Habanos Festival XIV - Havana, Cuba

// By David // On January, 10th 2012 // 11:36 am

Feb 27 - Mar 02 2012 sees the XIV Habanos Festival taking place in in Havana, Cuba. This year Habanos celebrates Cohiba and Romeo y Julieta, as well as the 520th anniversary of tobacco. Find the detailed program below and be sure to follow the festival on TopCubans.com.

Sunday 26/02

10.00-16.00 -Registration (Palacio de Convenciones)

From Monday, February 27th until March the 2nd, registration will be possible from 9 hrs to 16 hrs

Monday 27/02

9:30 -10:30 - Press conference. Handing out of the press dossier on the XIVth Festival (Hall 3, Palacio de Convenciones)

10:30-17:00 - Preliminary International Habanosommelier Contest (Hall 5)

14:00 - Trade Fair opening

14.30 - Preliminary Habanos D.O.P. / D.O.C. Vinho do Porto (Port wines) Alliance (Hall 6)

19:00 - Welcome evening - Concert: “ECLECTIC-US” by Augusto Enríquez and guests. Karl Marx Theater

20:30 - Welcome cocktail: Salón Rojo at Cristino Naranjo Club

Tuesday 28/02

07:00 - Visit to plantations in Vuelta Abajo, Pinar del Río

10:00 - Preliminary: Blind tasting of Habanos with the participation of factory tasters, sommeliers and aficionados (Hall 6)

Wednesday 29/02

10:.00-10:15 - Opening of the International Seminar (Hall 4)

10:15-11:15 - Master Lecture (Hall 4)

11:.45-13:15 - Master Class on cigar rolling technique "Totalmente a Mano" Making a Cañonazo. (Hall 3)

13:15-14:45 - Lunch at “El Bucán” restaurant

15:.00-16:30 - Flavors and Aromas: combinations of Habanos with cachaza, beer and other products

20:00 - 520 Anniversary Evening: "Bellas Artes Museum, Cuban Art Building"

Thursday 01/03

09:.00-12:00 - Visit to Habanos factories

12:30-14:00 - Lunch at El Bucán restaurant

14:00-15:30 - Final: Habanos Blind Tasting Contest (Hall 4)

15:30-17:00 - Final Habanos D.O.P. / D.O.C. Vinho do Porto (Port wines) Alliance

20:00 - Dinner offered by ICT

Friday 02/03

9:30-11:00 - International Habanosommelier Final Contest (Hall 3)

11:30-12:30 - Projection of the James Suckling and James Orr Film "Cigars: The Heart and Soul of Cuba" (Hall 1)

12:30- 13.00 - Closing of the Seminar and Trade Fair (Hall 1)
Awarding Ceremony:
- Best stand of each category
- Winner of the International Habanosommelier Contest

- Winner of the Video Contest "Habanos in Images"

- Winner of Blind Tasting Contest

13:00 - Farewel Lunch at “El Bucán” restaurant

19:00 - Gala Night: Dedicated to Romeo y Julieta PABEXPO (Hall C)

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Smokey Reflections on the Upcoming New Year

// By David & Richard // On December, 29th 2011 // 3:53 pm

Hello all! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!
Just a final entry into the blog before the year is out and what a year it has been. Undoubtedly 2012 will no doubt be as unpredictable as this year.

The end of year gives us all that opportunity to take a step back from our insanely fast-paced world and think about the important things in life. Family, friends and fun.

I know in the grand scheme of things, cigars come further down on the list of essentials in life, but I think they are an excellent antidote to the fast approaching Nanny-State we are all living in this world of ours.

We seem to have lost time for one another, preferring to be stuck on our BlackBerrys and Iphones every spare second we have. Our fondest memories are the ones where we take time to spend with each other and what better way than to have a fine Cuban cigar for this. I am of the firm believe that the best cigar moments are when smoking among friends - atmosphere and good company round off a good cigar perfectly. We are very lucky to be in the business of making people happy and contributing to helping making those moments magical. Long may it continue! Bonne Année!

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Christmas Smoking Cubans on TopCubans.com

// By David // On November, 22nd 2011 // 11:23 am

Look out for the start of our annual Christmas Offers. So visit when you can and fill up your stockings with all the wonderful Christmas smoking spirit found on TopCubans.com

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Game Recipe

// By Richard // On October, 21st 2011 // 5:51 pm

The season for pheasant is from the end of September to the end of January, but it is available frozen all year. Pheasant is high in protein, low in fat and cholesterol, and ideal for juicy pot-roasting.

Ready in 1 hour 20 mins
Saved by 4 cook(s)
Ingredients
Serves: 4

1 head of celery
70g (2½ oz) walnuts, chopped
100g (3½ oz) fresh white breadcrumbs
2 pheasant or chicken livers, chopped
Finely grated zest and juice of
1 unwaxed lemon
Salt and black pepper
1 egg white
2 pheasants, about 675g (1lb 8oz) each
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
15g (½ oz) butter
55g (2oz) pearl barley
1 bay leaf
2 slices of streaky bacon, halved
250ml (9fl oz) chicken stock

Preparation method
Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 1 hour
1. Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F, gas mark 4). Finely chop 1 large celery stick and mix with half the walnuts, the breadcrumbs, livers and lemon zest, with salt and pepper to taste. Add enough egg white to bind the mixture, then use to stuff each pheasant cavity.
2. Heat the oil and butter in a large, flameproof casserole, add the pheasants and cook over a medium heat until lightly browned. Remove the casserole from the heat and remove the pheasants to a plate.
3. Cut the remaining celery into thick slices and add to the casserole with the pearl barley, remaining walnuts and bay leaf. Place the pheasants on top and lay the bacon slices across the breasts.
4. Add the lemon juice and stock with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to the boil, cover, then transfer to the oven for 50-60 minutes, until the pearl barley is tender and the pheasant is cooked through. Serve at once.

Enjoy and Bon App!

Richard and David (who is a bit a lousy cook!)

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Habanos S.A. or not Habanos S.A. - is there even a question?

// By Richard // On September, 27th 2011 // 4:20 pm

I am sure you have noticed the recent increase of Cuban cigar sites claiming to be based in and shipping out of the Swiss Free Zone and yet, have their Sales or Administrative offices in another country. You must be wondering how big the Free Zone is here in Geneva with all the new sites that keep popping up every day. Believe me, I am the most surprised and the most frustrated by this worrying trend. What these new sites are not saying or omitting to say, is where and how they get their supply of Cuban cigars. Let us remember a very simple fact. Habanos S.A. distribute their cigars onto the world market through regional Importers. These Importers are contracted to distribute locally. Every region of the world has an Official Importer (the most recognizable being InterTabak (Switzerland), Altadis S.A. (Spain & France), Hunters & Frankau (UK) or Havana House (Canada), see Habanos S.A. site for full list of world Importers). A cigar merchant who is an official Habanos S.A. retailer is obliged to get their Cuban cigars supplied through these Official Regional Habanos S.A. Importers. This is regulated by a very simple factor, the cigar merchant must be located in the country where they are supplied (not in a free zone, as these areas are not and cannot by supplied by the Regional Importers). Any sites claiming to be based in the free zone of a country in not being supplied by a Habanos S.A. Regional Importer. This naturally begs the question; where are these cigars coming from? I mention all this as recently I have had a number of new Members asking me why we are so much more expensive that other sites based in Switzerland. I turn the question around, how do these new sites who claim to be in Switzerland, sell their cigars so much cheaper than all the established Swiss Official Habanos S.A. sites and more worryingly, why do these new sites claim to be Official Habanos S.A. retailers, when clearly they cannot be?

originally posted Oct 2008

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Updated - Habanos price rises

// By David // On August, 13th 2011 // 2:50 am

Well folks, it has finally come. We have managed to put it off for a number of years now, but there will be a price increases on Cuban cigars this summer. Habanos S.A. keep raising their prices (around 5% a year) and we must now follow. This situation has been amplified by Habanos S.A. promising more cigars to the new markets without producing more stock. The result is an additional price rise on the products due to lack of supply. We have fought long and hard to keep our prices stable, but this correction is now unavoidable. We will keep you informed of when these new prices will come into effect. My recommendation, stock up now while the prices are good and the choice is complete!

Date has been finalized - Price rises will come into effect as of Monday 22nd August on TopCubans.com

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TopSmoking at the Moment

// By David & Richard // On August, 12th 2011 // 3:42 pm

Hi everyone - hope everyone has been enjoying the Summer holidays. I know the weather has been up and down in Europe and then scorching in other parts of the world so hard to generalise. Winter of course for our Southern Hemisphere friends!

Just a check in with you to share what myself and Richard feel are smoking great at the moment, the ones which suit this relaxing time of year. The Cohiba Behikes of course are going from strength to strength. Voted the best cigar of 2010 from Cigar Aficionado, they are a masterclass in construction, and pace superbly well over one of the most pleasant hours one could take.

Another excellent limited edition smoke is the Ramon Allones Superiores which is proving very popular having only been online for a few weeks now. Box of 10 for these Corona Gordas they are very tasty indeed!
Finally for an inexpensive smoke for a nice sunny day out by the pool or to take on your holiday, try the Hoyo de Monterrey "Du" series of which there are several brands to take your fancy. Some of these are not the regular size of cigars one might be used to but they have a special kind of flavour any open minded smoker would be curious to search out. The Du Maire in particular is smoking really well.

Enjoy browsing the site and I wish you all continued enjoyment of smoking the very best Cuban cigars!

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Ich bin ein Barbequer

// By David // On May, 17th 2011 // 11:26 am

"Ich bin ein Barbequer"

Whether you are smoking, baking or braising, the month of May is the beginning of the BBQ season. A favorite here at TopCubans.com, the BBQ season is the ideal excuse to light up a fat Cuban cigar to slowly enjoy throughout an afternoon. Do not risk being disappointed; consult the TopCubans.com BBQ procedure –

1. The woman buys the food.
2. The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables and makes dessert.
3. The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill - Habano in hand.

Now, here comes the important part:

4. THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.

Back to the routine...
5. The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.
6. The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is looking great. He thanks her and asks if she will another Cuban while he flips the meat.

Important again:

7. THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN.

More routine...
8. The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauces and brings them to the table.
9. After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.

And most important of all:

10. Everyone PRAISES the MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts.
11. The man asks the woman how she enjoyed ' her night off ', and, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing some women!

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Problems at Habanos

// By Richard // On May, 04th 2011 // 12:14 pm

An interesting article recently appeared in the Economist (Smoked Out, 28th April) talking about the numerous problems that currently face Habanos S.A., internally and externally. Although we all suspected that corruption was rife and understood that the production of fakes and back-door-stock in Cuba and abroad was a real issue, it the scale of the problem that is worrying, to say the least. Habanos's Vice-President is now in jail in Cuba on massive corruption charges. The pushing of fakes/back-door-stock is in itself a problem for any smoker or cigar merchant, but the possible reasons put forward in the article behind this production and distribution of fakes/back-door-stock may hide larger, darker reasons. Suggestions of underhand selling of genuine Habanos S.A. stock by Habanos staff 'at a fraction of their normal price to black market distributors in the Caribbean in return for bribes' (up to 45m cigars), has resulted in a market confusion as to the true value of a Cuban cigar. One cannot and must not trust the prices of a shop/site that is pushing parallel distribution products (if you do, you are contributing to the overall problem). The article rightly points out that many online cigar retailers have contributed to this confusion by selling Cubans at 'improbably low prices', a point we have been trying to make on TopCubans.com for a number of years. One can only wonder (or now make an educated guess) where these types of shops/sites get their supply. All this brings us back to the basics. Cuban cigars remain a luxury product and luxury products cost, like it or not. If you want to be sure that your hard earned cash does not go up in imitation smoke, stay away from 'hard discount' Cuban cigars shops/sites. If the deal seems too good to be true, chances are that it will be too good to be true!

Please do not misunderstand me, I'm not saying everyone should only buy from TopCubans.com (there are many excellent web-based shops who work hard to promote the product and inform their clients), I have nothing against fair competition (it makes us all work harder to give you better service and choice of product), but take the time to inform yourself properly before committing. Too cheap - stay away. Price inconsistencies across products - stay away. Irregular supply of standard stock or very few products available (Habanos S.A. carry +/-350 cigar products) - stay away. Unable to contact the retailer or no communication - stay away. Its a complicated game, but with a little common sense and 'head over heart' thinking ($50 savings at purchase becomes a significant loss if you are not smoking the genuine article) you can enjoy Cuban cigars in all confidence. I do encourage you to read the full article and take from it what you will.

Enjoy,
Richard

You can see:
Smoked Out - The Economist Article 28th April

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Easter smoking

// By David // On April, 15th 2011 // 6:28 pm

Easter/Passover is a peaceful time for those in search of the ultimate smoke. Find your own get away spot this Easter/Passover, to experience solo bliss. And to make the weekend smoke even better, we are offering you a cheque for $30 to spend on TopCubans.com over the Easter/Passover period*. Simply enter the promotional code, EasterTop11 in the ‘Promotional Claim Code field’ in step 4 of the order process and take advantage of an immediate rebate of $30.

Enjoy,
Happy smoking,
David and Richard

(*Conditions: can be used once per order, minimum order $250. Offer runs through 25th April, midnight local time. Please do not ask for extensions, as this is a time limited offer, therefore no extensions will be given)

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