Hunter's and Frankau Behike Launch

[Ryan]

Well the volcanic ash stayed away long enough for a few of us to make the trip across to the Hunters Behike event.

We started off Wednesday morning with a comparison of 1995 and 2000 SLR Regios in the Fox sampling room in St. James. Then up the road for a quick visit with Edward at Davidoff.

A nice two hour lunch at Franco’s on Jermyn Street (a very nice touch there with a Winnie The Pooh audio book playing on the sound system in the men’s room), then back down the road to the new sampling room in the British American Tobacco building on the corner of Pall Mall and St. James for a 10 year old SLR Lonsdale. Interesting room, a bit like sitting in a Human League video. Different, but at least it's a place to sample a cigar so there's no complaining.

Enjoyed a very tasty Partagas Connoisseur No. 3 on the walk from the hotel, then a slightly young Bolivar Gold medal at the pub waiting for the others

The Goring hotel made for a nice venue this year, with the rain holding off so we didn’t have to squeeze into the marquee. The waitresses dealt very well with 200 partner-less men..

A much better mood at the do this year than last, I think the venue had quite a bit to do with it. Last year’s surroundings were a little grey. Everybody was in great form, good to catch up with some people I met at the festival in February.

The champagne flowed very nicely, I was surprised how long it lasted. Then again, we weren’t in Ireland.

Hunter’s laid it on well with the presentation of the launch cigars. A BHK 56, 54, 2 52s and an ERDM Choix d’Epoque UK Regional.

I smoked only the 52 at the event, very good tobacco and well balanced for such a young cigar, maybe a little milder than the 56s I got my hands on in February.

The party trailed off around 9pm as they do, so we ended up in a smoking area on the roof of a hotel where I finished up with a Hamlet Salomon. The others staggered off to a nightclub somewhere but I had to call it a night. You’re very quickly reminded how stiff the suspension of an fx4 is when your back teeth are floating in Krug.

10:30 the next morning, back to the sampling room at Fox for a 1990 Bolivar Corona Extra (Thanks Yiorgos!) and spent the rest of the day digging around in some of the shops.

Great couple of days this year and great fun with Rob, Stuart, Ian and Yiorgos.

Pictures.

Ian, Stuart, Rob and Yiorgos sampling

Discussing the finer points

Pall Mall

Ian, your's truly, Rob and Stuart outside the Goring

All the way from Cuba and this was the highlight of her evening.

The Patels in great form

Lawrence and Stuart

Rob, Ian, Yiorgos and a very entertaining James Suckling.

Honestly, my over-riding image of the night was everybody laughing

Having a polite discussion with Ignacio about the Regional program.

JS and Desmond Sautter, great to see him looking so well

Ajay, James and Ignacio

Jemma and Yiorgos. Steady.

Where I called it a night

Some shots from the next day, all of this is held stock I'm afraid.

1492

50 Partagas Serie D No 2

T.B. Carlins

PL Magnums

DP

Taking a break in the museum

BHK

Dunhill Malecon

[samb]

Great photos!!

[riderpride]

Wow, looks like a great time!

Thanks for the pics.

[SandmanTR]

Looks like you had a tremendous time! Thanks for sharing the photos!

[Colt45]

Thanks for the great report and pics

It will be interesting to see what members think of these as they begin smoking them. I thought by now we might be getting more feedback on

the cohiba gran reserva, though I understand they are still a little young.

[smll2]

Thanks Ryan....you made me feel like I was there. I had a great time.

[mbrody]

Great pics. Thanks for sharing!

[LeafLover]

Thanks for sharing your good times.

[cellinisart]

A+ you were with some good company I could see in the back ground!

[thechenman]

Thanks for sharing the great pictures. Looks like an awesome event.

[Guest rob]

Great post, report and photos, mate!!

[yiorgosm]

Great post Andy, and a great couple of days indeed!

[Stalebread]

Thanks for the post.

Looks like an outstanding event.

[Nino]

Thank you for the report and pictures, Andy,

you had fun in very good company

[Stalebread]

Suckling says in his blog, "I spoke to a number of U.K. cigar merchants and they said that they had already sold out their allocation." Interesting.

[bunburyist]

arrrgghh! I was supposed to go to this but ended up having to stay in Asia because of work.....%*"#@!!!

Looks like you had a great time though. Krug, Behikes and good company.....can think of worse ways to spend your time

[Ellery]

Great pics, looks like you guys had a blast.

[BobLobLaw]

Great post and pics! Thanks Andy!

[Habanos2000]

Throughly enjoyed your report and pix. Looks like a fantastic time!

thanks

[cigcars]

Oh, My God!!! To see all those Don Candidos, 1492's, Davidoffs, and Behikes, as well as others...I didn't know there were really any of these left in enough numbers to display. Gee, I wish I could acquire just 2 of each of those without having to donate a kidney or sell my blood plasma! At any rate, congrats on you guys having an AWESOME time!

[compitaveggie]

I believe you came out in Sucklings video blog!!!

Great pictures!!1

Jose

[Ryan]

I believe you came out in Sucklings video blog!!!

Great pictures!!1

Jose

I was wondering who was that handsome devil.

Thanks everyone for the comments. I'm glad I could share some idea of the event.

I should have said at the start, many of those pictures are Yiorgos's, I just grabbed his camera at the do and acted as shutter-monkey.

[finecigar]

These are some beautiful cigars yo have pictured here, I am so excited to try the new behike!

[Aficionado]

Sometimes, life can be beautiful.

Nice.

[El Presidente]

Thanks Ryan and Yiorgos

Great to see good friends having a fantastic time!