"Hombre del Habano 2014" talks about Cuban cigars

[Guybrush]

I don't know if you read German but this is a very interessting interview with Urs Portmann, Habanos Man of the Year 2014. He talks about Nicaraguan wrappers, perfect storage and compares recent cigars to the one from the past.

http://www.premium-blog.ch/files/CC_14_03_020-027_Froehlich-Portmann.pdf

[Optic101]

Thanks for posting Guy.

Interesting read about Urs journey with a lot of insights.

His comments on the "wrapper-topic" was surprising.

The actual potential shortage of Wrappers we know from El Pres.

Time will tell how it may effect CC quality and availability.

And 20 ton of aged Dunhill tobacco ........

[Sophistic]

very interesting what he has to say about the right conditions for long-term aging, against the trend of aging at lower humidity&keeping it away from fresh air.

[Optic101]

very interesting what he has to say about the right conditions for long-term aging, against the trend of aging at lower humidity&keeping it away from fresh air.

Was surprised at this too.

But if it works for him it is fine. Trust his experience over the years works for him.

[alloy]

Is there an english translation? Sorry but don't read Deutsch.

[mikek]

Is there an english translation? Sorry but don't read Deutsch.

The little German I learned as A child is totaly not enough to read this! If anybody finds an english translation or overview,I would be very interested in reading!

[Sophistic]

too lazy for a full translation a couple of interesting points:

)says the cubans have used (and still might use) nicaraguan wrappers (on occasion), has witnessed nicaraguans using habanos 2000 tobacco, recognized a worker at the la corona factory from a stay in nicaragua just 7 months before, asked her what she had been doing in nicaragua->"industrial exchange", believes that this exchange has been going on for a long time.

)habanos is giving the cuban tobaccofields not enough rest, now backfiring

)complained about lack of quality in 2001, the guys from cubatobacco came over, burned 1/3 of his stock, quality has improved since then.

)cuban cigars lack the intensity they used to have, less difference in flavor between the marcas

)dunhill still owns 20 tons of tobacco sitting in cuba, they(dunhill) think that they are gonna be allowed/able to produce cuban cigars in the next 2-3 years

)switzerland has a uniqe connection to habanos->gets the best cigars

[Sophistic]

huch, i hope the cubans dont read this, fidel might come over and take the hombre del habanos award back, haha

[Trimming]

Good perspective from someone with such knowledge.

[Habana Mike]

Translation courtesy of Google - apologies for the butchering:

Urs Portmann:

45 years cigars history

For nearly forty-five years Urs Portmann Cigarrenhändler with three shops in Kreuzlingen, Vaduz and St Gallen. A seller of the old school, the learned from Zino Davidoff and Alejandro Robaina and Cigarrengenießer from the world is one of its customers. With the "Zino Davidoff Legacy Award" and the award "Hombre del Habano" honored the industry Urs Portmann for his life's work. Now he hands over the business to his two sons

Urs Portmann, how you became Cigarrenhändler?

I'm probably a bit on the bright side born, I must honestly say. Business as family. Have fifteen

I said goodbye at home, went to the West Switzerland to Learning French, and was allowed to work there in Montreux in a sensational Comestibel business. The Managing Director was a salesman personality and maintained a dealing with the people who fascinated me. The openness, responsiveness to the clientele. This has opened my eyes and I decided to take the seller profession. I also had an excellent Teacher: It was the mayor in Sale stone in the canton of Thurgau. He has given me the foresight on the way. and then I ran one evening in 1969 in Kreuzlingen in this business over and Mr. Siegrist, my predecessor, asked me if I wanted to start with him as Managing Director. I said no, because my goal was really to learn languages​​. But he persisted and after a five-hour conversation he said to me: "Mr. Portmann, now we get down to business. Now, when you say yes, you can take in ten years this business. "

How old were you then?

19 years old. I said neither yes nor no, but went back to my teacher, with whom I worked again in the meantime, and asked his advice. He told me, "Urs, the sun rises once. Either you pack it or you do not pack. "So I started 1970 with Mr. Siegrist.

How was the then owner pay attention to you?

I can not say I do not know you.

Was it that time already a tobacco shop?

There was a combined transaction for that time. Where we are today Have Havana-room, there was a food discounter.

Next door was the shop for tobacco, pipes and cigars, but we did not yet optimally superimposed. My boss told me:

"Mr. Portmann, does not interest me what you want from the business making. What is important is what is the bottom line. "And that led to the fact that I in March 1971 with my wife to Mr. Davidoff flew to Geneva. At that time we did not have much, but the ninety

Francs per person for the ticket we afforded. I believe, it has never landed in Geneva a flier too late, but at that Day it was foggy and we met twenty minutes of delayed-

Mr. Davidoff one who was now at the Bridge games. re to Home, I wrote him a letter, apologized and explained that our plane had not been able to land. Four weeks later, I went with the VW Beetle again to Geneva and we languages ​​and then discussed out of ten clock in the morning until late in the evening.

How did you get the idea to visit Davidoff in Geneva?

My father worked in the tobacco wholesale. At home was Brasil, Sumatra, Java, discussing such things. So I had

me involved early on with tobacco and cigars, and a fortiori when I came here. And Mr. Davidoff was then the

»Cigarrenpapst". I said to myself: If I'm already with cigars deal, I want this man to know. I wrote

him that I would like to meet him, I was young and new to the Sector. And then I got the invitation to the said

Monday when the plane could not land, to Geneva to come. I was a nobody to Geneva, ran into the Rue de Rive, and

Zino Davidoff, who served three customers, apologized to himself them, hugged me, hugged me - it seemed to me as if

I greet my grandfather. It ran me cold down the back.

He took an extremely long time for me. It was a beautiful encounter. While we then about the business, about tobacco

Storage and talked, I told myself internally: What Mr. Davidoff has managed in Geneva, I could actually realize in Kreuzlingen. And that meant that we within a short Tags time to professionally cigars for sale. first we built cabinets. That was the starting point and from a Second to the other took the cigar business properly ride on. Five years later we built a whole front with cupboards

and five years later the first big walk Humidor Switzerland. The opening came Davidoff for two days

to Kreuzlingen, did radio interviews and signed books.

Then you have also sold from the beginning his cigars?

Yes, we were the first ones sold Davidoff cigars. I know today: We felt a tremendous pride when we say could, we would now Davidoff cigars. In September 1971 I was then also the world's first Davidoff depositary. The contract was not terminated with the company Siegrist, but with "Urs Portmann." The reason given was anno those days: If Mr. Portmann go away, you do not know who followeth. Only then I am known not gone away.

When did you first traveled to Cuba?

1974th I was invited and allowed the Davidoff production visit. Five or six years later I then traveled to

first time alone. I went to Tabacuba, introduced myself and met a gentleman who brought me into the factories to

Partagas, La Corona and Romeo y Julieta. Back then you could not move freely. So I looked at all three days

closely. I was proud that I had managed, very young and alone to travel to Cuba.

That was the beginning of a very close relationship with Cuba. I always say: Cuba has become my second home. In the

Eighties I met Alejandro Robaina, and became almost a member of the family. Eventually I told him I would like to invite him again to Switzerland. What do not I suspected: the organization of the trip was having major problems

connected. In fact Robaina 2002 could then his first Trip abroad make. The Habanos importer Intertabak and

Heinrich Villiger could regulate the formalities. He came along with his grandson Hiroshi to me and then also visited

nor Samuel Menzi in Zurich and Gérard in Geneva. his last official trip led him in 2006 to me. The relationship with the

Robaina family continue today, even if in the meantime received a small crack, as Hiroshi business

let grind. I told him, "I'll come again only when the changes. "Now he is on a good path.

Swiss Habanos importer Intertabak organized. This was about sixteen years ago. On the first evening in the Hotel Nacional

I asked how the harvest was: Two Cubans said "muy bien," a third grimaced. I called my wife and told

her: "Get an order form. You have to order and the have to order you. Put the goods just in the basement, "said

I her. That was the breakthrough for our business in Europe, because we still "Montecristo No.. 2 "and" Partagas Serie D No.. 4 "

had, as was on the market in Europe any more. because I realized: The most important thing is to first attend the farmers.

Now we are back in the same situation. It was shocking to see how grown men like Hiroshi Robaina or

Héctor Luis had been shattered this year off right. The crop failure This year, the problems associated with climate change. This has given me made it difficult to create. But we can not change it.

We can only hope that the one crop they have now exposed, nor brings a certain income, otherwise it is

Problem. One thing is certain: there will be a shortage. In what Extent, I can not judge, but the hole will come.

There are Nicaraguan producers who claim they would help out the Cubans at bottlenecks.

A surprise would not do that. In Cuba were already in the Seventies and eighties cover sheets used that do not

came from Cuba.

But never officially.

The Cubans have to see that they maintain their production. And if they get good covers, for example,

from Nicaragua, then process just once a Nicaraguan leaf. In 2000 I visited a producer in

Nicaragua and asked on the tobacco field quite surprised how because he had Habanos 2000 tobacco. I knew the good tobacco,

had recently seen him in Cuba - he has very fine hairs and is not sticky unlike other tobaccos.

This producer talks had been no more word to me.

On the same farm I saw a woman grown small, with a sun-browned face. Seven months later I met this woman again, in the La Corona factory in Havana. I asked her what she had been doing in Nicaragua. you explained that she had attended an industry exchange.

I think working with certain producers in Nicaragua has been going longer than we think at all. but

whether, when and how much they actually use, I can not say.

Why is it that Cuba is not self-cater can?

Except Cuba I know Nicaragua best. There consistently three-field farming has, even though the cultivation area is relatively small. The reason: They do not want the same Problems, such as the Cubans

In Cuba everything is unique and fursich for growing tobacco; the earth, the ground-beschaffenhelt that Kilma.

That there is nowhere else in the World. Only one must also this ground once a recreational phase give. And have the Cubans, probably because the ongoing boom, not made. Problems such as blue are the result. Two years ago I attended a

Farmers in Cuba, whose harvest had been almost completely destroyed by mold. He has been imputed to us in a dairy book, how many plants he had planted and that he had nothing can reap. He deserves nothing. This is information that the

one come to one of the farmers. This is the problem of the Cubans. You should probably produce fewer cigars and

give her bottom a little more recovery time.

Did you once introduced into Cuba?

The Cubans know yourself well. Habanos makes printing:

We need tobacco grows. But nature fights back sometime. I would rather, "a Partagas Serie D No.. 4 "costs a

Francs more, but to vote for the quality and flavor.

And - though it has now become much better - Cuba has just too much committee. Too many cigars that will not pull.

Dramatically it was ten years ago. We had third my camp burn.

You have burned a portion of your camp?

In 2001 I was in Havana at a seminar at the Mareva us two cigars were put down for tasting. I

lit the first cigar, and had no smoke on the palate, nothing. I lit the second, and the burned

not. Front was the former President Manuel Habanos García. I raised my hand and said, "Mr. Garcia, we have a

big problem. We had a customer from Germany, the just before Christmas four boxes> Cohiba Lanceros <bought and

drove to a meeting with Americans at Zurich Airport. Two days later he came back, the four boxes under

Arm. Inside were capped and burnt cigars.

We examined the cigars - you really could not pull them. There was nothing. I apologized to the customer.

> Mr. Portmann <, the customer,> you can not help it said, but as I had an embarrassment in my whole life still

never. I wanted the Americans with these cigars a joy making. But they look so, it attracts no. '"

Because of Manuel García says, "We supply good goods. If ye incorrectly stored ... And also is now five to twelve, time to

Lunch "- After lunch, he wanted to continue, but I persisted, "Mr. Garcia, I would again like to

come back to what happened to me. I can give them one say. I'll go home now and tell each consumer: If

a cigar is not retreating, he should return it. I will replace the customer and give them back to Habanos. our

People have to work for their money "-. He grimaced because I said publicly. Since standing beside me someone

on from Hong Kong and said he had the same problem. And another one stood up and confirmed the same difficulties

have to. Both wanted it in the future to handle as I do.

Since then, we consistently give back all cigars. Then five or six Cubans came to Switzerland to check the inventories

Was the Revisado action successful? In the cigars could look into it, too Cubans not.

A third of my whole camp sorted out and burned it. A third - and I had a great camp. after that

It was much better. How did they do that, I know not. Probably pushed and tested. There was always

still problems, but not to this extent

What was the cause of these problems?

It is a big if. If you asked me in 2001 would have, I would have said: It is the Habanos 2000 cover page. if

I'll give you a cigar today from the same production, then you will say, "Wow, a good cigar," I believe you.

was not aware that this cover sheet a certain Process goes through and a few years needs. Because today

it burns wonderfully. And how did the story of the Habanos 2000-sheet from?

I think in 2002 they moved again to the old sheet How did the Cuban tobaccos have changed in the four decades of your career?

It is always difficult to look back forty years, and to tell it like it was back then. We have certainly had earlier brands more

typical flavors. This has leveled everything. If you now a "Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure» smoke, you notice a small difference to a "Juan Lopez", or even to a »Bolivar Robusto". It used to be quite different. A "Partagas" was spicy and aromatic, a "Bolívar" strong. have today we do not these differences more.

There is no country that has changed its good product as the Cubans. A Bordeaux is still a Bordeaux. A burgundy is still a burgundy today. A Havana is today no longer a Havana, as we had in the seventies or eighties. It is still the best cigars, but they

has no longer the brand properties that they had earlier.

Why is that, at the tobaccos?

Hiroshi Robaina told us in spring that they now have a new Install the intersection of Habanos in 2000, Criollo and Corojo. What is

that a tobacco? What he has a flavor? We all know that do not you. Criollo and Corojo tobaccos were that the Cubans

have made ​​large and well known. If you ask me, what an aroma had the cigars in the Seventies: They were

tend to be stronger. Aromatic and spicy. Maybe you changed the taste conscious, maybe it is on the ground. We do not know. It is encouraging that they now launch again cigars that taste different from the ones we before have smoked eight or ten years.

Which cigars do you think?

I think for example of the "Ramon Allones Extra". The "EDICON Limitada "with the white belly band. That was a cigar, as

they used to be. A cigar with an extremely spicy, fully aromatic character.

What's next in Cuba: Come back Davidoff, come back another player?

Dr. Schneider told me a few months before his death: When the others died, we go together. He is now unfortunately died earlier. Since, however, worked very intensively, because I am hundred percent convinced.

The other is Fidel Castro?

I agree. In a letter from Dr. Schneider, in which he added in 1989 Announced departure from Davidoff of Cuba, there was a very

significant sentence: "We have broken with the Cubans." Not canceled, interrupted. At that time I said to him:

"Seriously, if production is resumed, I am the first is. "And he answered:" Yes, the ticket

I give you. "Cubans have big problems, they need capital and investors. My children will experience,

that heading back to the competition. Since I am firmly convinced.

And a half years ago I had a very interesting conversation with the head of Dunhill. He told me, "Mr. Portmann, in

Cuba store twenty tons of tobacco, which belongs to us, since we Have left the country. I guarantee you: In the next two

to three years you will again have Cuban Dunhills. "

How did you go in your business with the changes order in Havana?

Well, I was in the fortunate position that I thank my camp always had some reservations Of course this is a problem: If you get nothing, you can also build no stock. This brings me to the part still in trouble, because I did not back out on the parallel market. The quality not comparable with the products directly imported into Switzerland

Maintains Switzerland from Cuba better qualities than others Markets?

Yes.

How do you mean exactly?

There is an old word that goes in the "back time immemorial," yet before my time, "The Switzerland always paid the highest price."

The Swiss paid him and always got the best quality. On one of my first Cuba-trips I met two gentlemen know, Dürr. Those were big personalities in Cuba. That one offering the shoes kissed, was almost everything. I realized that Switzerland is extremely high in Cuba Important is. This is true even today. I made one last year Test purchase with a parallel importer, because the product at the official importer was not available. I called and said, "I would like to have ten boxes. But you get it back in a flash,

if the quality is not right "-. The cigars were there the next day and went on the same day back. This is something I can not sell.

How do you judge the quality of a cigar?

Optical only. If the covers have no more juice, then the cigars were stored either wrong or they just have a different quality. This parallel-goods arrive somewhere from Spain, from France, perhaps even from Peru or what

I know where, we do not know. The differences are huge.

How you store itself in your stores?

The natural storage conditions in the country of origin pretend how a product should be stored. This is my philosophy.

A cigar that is dry, loses essential oils. If I go now to sixty percent relative humidity down for a so-called long-term storage, then I deprive the cigar moisture; loses the cigar unweigerlich Aromastoffe. Therefore, I follow a different philosophy: I encamped as the

Climate in the country is naturally. Also over the years and Decades.

In Havana, I took part in a tasting. We smoked cigars in the vintage 1998 a German dealer and compared

them with fresh from the year 2008. opinion of the sixteen Competitors was clear and agreed with my: The

young cigar tasted better than the bearing of the vintage 1998th I said to him: "Look, if stored too dry, they never come close to cigars that have been stored well are, even if they have a young vintage. "There was a huge crash, since we no longer greet us.

And as you stand with respect to the temperature and Fresh air?

Important is a twenty-four hour supply of fresh air. Temperature and humidity should be as stable as possible. cigars

are a living product. If you leave without a humidor Fresh air are twelve weeks, then "embroidering" the cigars. Not from lack of moisture, but because they do not Have oxygen. I have not had any bad experiences with these key values​​. Our relative moisture storage requires, however, that the cigars regularly monitored and must be maintained.

What will happen to our industry continue?

When I think how many tobacco shops we have the beginning of the Had nineties and how many there are today, there are to careful thinking.

It has various causes: The cigarette industry went to the big distributors and gave the skilled trades on. And who wants to fourteen hours in the shop today stand still and do bookkeeping on Sunday? and then you come the next morning in your business and in need

Read the newspaper that the discounter the box for Cohiba 375 Franken sold, while 690 is priced at us. As has

already changed a lot. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the Tobacco industry has a good future. The EU is currently negotiating

a ban on sales of tobacco and alcohol on the internet.

Are you really going, the retailer has a tremendous chance. and in America throw the big retail chains now

Tobacco products from the range. Although the to Europe spills over, the retailer is even more important, what advice do you give your sons with the Way?

The most important advice I mitgebe my children: Thinks mind where you come from, and remains on the ground. Do not become

cocky, but be customer-oriented. Commercial they are trained, they will do it well. But purely human, remain as you are, honest, accurate, consumer-oriented.

What cigars are you remembered?

If I am now asked for the best cigar I say spontaneously, the new "Hoyo de Monterrey San Juan" which I in Cuba

had smoked. A cigar with excellent flavor. perfect made, neither sharp nor bitter. That was for me the cigar

with the biggest wow factor in recent years. When I look back, I would like once again a Cuban »Davidoff

Château d'Yquem "smoke. That was one of my Lieblingscigarren. And one of my favorites for the morning is the "Davidoff

2000 "from the Dominican Republic. As is true of the format, the mixture, all

Manuel Fröhlich is Cigarrenhändler in Switzerland. He writes daily in his blog www.premium-blog.ch on current

Events from the Cigarrenwelt.

[mikek]

too lazy for a full translation a couple of interesting points:

)says the cubans have used (and still might use) nicaraguan wrappers (on occasion), has witnessed nicaraguans using habanos 2000 tobacco, recognized a worker at the la corona factory from a stay in nicaragua just 7 months before, asked her what she had been doing in nicaragua->"industrial exchange", believes that this exchange has been going on for a long time.

)habanos is giving the cuban tobaccofields not enough rest, now backfiring

)complained about lack of quality in 2001, the guys from cubatobacco came over, burned 1/3 of his stock, quality has improved since then.

)cuban cigars lack the intensity they used to have, less difference in flavor between the marcas

)dunhill still owns 20 tons of tobacco sitting in cuba, they(dunhill) think that they are gonna be allowed/able to produce cuban cigars in the next 2-3 years

)switzerland has a uniqe connection to habanos->gets the best cigars

I hate to say this but I heard this A year back also Puerto Rico.Truth or Rumor?

[Bartolomeo]

Read this AM on Facebook, thanks for posting Mike

Some interesting tid bits such as giving the cigars fresh air for 24 hours if I understood that correctly

[TMat]

Thanks for the translation. Very interesting.

[mikek]

Thank you for the translation.Interesting read.

[Optic101]

Read this AM on Facebook, thanks for posting Mike

Some interesting tid bits such as giving the cigars fresh air for 24 hours if I understood that correctly

That's how he runs his humidor / stock. 24 hour fresh air and high humidity. No number given but making a comment that he is immitation the natural condition of the place where the tobacao is from andt if you store at 60% RH you will loose all the oil and if you don't air the humidor the cigars suffocate.

[Colt45]

Would be interested in reading a proper translation (thanks Mike :-). I've read over a decade ago, that Cuba has used Nicaraguan and Honduran tobacco. As is often the case with these things, you sometimes never know what to believe...

[Habana Mike]

Would be interested in reading a proper translation (thanks Mike :-).

No problem, best I could do with no German skills and GooTransisms......should have at least replaced sheet with wrapper.....

[Smallclub]

)switzerland has a uniqe connection to habanos->gets the best cigars

...mmm... I heard/read the same thing said by people from Altadis (distrib. for Spain and France), Coprova (France, usually run by a cuban), and H&F (UK)…

It must be taken with a BIG grain of salt IMHO… (personally I simply don't believe it, period)

[...]

...mmm... I heard/read the same thing said by people from Altadis (distrib. for Spain and France), Coprova (France, usually run by a cuban), and H&F (UK)

It must be taken with a BIG grain of salt IMHO (personally I simply don't believe it, period)

Did you mean every rep says his country gets the best quality or that they all agreed Switzerland gets the best?

[Smallclub]

Did you mean every rep says his country gets the best quality or that they all agreed Switzerland gets the best?

Coprova and H&F claim to "get the best", or, at least, to be able to proceed to a selection of what they import.

[Maplepie]

Coprova and H&F claim to "get the best", or, at least, to be able to proceed to a selection of what they import.

They do get a few of the best regionals, though. That's probably a good part about them

Just look at 2007!

Sent by the Enigma on BlackBerry.