Just came back from Cuba

[Blackham]

Just came back from Cuba, did the Havana/Cienfuegos/Trinidad route. Met lots of interesting people in the cigar lounge, found many beautiful places to enjoy a cigar, and some interesting stocks in various cigar stores.

There are probably a few thread about the festival already so I'll just skip that (actually I'm just too poor to afford the tickets)

Sun Feb 26.

Everything seem so calm before the storm, 24hr from the Habanos festival everything seemed so normal in Havana, but the craziness was going to get ramped up very soon.

Arrived in Havana in the afternoon, first spot was the Habana Libre. Didn't have much expectation for this store at first due to high turn over rate of the stocks, just wanted to get a few singles and get outta there.

As I was checking out the humidor a young Cuban gentlemen greeted me in Mandarin. I told him I don't know any Chinese and I'm actually from Canada, he started talking to me in French. We finally agreed that we communicate better in English. This guy doesn't just know how to say hi how are you and bye in foreign languages, he is actually fluent in 6 different languages, and has a law degree from the U Havana, most impressive cigar salesman ever.

I took the Partagas P1 Jar, he they're not for sale. I asked why and he said they're reserved for an important client, David Tang of PCC, whether this is true or just a glorified sales pitch. This guy has done alot of homework as a cigar sales. Long story short I got my black jar and a 08' gold medal and left.

Later I arrived at Reynaldo's shop in Conde de Villanueva, as I entered I am welcomed by a cloud of pleasant creamy smoke. Reynaldo greeted me, handed me his cutter and lighter for my RA Extra. I ordered a coffee and sat at the couch in the bar area.

this is like all-you-can-eat in an ice cream parlor cigar, I enjoyed it very much.

Also met BOTL Nic from London, He is developing an audio tour guide for historical cigar places/events around London, mainly revolving around Winston Churchill, very interesting project and can't wait to download your app.

ended the night w/ the bolivar gold medal, didn't like it too much, lacking the traditional Bolivar chocolaty creaminess and taste was very dry. Hopefully the next one I smoke will change my view.

Mon 27

Arrived at Melia Habana in the morning, cigar lounge already occupied by people all around the world anticipating for the festival. The vintage cabinet has two stacks of 03 dip 1 and some 06/07 HdM Churchill, and there are some other smokes as well but i really don't care anything smaller than a PC.

started with 07 Punch Punch, very smooth, creamy, sugar cane, roasted coffee bean.

If you think you're baller by purchasing 10 boxes of 1966s and Behikes. The Chinese has raised the bar to a whole new level, 6-7 Chinese "merchants" came in and cleaned half the humidor in 3 hours. Totaled in 8-9 cardboard boxes (the ones you use for logistics, not the ones in supermarkets) and needed two bellboys and their trolleys to carry them out.

Saw BOTL Nic again, this time we talked more about the research he's done on Winston Churchill's cigars, and his search for Churchill's lost cigar cabinet in rural England, very impressive stories. I will post one of the articles he gave me in the future.

10' HdM Especiale, classic HdM flavor - cedar, milk, grassy. A very balanced and relaxing 2-hour smoke.

Met Torontonian trio Tzika, Harris and Larry. Had a fun time sharing Cuba/cigar experience with you guys, great companions !

Tues 28

Arrived in Cienfuegos. First thing upon arriving is checking out the cigar store in the central, El Embajador. The store has some interesting selection: Noella jar x 6, San Cristobal O'Reilly Book Humidor, 01' Partagas de partagas no.1, 05' SLR corona, 02' ERDM Choix. At the same time, the store also suffers a major beetle infestation. Despite all the rarities I've seen, I only bought a box of 07' PL Montecarlo.

I am a Por Larranaga guy and I smoke alot of their PC and Montecarlos. This particular one I lit up was PL Nirvana, and this nice sea view of my casa is a huge bonus.

Later in the night I lit up a 10' RASS to accompany my dinner on the balcony, it's a very nice cigar - masculine, earthy, sea salt, pepper, but I didn't like it due to its overpowering nicotine strength, I would love to revisit an aged one sometimes.

Mar 1

Before my departure of Cienfuegos I decided to have another smoke at the Embajador again. Manager Bema was very nice and let me try a 01' Partagas de Partagas no.1

flavorful, yet subtle, smoke is silky smooth like a well aged Burgundy. I didn't know what I was thinking, as I left without buying a box.

Mar 2

Arrived in Trinidad, their only cigar store, La Casa del Tobaco, has nothing that surprises me. All 10-11 boxes, one box of 1966, some fake Cohiba singles, and their custom smoke is crap.

Mar 3 - 4

Last 2 days in Havana, in a cigar binge to try as much as cigars as I can

HdM DC at LCDH 5y16, a 3 hours long lovely Hoyo de Monterrey Opera.

08' Upmann Connoisseur no 1. My favorite in this entire trip, marshmallow clound raining down hot milk and caramel. Would love to have a box if I can find it.

My first BHK and it is really a disappointment, unstructured flavor, and not enough body to carry the flavors, I hope this is only a dud in the box.

Gentleman from France, holding a box of Montecristo Gran Reserva, has stopped for 2 minutes thinking if he should buy this box, at the moment I left Nacional Hotel this humidor is still seeking for its owner.

Last but not least, here's my haul:

Partagas P1 jar

03 dip 1

06 hoyo churchill

05 rafael gonzales lonsdale

07 PL monte carlo

11 Upmann half corona

Santos customs corona/robustos

some aged singles (siglo IV, ryj belicosos, epi 2, monte 1, etc)

[Dbone]

That's an awesome report. I'd love to see a picture of the Chinese and the bellboys wheeling their cigars out LOL

[LLC]

Great report. Can't wait to go back.

[BatFastard]

A great read! Thanks for sharing. Love the tobacco leaf under the cup of java. A nice touch.

[charlesod]

Looks like you smoked some outstanding cigars. Thanks for the report!

[TWalker]

Great report, and a really nice collection you picked up. Sounds like you had a good time.

[Strada]

Great read, and great picture. I love to read detailed cigar trip stories.

[Skitalets]

Great travelogue!

I'm looking forward to when those Half Coronas are more widely available. Have you tried one yet?

[luhabanos]

Great report, thanks for sharing your experience with us

[DougB]

Thanks very much for sharing that. Looks like an amazing time.

[melies]

WOw love this post, congratulations!

[AlohaStyle]

Great report and pictures, thanks for sharing! It's amazing to me how people can still find aged cigars in Havana with so many people picking through them.

Were you traveling alone or with people? How did you travel from city to city... bus or rental car? Would you mind sharing any other travel reports besides cigar related? I am trying to plan my first trip to Cuba next Winter, might be traveling solo and want to see more of the country like you did.

[mazolaman]

Good for you, nice to read of your experiences.

[amosnaim]

Awesome reading.

Thank you

[fred170]

Thank you for sharing. Cuba is definitely worth visiting (at least once in your life)......Great pics and great smokes!!

[nonameno]

Hi Blackham,

What a fun trip and great read!

Thanks for sharing,

Curtiss

[cottierm]

Nice for sharing images and comments from this beautiful trip!

Best,

Michel

[jedipastor]

Sounds like an awesome trip! Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I'd love to go myself some day

BTW, I've had a couple of the Santos customs and I really like them--when fresh, they were better than any other fresh cuban I've had.

[Colt45]

Thanks for the report!

[Hemsworth]

Really nice adventure, Joe! It was a great read. Makes me want to light one up right now!

[Pilgrims]

Good work! Great report, I know Nic quite well from a couple of meetings we've had...he's a good lad

[ckearns]

Looks like it was a really enjoyable time you had there. I think you did well smoking a variety of cigars and then honing in on a select few gems to bring home. Thanks for the great read.

[Blackham]

Great report and pictures, thanks for sharing! It's amazing to me how people can still find aged cigars in Havana with so many people picking through them.

Were you traveling alone or with people? How did you travel from city to city... bus or rental car? Would you mind sharing any other travel reports besides cigar related? I am trying to plan my first trip to Cuba next Winter, might be traveling solo and want to see more of the country like you did.

I travelled by myself, semi-backpack style, along the journey I met alot of wonderful friends from all over the world. Main method for long range transport is Viazul (or find other travellers to share a taxi). I will post my other travel experience in the sticky thread of the Global Cigar Location forum, or feel free to shoot me a pm and I'll be more than happy to answer your questions / direct you to the proper resources.

Cheers

[El Presidente]

You really made me homesick

Great report mate. A trip you will never forget.

[RollsMD]

Looks like a great trip, awesome report