havana day 2 and a scoop!

[Ken Gargett]

things have slowed a little. breakfast day one saw all seven of us - one still to arrive - bounce down early, all bubbling with anticipation. day two had three of us straggle down late looking for little more than a lot of coffee. the rest yet to be sighted.

the most exciting news for cigar lovers, although it will come as a shock to most of our little group that the antics of a bunch of idiots let loose from home on the far side of the planet that we are not the major interest for you, is that we stumbled across what looks to be a fabulous new cigar - the partagas series p number 2???. at the moment, best we could ascertain (as most of the habanos staff had no idea it even existed) is that this pyramid-shaped cigar will be released in may or thereabouts in boxes of ten. we are angling for a sneak taste/peak and if we succeed, you´ll be the first to know.

kicked off yesterday by heading back to the r & j factory where we first saw the new cigar. the factory visit is always a fascinating experience. each time i have managed one, the most obvious thing is the improvements in quality control. all 25 million cigars rolled at the r & j factory now are tested on the draw machine (this terrifies rob as half his business will be out the window if he is no longer able to sell plugged cigars to the likes of me). there are many other small measures being put in place - all good news.

a few older releases had made the shelves in the 24 hours since we first visited but more on these in the review section as we work our way thru.

then back to havana vieja and further inspection of the bars. we split, unintentionally, but it is a small place and both groups found ourselves in the hotel ambos - an old hemingway haunt and looking fantastic, if very un-ernest-like, since the renovation. authorities are slowly working their way through the district with an overhaul and it is making a great improvement.

lunch at the no-name bar (we call it that because altho it does have a name, we can never remember it after we have been there), then down to the commodoro and hotel melia to check it out and it too, has had considerable improvement in recent months. the habanos store at the melia is a favourite. service is fantastic and sliding into those huge old armchairs with a cigar and an old rum is one of the great pleasures of visiting havana.

dinner at another favourite - el ajibe - famous for its signature chicken dish but the surprise was finally getting into the wine cellar. previous visits had hinted that there was some good wine hidden away but we had no idea. they have over 600 different labels in a temperature controlled cellar (set at 16 degrees). wines include old petrus, sass and much, much more. prices are very reasonable. then to the bars of havana vieja and a lot of fun. fortunes told (and lost); visits arranged to see fidel (in the light of day, that seems possibly less likely than it did at three o´clock last night); races around the streets in coco-taxis with locals who think they are the next michael schumacher; jazz clubs; and then a pizza-selling karaoke bar. the rest stays on tour.

kbg

[Tampa1257]

Great New on the Partagas SD P # 2, a friend of mine that lives in Hong Kong was just able to pick up a pre-release box of 25 and shared the photos with several of us, and they do look wonderful. He could not resist and tried one and is quoted as saying they taste like a cross inbetween a PSD4 and a Lusi, to me that is a wonderful mixture and I look forward to obtaining some.

Thanks for the update!

Tampa

[Curmudgeon]

» we stumbled across what looks to be a fabulous new cigar

» - the partagas series p number 2???. at the moment, best we could

» ascertain (as most of the habanos staff had no idea it even existed) is

» that this pyramid-shaped cigar will be released in may or thereabouts in

» boxes of ten.

Scoop?! Lisa has known about these since for two days!;-)

[First Lady]

Yes you are correct. I have a way of finding these things out ;-) We should have them in Australia around the end of April but hopefully sooner. I will use that art of persuasion (ring up every day until they are sick of me) so that hopefully they might come sooner.

BTW I think that Rob's so called research and fact finding mission he is having way too much fun Hmmmmmmm:lookaround:

The First Lady

[ALB]

You lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky.... all the great memories of Havana Vieja are flooding back as I read the diary. Ambos Mundos was a great place to stay, especially fun when all the night staff offer to sell you some of Cohiba's finest (Esplendidos) for cheap ("my uncle works in factory etc"). Pretty friendly staff, but as with most things in Cuba not to fast to fix things (4 days of cold showers!!)

Look forward to hearing about the new Partagas, although I guess the First Lady is the one to give all the details.

[Ken Gargett]

hey, we thought it was a scoop. rob had no idea and nor did anyone else we spoke to. this is just one more reason why rob has been deposed as tour leader.

[First Lady]

I beleive that it was to be announced this week in Cuba but our knowledgable forum members are in the golden circle and are one up before everyone else. Hmmm boy does it feel good to know before Rob for once :wink:

TFL

[BoliDan]

I can always tell when KG is writing on his phone, because capitalisation and punctuation is out the window. His articles are masterful and then there are casual posts like this. 🤣🤣

Ken knows I jest. But, yes

[Fuzz]

[westg]

🤔

[Ken Gargett]

16 hours ago, BoliDan said:

I can always tell when KG is writing on his phone, because capitalisation and punctuation is out the window. His articles are masterful and then there are casual posts like this. 🤣🤣

Ken knows I jest. But, yes

i think fuzz is correct. can't believe that this is resurrected.

however, i never write on the phone. i do thank you for the kind words but i honestly didn't even know i could post using a phone. i have never gone onto foh by phone. not sure i can with those vpn thingees. 

what i sometimes do, if it is to be a longer post, is do it in docs and then transfer it. but never the phone. 

[BoliDan]

Absolutely. I feel that too, as I'm expected to write perfect memos at work, but on the phone is devil may care. I recognize my mistakes afterwards, and am like "I hate phones". I get that

[westg]

19 hours ago, BoliDan said:

Absolutely. I feel that too, as I'm expected to write perfect memos at work, but on the phone is devil may care. I recognize my mistakes afterwards, and am like "I hate phones".

Yep. Me as well so much on the phone. Proof read then post ..read again again 10 mins later. Edit...sausage fingers that is my excuse!