El Presidente

Sead set fair point. Assuming he was dealing with "Mrs Jones"' 86 year old mother and daughter Jane, 55 year old who wouldn't know a cigar from a carrot. Lovely people. My issue is that they did enough research to ask for market price.

I respect very successful restaurants who don't have a "name" chef. Smart business practice as the chef can leave anytime. Cigar world not too different. My question mark on Davidoff is their past decades lack (perceived?) of "punter" involvement. "Punter" simply means the average Joe who steps up and buys their product. Drew Estate does it. Steve Saka does it. Pete Johnson does it. I was mentioning on FOH Zoom the other day how Carlito Fuente flew to Colombia last month for the opening of a private lounge. Davidoff (in my opinion) would do well to straddle a middle ground. They are a brand behemoth. Yet, a touch of soul/authenticity could be woven in to their magnificent story.

Family estate. They don't know/likely care. That doesn't make them bad people. No doubt they are offloading a host of estate non cigar offerings as well. To them, they just want to get to the finishing line of a painful period. Does the buyer go on Reddit and similar to warn others? I think that is the question he was alluding to.

You are a good man Chris The challenge is that the people I know in Cuba are not the most desperate largely because they know people like me and circle the circles I circle in. JohnnyO is far better informed than I am and I hope he can provide some direction to you and other members with the same mindset.

EAR= Email Assistance Required. "That about wraps it up Rob. A batch of boxes was purchased from a private estate, and it’s now clear that a portion of them are not genuine. There’s no dispute on that point. The pricing reflected market value, the family involved had no knowledge of any issues, and the loss sits with the buyer. The wider collection being offered is significant in size. Given that roughly a quarter of the boxes already reviewed proved problematic, the question is whether there is any broader duty of care to make others aware. The family has no idea. Yet, with 120 boxes yet to sell, do prospective buyers need a warning that at least some of the boxes are not authentic? I’m comfortable accepting this as part of the risk that comes with the territory, but I’d genuinely appreciate member perspectives on how they would approach this situation. Over to you good folk

...Yes, better to reschedule ....and if people cannot make it, well, tough titty. I would just plough ahead. It is the Cuban way.

This week the Lizards pair the Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 3 Belicoso with twelve year aged Yellow Spot Irish Whiskey. The guys discuss unpleasant flavor notes in cigars, they share a reflective listener email, and they make their first-ever change to the formal rating process. PLUS: Rafael Nodal's Impression of Trinidad, Davidoff Exclusive Editions, Blend Transparency Importance, Consistency vs Marketing Gimmicks & More...

Rumour was they discussed cancelling it last week but had no solution to the mechanics of refunding tickets.

Cigars & The Man London: Martins, No date. 23cm x 14.5cm. 48 pages, illustrations, some colour. Original brown cloth, gilt lettering. Who are the men who smoke cigars? Successful men according to this promotional piece by Martins Cigar Shippers of Piccadilly. More than mere promotional puff, Graves provides tips to the new smoker, and outlines histories and traditions of the practice. A lengthy Q&A section is followed by a colour supplementary of Martins cigars according to Graves’ seven classifications. Order form with envelope laid in, together with an autographed typescript letter dated 2nd December, 1938 from the firm’s sales manager on Martins letterhead.

Cigar salesman

I suspect this will hurt, when it is thrown by the Mrs at your head ....... pottery figural vessel depicting a seated figure holding his right hand to his mouth smoking a large cigar

An Exclusive Cigar & Whiskey Bar Defined by Ritual, Restraint, and Quiet Authority Bangkok, 26 January 2026 — SKYVIEW Hotel Bangkok proudly announces the opening of The Ledger Room, an intimate cigar and whiskey bar located on the 32nd floor of the hotel. Designed as a sanctuary for discerning guests, The Ledger Room introduces a new chapter in refined leisure—where legacy is felt, not displayed. Tucked above Sukhumvit Soi 24, The Ledger Room is a high-rise retreat with the soul of a forgotten barroom and the posture of a private club. Darker corners, considered comfort, and deliberate design replace excess and spectacle. This is a space shaped by restraint, ritual, and intention—created for those who value discretion over display. The venue officially opened its doors on January 23 with an exclusive, invitation-only evening for select partners, collaborators, and industry leaders. Guests were welcomed to explore the walk-in humidor, curated whiskey selections, and signature house rituals, while enjoying complimentary food and beverages throughout the evening. Opening remarks were delivered by Markus Hesse, Cluster General Manager of SKYVIEW Hotel Bangkok and SKYVIEW Resort Phuket, who expressed his gratitude to the hotel’s owners, Khun Vikromjit Sachdev and Khun Channarong Sachdev, for their continued support and vision. Remarks were followed by Alexander Eaton, Director & Co-Founder of Resolute Hotels & Resorts, highlighting the concept behind The Ledger Room and its place within SKYVIEW’s evolving lifestyle portfolio. The evening also recognized the contributions of Martin Loving, Director of Culinary Service at SKYVIEW Hotel Bangkok, who has been instrumental in bringing The Ledger Room to life alongside the hotel’s Food & Beverage and operations teams.

Attempt to smuggle over 3,800 cigars to Panama from Havana detected https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-02-10-u1-e135253-s27061-nid320514-detectan-intento-sacar-3800-tabacos-hacia-panama The General Customs of the Republic thwarted an attempt to illegally export more than 3,800 cigars from the country to Panama through the José Martí International Airport in Havana. William Pérez González, first deputy chief of the Customs of Cuba, reported that the merchandise was seized and the incident was reported to the police as part of the efforts against the illegal trafficking of this exportable commodity.