2018 Santy Blind Tasting

[El Presidente]

Havana 14th of November. 

41 members turned up to the blind tasting lunch at Santy which is becoming a tradition.

I love Santy. I love the food, I love the setting, I love the perfect balance of complexity and simplicity. 

For 40 CUC  you enjoyed a magnificent lunch of sashimi, calamari, octopus, clams, scampi, cold beers ........and a bandless cigar for the blind tasting 

I love doing blind tastings and a huge thank you to all of you who took part.  

In a Geoffrey Robertson style, I tell a story of a cigar that may be many things. everyone starts by standing and as we go through the options (cuban, non cuban, specialty or regular production,  marque, aged or young etc etc the crowd is whittled down to the winners.....or two winners on this occasion. 

I certainly don't set out to be difficult and the cigar was enjoyed b the vast majority!  

Most described it as creamy, smooth, a touch of spice, mid bodied or just a touch below. Many described it as aged. 

Upon the reveal, you could hear a little gasp go up. it couldn't be. 

But of course it could!  I have been spruiking this cigar all year as the best of the 2018 Piramides. It was also Partagas week ....no brainer 

The overall reaction ranged from  "how could such a young P2 be so good" to " that was no Partagas!" 

It is always good to challenge convention!

Congratulations to Stan and Mike. Fantastic effort 

if you have some photo's post them up! I was a tad busy on the day 

 

 

[Fuzz AI]

Typical that I got the one dud in the box! Though, I did tell people it was a bloody young cigar. Sanchez just wasn't having any luck.

[Ethernut]

So sorry I missed this! I left Havana the morning of.. 

[madandana]

You got in my brain by saying it may not be Cuban. I fell for it, thought it was a current Hamlet. Shows you how good at this I am.

I did manage to eat, drink and have a good time...That is what I’m good at ???

[Drguano]

[Corylax18]

I was too busy with the delicious cigar and seafood to take any pictures, but it was a great afternoon. Even with the 90f + temps and nearly 100% humidity it was still a beautiful day. 

@Fuzz I know you got at least 1 good shot of that shark, don't hold out on us!

[Drguano]

[Fuzz AI]

4 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

I was too busy with the delicious cigar and seafood to take any pictures, but it was a great afternoon. Even with the 90f + temps and nearly 100% humidity it was still a beautiful day. 

@Fuzz I know you got at least 1 good shot of that shark, don't hold out on us!

Been quite slack in downloading the pics off my camera and phone. Surprisingly, being away for a whole month has left a bit of a backlog at work for me!

[oliverdst]

21 hours ago, Fuzz said:

Typical that I got the one dud in the box! Though, I did tell people it was a bloody young cigar. Sanchez just wasn't having any luck.

I remember you said you could feel ammonia.

My cigar was underfilled so I couldn't show you all my blind taste skills! ?

[Corylax18]

4 hours ago, Drguano said:

There it is!

[Derrick1964]

Yeah this was a great time. It was awesome hanging out with my new FOH friends over lunch and even better afterwards at the coolest house I've ever been to in Cuba.

[Nino]

I could not, and still not believe it was a P 2 .... must have been all the seafood that ruined my palate ?

Great lunch and party - Thank you for arranging it ( and the other events at Prado 309 and Espacios ! )

[Habana Mike]

On 11/25/2018 at 8:23 PM, El Presidente said:

Havana 14th of November. 

41 members turned up to the blind tasting lunch at Santy which is becoming a tradition.

I love Santy. I love the food, I love the setting, I love the perfect balance of complexity and simplicity. 

For 40 CUC  you enjoyed a magnificent lunch of sashimi, calamari, octopus, clams, scampi, cold beers ........and a bandless cigar for the blind tasting 

I love doing blind tastings and a huge thank you to all of you who took part.  

In a Geoffrey Robertson style, I tell a story of a cigar that may be many things. everyone starts by standing and as we go through the options (cuban, non cuban, specialty or regular production,  marque, aged or young etc etc the crowd is whittled down to the winners.....or two winners on this occasion. 

I certainly don't set out to be difficult and the cigar was enjoyed b the vast majority!  

Most described it as creamy, smooth, a touch of spice, mid bodied or just a touch below. Many described it as aged. 

Upon the reveal, you could hear a little gasp go up. it couldn't be. 

But of course it could!  I have been spruiking this cigar all year as the best of the 2018 Piramides. It was also Partagas week ....no brainer 

The overall reaction ranged from  "how could such a young P2 be so good" to " that was no Partagas!" 

It is always good to challenge convention!

Congratulations to Stan and Mike. Fantastic effort 

if you have some photo's post them up! I was a tad busy on the day 

 

 

 

 

 

Was great fun and I love the Vegemite prize! Fantastic job as always, Rob!