A little time with Yolanda

[El Presidente]

 

 

[Lucas Buck]

That was fantastic! Thanks Pres. I have smoked only a handful of Yolandas but they are among my favorites and I’ve smoked bundles of just about any famed custom roller from the past 30 years that you could name. Hers have been the most elusive as I have only gotten them from friends that purchased directly from her and were understandably loathe to share many. I don’t blame them one bit!

[Ryan]

I went for a sunrise swim with Yolanda near her home in Cojimar a couple of years ago. She's great. I was surprised to meet her working in the Habana Libre a few weeks ago.

[Ryan]

She wrote a book, well, ghostwritten, about her life and cigar rolling. Worth finding.

[laficion]

Hi  Andy,

This is just great info, I wish I could get my hands on that book.

Anyway, great writeup Andy keep it up.

My best Hermano,

Guy

[Havanaaddict]

I have had the chance to enjoy some her cigars. The ones I have enjoyed the most were her Diademas and her Piramides; all have been outstanding! I have not smoked any of her cigars for many many years. I would love to try some of her Robustos!

[El Presidente]

Love her Corona. 

[Ryan]

I always liked her Lonsdales, when she was at the Melia Habana. I always brought a bundle home with me. I think I still have a few bundles of those.

She hasn't had skinny (<50 rg) cigars in a long time now, not that I've seen anyway. Recently I've been smoking her "Maravillas", 55 rg. They can be very nice. She gets very good tobacco. It's a small world. I was sitting on a farmer's porch having a cigar a few years ago when he got a phone call from Yolanda ordering tobacco. That farmer has some of the best tobacco in San Juan y Martinez.

Yolanda knows how to blend a cigar. She won't do a "make me 100 Montecristo 85th anniversary", as it's silly. Her 42 ring gauge always seemed to me to have more seco than most, always very aromatic.

She was telling me a while ago about the different ways the different strains of tobacco, criollo, corojo etc. had to be handled when rolling. Made sense but I had never heard that before.  

[Ryan]

I took this at her house last February. We were both smoking her cigars and drinking my coffee.

She seemed to like it.

[SUP8333]

Really love her Canonazos, I have gone through hundreds of custom rolls by now from at least a dozen rollers but everytime I reach to pick up one of her rolls I smile a little bit.

I know I am in for a treat. 

[Coloniales]

Always loved her Piramides and still have some Salamones. Good to know she's at Habana Libre!