A Detroit Evening with Hamlet Jaime Paredes...

[CanuckSARTech]

NOTE - please visit my blog post for more pictures, better formatting and layout (don't know why it's glitching on me in the copy & paste), and other text and details: https://lights-sirens-and-cigars.com/2016/05/09/a-detroit-evening-with-hamlet-jaime-paredes/

So, similar to my write-up about my visit to see Hamlet Jaime Paredes for a “Tabaquero” cigar-line promotional evening at a Michigan brick-and-mortar shop back in January, I once again had the chance to go see him for another “Tabaquero” promotional night. Nick Mitchell, the local Rocky Patel rep, had e-mailed me a while before, and gave me a head’s up of another night to visit with my Cuban buddy, this time at a spot a bit closer to me, in wonderful downtown Detroit.

Since emigrating from Cuba to the U.S. in January 2015, Hamlet has been working with Rocky Patel, and the two of them last year released the “Tabaquero” line of cigars, which were Hamlet’s baby under his palate- and blending-prowess. This particular meet-up with Hamlet was again part of his touring program for the brand, and we met up at La Casa in downtown Detroit, MI, and I was able to bring along good brother Don / “Hubba”, from the Friends Of Habanos online cigar forum.

What a venue! I was quite pleased by this locale. Funnily enough, I’ve been to the parking lot right outside of La Casa a number of times – it’s the one I always go to for parking for taking in a Detroit Tigers game, as Comerica Park is literally just a few steps away across the street. It was a nice cigar parlour, with a fairly well appointed shop and humidor downstairs (along with some interesting Xikar pouches, something custom made with a lithograph of a supposed Sylvester Stallone note, but something which the newer gal behind the counter was unable to tell me anything about)…

It also has a nice long main-bar with a good performance area for live jazz bands and the like, and a sparsely laid-out and intriguing upstairs VIP Lounge, with six or so different rooms, an outdoor terrace looking right at the Tigers’ play-place, and a really nicely appointed upstairs bar as well. Comfortable chairs throughout, interestingly and nicely decorated all around, and just a great “vibe” to the place…

As during my January visit with Hamlet I tried one of the “Tabaquero” Toro cigars, this time I went with a Robusto Grande, a 5″ by 54-ring-gauge stick. At only $10.99 USD a stick (prices different in each state due to tax variances), it’s quite a decent value. I started the smoke at 7:05 pm, pairing it at various times with a Captain Morgan dark rum & Coke, then a straight Zacapa 23 rum, and lastly a Blue Moon Belgian-wheat beer. Yup – some interesting pairings in there.

Hamlet, Nick, Don and I all had quite a bit of time to shoot the breeze. Unfortunately, with the individuality and quantity of all the various rooms in the VIP Lounge, people were spread out all around. Add that to the fact that it was a GORGEOUS evening out, and the attendance wasn’t as high as Nick was really hoping for. There wasn’t as much of a “circling of the wagons” feeling to people hitting up Hamlet for questions and lots of time. However, that loss let us sit and chill and relax and have lots of time to chat again.

Talking about leaf, Don happened to ask Hamlet a question that got him on an interesting thought train, and that we had some good discussion about. For the long and short of it, he stated that the Nicaraguan filler leaf, to him, seems EXACTLY like Cuban tobacco. Yes, he acknowledged that obviously the taste is different, as the terroir from Cuban tobacco just has that certain essence, and tells a story of smoke that’s different on the palate from other region’s tobaccos. But he said, if he closes his eyes, and he’s not actually smoking it, the physical properties seem damn near identical. He said the texture, the tooth sometimes, the weight and tensile properties – it’s just like Cuban tobacco. He said, to him, “if I close my eyes, it’s just like I’m back rolling at Briones Montoto [the old Romeo y Julieta factory].”

Add to that, there was lots of other talk too. Some interesting things coming in July at the IPCR show, which he explained to me, and I’m excited to see come to fruition. Also, hopefully his green card / U.S. citizenship is sorted out promptly as well, and we can make some plans for him to travel north of the border soon, as well as some other thoughts that he and I shared.

Cheers all.

[Lant63]

Very upset i missed this event. I live right in Detroit, and I have some Hamlet Flying Pigs I hope to share with him.

[shlomo]

Very upset i missed this event. I live right in Detroit, and I have some Hamlet Flying Pigs I hope to share with him.

Did you know anout it, or was it not publicized?

[Lant63]

Did you know anout it, or was it not publicized?

There was an event in Michigan a month prior so I didn't think to be on the look out for another so soon. Plus exams had me distracted a little!

[shlomo]

Too bad it wasnt posted on some forums or the like...

[CanuckSARTech]

E-mails were sent out, and other promotional work was done too. I believe it was on some of the more American / NC forums. I'm sure if you contacted the Rocky Patel reps, they'd point you to what was done.

It was a fun night nonetheless.

[Squarehead]

I knew about it but still couldn't go.Nice pics Keith.

[Cigar Surgeon]

Also, hopefully his green card / U.S. citizenship is sorted out promptly as well, and we can make some plans for him to travel north of the border soon, as well as some other thoughts that he and I shared.

Man, if he could come up for the Rocky Mountain Smokeout that would be amaaaaaazing.

Also looking forward to catching up with him at the IPCPR.

[MrGinger]

Man, if he could come up for the Rocky Mountain Smokeout that would be amaaaaaazing.

Also looking forward to catching up with him at the IPCPR.

He is not travelling internationally yet.

[Bartolomeo]

Thanks for the review