Tidbits from Cuba

[El Presidente]

Tidbits of information where a dedicated thread may not be needed. 

Rumours, facts, must see's etc etc. 

[El Presidente]

Two guys I know swear they bought these (bandless) at a factory visit this week. 

Maybe they will release them afterall 

 

 

[Cigar Surgeon]

Three bands! Man I love the flavor of three bands, it just tastes like tobacco artistry. 

[BEVOSREVENGE]

$10K per box if they ever come out?

[El Presidente]

4 minutes ago, BEVOSREVENGE said:

$10K per box if they ever come out?

You would think they will push 1K?

I have no idea. 

I have less interest 

[jakebarnes]

At some point Cohiba is just going to use a band that encompasses the whole cigar. 

Call it the Behnke, Binkie, Bonkers (alternatively, the Siglo Behnke Esplendidohhhh)

[Bagman]

What ever happened to the cohiba novedos, or how ever it is spelled?  

[BEVOSREVENGE]

3 hours ago, El Presidente said:

You would think they will push 1K?

I have no idea. 

I have less interest 

Well, it is the cigar apocalypse right now.

They are in a fancy box with 3 bands and I am sure the tobacco leaf is as smooth as Corinthian leather.

 

[Corylax18]

13 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Two guys I know swear they bought these (bandless) at a factory visit this week. 

Maybe they will release them afterall 

Yup. I was offered some by one of my friends when I placed my custom roll order for my upcoming trip. Hard pass for me, even at custom roll prices. 57rg is just a bridge too far for me. They certainly have the 57 rg molds, blend integrity may be a touch iffy though. 

 

Finding a good Casa has been a tough hoe the last couple weeks. None of my old go-to's have started hosting yet, prices are crazy for the few places that are available. I may spend one night in a new, boutique hotel (only 6 rooms, NOT government owned) and the rest at a Friends house. 

I've already got 2 people hunting for a couple cases of water and Crystal. The Rum never stopped flowing, or even slowed down from what I've heard. I'll pass along more as I learn.

[riderpride]

1 hour ago, Corylax18 said:

Finding a good Casa has been a tough hoe the last couple weeks. None of my old go-to's have started hosting yet, prices are crazy for the few places that are available. I may spend one night in a new, boutique hotel (only 6 rooms, NOT government owned) and the rest at a Friends house. 

I've already got 2 people hunting for a couple cases of water and Crystal. The Rum never stopped flowing, or even slowed down from what I've heard. I'll pass along more as I learn.

Likely have a better crack and landing a flat of Moosehead Lager. One theory for limited can availability I heard was a lack of aluminum, but that wouldn't explain the lack of domestic bottles. 

[riderpride]

1 hour ago, Psiman said:

3 bands means an extra $25 per cigar and add Cohiba name and add another extra $25 per cigar. There's nothing like a $15 cigar that sells for over $75 and people will claim they are worth it to justify having bought an over priced cigar. Rationalized spending and duping ones self that it's worth it. That's Cohiba in a nutshell basically.

But it's the flagship- so it must be the best 😆

[JohnnyO]

On 2/23/2022 at 7:11 PM, Corylax18 said:

Finding a good Casa has been a tough hoe the last couple weeks. None of my old go-to's have started hosting yet, prices are crazy for the few places that are available. I may spend one night in a new, boutique hotel (only 6 rooms, NOT government owned) and the rest at a Friends house. 

I've already got 2 people hunting for a couple cases of water and Crystal. The Rum never stopped flowing, or even slowed down from what I've heard. I'll pass along more as I learn.

There was water at Centro Commercial Almendares at Ave 39 e/42 y 44 in Playa. 1.5 liter bottles 17.50 CUP. At the airport in T3 the 1.5 liter bottles were 44 CUP. There was 1.5 Liter soda bottles at 130 CUP in the airport as well. There is a Paladar 3 houses from 5ta y 16 that had Crystal on tap at 200 CUP for a good sized 16-18oz glass and it was solid. I stay in Playa $40/night if you need help with that. Big house, many rooms all private bathrooms and their license is up and running. John 

[JohnnyO]

The most beautiful tidbit is that gasoline and diesel fuel is 25 CUP per liter. Now I have to figure out how to get that tanker up to Miami. John

[JohnnyO]

Can you guess what this vehicle does and where does its final product go?

[...]

1 hour ago, JohnnyO said:

Can you guess what this vehicle does and where does its final product go?

Cristal delivery truck for the elite's local bar 😅

[bugman78629]

I've eaten worse when stationed in the Philippines..... 🤷‍♂️

[RijkdeGooier]

On 2/23/2022 at 8:36 PM, El Presidente said:

Two guys I know swear they bought these (bandless) at a factory visit this week. 

Maybe they will release them afterall 

 

 

They have been put into limited circulation. 

[JohnnyO]

The truck is the local dog catcher for the zoo. If the dog(s) caught aren't reclaimed within 72 hours, they get sent to the zoo to pal around with the lions. John

[...]

4 hours ago, JohnnyO said:

The truck is the local dog catcher for the zoo. If the dog(s) caught aren't reclaimed within 72 hours, they get sent to the zoo to pal around with the lions. John

Interesting, was there always a stray dog removal policy on the island or in large cities?

[Mhansen85]

had another of these in feb.. still blew me away

 

[MrBirdman]

On 2/23/2022 at 9:19 PM, Psiman said:

people will claim they are worth it to justify having bought an over priced cigar.

Never underestimate the human capacity for self-deception. 

[El Presidente]

From Cory who is currently in Havana

 

 

I was at a "going away party" for a very good friend's cousin Tuesday night. He woke up Wednesday to a canceled flight and $2500 USD in limbo. 

The situation is deterioting quickly, everyone wants out. Another very good friend's cousin sold her car and booked flights for she and her girlfriend (both doctors) to Managua on the 7th. The plan is to take their chances with a "Coyote" to get them through Mexico to the border. They view it as their only option at this point. 

The line at the Spanish embassy wrapped around the block. Several "well off" Cubans in the tourism industry are even entertaining the idea of leaving. Used car prices have plummeted over the last several weeks, for the first time in history. A 60 year old Lada was going for around $30-36k late last year. Now? $17k if you're lucky. 

Everyone is in agreement, it's going to get worse before it gets better. 

[Corylax18]

I just got back to Fort Lauderdale and through customs. Cigars intact. Only 50, but I had no need to push it on this  trip and really didn't want to get a bunch of great cigars pinched. 

I'm catching a flight back to Denver in a couple hours, then work tomorrow, but I'll have some time this weekend to put together a few posts on Pinar del Rio/The Harvest, Cigar Shopping and Cuba in general. 

It was the most "Cuban" trip I've taken so far, in terms of the good and bad. Nothing went even close to plan, everything was like work, the Humanitarian situation is gut wrenching, but I'm still grateful I was able to make it happen. A few photos below, more to come. 

[GoodStix]

28 minutes ago, Corylax18 said:

I'll have some time this weekend to put together a few posts on Pinar del Rio/The Harvest, Cigar Shopping and Cuba in general.

Thank you 👍

[JohnnyO]

Yeah the line for Managua was huge in T3 yesterday, 100's inside and 100's outside. Everyone mostly dressed in black with black backpacks. They all looked like ninjas on a mission, the crowd was very quiet. All were young 25-35 years old and looked in good physical shape for the run. No little kids. On 3/10 there was a lot of police at the Panama embassy in Havana with hundreds of protesters. It seems that Copa airlines (Panama) sold a lot of tickets to Managua, Nicaragua with a stop in Panama City. The Panamanian government recently decided to not give in transit Visas to Cubans, so the reason for the protest. 3 liter pitchers of Bucanero were selling at the Comodoro 750 CUP. All locals, no tourists. Pricey for them. They yelled at me for taking the picture. I told them I was a tourist and that I liked to take pictures of beer. Last call was 5pm. John