COC- When the US market opens, what will be the impact on prices?

Mr. Linares: The opening of the US market will not have a particularly great impact on prices because we are increasing the production: about 40 % in 1997, 60 % in 1998 and we will still go on.

COC- In general, increasing production has a bad impact on quality.

Mr. Linares: We are working hard to avoid this. We will increase the production and we will assure the same level of quality as in the past.

COC- Can you give us more details about your methods?

Mr. Linares: We are using many methods. For example, many lands in the region of San Antonio Del Espana at Pinar Del Rio have been converted to be cultivated with Tobacco.

COC- When you talk about new land, does it mean that there will be Cuban Cigars made from tobacco cultivated in regions outside La Havana?

Mr. Linares: No. All cigar lovers know very well that the premium hand rolled Cuban cigars are made only from tobacco leaves issued only from the lands of Pinar Del Rio. This fact will never change.

COC- To explain the increase in production while cultivating a limited area (Pinar Del Rio), we may suppose that many lands are cultivated with tobacco year after year without taking a break, and this will increase the ammonia level.

Mr. Linares: No, No. I said that we are applying special methods to increase production without any impact on quality. About the ammonia level: all the lands are controlled 4 times per year and when we notice a high ammonia level, the area concerned is not cultivated with tobacco.

COC- Also about ammonia: we all know that when aging cigars it is capital to decrease the ammonia level; is the same aging procedure applied as in the past?

Mr. Linares: Tobacco leaves are all aged one to two years before being given to the torcedors. The ammonia level is sufficiently reduced and the tobacco is at this moment ready to be rolled and than smoked. I will repeat the words of Don Alejandro Robaina: there is no doubt that if you conserve your box 6 months or one year, the cigars will be more fine, this is one of the characteristics of the Cuban cigars: they all improve with age.

COC staff with Mr. Linares and Don Alejandro Robaina ------------------------------------->

COC- As we are discussing production and quality, we have a question concerning the factories: Do two boxes of Punch Double Corona made the same year in different factories (for example: VC and FR) have the same level of quality ?

Mr. Linares: Of course. Because they contain the same blend, and torcedors rolling Double Coronas are qualified even if they are at VC or FR. I remind you that you are smoking the cigar and not “the factory code.”

COC- Concerning date and factory code, are there any changes in the near future ?

Mr. Linares: Yes, but we have not yet decided when to apply these changes.

COC- Is there any difference between a box of Punch Double Corona SBN 25 cigars and a cabinet of 50 Punch Double Corona ?

Mr. Linares: The blend is the same, but the presentation is different. Many experts say that they prefer the cabinet of 50 because aging cigars in these cabinets is recommended. So it’s up to you to decide if you prefer the presentation of 50 or 25.

COC- Is there any difference between a box with the EMS label and another normal box ?

Mr. Linares: No. All the boxes (same brand, same size) made and distributed by Habanos have the same quality level even when they are sold in Geneva, London, Paris or Mexico. The EMS labels only concern boxes distributed by Hunters and Frankau in the English market.