El Presidente Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Monday was a glorious day for the first official day of the festival which was to culminate in the release of the new Montecristo Open line ( Eagle, master, junior, regatta) at that nights gala festivities (Karl Marx theatre followed by cocktails at the magnificent Havana Club overlooking the beach). I was feeling particularly seedy this morning but caught up with Arthur in the Nacional courtyard where we also ran into Toby (Cuban Travel expert) who I appear to run into everywhere in Havana. Our intent was to get Arthur to the El Moro castle so he could get a feel of the Havana landscape. ¨For the next 3 hours Toby drove us around showing some off some old favourites as well as showing me some places I had never seen. Fantastic fun had by one and all until Toby´s office called to let him know Transtur (national Govt Transport Operator) had cancelled a pick up of two of his clients to Trinidad (4 hrs away) due to the fact that…..wait for it…..¨they had run out of gasoline¨. Toby´s clients had already been waiting a couple of hours. Welcome to Cuba! Lovely bottle of wine with Arthur and Toby and one of the best Hamburgers I have ever had…Cuba or elsewhere. Little café bar opposite the Melia Habana which was handy given Toby had to get back to the office and the Robaina Divan was across the road. As is often the case in this particular week the Divan was packed to the rafters so I took Arthur to a little cigar shop on the Commodoro strip. This is a beautiful place where Ken once fell in love and Dean inspected womens Dolphin Tatoos on the premise he worked at Sea World as a Dolphin trainer. Hell…it worked! Bottle of wine and a fine couple of Monte 3´s watching the pretty girls walk by and we headed back to the hotel to get changed for the theatric opening of Montecristo Open …and it was Theatric! If you don´t already know it, we needed a line of cigars which celebrates racehorsing, big boats, golf and fast cars. Jose Candia did a great job with a beautiful slick production which ran for 40 minutes. If the cigars were half as good I would have been thrilled. So the Open was launched to the world and a few thousand people headed to the beach club to try them out. I tried two of the four. The large ¨´Eagle¨´ and the Regata. Let me be diplomatic. I would change the name to ¨Monte Light ¨ The cigars were young and essentially flavourless. True, in 12 months they may change into something decent but I suspect there is more chance of Ken being married by the time I return home next week. Maybe Monte Light is being too harsh. The cigars would be a fine line extension for Guantanamera…..perhaps ¨´Guantanamera Fuerte¨ While the cigars were disappointing, the party was flat out and I had a ball running into so many old and new friends. The booze ran out at 11 pm and so we headed out to await our driver at the entrance. The police were all in peak harassment mode but I gave one of them the Monte Light Junior and he was thrilled. It dawned on me then that this cigar is perfect to give away to people you don´t particularly wish to see again. Sometime near 5am we finished. The chief topic of conversation during the early hours was where in Hades is Habanos going with this. I and others might be wrong and I hope we are. I wish HSA the best with it but I am looking forward to the launch of the Trinidad Robusto Wednesday when we might see a real cigar. I need to find a keyboard with all the keys. I need one of Lisa´s hugs. Having a ball. Arthur still hasn´t seen El Moro.
rckymtn22 Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Mr Suckling gave the Eagle "92 points, unblind" and the Master "90 points". + the usual hint of cedar I think I know who I believe more! Keep the info flowing! Good stuff!
nocsious Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Someone is not telling the truth and I don't think it's the president. I was reading Sucklings blog and he scored the Master and Eagle 90 and 92. What a joke.
SmokinAl Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Onya Pal, sounds like you're having a great time. All is well on the home front although Smith and I have pretty much cleared out your cellar. Give Arty my best.
jdbrown Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Rob, Sounds like you wont need much inventory of the new Monte line. Just hope the Trinidad Robusto has some nuts!
demiurgic Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Excellent stuff Mr. Havana Correspondent!~ Looking forward to your thoughts on the Trini Robusto. Cheers! Dem
terrantheman Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 I think you need to somehow get Arthur to El Morro!
Guest rob Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Well written update mate. Very entertaining! Viva El Moro.
sounddust Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Great report Rob. Christoph Wolters also gave the Open a big thumbs down on his great blog. In it, he also mentioned that neither himself nor Simon Chase could understand what was the bloody point of a "lighter" Montecristo. I concur with their sentiment, especially with the recent launch of the San Cristobal marque.
Lanthor Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Glad you are enjoying yourself and thanks for allowing us to image what such a trip would be like (well those of us whose government won't let us go anyway).
Colt45 Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Thanks for the report. Send back some Monte Opens for Smithy and Al to review - they deserve it.........
BobLobLaw Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 It dawned on me then that this cigar is perfect to give away to people you don´t particularly wish to see again. Great line. Thanks for the updates!
Tampa1257 Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 From the initial report that HSA was thinking about launching a "Monte Sport", all the people that knew cigars was saying that the idea of a "Light" Monte was a BAD Idea. Sucking telling the world he would rate those things 90 and 92 is yet another sign that Suckling would not know a good cigar if it was to hit him up side the head. Someone that should meet up with Ken's Bruce friend. Sounds like Jose did an excellent job, too bad he did not have a product worth all the effort he put in. The Trinidad Robusto sounds like a cigar that will be interesting. If it has the umph a Reyes has, then watch out. If it is lighter than air like the Robusto Extra, then it will be a total waste of time IMHO.
Fatcigar Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Great write-up as always, El Plez !! Monte Open is an probably a NC invasion for US marketplace, lighter smokes like Davi, DR-production etc...LOL Heard from rumour that HSA will launch a sample-tasting version of one stick each from all current year's ERs in a nice box presentation (similar to Xth Habanos Festival black box), hope that will surface ????
asmith Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Thanks for the report. Send back some Monte Opens for Smithy and Al to review - they deserve it......... I think we did that review yesterday??? I will post the ERDM Choix Supreme review tonight very interesting and similar to the Monte Light range.
Jimmy2 Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Man i am hung over bad hell i am still drunk ...LOL
laficion Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 You did It again , El Prez, great writeup. Too bad about the Montes, seems that they could have done better. I guess we'll have to see how they will do in about a year or more. I'm sure It won't be long before you'll be going to Conde villanueva for a great custom rolled cigar and a relaxing drink in the beautifull outside courtyard. That should make you forget the poor smokes. I hope you will make it to El Moro,( great little shop there too). As for J.S. I think a nuff is a nuff
anacostiakat Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Asmith when you coming to NYC buddy ? Rob should send you up my way for the summer you have lot of fans in NYC... Your a star my little WOKIE... Jimmy you are scaring me. . .
Freefallguy Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 I suspect there is more chance of Ken being married by the time I return home next week. You realise then that his wife would be a Kiwi... poetic justice indeed! Great reading my friend, rock on.
strayvector Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Thanks for the report and allowing us to live vicariously through you.
stargazer14 Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Keep 'em coming Rob, we all really appreciate the reports.
Ginseng Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 The Trinidad Robusto sounds like a cigar that will be interesting. If it has the umph a Reyes has, then watch out. If it is lighter than air like the Robusto Extra, then it will be a total waste of time IMHO. I agree. Still, I think I would have preferred a coronas gordas. Wilkey
jwm8592 Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Thanks for touching base El Presidente, sounds like a good is being had by all, especially Mr. Suckling Keep up the great reporting and I see your work hours are similar to the hours kept in OZ. On with the show!
chrisguinther Posted February 25, 2009 Posted February 25, 2009 Enough with the line extensions. Just give me some consistent Monte. 2's instead.
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