Derboesekoenig Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 4 hours ago, Monocle said: Got back on Tuesday from my first trip to Havana. What an incredible place! My customs and singles are in the freezer so here’s the full boxes I picked up—focused on what generally isn’t available through 24:24 or commands a premium. I’ll supplement this post once they’re out of the freezer. Without our driver, Arturo, many of these boxes would have never been offered to me. The most unexpected and interesting is definitely the Open Juniors from 2010. The manager at the revamped store next to the new H Upmann factory grabbed it from a hiding spot and insisted I needed it. Who am I to second guess?!? Can’t wait to go back next year. Wow I went 6 months ago and every LCDH insisted that the Soberanos were kaput! Nice pickups overall, ya probably did better than me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monocle Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 5 hours ago, JY0 said: The boxes should also be frozen. They will be as well but only have limited freezer room so started with the customs and singles before the boxes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monocle Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 3 hours ago, Derboesekoenig said: Wow I went 6 months ago and every LCDH insisted that the Soberanos were kaput! Nice pickups overall, ya probably did better than me Melia Habana had a mostly full box of singles out. I bought the five best from that box not expecting to be later offered a box at another LCDH from hidden stock thanks to our driver/guide knowing the manager. Melia Habana also was the only location I saw any CoLas. Again a mostly full box of singles. I took 10 of the best from that box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monocle Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 6 hours ago, DSegal said: We can all hear the first-time excitement in your exclamation point. It is such a cool place. I found a box of those 2010 Open Juniors in two shops in 2018 and bought one. It is long gone now but was a high quality little ind if slightly one-dimensional. I enjoyed my first one this afternoon. Perfect length for a short walk with the dog. Construction and burn were impeccable but definitely lacking complexity—figure that is about the best you can reasonable hope for in the size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSegal Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 The quality is there, the draw and burn are great on those, yes the size is handy and the flavor is good, but flavor is where I felt they were a little boring. Still a 10 year old regular production cigar off the shelves, I think is always a must-buy. Especially for $89.00 (same price as I paid 2 years ago). Mine were BAP NOV 10. But I don't think the size is the reason for the lack of complexity or depth of flavor, it's just that Open series from Monte. They seem to have been made a little like a light beer. A good light beer, but still a light beer. Maybe akin to an Amstel Light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n0s4atu Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 I love revisting this thread. I definitely need to make my way back soon. Nice to see some Cohibas, when I went I was told they don't last long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monocle Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 6 hours ago, n0s4atu said: I love revisting this thread. I definitely need to make my way back soon. Nice to see some Cohibas, when I went I was told they don't last long. Depends which. Every store had a plentiful supply of the smaller vitolas in 5 packs and full boxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Monocle Posted February 24, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2020 Here’s most the customs I picked up. Reynaldo’s rolls on the top—bundle of Robustos and 10x of Sublimes, Pyramides and Petite Coronas. Alex’s rolls on the bottom—bundle of Double Lanceros, a bundle of Puntillas, a portion of a bundle of Talisman, 15x Princes and 10x Churchills. Not pictured as a handful of Monsdales and La China monsters. Alex’s rolls were super oily before going into my freezer. Hopefully they regain the sheen after awhile in my Newair. 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post UnionCityCubano Posted February 24, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2020 Recent Haul!!! Not to Shabby!! Follow me on instagram Habanos_Connoisseur 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monocle Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 22 minutes ago, UnionCityCubano said: Recent Haul!!! Not to Shabby!! Follow me on instagram Habanos_Connoisseur Nice, got some winners there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnionCityCubano Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 1 hour ago, Monocle said: Nice, got some winners there! The Unnamed box. Is San Cristobal Prado. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSegal Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 I have a box of those Prado and the first one I smoked is excellent. Can't say the same about the ubiquitous Punch La Isla RE Cuba. I have tried a few from a few boxes and all have been bland and underwhelming. Yes they may need time but they don't suggest a lot of promise. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnionCityCubano Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 1 hour ago, DSegal said: I have a box of those Prado and the first one I smoked is excellent. Can't say the same about the ubiquitous Punch La Isla RE Cuba. I have tried a few from a few boxes and all have been bland and underwhelming. Yes they may need time but they don't suggest a lot of promise. I felt the same about the Isla. I have only had one thou. But I was not impressed. probably smoke another one soon to give it another chance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corylax18 Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 12 hours ago, DSegal said: I have a box of those Prado and the first one I smoked is excellent. Can't say the same about the ubiquitous Punch La Isla RE Cuba. I have tried a few from a few boxes and all have been bland and underwhelming. Yes they may need time but they don't suggest a lot of promise. I smoked through a box + of the La Isla during my trip in November. I don't think age will help these much. They're just very subtle, light cigars. I enjoyed the ones I smoked more than it appears you did though. I'm happy I have a couple more boxes tucked away, but I'll probably smoke through them in the next two years or so. Then forget about the release. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSegal Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 Agreed that age probably won't help them much. I was hoping for some of that peanut butter Punch flavor...It raises an interesting question. Yes, some cigars are disappointing and then they turn into gems with time, but a cigar that smokes great without having to rest is a winning attribute. I know I can enjoy my 5 year old cigars now, but it's so nice when something smokes well right away. I do find most cigars smoke nicely in Havana--the warmth and humidity tend to bring out the aromas and allow the smoke to linger around you in most cases. As opposed to when I smoke at 25 degrees with a light upstate NY breeze, sitting in my hot tub. The smoke doesn't exactly do the same thing there... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Viva Vegas Posted February 25, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2020 Some of what a brought back from Cuba. Took a charter from Fort Myers Florida 40 min flight, will do it again and again and again lol. I hope it's ok to show rum in a pic I don't want to get suspended again. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSegal Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Love the illicit lighting. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Corona Posted February 28, 2020 Share Posted February 28, 2020 On 2/25/2020 at 6:57 PM, DSegal said: Love the illicit lighting. It's like everything is being interrogated. ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monterey Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 On 2/25/2020 at 3:59 PM, Viva Vegas said: Some of what a brought back from Cuba. Took a charter from Fort Myers Florida 40 min flight, will do it again and again and again lol. I hope it's ok to show rum in a pic I don't want to get suspended again. Why would you think showing rum would get you suspended? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viva Vegas Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 47 minutes ago, Monterey said: Why would you think showing rum would get you suspended? Long story and this is not the place, let say it's water under the bridge now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RijkdeGooier Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Just back - Cohiba Talisman - Trinidad Esmeralda - Punch La Isla - SCdH La Cabana - Rey Lanceros 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmokyFontaine Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 Are the primary benefits of buying from the Island that you can peruse boxes, check dates, and have access to harder to find releases, or are they also typically much, much cheaper? Considering the risks with customs growing by the day (not to mention virus travel shutdowns), I'm trying to get a better feel for the benefits of traveling to Cuba for cigar purchases. I totally get it's a vacation too, but having never been and interested in the notion, I wonder if cigar pricing is way better, or it's about lots of other stuff coming together to make it a great trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monterey Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 5 hours ago, SmokyFontaine said: Are the primary benefits of buying from the Island that you can peruse boxes, check dates, and have access to harder to find releases, or are they also typically much, much cheaper? Considering the risks with customs growing by the day (not to mention virus travel shutdowns), I'm trying to get a better feel for the benefits of traveling to Cuba for cigar purchases. I totally get it's a vacation too, but having never been and interested in the notion, I wonder if cigar pricing is way better, or it's about lots of other stuff coming together to make it a great trip. Been there many times, it is just about pricing, as least cigar related. Availability is really hit and miss. Hard to find releases won't be found. Older dates used to be a thing, but lately, most things on the shelves are just months old. To get what you want, you have to travel to all of the LCDH's. It is a pain in the ass. I don't get your statement "risks with customs growing by the day". Nothing has changed there. Awesome place to visit. Great people, great food, unique experience. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RijkdeGooier Posted March 26, 2020 Share Posted March 26, 2020 For me, the trip is so much more than just cigars. It's about clearing my head and replenishing my batteries at the beach, At night it's about Havana, eating, drinking and smoking. Hanging out with global friends. And then there's the part about getting a souvenir or two from the local LCdH's. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StogieSteve23 Posted March 27, 2020 Share Posted March 27, 2020 On 3/25/2020 at 2:40 PM, SmokyFontaine said: Are the primary benefits of buying from the Island that you can peruse boxes, check dates, and have access to harder to find releases, or are they also typically much, much cheaper? Considering the risks with customs growing by the day (not to mention virus travel shutdowns), I'm trying to get a better feel for the benefits of traveling to Cuba for cigar purchases. I totally get it's a vacation too, but having never been and interested in the notion, I wonder if cigar pricing is way better, or it's about lots of other stuff coming together to make it a great trip. Being able to go shop by shop, sip good rum, smoke CC's and turn over seemingly hundreds of boxes of cigars to find those several you want, is simply amazing and sensual all in its own right. It's a lot of fun and the people you meet along the way will create memories to last the rest of your life. This is the real reason we keep going back and have developed so many great relationships in Havana. With that being said, the cigar prices are cheapest you'll find them anywhere in the world. For us as Americans its the best possible scenario since we cant purchase them in our country and have had limited access to theirs. It is a vacation unlike any other and if you are a true cigar lover, go once and you'll be hooked. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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