Today I received my box of Cohiba Behike 3 sampler and took a video and some pictures. I must say the box and the cigars are outstanding. Next post I will write a review. Here after pictures is a little description from La Casa Del Habanos Website about Behike:
“BHK 52, BHK 54 y BHK 56.Cohiba Behike, whose production will be extremely limited, incorporates for the first time in the blend of its three vitolas the tobacco leaf called “medio tiempo” that grants it exceptional character and flavor. Each and every one of Cohiba Behike Habanos also incorporates a band with two holograms for security identification.”
While traveling for business in Cancun after speaking to the hotel concierge about visiting La Casa Del Habanos he told me that there is a restaurant in the outskirts of Cancun called Cohiba Atmosphere which I never knew existed. Cohiba Atmosphere is a cigar club and restaurant with Art Deco design in Cancun geared towards cigar lovers. It has a walk-in humidor with lockers, a lounge area and a restuarant with patio and live Cuban music.
Manager, George was generous to offer me a Cohiba Robusto
The building is beatiful from outside and inside. That night they offered a 5 course meal and Live Cuban music which made the scene very relaxing. The manager was called George and gave us a great service. I took a video from the restaurant and the humidor as well as George explaining his restaurant in English and Spanish. Enjoy
This summer I decided to go to Santa Clara and relax for a week in one of the resorts and enjoy some Cuban music and Cuban Cigars. Santa Clara is famous for Che Guevara museum and the revolution battleground.
Upon arrival at the resort, I light up a Cohiba Siglo I right at the entrance. I immediately noticed that cigars taste better in Cuba as the humidity makes the flavor rounder and somewhat sweeter. The resort was great including its beaches as I always say, Cubans have one the most beautiful beaches in the world. Next day I went to the tourist information desk and asked the tour operator about Santa Clara Tours and Cigar Factory. He mentioned I can go with the bus with rest of the people or get a taxi, round trip which gives us a private tour with less price for 5 people. We signed up and next morning we left early in the day.
Our tour guide, Livan, was waiting for us in Santa Clara city center and took us around the churches and important buildings. At the local church I noticed this Cuban guy smoking cigar which I took a quick picture.
The local church kept birth certificates from 1700s.
After the city tour we headed for the cigar factory in Santa Clara which apparently makes 33 brands from rolling to boxing. Unfortunately I was not able to take pictures in the factory so instead I decided not to worry about the pictures and enjoy the environment. Upon entering the factory, this beautiful aroma of cedar and Cuban leaf just opens up your senses and creates this beautiful experience. They were rolling everything from Partagas to Cohiba including the Edition Limitadas. We walked through the rolling tables and onto the sorting, boxing and packaging and the lady showed me some of the 2010 Edition Limitadas such as Paratas Serie D and Romeo Jullieta Wide Churchils. You heard it right, Wide Churchill and not Short Churchills. After the tour was over the lady offered us some under the table cigars for $5 each which turn out to be fake.
Afterwards we head to a government store to buy Cuban cigars. Here is the video of the lady showing me the La Gloria Cubana Deleciosos which I ended up purchasing for $233. This is the first Cuban Regional Edition Cigar released in 2010 and contains 25 beautiful cigars. Rest of their selection was regular cigars which you can find everywhere but prices were excellent.
La Gloria Cubana Deleciosos Jar
Cuban Regional Edition Cigar 2010
Next, our friends asked the tour guide to find them some under table cigars from sources he has. Livan took us to this strange looking house which apparently was the fake cigar hub. The guy took out some fake cigars including some original authentic cigars which I think was stolen from the factory before their final stamp. See pictures below.
Fake House
Fake Cigars
Real Cigars
I smoked one of the fake cigars which was really bad and tasted like green leaf and one real one which was Montecristo Open Eagle which was excellent and you can see from the burn that the cigar was packed.
Overall it was a great trip and I am planning to go back in November. I will post more reviews on my trip later on.
In June I had to travel to Cancun for business for just a couple of days and same as every new city I visit, I researched about the cigar stores and cigar related destinations (if any). Cancun was not an exception. Before my trip I went to La Casa Del Habanos website at (http://www.lacasadelhabano.cu/) and checked the Mexican locations so I can pay a visit. I found there is one location in Cancun and one in Playa Del Carmen which is a small beach town close to Cancun. I managed to call the Cancun location and spoke to David, store manager/owner. I asked him about his selection and he mentioned he also has a few boxes of Edmundo Dantes EL Conde 109 left which is a Mexican regional edition cigar released in 2007 and 2008. Upon my arrival I went down to the store which is located in the middle of Zona Hotelera(Hotel Zone) in Cancun. The La Casa Del Habanos store looks very nice and it has an old authentic feel to it. See pictures below.
Selection is great and prices are 2x the Cuban prices because of local taxes and duty on imported cigars. David had a nice house cigar which was an Ecuadorian Wrapper, Cuban Filler and Binder which made it into a very nice blend. I selected a couple of Edmundo Dantes and David offered me one his house cigars to smoke right there and give him feedback. The smoke had a nice complex aroma with full body and dark chocolate finish. I definitely recommend it. David explained to me how the humidor system works and I took a short film from him explaining his system. Enjoy the short video.
I always looked forward to going to Montreal and visiting the famous La Casa Del Habanos store and have a smoke in their beautiful lounge. We had a weekend get away trip to Montreal and on the way back I made a stop in the store.
Its located in the beautiful street of Sherbrooke in Montreal. The staff was very friendly and gave me a run down of all the cigars, specially new 2009 limited and regional releases. The only thing is you must buy the cigars from their humidor in order to smoke it in the lounge which makes sense. There was also a box of new Cohiba Gran Reserva which I was only able to look and not touch. They went for $180 each single. wow.
Anyways, I picked up a Petit Robaina, new Canadian Regional Edition 2009 Release which is simply a Petit Robusto Cigar. I figured what is better than trying a cigar made for Canada in a Canadian cigar lounge.
After picking the cigar I walked into the lounge and sat down on comfy leater sofa. The lounge is done tastefully and there is lots of comfortable leather seats and other folks were having cigars and nice classic music was playing in the background. There is a full bar at the very end of the lounge which serves everything from coffee to spirits. The staff recomended a 10 year Fladgate Port to pair with the cigar which was a good choice and is my favorate drink.
I light up the cigar and I must say that Petit Robaina is one of the better Canada regional releases I have smoked e.g. Bolivar. It was a nice full body smoke with good amount of nicotine. It burned really well and the complexity was there but a little young to get them all out. Mostly tobacco flavor with hints of cedar and coffee which was balanced and tasty. The cigar went a little bitter on the last third and I had to lay it down. Overall it was a very pleasent experience smoking Petit Robaina at the La Casa lounge.
I have been to several cigar lounges in the past like the Casa Fuetne in Vegas but I really enjoyed this one. I totally recommend visiting La Casa Del Habanos cigar store/lounge if you don’t mind the high cigar prices in this store AND specially that we are not able to smoke in Toronto cigar lounges.
La Casa Toronto invites you to the last CIGAR DINNER of 2009, in the spirit of
celebration for the New Year 2010:
Date: Wednesday November 4th
Time: 6:00 PM
Place: Mambo Lounge (120 Danforth Ave., Toronto)
Price: $160.00/person (taxes and gratuities included)
The price includes welcoming Mojito, 3 course dinner and a shot of anejo Havana
Club rum, plus 3 selected premium cigars: one doble corona (49×7?) not
available in Canada (guess…), one Limited Edition of this year: Romeo y
Julieta Duke (54×5½) and one Regional Edition for Asia-Pacific: Ramon Allones
Celestiales Finos (46×5½), a variety of limited and uncommon cigars for the
Canadian market.
In addition, La Casa will select some boxes of cigars and make them available
at the event for a special price.
For reservations: please call La Casa del Habano Toronto before November 4th.
La Casa Del Habano
141 Yorkville Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M5R 1C4
Spring is in the air and days are already longer, it’s time to get out for a smoke under The Drake Hotel rooftop heaters.
Planning a casual get together to chat and have a smoke. We are getting together this Sunday, March 8th 2009, 6 PM (until late night) at The Drake Hotel heated rooftop located at 1150 QUEEN STREET W. TORONTO ONTARIO M6J 1J3.
I will also bring some extra cigars from my own humidor (on the house) for those of us who don’t have any cigars or like to experience Nicaraguan stogies, the Don Pepin Garcia black label Robusto and Tatuaje Serie P Corona Gorda.
The Drake Hotel Website:
http://www.thedrakehotel.ca/ Google map
Price: $40
Size: 5.6 x 46 (Corona Gorda)
Package: CAB of 25
Box Date: GSO FEB 07
Paired with: Coffee
As you all know by now, Cohiba is one of my favorate brands and what is better than Siglo IV to enjoy in today’s beatiful sunny day on the rooftop. I smoke these cigars when I know I have enought time to relax and appreciate the silky tatse and never smoke it if I know I have to rush it or lay it down half done. I dont specially when its cold outside since it tend to affect the taste and makes it bitter. Anyhow, this cigar has exactly 2 years of age and comes from a Cab of 25.
Pre-light:
Upon inspection I found a little crack on the foot but nothing problematic. Cigar looked amazing and upon clipping I got a decent draw just a little towards the tight side. Cold draw was very aromatic before lighting.
First third: Cigar started really full body more like a bolivar with that full finish balanced with silky tobbaco flavor and a touch of sweetness. I am delighted everytime to see the balance between power and delicate flavor. Most dominent flavor was faint cohiba grassy taste with lots of body. Such a nice balance.
Second third: Cigar continued to burn razor sharp and produced good amount of smoke. I could not stop my self from constantly puffing away as its complex taste is very addictive and you want more and more. My warm coffee was complementing the full body flavors and at this point I was really enjoying it.
Final third: At this point cigar was picking up on body and became fuller with every puff. Burn was still great and Cohiba’s silky/grassy flavor was still coming through without any bitterness or harshness.
Conclusion: As always, I think Cohiba Siglo IV is the one of the best cigars out of this line and never fails to deliver. Its a pricey cigar but it always satisfies if you love the Cohiba’s unique grassy flavor. Corona gorda feels natural in your hand and smoke time is about 45 minutes. I think its nice delicacy for a special occasion. If you haven’t tried one do your palette a favor and buy a single. As far as aging goes all Cohibas become great in 5 years. Remember, five years of rest, brings out the best.
Happy Smoking!
By the way here my ugly winter ashtray which I cleaned up today.
Price: $26
Size: 6 x 52 (Pyramid)
Package: Tubos
Paired with: Ice water
It has been a few weeks I was eying Partagas Serie P No.2 Tubo which was given to me back in November at Cuban Relief effort charity event. This cigar is the same Partagas Serie P No.2 which has been just packaged in tubos boxes of 10 in 2008. Technically the first ever pyramid to go into tubo. I don’t have exact production date but my guesstimate would be mid 2008.
Pre-light: After opening the tubo and enjoying the beautiful tobacco aroma mixed with cedar, quick inspection showed a great 10/10 construction with beautiful dark chocolate wrapper. Just the foot was a little soft where I always gently squeeze to ensure proper humidity before lighting up as dry cigars tend to bother my pallet.
First third: I clipped the cigar with my Xikar cutter and got perfect draw. Upon easy lighting it started with explosion of flavors which were creamy, woodsy, Cuban tobacco and some spice. It was a delight. Medium body and very complex.
Second third: Cigar continued to produce pleasant flavors with great burn. Every puff produced lots of smoke, rich with creamy flavors and spices. At this point woodsy flavor was picking up.
Final third: I was smoking outside and didn’t get to fully enjoy the final third but all flavors from the first third were present with some added spice which made it really hard to let go but I had to with 17 KM per hour wind in minus zone.
Conclusion: I absolutely love this cigar and I wish I would have purchased a couple of boxes from initial release for aging. I think the tight tubos seal which has cedar lining inside creates ultimate aging environment for any cigar. I recommend this cigar if you like full flavor mild Cuban cigars.
Remeber, five years of rest, brings out the best.
Price: $16
Size: 4/5 x 36 (Cadetes)
Package: Tubos
Paired with: Ice water
After a long break from smoking cigars in Toronto’s cold winter I decided to visit my desktop humidor for a little treat and came across H.Upmann Coronas Junior Tubo. When opened the tube, I was greeted with amazing Cuban tobacco aroma which was pleasent and sweet. These cigars come in boxes of 25 of tubos and this particular cigar was a gift from a friend who went to Playa Del Carman’s La Casa Del Habanos store so I don’t have exact production date but I assume it was rolled mid 2008.
Pre-light: Cigar construction was excellent and cap clipped with no problem. I did not feel any spongy areas and the draw was good and a bit towards the loose side.
First third: Cigar started really nice with even burn and I was getting trademark H.Upmann sweet taste with each puff. I was getting allot of white smoke and cigar showed some good consistency all along the first third. Most noticeable flavors were toasted/sweet coffee with some cedar coming through. medium body.
Second third:
Burn started to go off a little and with one correction everything was back to normal. I was getting same flavors as first third which was mostly sweet coffee and some cedar and at this point little floral taste was coming in and out with every puff.
Final third: At this point cigar was becoming more medium to full. Flavors were mostly cedar and sweetness with some strength which made it very pleasant. I continued puffing until I reached the band and it was time to let it rest and die.
Conclusion:
I think overall this is a nice little cigar with delicious flavors and enough strength to leave you fully satisfied. This was my last H.Upmann Coronas Junior Tubos, but I will definitely pick one up if I come across it in any cigar shop. I totally recommend trying one if you are looking for true Cuban flavor which does not break the bank but and make sure you let it rest before smoking as they age really well in tubes. As always, I say, five years of rest, brings out the best.
