Hi All,

I just got some "new" afr-75 maduros from cigarpage.com.  

See attached - one is the older afr-75 maduro on the right. The left cigars are new afr-75 maduro "sublimes... I can't imagine that there would be that much of a difference in the new production??? They look light enough to almost be the AFR-75 claro.  

I called customer service at cigarpage and they even opened a new box of the afr-75 maduro sublimes and they said that the new batch is lighter in color. Are they mistaken or ?  What do you think?  I am shocked...  That is a huge difference.

Quotearrow34 - 4/18/2019  4:41 PM

Hi All,

I just got some "new" afr-75 maduros from cigarpage.com.  

See attached - one is the older afr-75 maduro on the right. The left cigars are new afr-75 maduro "sublimes... I can't imagine that there would be that much of a difference in the new production??? They look light enough to almost be the AFR-75 claro.  

I called customer service at cigarpage and they even opened a new box of the afr-75 maduro sublimes and they said that the new batch is lighter in color. Are they mistaken or ?  What do you think?  I am shocked...  That is a huge difference.

No pics?

sorry first version of the pic was too big...

Yeah that's like habano vs maduro, huh...

Quoteheadfirst - 4/18/2019  8:18 PM

Yeah that's like habano vs maduro, huh...

I agree... but cp is saying that they are the maduro.  OR what pdr sent them as the maduro.  I sent pdr an email.  Lets see what they say :)

A good case for differentiating bands on similar cigars.

They could have a lighter batch of wrappers for sure but that is huge difference.

The few that I've smoked have been much darker like your older one in the pic.

Ten years ago or so, I had a similar experience with a couple boxes of Savoy Corona Grande maduros, purchased about three months apart.  The wrappers on the second box were decidedly lighter.  I didn't notice any difference in flavor.

Well. I smoked one last night and there is a difference in flavor.  I had done the same thing with the AFR-75 Maduro imenso too, so kind of comparing apples to apples...  It isn't a bad cigar (new one I got) just not as deep of a flavor.  

Also I posted to their facebook page with the question and they deleted my post???? So I reposted it.

Quotearrow34 - 4/19/2019  10:16 AM

Well. I smoked one last night and there is a difference in flavor.  I had done the same thing with the AFR-75 Maduro imenso too, so kind of comparing apples to apples...  It isn't a bad cigar (new one I got) just not as deep of a flavor.  

Also I posted to their facebook page with the question and they deleted my post???? So I reposted it.

Blend change due to availability issues?

They have not responded to me. I was hoping order would respond and say that it is the new release...

In Nicaragua I learned the word "maduro" doesn't actually mean "darker." Maduro is a treatment of tobacco leaf, and yes -- it does darken the leaf somewhat; but it all depends on how light the leaf was to begin with. And this being a natural product, there's bound to be a difference in colors, especially year-over-year. You can't actually look at a leaf and say "Oh that's a Maduro." You need to get that info from the manufacturer.

With all that said, the photos above show rather extreme color differences, far more than I saw on the sorting tables, so maybe there was a mistake somewhere along the line? Humans made the product, after all. Can't wait to see their email response...

I totally agree with your answer and that is what I am familiar with also.  I Also have smoked the larger size of this stick.  I am just floored at the difference... I did email them and haven't heard back.  So.. might have to call.

Well, PDR didn't answer, so I called and they pretty much brushed me off.  The just said their production hasn't changed and they cant say as to what cigarpage is selling or age of the product...  Kinda put out.  But hey, that is cool.  I guess this is the last afr-75 purchase for me.  I am going to have another comparison and see if the afr-75 Maduro imenso is that good or am i smoking something else.   CP confirmed they opened the Maduro to check it.  So... I guess it is just lighter.