna get banned#-o

I loved the Morados, but have only bought a few of the lines from among the brands you listed here, although I've been gifted/traded a few. I was curious about two other brands in particular, Alex Bradley and CAO, that seem to be inconsistent from stick to stick.

Yes, my buddy told me about the Noventas being on FF a few months back, and he asked me to grab him a box. Of course I got one two. The first cigar was blah, and I thought it was just because I smoked it OTT. A few weeks later tried another, and it was "off" too. After the 3rd one, that was no where near others I have tried, I told my bud that I suspected that these where another "Morado". He told me I was seeing too many Black Helicopters. I knew I was right. Now, I'm just getting angry. One way to know for sure. If this was a "one time" buy, then no more should be coming in to replace the ones currently out of stock.

wheel,