Smoking a cigar with an iconic Revolution Commander

[Nino]

Melia Cohiba Dinner Club de Amigos Melia Cohiba

Smoking a cigar with an iconic Cuban Revolution Commander

30.10.2012 / 40 CUC

Dir.Gen. Hotel MC / Dir HSA Sr Buenaventura

Dr Luis Sorinas

1x H.Upmann Connossieur Nr 1 ( Hermoso Nr 4 )

1x Special custom rolled Habano

Themes : 520 yrs discovery of America, Hatuey beer, Bacardi, H.Upmann cigars.

Very interesting & insightful talk by Dr LS on many themes related to cigars, history and Cuba.

Appetizer : Cod (Bacalao) – Wine : Sauv. Blanc from Chile

Entrée : Slices of beef – Wine : Red Australian Shiraz & Cab Sauv.

Dessert : Coconut cake – delicious.

Sitting at my table and providing a few hours of unrivalled conversation, poems and historical insight was an imposing figure wearing a gallon hat and clearly enjoying the evening.

One of the last three surviving “Comandantes de la Revolucion”, the highest possible title and rank in Cuba, Sr Agustin Diaz Artaya or rather : Comandante, as we addressed him.

He was one of the attackers of the Moncada barracks, imprisoned for 3 ½ years and tortured at the Island of Pines, composer of the hymn of the “26 July Movement”, and renowned but not much published writer and poet in Cuba.

A good smoker and lover of the white wine, he regaled us with some of his poems and philosophical insights on Cuban, socialist and world history, while another interesting Cuban guest, Hector, a photographer, gave us the real story on Korda’s famous and iconic picture of Che, he was the last to portrait Korda in Cuba before his death in Paris.

We finished the evening with the fantastic Ron Caney Centenario which can rival my beloved Santiago.

Nino

[Squarehead]

Any pictures from that event?Would be interesting to see.

[Strada]

Great memories for you Nino, I am very happy to hear this.

[OZCUBAN]

Thanks once again Nino ,for your great tales of Cuba ,for those not lucky enough to have gone yet.

OZ

[cigarros]

Post picks from Cuba with their slow Internet? Waiting for Nino's continue post & picks when he coming back at home. Great report! Thanks!

[Ryan]

We finished the evening with the fantastic Ron Caney Centenario which can rival my beloved Santiago.

Great report Nino, thanks for keeping them coming.

That is a great rum and at less than 8CUC a bottle, super value. I've bought it in petrol stations in Havana and have been scouring Europe for it since, I think they have a french distributer now.

It comes from the same distillery as Santiago. A triangular taste test of the two could be interesting..

[kjellfrick]

A rum rivalling Santiago?

Thanks for the report, Nino! Splendid as usual! I'll have to read up on the rest after my journey to internet-free Massai-land.

[Nino]

Post pics from Cuba ... sure ...

Hey, Internet here is 8 dollars an hour and an hour gets you 5 mails and 2 posts.

Get your camera, fly to Cuba and take them - or wait until I'm home :-))

War ein Scherz ..

nino

[Squarehead]

Das warten habe ich frühzeitig kennen gelernt Nino,nehm Dir zeit.

[kiwiman911]

Wow, what a nite can't wait to see the pic and thanks for sharing this with us

[ajgagnon]

Wow. That would be something special.

[CanuckSARTech]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing as always, Nino.

Cheers.

[Nino]

Das warten habe ich frühzeitig kennen gelernt Nino,nehm Dir zeit.

Na, dann hat sich das warten gelohnt, musste mir fast 5 Wochen nehmen, aber hier für Dich ... :-))

Ok, been back home a few days now and today I finally started to work on my trip reports.

I updated this dinner held Oct. 28th at the Melia Cohiba with pictures - here are some :

Nino

[DougB]

Thanks very much for sharing.