El Presidente Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 What a difference a good night sleep makes ;-) I will discuss Havana in no particular order. Feel free to ask as many questions as you would like. On many issues, we have Habanos execs coming back to us with an answer over the coming week. The Festival Opening night Monday at the Ballet and then the Capitol Building was superb. I will not be rushing out to get season Ballet tickets but I appreciated the effort. Well done Jose Antonio Candia of Habanos Marketing on pulling it all together The cigar released on the night was the Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill. I thought it tad grubby at the time (I was a tad unwell) but I have thoroughly enjoyed a half dozen since. Sweet spice bombs. The Italian Dinner Wednesday was a dissapointment. Very light on wine accompanied by mediocre food. We sought out our own entertainment by 11pm and by 6am reviewed the decision as a very good move ;-) No new cigars were released on the night excluding the regional release (discussed below) I will leave the Gala dinner review to Ken Gargett as I needed to excuse myself early in the evening. It saw the release of the Behike 7 1/2 x 52 in only 100 Cohiba 40th Anniversary Humidors ($18000). All 4000 cigars are individually numbered and have been rolled by Norma Fernandez Sastre especially for the anniversary. I am not a lover of this concept. Ken was invited to a special dinner by Habanos Saturday night. I am sure he will fill us in when he arrives back. Regional Releases PCC : a Punch Super Robusto (6 1/8 x 50) and a Ramon Allones Estupendo (7 x 47); Timing will be last quarter of the year. France: Bolivar Libertadores (6 1/2 x 54) and Juan Lopez Obus (5 1/2 x 52); Germany: Por Larranaga Lonsdales (6 1/2 x 42) and Bolivar Colosales (6 1/16 x 50), Italy: Punch Superfinos (4 3/4 x 42). Tried one and was not over impressed. Bitter finish. Other New Releases • The Romeo y Julieta a new size the Short Churchill. This robusto, measuring 4 7/8 inches long by 50 ring, is one of the most popular sizes in the Havana range and was made in the Romeo y Julieta blend only in 2001 (as part of the Edicion Limitada series) and in 2003 (as part of the special Seleccion Robustos case). • A new production of an old style of H. Upmann humidor, filled with 50 cigars of the new factory shape “Tacos Imperiales,” a perfecto measuring 6 5/8 inches by 49 ring. Only 200 humidors will be made. • A new edition of the Coleccion Habanos – a humidor in the form of a book – will be issued for the fifth time, but the first time in two years. The line will feature the Trinidad brand for the first time, with 20 cigars of another new shape, the “Torre Iznaga” or Iznaga Tower: 6 11/16th long and 52 ring. A total of 500 boxes will be made, the same as in 2002, 2003 and 2004. • The Cohiba Siglo II (5 1/8 x 42) will be offered in aluminum tubes, styled after the Siglo VI. • An all-handmade Culebras de Partagas – three cigars entwined – will be offered for the first time since before nationalization of the Cuban cigar industry in 1960. Since then, only machine-made Culebras have been offered by H. Upmann, Romeo y Julieta and Partagas and only the latter is still in production. Each of the three cigars in the current version is 5 1/4 inches long by 33 ring, but the new handmade dimensions may be different. • The Jose L. Piedra line will add a Petit Cazadores of 4 1/8 inches by 43 ring. • The Limited Edition line of 2006 will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the introduction of the concept, re-issuing three favorites: > Cohiba Piramides (6 1/8 x 52), originally issued in 2001, in boxes of 10; > Montecristo Robustos (4 7/8 x 50), from 2000, in boxes of 25 and > Partagas Serie D No. 3 (5 5/8 x 46), from 2001, in boxes of 25. Cuba Life Worst I have ever seen it. Police crackdowns everywhere. Cuban's are seething. The opening of Cuban hospitals to Latin American patients seeking private treatment (for a hefty fee) has been the straw which has broken the camels back. Cubans necessitating operations are treated as secondary citizens. Palladars are being shut everywhere. Joint ventures encouraged through the 90's are not being extended. Casa Particulars now need to pay the Govt $150 per room per month. 11% surcharge for all Credit Card Purchasers and an 8% revaluation upwards of currency has gone a long way to kill tourism. Situation getting worse by the day. Fakes Best I have ever seen. People are so desperate in the factories many are pilfering 5-10 cigars per day. Every fake I tried was a Habanos cigar. It was never what it was promoted to be (Cohiba Robusto was a HDM epi 2/ Partagas LE Pirimide was a P2). Before you get you knickers in a knot, I try fakes to determine the quality. There is no need to include banana leaf and other crap in the fillers of the cigars. There are so many Habanos cigars coming out of the factories in rollers socks, pockets and pants that the fakes dealers do not have to resort to inferior product. Things are desperate on the streets so I don't blame them. Huge police crack down on fakes peddlers / street touts. third offence = 4 years jail. Dodgy Vendors I noticed that my comment regarding a meeting with a grey market supplier (I was approached) who showed evidence of supply to a well known internet dealer....caused some concern. Defamation laws are serious. HOWEVER if this concerns you, deal only with people who buy exclusively from the Habanos license regional dealer. You should know by now who does and who does not. ANY Retailer who states they purchase directly from Havana...IS HIGHLY SUSPECT. Lighter side to follow ;-)
Bill Hayes Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 Sounds very different to 4 years ago where you got touted every 5 metres for everything from taxi, cigar, casa particular, restaurant at my mother's house, rum, chica, taxi, cigar... Kind of sad really. Did you find out if they are releasing a Saint Louis Rey double corona and when? I'm sure there'll be lots of interest.
El Presidente Posted March 7, 2006 Author Posted March 7, 2006 Will continue to be released 2-3 times per year. In stock now I undestand.
Tampa1257 Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 " Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill. I thought it tad grubby at the time (I was a tad unwell) but I have thoroughly enjoyed a half dozen since. Sweet spice bombs. Sounds like a total different blend than the Churchill, but of course being a 50 rg would require additional leaf to create the larger ring, thus blending could not be the same. It saw the release of the Behike 7 1/2 x 52 in only 100 Cohiba 40th Anniversary Humidors ($18000). All 4000 cigars are individually numbered and have been rolled by Norma Fernandez Sastre specially for the anniversary. I agree that the concept is strictly for the Rich and Shameless, I'll never see one in person, maybe I'll be lucky to see one in the photo somewhere! Regional Releases PCC : a Punch Super Robusto (6 1/8 x 50) and a Ramon Allones Estupendo (7 x 47); Timing will be last quarter of the year. France: Bolivar Libertadores (6 1/2 x 54) and Juan Lopez Obus (5 1/2 x» 52); Germany: Por Larrañaga Lonsdales (6 1/2 x 42) and Bolivar Colosales (6 1/16 x 50), Italy: Punch Superfinos (4 3/4 x 42). Tried one and was not over impressed. Bitter finish. Are the Regional Releases coming out of PCC going to be widely available to all the vendors that are supplied by PCC? While I am sure that those stellar vendors (such as Cigar Czar) will have their ample supply to have for their customers, are the Regional Edicions going to be limited in scope like the Swiss and Italian releases have been in the past with very limited production and numbered boxes? Are the Countries receiving the Regional Releases other than PCC only going to be available at the LCDH's? • The Cohiba Siglo II (5 1/8 x 42) will be offered in aluminum tubes, styled after the Siglo VI. I believe that this cigar (as long as the Tubes are available) will be an outstanding addition to the line up! • An all-handmade Culebras de Partagas – three cigars entwined – will be offered for the first time since before nationalization of the Cuban cigar industry in 1960. Since then, only machine-made Culebras have been offered by H. Upmann, Romeo y Julieta and Partagas and only the latter is still in production. Each of the three cigars in the current version is 5 1/4 inches long by 33 ring, but the new handmade dimensions may be different. I look forward to this cigar making its comeback! Just my opinion, but with it being a Hand Made cigar now, I would expect that the availability to be a lot more readily available at the supplier and thus to those of us that have historically enjoyed this cigar. • The Jose L. Piedra line will add a Petit Cazadores of 4 1/8 inches by 43 ring. What a waste of Cuban Leaf in my opinion, many other Marcas deserve line extensions before this lackluster marca in my opinion. Cuba Life Worst I have ever seen it. Police crackdowns everywhere. Cuban's are seething. The opening of Cuban hospitals to Latin American patients seeking private treatment (for a hefty fee) has been the straw which has broken the camels back. Cubans necessitating operations are treated as secondary citizens. Each of the reports I have seen during the past year reflect the same conditions and it saddens my heart that the Cuban people have to live in this way. Fakes Best I have ever seen. People are so desperate in the factories many are pilfering 5-10 cigars per day. Every fake I tried was a Habanos cigar. It was never what it was promoted to be (Cohiba Robusto was a HDM epi 2/ Partagas LE Pirimide was a P2). Sounds like due to living conditions that this is the only way to supplement ones ability to find the funds to survive. There are so many Habanos cigars coming out of the factories in rollers socks, pockets and pants that the fakes dealers do not have to resort to inferior product. Things are desperate on the streets so I don't blame them. I do not believe that I could blame them either. Dodgy Vendors I noticed that my comment regarding a meeting with a grey market supplier (I was approached) who showed evidence of supply to a well known internet dealer....caused some concern. Rob, While it was exceptional of you to mention the fact that you were approached, I respect your decision not to publicly discredit another vendor. Thank you for taking the High Road on this matter. We all know that some of the people in this Industry do not approach this business with the same passion and Integrity as you have shown, and because of your Class and Business ethic, your total business will grow and flourish because you give as well as receive Respect from the others in the Industry as well as your loyal customers. Tampa
Bill Hayes Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 Thanks Rob, be sure to let us know if they become available as singles. Cheers. ;-)
greenpimp Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 Thanks for the writeup. I hate to hear of things getting even worse for the Cuban people. And there seems to be a continuing trend of exclusivity with new cigars that I dislike. Sounds like you guys had a pretty damn good time, though, eh?
Well Armed Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 How was the fishing? Any permit? How would you compare the guide's quality of life to that of those in Habana? While I have never been there, it seems like I would have a hard time dealing with the ways the people are treated. I would try and start a revolution. Of course I would lead a "well armed" revolution....
El Presidente Posted March 7, 2006 Author Posted March 7, 2006 » How was the fishing? Any permit? How would you compare the guide's » quality of » life to that of those in Habana? » » While I have never been there, it seems like I would have a hard time » dealing with the ways the people are treated. I would try and start a » revolution. Of course I would lead a "well armed" revolution.... Fishing was exceptional. Plenty of bonefish and the guides are top class. The guides work 3-4 days per week on rotation and will pck up $10-$30 per day on tips average. This put's them along way ahead of the average Cuban. My feelings about the Gov't are clear and I couldn't give a rat's arse what they think about it. Don't blame the Cuban people. Every aspect of their lives is under the microscope. They cannot cross the srreet without someone wanting to know where they are going.
Havana Joe Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 Thanks for the write-up Rob. I also agree 100% w/ Tampa's reply from above.
n2advnture Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 Great recap Rob Can't wait for Ken's highlights as well
Ginseng Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 Thank you for providing such a rich account of your time there. I looks forward to learning more about the regional releases. On a more somber note, the conditions that the Cuban people are subjected to is distressing. It certainly makes me consider dimensions to my hobby that I otherwise would not have reason to. Wilkey
harwellplant Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 great report, rob, and chuck's follow up was excellent. i am disheartened to hear that the economic viability of the cuban peoples is going down the tube. you can certainly understand the sock stuffing mentality, if that is the only way to put food in a child's mouth. you can't blame a starving man for stealing an apple from his neighbor's tree. other than the criminal penalties you mention rob, what internal security processes are used at the factory level to prevent product loss? do the factories rely on the authorities to capture the perpetrators after the fact, or is there a move to increse internal security to prevent the loss at the initial level? i am lookin forward to the regional releases.
1f1fan Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 Thanks for the write-up Rob. Life sounds very hard, and getting harder for the people of Cuba. It seems like the island has so much potential, great spirit, architecture, fishing and lets not forget about the cigars! What a shame.... Looking forward to the Ramon Allones Estupendo, and the Por Larranaga Lonsdales later this year. The short churchill sounds good, but why a Robusto and a Hermosos #4 in the same marca? I'll no doubt pick up a box to age/sample over the next few years, just curious.
genevapics Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 Regional Releases What exactly is the reason(s) for the Regional Releases? Is it to develop a cigar with characterisitcs that are appealing to that region? An all-handmade Culebras de Partagas. This is great news. I have never tried one and am looking forward to this immensely. Why would they release it as a hand-made instead of machine- made? Wouldn't machine-mades be faster and more economical to produce? Regardless, I am happy to see these being produced again. Cuba Life Truely sad. What is a Palladar? What is a Casa Particulars? So Cash is King? By the way, did the Aussie contingent use Aussie dollars or US dollars? Just curious. Dodgy Vendors While I would love to know, it really doesn't affect me. I buy from the BEST VENDOR in the world... Lisa & Smithy!!:-D Wonderful job El Prez. It sounds like you folks had a great time as always. I wonder though, how you are able to make so many of the afternoon workshops when you burned the midnight oil every night. Again, thank you for the information, even if though you haven't told us all of the UGLY details!
Well Armed Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 » » Fishing was exceptional. Plenty of bonefish and the guides are top class. » The guides work 3-4 days per week on rotation and will pck up $10-$30 per » day on tips average. This put's them along way ahead of the average » Cuban. That is what I figured. Every fishing guide I know usually makes A LOT more than many other of his countrymen because flats fishers are usually pretty affluent and give pretty decent tips, which can be A LOT of money to the guide. I can't wait to flats fish in Cuba.
The Privateer Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 » • The Jose L. Piedra line will add a Petit Cazadores of 4 1/8 inches by » 43 ring. » » What a waste of Cuban Leaf in my opinion, many other Marcas deserve » line extensions before this lackluster marca in my opinion. » I agree that the Piedra line certainly doesn't need any additions...they all taste so similar anyway. But I will disagree that it is a lackluster marca: it is a line that provides smokers with a cheaper alternative to the premium Cubans. I find them a great cigar for dance clubs, the beach, or anywhere that isn't conducive to smoking an expensive, complex cigar. I also enjoy them quite simply for their unique rustic flavour.
Taino Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 Rob, I would just be careful on openly state my thoughts about the Cuban government when you are doing business with them. Once they know I can assure you they don’t have the best sense of humor. First hand knowledge here.
Well Armed Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 » Rob, I would just be careful on openly state my thoughts about the Cuban » government when you are doing business with them. Once they know I can » assure you they don’t have the best sense of humor. » First hand knowledge here. Interesting....never thought of that before but I could see how you may be right. Guess I take my 1st amendment rights for granted sometimes....even though I didn't say anything.
idesign Posted March 7, 2006 Posted March 7, 2006 Hey Rob, any pictures from the trip? No need for visuals from your Malecon adventure, but anything else would be cool to see....
El Presidente Posted March 7, 2006 Author Posted March 7, 2006 » Rob, I would just be careful on openly state my thoughts about the Cuban » government when you are doing business with them. Once they know I can » assure you they don’t have the best sense of humor. » First hand knowledge here. Taino I take your point. I just have too many Cuban friends doing it tough to care any more. If direct commercial retaliation came to me then I would rather step down and hand over to Lisa than kiss their sorry arses any further. I deal with Habanos s.a. which is made up in the main of ordinary Cubans. I will say my piece as I see fit. If there is improvement for the common person then I will gladly say it. Without cigars the problems would be amplified tenfold. Tourism is down, Sugar non existent and Rum exports static.
El Presidente Posted March 7, 2006 Author Posted March 7, 2006 » Regional Releases » » What exactly is the reason(s) for the Regional Releases? Is it to develop » a cigar with characterisitcs that are appealing to that region? Not really. It is a strategy to bring back and showcase older cigars to the market and generate interest. I like the concept. In the main, the cigars being released are large format. I would love to see more differeniation and skew towards smaller formats.» » An all-handmade Culebras de Partagas. [/i]» » This is great news. I have never tried one and am looking forward to this » immensely. Why would they release it as a hand-made instead of » machine- made? Wouldn't machine-mades be faster and more » economical to produce? Regardless, I am happy to see these being produced » again. I think I propositioned the death of the machine made partagas culebra earlier (though this has not been confirmed). The packaging of the machine made did not correspond to the inexpensive price point. It would have to have been a loss maker. Hand made version at 3 times the price point solves the problem for them. » » Cuba Life » » Truely sad. » » What is a Palladar? (Private restaurant. Unable to have more than 16 seats. Not permitted to serve beef dishes. If they become too popular and hence compete with Gov't restaurants they are harrassed until shut down). » » What is a Casa Particulars? Private accommodation. Generally 3 rooms to an appartment with each room rented seperatley. Owners of appartment live on site and are responsible for monitoring guests but generally it is not intrusive. » » So Cash is King? By the way, did the Aussie contingent use Aussie dollars » or US dollars? Just curious. EURO is king. US dollars carry a 10% conversion surcharge and so are no longer used on the island. The currency is the Convertible Cuban Peso, one of which purchases aprox 1.05 Euro. Makes Cuba hellishly expensive especially given the 11.5% Credit card surcharge.» » Dodgy Vendors » » While I would love to know, it really doesn't affect me. I buy from the » BEST VENDOR in the world... Lisa & Smithy!!:-D » » Wonderful job El Prez. It sounds like you folks had a great time as » always. I wonder though, how you are able to make so many of the » afternoon workshops when you burned the midnight oil every night. » Again, thank you for the information, even if though you haven't told us » all of the UGLY details! It is universal that the best deals and closest friends are always made between 2am-6am
habanohal Posted March 8, 2006 Posted March 8, 2006 » » How was the fishing? Any permit? How would you compare the guide's » » quality of » » life to that of those in Habana? » » » » While I have never been there, it seems like I would have a hard time » » dealing with the ways the people are treated. I would try and start a » » revolution. Of course I would lead a "well armed" revolution.... » » Fishing was exceptional. Plenty of bonefish and the guides are top class. » The guides work 3-4 days per week on rotation and will pck up $10-$30 per » day on tips average. This put's them along way ahead of the average » Cuban. » » My feelings about the Gov't are clear and I couldn't give a rat's arse » what they think about it. » » Don't blame the Cuban people. Every aspect of their lives is under the » microscope. They cannot cross the srreet without someone wanting to know » where they are going. As George Bush says...... Once Castro is dead , the USA will move forces into Cuba and form a democracy. We will see what happens
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