Great discussion topic, Kyle. Boutique (in general) is typically defined as small or servicing a very specific clientele. Part of what clouds the subject is that its a buzzword now, like small batch or artisan crafted, that companies just throw on the description to make the sheep go "OHHH!!!!". I would say a Boutique cigar company should be based on production numbers. What the cutoff would be for qualifying as boutique I have no idea. So it is hard for me to say if the boutique boom is over. Maybe slowing but not yet declining. Pull up Smallbatchcigar.com and see how many more companies they have listed on the left than they did a year ago or two years ago. Most of those companies are adding lines or extending them. I wonder how much looming FDA changes might be affecting the entry of more true boutique brands.

As for the m80. If they had a greater production run, if they were able to not change the blending, I bet they would sell out at times. Just not nearly as fast as they do now. For example, look at Illusione Rothchildes. Fantastic regular production cigars, it can be hard to find boxes at certain times of the year. You can find them here and there, but if you search for them now, most of the major retailers don't have them in stock. Bottom line, IMO, excellent cigars will be snatched up by wise smokers no matter how many you produce.

Just my