Highlights of Havana

[El Presidente]

Here at Cancun airport on my way home after a few weeks away. I will post some photo's upon my return on Wednesday. The one thing that irks me about Cuba is the bloody lack of WIFI!!!

Havana Highlights.

1. Meeting Andy Ryan and the boys from JJ Fox....Stuart and Rob Fox. Way too many 5 am finishes than were sensible with these lads but we had a hell of a time! In terms of sheer love of life the Irish and Aussies are natural allies !LOL!

2. Cohiba Behike. Loved the flavour profile, rich mouth feel, dense smoke. Take away the factor of price, they have made a very good line of cigars. Unfortunately the size of them precludes me from including them in my personal rotation but a Behike sub 46 gauge is being talked about.

3. Doctor Cafe. Found an excellent place to eat in Havana. You don't know how important this is until you go there !LOL! They do some sensational ribs as well as a whole range of BBQ grills (meat/ Seafood). If you ask for the sea turtle ask for it medium to well done. Not a dish for those who get upset stomachs easily.

4. Don Alejandro Robaina continues to battle kidney cancer but is feeling better. Enjoying family and life at home. Not bad for 91.

5. Nurse interviews

6. Our Penthouse Party and great penthouse staff.

7. Gato Tuerto drinks on the house. Elvis is taking better care of my ex ORIS than I ever did. One of the great deals of my life

8. Hamlet presenting me with a handmade caricature of myself that he made with tobacco. Tobacco never looked so good!

9. PCC party Thursday night was a cracker. Dragon Dances, multiple bands, bars, cigars all set on a roof top terrace in the heart of Havana overseen by a host of locals pouring out of their windows.

10. Hug from Ingrid (Jose's wife).

Havana Low Lights

1. The name "Wide Churchill" The fact they considered even calling it the "Chubby Churchill" says it all.

2. Pigs at the dinners. I will punch the next person who steals ashtrays, free cigars (one per person), other peoples gift bags. There is plenty of trash that comes to the Habanos Festival and it is one of the reasons we do our own thing so much.

3. Crackdown. The police were out in force this week after the death of a dissident. You never saw locals on the street in groups larger than four, no street stick ball, police and military everywhere.

4. Empty markets. You are OK if you can live on tinned Tuna and Mango Youghurt.

Look forward to posting pics in a few days!

[reg]

can't wait for pictures

[laficion]

Hey Rob, great to hear from you mate

Can't wait to see the Pics. and hear of the adventures

Have a great and safe trip back home

Ciao

[cellinisart]

sounds like one of the worst trips ever.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Sounds like another trip for the ages. I look forward to pictures from the nurse interviews haha!

Did you ask Elvis if "He had the time" the first time you went to Gato Tuerto?

[SethG]

Hey Rob, what was the upshot on behike pricing?

[El Presidente]

Supposedly 30-40% above Siglo VI.

Padron 1926 series pricing with hopefully the same attention to detail.

My thinking is that Cohiba is now really a crowded market.....Linea, Siglo, Maduro 5, Behike.

If the Behike can be as good as it is hoped it will need to be the first Cuban cigar which is perfect every box and every time.

[Buch0]

Wow 40% above Silgo VI puts its at $100 a pop.. A good once off I assume but definitely not a staple.

[Buch0]

Sounds like a trip of a lifetime mate, you are one lucky man.. Fall or not Cant wait to check out the pics!!

[BobLobLaw]

Looking forward to pics. Any word on how the new Julietas smoked?

[El Presidente]

Looking forward to pics. Any word on how the new Julietas smoked?

Not bad. Light-Medium cigar trying very hard not to upset anybody so does lack a little character. They are my first impressions as I only have smoked two and they were over humidified. Give them a few weeks. Packaging is gorgeous.

[Jimmy2]

Cant wait to see the pics Rob !!! Another year gone by and still the embargo is hanging around!!!

[Stormin691]

damn- what a life man!!!

[Ryan]

Pres, great to meet you and the boys, more from me when I get back.

Air France flight cancelled yesterday due to weather in Paris.

After 4 hours at their office this morning, managed to pick up a Cubana flight tomorrow to Gatwick, then on to Dublin.

Peter's going nuts. I can think of worse places to be stranded then Havana.

I've been looking forward to this trip for sometime and everything I've done and people I've met have surpassed my expectations.

Thanks for the craic Pres, I've been reminded to pick up my guitar a bit more often.

[cellinisart]

Wow 40% above Silgo VI puts its at $100 a pop.. A good once off I assume but definitely not a staple.

Boxes of ten not 25 so they should have meant 30-40% by stick not box price. Rob also said padron 1926 prices so given the two I would say about $300US a box.

[samb]

Glad it was a good trip. Looking forward to all the pics!!

[OZCUBAN]

Glad to have you back ,and in one piece ,if deletions are based on lack of sales ,i cannot see the Behike lasting to long I mean how many true smokers can afford them ,they are definitely top end smokes ,but having said that i am sure they are delicious ,still probably ticked of about us loosing our favorites all the time

[Tampa1257]

Another interesting trip to Cuba. I was hoping to hear something, positive or negitive about the letter campaign. A 46 rg or below Behike might be a consideration, the current mixture is still too large for me.

[stargazer14]

One of the best things: "multiple bands"... glad i read that wrong the first time!

Look forward to the pics and more info. Not Cohiba's biggest fan, but i'd be interesting in 10 Behikes I think.

[Chaki]

Havana Highlights

11. When Rob is away Lisa will play...

Welcome back Prez

[riderpride]

Good to have you back; any news on the Allones Superiores?

[Stalebread]

Interesting info, Pres. And thanks for another great trip report on another great trip.

How's the head? Or should I ask?

[cigarros]

Welcome back, Rob! Waiting for a picks!

[thechenman]

Thanks for the highlights Prez...sounds like a wonderful trip overall. Looking forward to the Behikes...

[Colt45]

a Behike sub 46 gauge is being talked about.

A dalia would pique my interest. Thanks for the update, and safe travels.