Back again from Havana, missing it already...

[CanuckSARTech]

http://lights-sirens-and-cigars.com/2015/03/07/back-again-from-havana-missing-it-already/

So, my voyage La Havana has come to a close again. Got back yesterday, relatively trouble free. This trip was overall quite wonderful - no stomach issues, the ability to put more faces to names, and many more good times shared with other BOTL's/SOTL's from around the globe. As always, some interesting news tidbits and a very few nice finds (though the latter is definitely getting to be less and less prevalent).

More posts will come in the following days detailing some of the below, but here are some of my highlights...

• As is the current trend in Cuban cigar shops, tons of availability of the "big stuff" for tourists especially (Montecristo, especially the Open line, Partagas, tons of RyJ, HdM, fair amount of Trinidad, LOADS of Cohiba Maduro 5 line-up, etc.)
• Almost nothing found of outside-of-the-norm or vintage stuff, aside from a few special boxes.
• No evidence of recent tobacco beetle infestations continuing. Looks like it's calmed down a bit, and/or being taken better care of. Did notice especially that at the Melia Habana LCDH walk-in humidor, they had a very prevalent tobacco-beetle capture "pest-strip" sitting out in the open.
• A fair amount of newer LE's were to be found. Lots of availability and push for the Partagas Seleccion Privada EL's. A couple spots had the Cohiba Robusto Supremos available in mild quantity. Fair amount of LCDH specialty releases to be found also.
• Big push with the Anejados releases, RyJ Piramides and the Montecristo Churchills. A number of conversations were had about these - opinions vary, but most are fairly negative, and nearly all tastings were blunt: they're un-brand-related ****.
• Tobacco availabilty to custom rollers appears to be levelling off, and perhaps improving a bit. Jorge at Club Habana and Yolanda at Melia Habana both had their hands full with multiple large orders. Other rollers (Alex at Commodoro, Reynaldo at Conde de Villanueva, Juanita at Melia Cohiba, etc., etc.) all had a decent availability and selection of their custom rolls available.
• Loads of rum to be found everywhere - lots of Legendario Elixir to be found this time, and even a new elixir rum coming from Santiago I think it was (I'll have to check over my pictures and report later)
• Cubita coffee and Cafe Serrano were found here and there, but only in the vaccuum-packed pre-ground variants, and none of the big bags of whole beans were seen anywhere.
• Another wonderful visit to see Graciela and others at the Sociedad Lung Kong there in Havana, with more gift items brought to them from Canada and as well from Hong Kong.
• Prototype jars from San Ramon Producciones as announced here previously were not available for either the Baire or the La Patrona jars. Arrangements were made to get pictures once they're ready, so that they can be shared here. Nearly all of the La Patrona jars are pre-sold already (at about 100 of the 120 jars spoken for).
• Yolanda, the custom roller at the LCDH at the Melia Habana hotel, has her own "custom jar" soon to be released. She went over the details with me, and more on that will be coming here soon.
• I finally had the chance to meet a few international friends in person, rather than simply electronically through e-mail or the forums (Andy Ryan and Gino / Mr Japan are perfect examples of this). Great relationships were formed or solidified. The overall Fox clan is becoming more and more cursed by allowing me into their fold. Glad to still claim being able to out-drink the Irish so far.
• Was invited to a relatively new "after-hours" bar that's apparently only available to the waitstaff, bartenders, and security staff that work at other bars/restaurants in the city - only OPENS at 4 am, and runs to 9 am. Very cool place with a giant tree growing right up through the center of the palatial mansion that houses it. Wild to be walking out of there at 7:30 am, blinded by the sun, and seeing everyone else get on buses to go to school or work. There was nary enough Tylenol in my luggage for that day.
• Exchanged money at many places this trip - Varadero airport, Hotel Nacional front desk and cambio/money-exchange, money exchange at the business center near the Melia Habana, and even at the cadeca exchange in the Melia Cohiba. Not even a single attempt at the money exchange scam was observed or heard to be attempted during this timeline.
• Great times shared again as always with Simon, Nino, Yannick, Amir, as well as some other Euro and American travellers that have passed each others paths on FOH or other cigar forums, or met somehow through the industry. I was again able to share some great times with Punch Joe, La China, and other H S.A. and industry personnel, such as Luka and Michel.
• Yet again, everyone's favourite "one-eyed cat" jazz club, otherwise known as the "Irish Embassy", continued to be made into the "Commonwealth Consulate". Great times were had - drunken limbo, ghostly photo-bombing, etc.

So, more will be forthcoming later on over the next week or so about some of the above.

Obviously also, there's the news of Hamlet's departure / defection to the U.S., with him now in Naples, Florida, working for Rocky Patel. Needless to say, many there in Havana were shocked and saddened by the occurrence of this, but many also understanding and wishing nothing but the best for him and his family. We all only found out about it on the Thursday night / Friday during the tail-end of the festival itself (with it being the talk of the town prior to the gala dinner), after his resignation letter was brought in to the Partagas shop by a third party after his departure. Something that had been in the works for quite a time apparently, and some of his best friends and childhood amigos there in Havana not even aware of it prior to (understood, but heartbreakingly so).

My own thoughts are very conflicted on it, but I can only hope for great things in the future for him.

I did find enough to fill my luggage again, LOL. Going through Customs on this end was fine, with no additional taxes levied surprisingly. A selection of some of the goods found during this trip:

• Some more Hotel Nacional ashtrays for myself and some friends
• Some Cafe Serrano packets of the pre-ground coffee
• Three wonderfully dark, oily and rich boxes of Ramon Allones Superiores LCDH releases (Dic 2014 ULA codes) as well as one box of Ramon Allones Gigantes (Nov 2013 MUL) that was one of three boxes of these wonderful goodies that I found hiding out at two different locations
• A fairly nice-smelling box of the new Trinidad Vigias, as well as a really nice box of the new Por Larranaga Picadores also
• Two bundles each of Jorgito's Monsdales and his new robusto largos (both with closed foot and a pigtail cap), which everyone was gleefully indulging in all week. Should have got much more, but even he was saying he's 3 to 4 weeks behind in his orders. The wrappers also looked much better than what was available to the rollers back in November - some of the wrappers were gloriously dark and oily. If the wrapper quality is there, I'll likely go for 2 more bundles of the robusto largos in November, and 3 or 4 for the Monsdales - simply one of the best customs coming out of Havana in the last number of years
• A bundle of Yolanda's piramides
• Some of Juanita's coronas and Churchills
• Couple bottles of Legendario Anejo rum for friends
• Couple of the classic Cuban licence plates
• A couple of other choice customs from other miscellaneous rollers as gifts and trades
• Various cigars smoked from current / new release stuff, EL's and Anejado's included. All pretty much meh, except for the Partagas Seleccion Privada - had a few of those, and they were quite nice, and packaged well in 10-boxes too
• Two custom jars picked up for some buddies

My liver is aching, my lungs are tired, and my throat is sore. Gonna be on a greens and fruit diet for the next little bit (my new joke - the only thing that makes Caesar salad shitty is those green leafy things they include with all the cheese, bacon and chicken sometimes, LOL).

But, it was another wonderful visit to the island and crazy little city. Definitely better for me relaxing and getting "into the vibe" compared to November, when I was "herding cats with a ladder" as some like to say.

Glad to be back home (need family time again), even though the weather's crap here still (going from plus 30 C to -20 C always sucks). Miss the island a bit already, and will definitely be looking forward to the next trip again!

Cheers all.

[shlomo]

Why are your thoughts conflicted about Hamlet leaving?

[CanuckSARTech]

Why are your thoughts conflicted about Hamlet leaving?

Maybe to be discussed later, once it's settled in a bit more. Glad to see he can spread his wings and such, and truly hope for nothing but the best for him and his family. It was definitely frustrating for him to not be rolling for customers, and stuck behind the counter doing sales.

But you can definitely see a wake left with his other friends and family still there, and the heartache they're dealing with.

Weird to see that he went to Rocky Patel as well (not a brand/manufacturer that any would have imagined for this), though the nature of all that is still to be revealed.

As some said down there - seems like a Maestro rock-star conductor leaving just before the opening movement of his epic symphony is about to unfold.

[PuroDan]

Thanks for all the info/ updates

[JohnS]

Good stuff, Keith...I look forward to more posts on Cuba!

[Squarehead]

Good reading Keith

[Guest rob]

Great write up, dude.

If Cuba was 20 hours closer, I'd have been there with you.

[Anchan]

Thanks for sharing!

[CanuckSARTech]

Addition to the above post:

- While down in Havana, I heard on Wed/Thurs that Obama had announced that the U.S. Special Interests building would be getting re-commissioned / re-opened next week as the formal U.S. Embassy. On the Mon/Tues, we did see work being done to either install a new one, or repair the current foundation, for the flag pole in the northwest facing corner of the building's grounds, adjacent to the Malecon. So, while I haven't seen any media reports on this continuing movement, there was noted activity there.

[headstand]

Keith, I'm curious about the amount of cigars you managed to bring back withouy customs taxing. Do you declare all on the slip of paper provided and they just let it slide? I would have been strickly to the CND 50 max. Am I too timid with the good folks at custom?

[Puros Y Vino]

Keith, I'm curious about the amount of cigars you managed to bring back withouy customs taxing. Do you declare all on the slip of paper provided and they just let it slide? I would have been strickly to the CND 50 max. Am I too timid with the good folks at custom?

NOT a good discussion to be had in the open. Keith, pls PM the response.

[headstand]

NOT a good discussion to be had in the open. Keith, pls PM the response.

Apologies. Thanks for the caution.

[cottierm]

Very good reading, thanks Keith.

[JohnnyC]

As always Keith thank you for your insights. Always a pleasure reading your Blogs. Take care my Canadian Brother.

[Optic101]

Great reading Keith, thanks for all the insides.

[MPS]

Mmmmmmonsdales!

[Colt45]

Nice work Keith.

[TiminBC]

Thanks for taking the time to update us. Heading there in 2 weeks and by the sound of things it should be goid

[peterk814]

Great write up mate

[Coloniales]

Nice meeting you in Havana Keith, this is the other Keith ;-)

Re. The bug infestation, my 8 boxes at the Melia Havana locker, 5 out of 8 were bug affected, with the bugs running everywhere when I checked my locker on arrival. Apparently, the Air Con was off for 2 months last summer wtf!!! It was not only my locker but others were affected. To be honest they were VERY apologetic and immediately replaced 2 boxes, a 50 Cab of Mag 46 and a Diplo 2 x25. They took the other not so badly affected boxes to La Corona and fixed the cigars (wrapper damage), and to be honest you wouldn't know the difference look wise at least. My only potential loss was a box of x25 RYJ Celestiales Finos from 98 They told me they would have a word with Habanos, and get back to me. I am not expecting more than a similar replacement size wise, as they are log out of production.

They did have the place fumigated after my first visit and I checked a friends locker later in the week, and that was bug free.Interesting that you say they have bug traps there now!!

One thing I learned is that no cigars (from the factories) for the local Cuban market get the freezing treatment!!

Keith.

[El Presidente]

Thanks Keith! great write up mate

[CUBANO]

Great reading thanks for the information

[CanuckSARTech]

Keith, I'm curious about the amount of cigars you managed to bring back withouy customs taxing. Do you declare all on the slip of paper provided and they just let it slide? I would have been strickly to the CND 50 max. Am I too timid with the good folks at custom?

NOT a good discussion to be had in the open. Keith, pls PM the response.

Frank, yes, shipping practices are not to be discussed, but this is a little bit different, so I'll therefore offer a little bit (if it's thought to be against the rules, please edit as necessary). After reviewing the posting guidelines, this doesn't appear to break anything on the surface, as it's regarding travel laws a bit, and may in fact be beneficial / helpful for all...as Rob says, the benchmark is of helping the FOH community...

So...

I would state, and do myself (especially considering my job), that you have to follow all the laws and guidelines as legislated for your particular country or region. You have to fill out the declaration card when returning to Canada. Lying on there is an offense, and can be punished very severely.

For Canada, yes, we're allowed up to 50 sticks duty free. HOWEVER, we're not barred from getting any more than 50 - it's simply those first 50 that are duties/tax free. Anything past that are simply liable to taxes. As I always travel back with more than 50-sticks, I always check that I'm over. And yes, when asked, I say that I brought back everything exactly as is - X amount of cigars and X amount of bottles of booze, if I'm over on that too.

It's the Customs agent's decision as to whether I pay taxes or not, how much is levied, if they simply wave me through regardless of declaring on the card, etc., etc. It's up to the individual person to figure out if the potential of paying those additional taxes is still worthwhile to them or not, factoring in all the costs.

[CanuckSARTech]

Nice meeting you in Havana Keith, this is the other Keith ;-)

Re. The bug infestation, my 8 boxes at the Melia Havana locker, 5 out of 8 were bug affected, with the bugs running everywhere when I checked my locker on arrival. Apparently, the Air Con was off for 2 months last summer wtf!!! It was not only my locker but others were affected. To be honest they were VERY apologetic and immediately replaced 2 boxes, a 50 Cab of Mag 46 and a Diplo 2 x25. They took the other not so badly affected boxes to La Corona and fixed the cigars (wrapper damage), and to be honest you wouldn't know the difference look wise at least. My only potential loss was a box of x25 RYJ Celestiales Finos from 98 They told me they would have a word with Habanos, and get back to me. I am not expecting more than a similar replacement size wise, as they are log out of production.

They did have the place fumigated after my first visit and I checked a friends locker later in the week, and that was bug free.Interesting that you say they have bug traps there now!!

One thing I learned is that no cigars (from the factories) for the local Cuban market get the freezing treatment!!

Keith.

CRAP!!! Yes, the "other" Keith!!! LOL. Sorry - should have went through my business cards, and would've made sure to list you in there too!!!! Even though you're a pilot, you're a nice guy too! LOL. It was a pleasure to meet you in person as well, and have the opportunity to join in on your friendship at some events. Very thankful for the extension of courtesies.

Yes, the bug infestation was very evident in November when we were all over. Lots of issues. Nothing seen this trip, so hopefully good. Sorry to hear about your luck with that, but hope they do get it sorted out okay.

And yes, some of us have been hearing that for about two or three years or so now, that only the export product is being 100% frozen. Some people confuse customs with regular production as being yes-and-no for freezing, as opposed to domestic and export sales. But that's another reason to freeze everything, IMO. They're apparently not freezing regular-production domestic-market stuff, only the export stuff. Well, with Cuba being Cuba, and H S.A. being H S.A., there's always a chance they could mix up or change routing on a given master case or ten, and send something out for export that was originally intended for simple domestic sale. I ask myself - could this inadvertently happen with Cuba???? HELL YES. So....I freeze EVERYTHING. LOL.

[CatchNRelease]

Aside from the bug infestation, I can't wait for an opportunity to visit Cuba!