2010 wrapup as seen from the Throne

El Presidente
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El Presidente Pelo De Oro

El Presidente

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2009 wasn't great for many people and we commenced 2010 with high hopes that things would improve for many of our mates around the world who have toiled and suffered post the worst period of GFC. I know many are not doing it easy and I (we all) have seen businesses fall and families break up throughout the year. Our hearts go out to you.

Still, I was hoping 2010 would be a better year and it started off exceptionally well as I and the lads headed for a week fly fishing to the Amazon at Agua Boa Lodge. Possibly the greatest weeks fishing in my life chasing and catching big Peacock Bass in Idyllic conditions. Sight fishing with fly is my favourite past time and I wasn't disappointed. From Amazon to Havana for the festival where I could catch up with old friends Jose, Ingrid, Hamlet, Janet, Carlos, Colin, Toby, Simon, Jemma, Dag, Alejandro, Elvis, (who still has my watch) etc as well as meet new friends including Ryan, Stuart and Rob Fox (the Irish connection). Putting Australians and Irish together is like mixing petrol with a lit match :2thumbs: A weeks worth of drunken debauchery!!!

It was midnight/1am at my favourite club, the Gato Tuerto, where I was at the bar with friends when an Irish voice from behind me asked me if my name was Rob Ayala. Ryan introduced himself, excused himself from interrupting, and went on to say that he knew my favourite cigar was a Por larranaga Magnum....which he proceeded to pull out of his pocket and gift me. FOH is a special place indeed and friends made here are made for life. What a night....what a week.

Overall I am less and less a lover of the Habanos Festival. To be truthful I hate it. The event is full of plenty of good people but also far too many spivs, conmen, know it alls, cultureless, racist individuals who I do my best to avoid. I spend my time in the main going to events for an hour and leaving to catch up with real people for a drink, a cigar and a laugh, getting into and out of trouble. Fantastic stuff! A great week with a great scar to the head as a reminder!

Habanos released three cigars at the festival in the Behike, The ladies R&J Julieta (which I don't think anyone has seen since), the R&J Wide Churchill, and three LE's in the Monte Grand Edmundo, Partagas Especial and Trinidad Short Robusto T.

The Behike (52/54/56) has been a stunning success. The Julieta has sunk without a trace, The Wide Churchill still has most of the punters confused, the Monte and Partagas LE went OK and the Trinidad Short Robusto a dismal failure ( a pointless exercise).

March was a tragic month for all of us with the passing of Chuck Vaughan LLoyd....Tampa. It hit us hard having lost a great friend personally and to the forum. One of the nicest people you could ever meet. A gentleman, a confidant, a friend to all. Rest well my friend, I will see you again soon enough.

When in Havana I saw first hand the real drama in the factories of workers being laid off. Production is 1/2 of what it was in 2008, no bonuses, no overtime, many on 80% of wages (80% of $20 a month) and all contending with a lack of food/produce in the black market. HSA Warehouses were full, distributor warehouses full and sales way down globally. There was a pessimism on the ground which has accentuated throughout the year.

At home again I was comforted by the improving quality of construction (chronic underfilling was disappearing) in 2009 cigars coming through. Monte Especiales, 898, Sir Winstons were some of the best I have ever seen or smoked. I was also enjoying headng interstate monthly and catching up with Aussie mates such as Elie, Jason, Chris, Alex, Marcel for some cracker nights which has led me to be banned from two hotels and a stern word from Lise to "pull my head in". Message heard lloud and clear. Largely ignored.

The LE's came out mid year and caused all the excitement of a visit to the dentist. The concept in its current form is largely dead. We just can't convince HSA same. "Make them actually limited" "Improve quality and consistency" "Go to a Heritage Release" all has fallen on deaf ears by those at the top making the decisions.

The Behike's landed and went like a rocket globally. They are still going like a rocket but Havana cannot keep up up with demand. Actually, they couldn't keep up with production forecasts out of El Laguito so in September they moved some production to Partagas. Another classic HSA subterfuge they hoped to get away with but the word spread like wildfire. They still haven't changed the notifications that they are made in El Laguito. Any day now :rolleyes:

Guy joined the forum as a moderator and what a moderator he has been! His love of life is infectious, his cigar knowledge second to few and his willingness to share his experiences and friendship a beacon to all. Thank you for everything my firend!

The third quarter of the year was if not boring a strange period of normality. I was engrossed in my Rugby coaching and family life while watching the AUD slowly climb. All the essence of normality disappeared late August when word leaked of HSA Vice President Manuel Garcia "detained". He has been "detained" in Havana ever since awaiting trial. All the corruption at the highest eschelons of HSA had come home to roost. The scale was shocking to some but confirmation of what many in the industry had been saying for many years. Investigations went on for two months and many within the company have been "detained" not to be seen again. I had hoped for an open investigation but it has been done in tru Cuban style, internal and with no explanation. Don't expect an explanation anytime soon.

In the mean tme Elie, Ken and myself had been working on a new wine project called Spitbucket. www.spitbucket.com. It will roll out progressively throughout 2011 and it has been a pleasure to work with professionals..... and Ken. At least a 1000 hours has gone into the project and I am thrilled I have managed to take another vice and commercialise it :D

Master roller Ramses joined us in November and in the short time we had together we got a lot done including a series of fascinating one on one interviews which shed light on the life of a roller and the workings of the factory. If you haven't already done so check them out with the last one of the series to be posted next week. Ramses is a typically Cuban in many ways except one. He is passionate in his work. He is at one with leaf, he understands it, he loves it, he knows blend and outcomes and he cares. Such passion is not an easy thing to cultivate and maintain in an environment where they are paid a pittance.

Overall cigars this year in terms of quality were as good as if not better than anything since 2006 which has been in the main a golden period for Cuban cigars in terms of flavour and approachabilty, smokeability when young. I am in awe of so many current releases although I still get desconsolate when I see inconsistency. There is still far too much variability in the same mastercase between the best examples and the worst. It is a problem which will not be rectified until massive social change occure in the fatories and within Cuba itself. Having said all that I sit here tapping this out with a magnificent Por Larranaga Petit Corona. Brilliant.

Which brings me to now.

I can't thank the mods enough. Ross, Trev, Guy, Wilkey, Ken. You do so much, you give so much and FOH is all the richer for it. You are also great mates whom I know I can depend on at any time.

To our members....what a bunch of reprobates :D

You keep us all in stitches, and a week doesn't feel complete unless I read a Piggy/Ray rant. We know it is all a bluff given he owns miniature horses and toy dogs that Paris Hilton would find too effiminate. :D

The humour and knowledge on this FOH is special. There is a willingness to share and a culture to not take oneself too seriously, to take the piss out of others, to genuinely wish well. Thank you. Not a day goes past that FOH is a chore.

To my team, my friends, my confidants. Lise, Smithy, Diana, Kurt. The finest bunch of family in the history of mankind. Utmost professionals with genuine soul, passion, humour and love. A heart felt thanks and hug to each of you.

To 2011

Let it be better to all than 2010 and I hope all those currently struggling in terms of work and family get an effing break.

Merry Christmas to You and your Family. Be safe and raise a glass for Healthy and Prosperous New Year :buddies:

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Fuzz Prominentes

Fuzz

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2010 wrapup as seen from the "Throne"? :blink:

Rob, has no-one told you it ain't polite to be posting from the toilet? ;) Not to mention it's not very hygenic! :no:

In all seriousness, a great one to Rob and the Czar gang! Not long to go until the fat man arrives... then tell Ken to go home and wait for Santa!

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