Havana trip report

[uscmd310]

My first trip to Cuba - if you are considering it... don't wait, take the plunge. I'm going again in 2 months! 

Flight was an easy non-stop 4.5 flight from LAX to HAV $344 roundtrip on Alaska Air. Declare that you are person to person educational trip. It’s the easiest to qualify for as you state that you are learning about the culture, food, music, cigars etc through independent travel. I booked a casa particulares. This is a private owned home on Airbnb. The government has started to allow private business for Cuban home owners. This is cheaper than hotels because the hotels are state owned management that was charging $600+ for “a 5 star” which in Cuban terms is a 3.5 star. We paid $70 per night per room for a beautiful casa with a pool. (includes breakfast) Currency, US dollar has a 10% penalty as well as a 3% conversion charge to cuban convertible peso. So I bought Euro then changed to cuban. I lost 6% in conversion vs. 13% for US dollar.

Rum: dirt cheap. Havana Club 7, Santiago 7, Legendario was $6.50 per bottle. These are quite decent and go for $40-60 here in the US. Santiago 11 and Havana Club Mastro was $40. Found 2 bottles of Barrel Proof for $100. I prefer Santiago. Smooth, hint of sweetness, caramel and woody. The Santiago 25 was amazing but I am a cheap bastage so I didn’t buy any bottles. $240. 

Cigars: This is where it gets long. We were blessed in our guide, the ex-president of Habanos SA.  This guy new everything about everything about Cuban cigars. I learned more in a week than 27 years of smoking Cubans. This guy makes more working as a tour guide. He charges $150 per day which includes a car. Which is what you would pay anyway for an english speaking driver with car. But he made it VIP the whole week. He had all the master rollers on speed dial. We never paid for factory tours or farm tours. For example, we sat in all the VIP lounges while the managers and master rollers sat and smoked with us. Hirochi Robaina pulled up a chair in the middle of his work and brought out his private stash of personal cigars to smoke with us!  

Our first stop was the mecca of Cuban cigars, the old Partagas factory which is now shut down and just a La Casa Del Habanos. It felt like Olivanders wand shop. Just so beautiful it makes you want to cry. Met our first torcedor, La Chine. Torcedors are allowed to make extra money by custom rolling cigars which they split 50% with the state. $25 a month is average salary for a Cuban. I was abit disappointed in La Chine pyramides and robusto. Very light (refined taste?) but after 6 cigars that day I couldn’t taste them for shit they were so light. $5 per stick. 
 

Alex at the Comodoro Hotel, this guy is Michaelangelo. The youngest torcedor in present cuba at 31 years old. His cigars were incredibly amazing. He offered any size, and length. His canonazo was the best for me. 54 by 6. $5 per stick. And his behike 52. Also $5

Yolanda at the Melia Habana. Her robusto was amazing, but my tastes give Alex the slight edge. $5 . She was incredibly gracious. Definitely the queen of her domain, which includes the Comodoro and Melia Habana as she runs the place. She stayed and smoked a cigar with us, wanting to talk to foreigners. 

Jorge, took over for Enrique Mons.  His Lonsdale was very good, but his other sizes were unimpressive for me. $7 stick. 
Cueto, his cigars have gone down in quality. Taste is still amazing to me but underfilled with less complexity than years past. $7-10. 
While talking with Hirochi, Tobacco leaf was supposed to be best harvest ever. Truth was leaf quality is good but output is at less than 50%. Large sizes and top boxes were nowhere to be found. Searched 10+ stores and no behike. Was told that top boxes will be scarce for at least 2 years now, so buy up what you can. Its only going to get worse.

Obama removed import limits. Brought home 22.5 bundles and boxes. In excess of 600 sticks. Had to buy another cabinet humidor.
10 bottles of rum. Santiago 11 and legendario. 
Trip was worth every penny. Already booked for return trip.  Feel free to ask questions.

[amaxp81]

I'm so jealous of your experience - sounds amazing !!! We are going in June - sent you a message with a few questions ...

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[amaxp81]

PS a photo of 600+ cigars and 10 bottles of rum would be hilarious !

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[uscmd310]

I have no idea how to post pictures 

Do I need to reduce size and image quality?

[bummy]

Wow , sounds like a trip of a life time.would love to see pictures!??

[WoadyCypress]

Man!

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[amaxp81]

On 4/12/2017 at 0:18 PM, uscmd310 said:

I have no idea how to post pictures 

Do I need to reduce size and image quality?

Maybe try photobucket?

[uscmd310]

Had to get another cabinet to fit custom rolls. Also to keep separated from my boxes in case of bugs. Always always freeze custom rolls. 100% they have beetles.

[uscmd310]

Casa used as a diversion. Pool and beach for the kids and womenfolk, so the guys could smoke and drink rum for 12 hours a day.

[uscmd310]

VIP lounge at the LCDH at old Partagas Factory. La China joined us and rolled some customs for us.

[amaxp81]

Sweet photos post some more! Did you locate any behike or siglos?

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[uscmd310]

This was the Dec/Jan crop being aged at the Robaina farm. They had planted a 2nd crop because the output was so low. This was due to a lack of fertilizer. Sometimes things don't make sense - it's Cuba. 

[uscmd310]

Hirochi had two oxen that helped plant (and fertilize) the crop. They were named El Presidente. And Mentiroso. President and Liar.

[uscmd310]

This was on the birthday of his grandfather Don Alejandro. Hirochi (on the left) brought out his private stash that he had rolled himself. 5 yr wrapper and filler. I was too embarassed to ask him how long these had aged in his humidor. I thought it was better than any Dunhill or Davidoff aged cuban.  (On the right) Our guide Maique the ex-president of Habanos SA, creator of the Behike. 

[uscmd310]

I searched everywhere for Behike and my favorite Cohiba Robusto Suoremo. Maybe 15+ stores. Got lucky and found 2 boxes of Behike 52 for $262. I think they sell for $800 now. No way I would pay those prices. Crazy insane. I found a partial box of supremo at $27 per stick. Very difficult to find premium boxes now, let me know how it is in June? If you see ANY Behike - don't hesitate. Buy them.

[Boosted]

Great write up! So glad you loved your first trip. I made my first trip in November, and am leaving again on May 7. Again, stellar write up!

[caboman]

Great Report . I am going next week and am really looking forward to it. I have a question Do you have to check your rum or can you carry on? Is it a hassle to check bags on the way home?

[caboman]

Just now, caboman said:

Great Report . I am going next week and am really looking forward to it. I have a question Do you have to check your rum or can you carry on? Is it a hassle to check bags on the way home?

 

[eg133]

Hirochi had two oxen that helped plant (and fertilize) the crop. They were named El Presidente. And Mentiroso. President and Liar.

Those are hilarious names and makes sense!


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[uscmd310]

44 minutes ago, caboman said:

Great Report . I am going next week and am really looking forward to it. I have a question Do you have to check your rum or can you carry on? Is it a hassle to check bags on the way home?

If you plan to carry on, it must be purchased at the airport after security. I checked in like 8 bottles. Pre-trip I purchased bubble wrap wine sleeves from Amazon and it worked perfectly. It was my first time, and I wasn't sure where to buy and how many I could carry. 

[uscmd310]

47 minutes ago, caboman said:

 

Forgot to mention, If you purchase after security to carry on, you pay extra for a sealed clear bag. I saw some people carry on 4 bottles, so that might be the limit. Prices at the airport after security weren't marked up or not that much. Very surprising for an airport.

[amaxp81]

Great Report . I am going next week and am really looking forward to it. I have a question Do you have to check your rum or can you carry on? Is it a hassle to check bags on the way home?

Where all are you going? Could you also post some feedback upon your return?

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[amaxp81]

Forgot to mention, If you purchase after security to carry on, you pay extra for a sealed clear bag. I saw some people carry on 4 bottles, so that might be the limit. Prices at the airport after security weren't marked up or not that much. Very surprising for an airport.

Did they have a decent selection?

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[uscmd310]

The selection was decent for bottles $40 and under. Nonexistent for more than 40. I'd really like a few bottles of Santiago 25 this time. If you see an open bottle anywhere, don't hesitate - order a finger. It's decadent.

[uscmd310]

Santiago 11 for $40 is a must buy. Havana Club 11 Maestro is almost as good.

 

And Santiago 7 for $8 is not bad at all. I get Santiago 7 shipped for $60 to CA.