New on TopCubans.com - Romeo y Julieta Reserva Cosecha 2008

// By David // On April, 19th 2013 // 11:13 am

Romeo y Julieta Reserva Cosecha 2008

For all collectors of Cuban cigars, there are certain items that get you that little bit more excited. There are the Edicion Limitada’s which are very popular, then there are the Reserva Series cigars!

The first of this series released in 2003 was the Cohiba Reserva Seleccion. Since then we have had the Partagas in 2005, the Montecristo in 2007 and now the new Romeo y Julieta production from 2012. The all new Romeo y Julieta Cosecha 2008 released in 2012 will be as popular, if not more due the popularity of the Churchill size. Produced with tobacco harvested in 2008 and carrying the black and silver second ‘Reserva’ band, the Romeo y Julieta Cosecha 2008 was only released in 5000 numbered units of 20 cigars. Collectors out there, hear this call!

Habanos Releases for 2013 announced

// By David // On March, 12th 2013 // 10:07 am

Find below the list of expected Habanos releases for 2013 so far announced -

Regular Production -

Montecristo Petit No. 2
Montecristo Double Edmundo
Vegueros Tapados
Vegueros Entretiempos
Vegueros Mañanitas

Grand Reserve Series -

Partagás Gran Reserva

Limited Edition Series -

Hoyo de Monterrey Edición Limitada
Punch Edición Limitada
Romeo y Julieta Edición Limitada

Regional Edition Series -

Rafael González Edición Regional German
El Rey del Mundo Edición Regional Cuba
Bolívar Edición Regional Switzerland

Program for the XVth Habanos Festival announced

// By David // On February, 18th 2013 // 5:12 pm

From Tuesday February 26th to Saturday March 2nd, 2013, Cuba, once more, will be the venue of the largest international gathering of enthusiasts of the best cigar in the world: the Habano. In this occasion, special tribute will be paid during the event Montecristo and Partagás, two of the most prestigious Habanos brands.

The participants, coming from more than 70 different countries, will have the pleasure of enjoying in exclusive the new vitolas to be launched by Habanos s.a. in 2013, and of discovering the roots and secrets of centuries-long tradition. Habanos, S.A. invites you to enjoy a week of pleasure and delight among the friends who have one thing in common: the passion for Habanos.

The Habanos Festival program offers its traditional activities during this unforgettable week, such as:

Visits to the best tobacco plantations in Vuelta Abajo, Pinar del Rio
Visits to emblematic Habanos factories
Trade Fair
Seminars
Tastings and marriages
International Habanosommelier Contest
Master Class on the cigar rolling technique
Habanos Blind Tasting

As a novelty, a Cooking Show named ¨Tobacco and Gastronomy¨ will be held live. Prestigious international Chefs will prepare Haute Cuisine exclusive recipes using Cuban tobacco.

The Habanos DOP- Rioja DOCa Alliance will be a major moment of this 15th Festival. They are historical Denominations of Origin, but both keep on setting trends and renew themselves constantly.

This year, the International Contest "Habanos in Images" will be dedicated to Photography.

The opening event will take place exceptionally this year on Tuesday, February 26th 2013. The Welcoming Evening will be dedicated to the Montecristo brand and will be held at the historic Morro Fortress in La Habana.

On Thursday, February 28th there will be a dinner organized to pay tribute to the Vegueros, - Cuban tobacco farmers- without whom Habanos would not exist.

The closing of the Festival will take place on Saturday, March 2nd , with the Gala Dinner dedicated to Partagás brand, and the Traditional Humidor Auction to the benefit of the Cuban Public Health System.

www.Habanos.com

You can see:
Habanos S.A.

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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David's Best cigars of 2010

// By David // On January, 14th 2011 // 2:10 pm

2010 was a fantastic year for Cuban cigars with productions of excellent quality both in smoke and construction. A large number of new and varied items have brought a wave of new aficionados who are discovering the joys of the Habano. Several smokes have marked me personally during the past year.

Trinidad Robustos T
Montecristo Open Regata
Cohiba Behike 54
Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills
El Rey del Mundo Elegantes Swiss Regional Production 2010
Trinidad Short Robustos T Edicion Limitada 2010
Partagas Series D Especiales Edicion Limitada 2010

All have impressed by their blend or potential. Like all great Cubans, these cigars will only get better with time in the humidor.

The Edicion Limitada 2010 are coming

// By Richard // On May, 12th 2010 // 11:17 am

The much anticipated 2010 Edicion Limitada cigars from Habanos will be on the market very soon. This Limitada series has become more and more popular since its introduction 2000 and the new sizes will no doubt be a big success again this year -

Montecristo Grand Edmundo - 52 ring gauge, 15 cm - box of 10 cigars

Trinidad Short Robustos T - 50 ring gauge, 10.2 cm - box of 12 cigars

Partagas Serie D Especial - 50 ring gauge, 14.1 cm - box of 10 cigars

Cohiba Behike

// By Richard // On May, 10th 2010 // 11:48 am

Habanos have announced the imminent release of the much anticipated new Cohiba Behike line, billed as being the most exclusive cigars ever produced. The new series will be available in 52, 54, and 56 ring gauge and will be released in boxes of 10 cigars. Each cigar has a specially created band which contains a hologram. These will not be cheap, but will be well worth the investment. Initial feedback from fellow smokers who have sampled these cigars is excellent. We can expect exceptional cigars. Collectors and smokers alike, this is one not to be missed. TopCubans.com hope to have an initial batch of these in the next week or so.

You can see:
Habanos on the Behike

What makes a great smoke?

// By Richard // On February, 01st 2010 // 2:50 pm

Having just reviewed our favorite smokes of 2009, the questions begs; how do you rate a great cigar? Is a great cigar a cigar that is expensive, rare or produced in very limited quantities? Does it's intended status of rare or limited guarantee it to be a great cigar? My personal belief is no. I have smoked many cigars that were produced in very limited series or were only produced for one specific event (Dinner of the Century, Habanos Festival, etc..) and they have not been great smokes and in many cases, these tended to be pretty average smokes. Does a properly aged cigar guarantee a great smoke? Again, difficult to say yes or no. The positive side is that when you smoke an aged cigar you will get the bouquet intended by the blend master when the blend was developed. But most people palates are not tuned to the subtlety of aged blends and find them light and lacking in depth. An aged cigar can be frustrating as they often suffer from draw problems. The criteria we used for classifying a great smoke is simple; Was it a memorable smoking occasion? I believe that the cigar itself is one aspect of this experience and it is the environmental influences that make the smoke great or not. I have smoked many regular production cigars that have been memorable experiences because of whom I smoked with and where and why I was smoking. On the other hand I have smoked special cigars (limited lines or aged) that have given me the ultimate 'Cigar smoke'. My belief is that there are special cigars and that there are special smokes. Both bring different pleasures and both could qualify as being great. Your memory will dictate which of the above ticks the boxes for your idea of great. Give us your thoughts.

Cohiba Gran Reserva

// By Richard // On October, 30th 2009 // 1:59 pm

Now Available on TopCubans.com!!!!

The Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva

Factory size (Vitola de Galera): Cañonazo, ring 52 x 150mm
Comercial Name (Vitola de Salida): Cohiba SigloVI Gran Reserva 2003
Presentation: 5000 numbered boxes containing 15 cigars, double banded Cohiba and Gran Reserva

'Habanos S.A is pleased to present the "Gran Reserva", launched for the first time ever in "Cohiba", the most prestigious premium cigar brand in the world. It is the first ever Habanos Gran Reserva elaborated with the best Cuban tobacco leaves from San Juan y Martínez and San Luis harvested in 2003, and carefully aged for five years before reaching the cigar rollers hands. The eagerly awaited Cohiba Gran Reserva reaches finally the most select markets in the World. This first ever Habanos Gran Reserva enhances the unique character of Habanos as a “Denominacion de Origen Protegida” (protected Denomination of origin). The Gran Reserva concept means the best of what Habanos has ever made. The best Cuban tobacco leaves harvested in 2003 have been selected, fermented and inspected for a long period of five years. All the leaves used to make up a Habano -the wrapper, the filler and the binder have undergone this meticulous 5 year process. Those precious leaves, after five years of care, are then laid in the skillful hands of Cohiba´s expert Cuban cigar-rollers at "El Laguito" factory in order to create this exquisite Habano for the most distinguished smokers. Furthermore, the emblematic vitola "Siglo VI" (girth 52 x 150mm length) has been chosen for the production of this first Habanos Gran Reserva. Every part of the process respects the criteria that one would demand of such a unique product. From the careful process of fermentation using the best tobacco from San Juan, Martinez and San Luis, to the exquisite blend selection process supervised by 50 testers, all elements are checked to combine so as to respect the unique character of Cohiba.'

Habanos.com

You can see:
Habanos S.A.
C.A.'s James Suckling rates the Cohiba Gran Reserva 100/100

A drop in quality for the Cuban cigar?

// By Richard // On August, 27th 2009 // 9:55 am

The Cuban cigar has had its up's and down's over the years, no one can deny that. Everyone can remember the end of the 90's and a real drop in construction quality due to rushed and over production. Certain year's have had better or worse quality harvests caused by a numbers of factors, leading to certain year's productions being superior, almost wine like Millesimes. That said, the undeniable quality of Cuban tobacco consistently gives us cigars of character with complex and sophisticated blends matched by no other. We are experiencing an interesting period in Habanos's history, as the Cuban tobacco giant tries to adapt its production to the wishes and needs of the modern smoker. On the one hand we are getting fantastic new sizes, exciting new blends and regular supply of the full Habanos catalogue, on the other we are noticing slight problems with rolling. The economic situation has hit Cuba too, with factories closing for part of the Summer. Is this slight fumble in quality caused by these factors only, hard to tell. One thing is for sure, now is the time to rely on your official Habanos retailer. Only an official Habanos retailer will perform all the necessary checks on your cigars to assure you a quality smoke, as well as guarantee the origin of the product. The black mark in all this is the sad reality that the market is still being flooded by second rate copy cigars introduced by so-called cigar merchants, unfortunately many of them claiming to be based in Geneva's Free zone (stay well away form any site who claims this!!!). These 'pushers' who claim they are selling Cuban cigars could be the reason for the general impression of a drop in quality of Cuba cigars. Help save the Cuban cigar by saying no to these thieves. Our passion is being ruined by a bunch of lowly con men. Let's not let this happen! Give us your thoughts.

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