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The New line of "Partagas" Cigars is the future of HSA. First Cohiba, then Monte, then RYJ, now Partagas. They're just moving down the sales list and recreating what they want each brand to be. Eventually the "old" lines will be gutted entirely, leaving nothing but the "Ultra Elite" lines of each "brand." I learned a lot about the new HSA co president and her past roles. I spoke to a couple former HSA/Tabacuba employees and none of it made me confident that HSA will be changing course anytime soon. She ran the "Strategic Marketing" department at HSA for nearly 7 years, during the creation of both the BHK and Monte Linea Series. Her success in that area was apparently a large part of why she has her current position. The writing is on the wall. Tobacco production volume and quality have very little chance of remaining flat, let alone increasing. The infrastructure continues to worsen, farmers are aging, very few young Cubans have any interest in the cigar industry. So rather than work to increase volumes and focus on the cigars themselves, the plan is to squeeze every last penny out of every last gram of tobacco they can steal from the farmers. Change the focus to bands and boxes. Backstories and "Collectability" Its a perfect storm of pressure from both sides. I watched One Man purchase 27 Boxes of Trinidad Casildas from a single Cigar store in Havana last week. At $8,034 retail, that's $216,918. Plus tip. They were sitting inches from my shoulder as I smoked a $5 Double Robusto. Two full Master Cases. Now, I don't know what country he was from, but he was speaking Mandarin and his driver loaded the boxes into the back of a Chinese Embassy tagged S650. So, it doesn't take a rocket scientist. HSA doesn't need us anymore, they don't want us anymore. The sooner they can get 3 figures a stick, for every stick, the better. Its a perfect storm, from both sides. Its worked so far and it looks like it will continue to work. Until it doesn't. The only hope for a working man's Cuban cigar is privatization. Once again, the communists have ruined it all for the ones the system Should be built for.

A little Lagavulin after a long day. Hit the CC lottery and got a 95pt PSD4. Life is good

Divinos BRM May 22 from our host

Head hurts. Actually whole body aches. Think I released some chemical in my muscles because moving around sucks, and very hard. Eye started to swell and is leaking a little fluid (mucusy but not puss, clear as water). Doing good though, getting a CAT soon.

Enjoying a Punch Short de Punch (RAT OCT20).

The 2018 sampler from our host

1998 Punch Churchill and Weller Reserve

Picked up a lovely box of Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robustos at the PO this morning. Nice fragrance and a few years on them UGO ABR 19

2019 Trinidad Vigia 🎉🎊

Got a lovely package for the trial run. Thank you all for these good looking sticks.......

Hoyo de Monterrey Petite Robustos + 2011 Rafael Gonzalez Panetelas Extra, from our host.

Byron Elegantes Amazing stuff

This has to be a top Hoyo for me along with the DC. GOB OCT 21 from a 10ct Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Diplo No. 2. SAR SEP 11.

Today's purchase...

2022 Warped Liro Rojo

La Puntilla. Spot on!

RA King of North - will do my best to let them rest for a bit (if I can)

Great to see Trinidad has started to move

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark. Arturo Fuente Opus X Reserva d’Chateau.

That T81 mask you so graciously provided me will do you no good whatsoever. I felt like I was wearing lingerie panties on my face for the week. ......not that there is anything wrong with that

Outdoor smoking UAO Mag 54 in Beijing

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ozXCJ7e2bAxAhPJT6 This is where I smoke every day. I’ve posted this shameless brag before, so I feel a little guilty doing it again. Not really. Turn the lights down low, and settle in to my chair with my favorite Cuban cigar, which is ANY Cuban cigar, and my favorite cocktail, a Cuba Libre made with Diplomatico Mantuano Rum. Turn on the 77 and I’m in my Happy Place. My wife and I spent 20 years living in a small bungalow, saving and investing for our retirement dream home. We spent two years working on our house plans, and I spent hours designing my man cave. After throwing out several design themes (sports, speakeasy, beach, etc.), I finally decided to try to create something that reminded me of Havana. We’ve made two trips to the island, and, as those of you who’ve been know, that place has a way of getting into your soul. So, long story short, this is the result.

A professor travels to Africa to live with a primitive tribe and spends years with them, teaching them all about the wonders of science and mathematics. He makes friends with the tribe's chief and his wife and they all live happily for some time. One day the chief's wife gives birth to a white child. The word spreads and the entire tribe is in shock. The chief pulls the professor aside and says, "Look, you are the only white man we've ever seen around here, and my wife gave birth to a white child. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happened!" The professor replied, "No, chief, you're mistaken. What we have here is a natural occurrence what we in the civilized world call an albino! Look at that field over there. All the sheep are white except for one black one. Nature does this on occasion." The chief was silent for a moment, then said, "Tell you what. You don't say anything more about that sheep and I won't say anything more about the white kid."

Fortunately, that was the only box I saw sell all week. From Club Habana and Palco, through to Melia Habana and Partagas, every shop I visited had plenty of boxes of Trinidads on hand. All the sizes. Cohibas where still restricted to mostly Sig I and II, but I did see a handful of Medio Siglo IIIs and even a box of IVs. Plenty of Robustos and Maduro series too. In fact, stock was strong across the board, it doesn't look like much is moving, even in the few days before the first HSA festival in years, the shelves where loaded. Full master cases stacked in corners. It doesn't look like much at all is moving down there right now.

here is a better image, the aromas are compelling, the weight of each is very good, no wind tunnels here ! the waiting to smoke these will be a test of will...........

I've started a pool on who f-s up the review bag first. Sorry, all the Chas squares have sold 😉 _____ @Chas.Alpha 🙂

Please follow the advice of our other members; get checked out when you feel better... Glad you're still with us! May the little punk with a .22 pistol spend the rest of his life living in a rent free room getting in touch with his "feminine side..." CAH

The Hong Kong Cigar scene is booming. China mainland prices are actually higher than Hong Kong prices. NC's have taken a significant share of the market. 60% + in some Divans/clubs such as Bertie and Puro There is limited Cuban stock on the shelves. Bond Roberts is hellishly popular. 31% tax tobacco tax increase in HK effective March 1. Hold onto your hats for another Cuban Cigar price increase worldwide.

I'm glad I stocked up on those while they were still available...

Was in San Diego the other day at this cool and groovy cafe having brunch. At the table next to us were three gentlemen. Two were tanned and normal looking golfing type guys. One was a dark haired giant fellow who looked like he was on the Sopranos. They were talking about which places were selling cigars. Not to buy them. As agents who sell them, like marketing sales guys. My ears were glued. I was staring at them I guess so I smiled and told them I loved what they were talking about! A few minutes later we were all chatting together and they thought my love for Cuban cigars was entertaining. Big fellow was the marketing fellow for Cohiba Red dot, Ghurka, Fuente Macanudo, yadda yadda yadda. “And by the way, you know beaver, Cubans have not been Cuban in 20 years so just enjoy anything you want.” And that was just the other day. CB

Thank you so much for the amazing sticks!! Any help with identifying these would be greatly appreciated! I think Edmundo on the far right? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Some aged HDM PR from our Host and the new Rafael Gonzales Coronas De Lonsdales

All that for less than a box of siglo 1😉 Fuente Don Carlos 3 Hamlet Liberation Corona Gorda Four Kicks Capa Especial Corona Gorda Camacho Ecuador Churchill Aganorsa Guardians of the farm Lonsdale My Father La Gran Oferta Lancero A couple I know I love and a few I’m anticipating liking quite a bit. Excited to contrast the hamlets with the nudies even if it’s not exactly a fair or direct comparison

Greetings and Salutations FoH! I am pleased to announce that I am the Cigar & Humidor manager at the new Hearsay Arlington & Chambers Cigar Lounge. It is located in Choctaw Stadium (Globe Life Park). On the south side of the stadium there is a facade marked 'Sports Grill.' That is the entrance. Valet will be running soon; parking is a mess, I'm sorry. The grand opening is on March 3rd. We expect to have a small selection of cigars available that night and weekend, and our stock will grow to 200+ facings over the next few weeks. You may have noticed my last couple of posts on Daily Smoke. The smoking area is outside and overlooks the field from the XFL endzone. Yes, you can watch the game and smoke a cigar with a cocktail. The stadium also hosts MLS, rugby, & high school football. The decor inside is art deco, very Gastby-esque. The menu is fine dining with Southern and Cajun flair. The bar is fully stocked. Cigars are a key point for the concept. We will be stocking most major marques and many boutiques that are not easy obtainable, all at very fair prices, not steakhouse pricing. BYOC is ok with a purchase from the humidor, I can guarantee there will be something that catches your eye. If you need more pictures, check out hearsayarlington.com. There's also a ton of pictures & videos on LinkedIn, Hearsay Arlington. I hope to meet all of you local FoHer's soon! I'll be there at least 4 days a week, late lunch, happy hour, early dinner. If you're visiting downtown Dallas, Arlington is a quick 20 minute drive most of the time. It's also about the same from DFW airport if you just want to get off the plane and immediately come by for a steak, cocktail, and cigar. Feel free to post any questions you may have, thanks to @El Presidente for allowing this post!

Western Union to open money transfers to Cuba from all 50 U.S. states Reuters Odalys Paez sits inside a Western Union office to receive a remittance, in Havana, Cuba, October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini March 2 (Reuters) - Western Union (WU.N) will vastly expand a U.S. pilot program for money transfers to Cuba, it said on Thursday, opening retail locations across the 50 states and allowing for digital service through its website and mobile app. https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/western-union-open-money-transfers-cuba-all-50-us-states-2023-03-02/

I'd have to agree. It certainly seems ALOT higher than 30%. I choose Ambivalent and Resigned. I worked through the other stages of grief years ago. 90% of my cigar spend in the last 5ish years has been on custom and farm rolled Cubans. I started making the transition before many, but not all. The other 10% is now split between the very rare regular production NC or CC that I still feed the need to experiment with. I understand that not everyone has the ability to travel to the source and get what the want themselves, but HSA closing the door on me opened a door to another world that I'm not only happy with, but have grown to prefer. There are other alternatives, regardless of where you live.

Arturo Fuente Unnamed Reserve 2021.

Cohiba Siglo V (circa 2020) This specific review can be considered a 'treat' because you are unlikely to see another one of its type within this year's review series. You see, the Cohiba Siglo V would have to be the one specific vitola within the Cohiba marca that I have had the most difficulty acquiring in my lifetime, even before the current production crisis of Habanos cigars occured in mid-2022. Apart from two aged examples I smoked last year in 2022, the last time I smoked a regular Cohiba Siglo V that was aged three years or less, like this cigar, was three-and-a-half years ago! And that was to commemorate my son's 21st birthday! The Cohiba Siglo V would have to be my second favourite of the Linea 1492 range after the Cohiba Siglo III. At 43 ring gauge x 170 mm (or 6¾ inches), a dalias, it represents a vitola that is only shared by the Partagas 8-9-8 currently in regular production. For those of you who are experienced enthusiasts, do you still remember the Bolivar Inmensas (discontinued in 2009) and the La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.2 (discontinued in 2014)? I believe that, in general, the dalias vitola is rarely produced as both the Cohiba Siglo V and Partagas 8-9-8 have been periodical in their availability for quite some time. At least we were fortunate enough for Pacific Cigar Company to approve a Punch 8-9-8 regional edition release in 2018 so that we could enjoy a quality 'long-and-skinny' Habanos cigar, like we did yesteryear, for those more experienced among us, when these type of cigars were in plentiful supply. This particular Cohiba Siglo V came in a tubo and was gifted by a dear and generous friend (yes, you know who you are!). The cold draw had an exquisite barnyard and milk coffee profile. Upon lighting, the cigar quickly settled into typical Cohiba flavours of mocha coffee, honey and a little citrus. In the second third, it continued in much the same vein, only the mocha coffee increased in the blend and the citrus spice on the edges, more notable through retrohaling, was more evident. In the final third, the honey sweetness and citrus dropped off and the mocha coffee was more dominant but overall, this cigar didn't go over medium in strength at any point. I took 1 hour and 55 minutes to finish it and yes, it was stunning smoke. I'm not just saying that because it was Cohiba cigar or because it was a rare Siglo V. It deserved its accolades because this cigar's construction was spot-on (unlike many more popular vitolas within the Habanos regular production range currently being manufactured) and its flavours didn't disappoint.

I was also hearing about crazy demand for Casildas. I hadn't even thought about them. I thought the last of them had been bought up a year or two ago. I guess they'd been making them again. I hadn't even realized they were on the price list and I thought they must still be at the old price of $1,600 or something. Then I checked it and saw $8,034 and almost needed a diaper. I just checked on BR and three sold in the last 60 days for $4,000, $4,400 & $5,300. And people are buying in Cuba for $8,000? What the hell is going on? So we have Casildas at $334/stick and anyone thinks the GR Esplendidos won't be $1,000?

They are dead to me. Done buying Cubans. I'm here on the site to vent and for the nudies.

To be fair, most of them come through the marketing department at some stage. Former VP Maique is an example. If they were any good they would be in Miami by now

If only Masks were Hong Kong’s only trouble...! 🤞

A box of Fonseca No.1 materialized on my doorstep in the freezing rain. Nice aroma despite being close to frozen. ARG OCT 14.

just received these. Downtime probably needed. Luv me som Davi's!

The Padron Train has left the station. I'm onboard. Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark