Crista Luu
| Resumen biográfico |
In case you did not make it to this year's XXI Habanos Festival, which celebrated the 500th anniversary of San Cristobal de La Habana, as the town of Havana was originally known as, or are about to embark for a different country at which you can legally purchase Havana cigars (that will be practically anyplace else in the world except the United States, where it's forbidden to sell Cuban products), here are seven of the top brands from our embargoed neighbor that we believe are well worth seeking out. It's currently legal to return around 100 Cuban cigars--that's about four boxes--provided that they are for your private use and not for resale. RELATED This Beverly Hills Whiskey Hideaway Feels Like a Private Club from the Wild West Among the World's Greatest BBQ Pitmasters Has Made the Supreme Guide to Steak But , some caveats. They are more rampant than ever--even in Cuba--though now Costa Rica is giving Mexico a struggle for the title of Counterfeit Cuban Cigars Per Square Mile. So be careful. If anyone offers you a Cohiba Esplendido for $5, you are aware that it can't be real. Some of the top places to buy authentic Cuban cigars are the United Kingdom (in which they are rigidly inspected by exclusive Habanos importers Hunters & Frankau), Spain--which also gets some of the best Havanas--and some of the official La Casa del Habanos Cuban government-sanctioned retail stores; there are currently 90 of them internationally. Duty-free stores are also a safe haven for authentic Cuban cigars, although we recently bought a three-pack of our coveted Montecristo No. two pyramids at Dubai International Airport and discovered them to be substandard as far as taste was worried (a result of inferior leaf choice and insufficient aging). Plus, one of those cigars was rolled much too tightly to permit an adequate draw. But all three Montecristos were real Habanos products. That brings up the continuing problem with Cuban cigars of quality control. This is supported by Mitchell Orchant, managing director of C.Gars, Ltd, one of the biggest purveyors of Cuban cigars in England, who also critiques the freshness of a cigars, in other words, whether they had been aged sufficiently before being released. So a good guideline is, once you get your Cuban cigars safely home, place them in your humidor for at least a month or 2 to give them a little time to more fully develop the flavors that made Havana famous. Trinidad In addition to celebrating the 500th anniversary of San Cristobal de La Habana (which also happens to be the name of a somewhat mild-smoking Havana cigar that has been introduced in 1999 and showcased in the festival), the XXI Festival has been spotlighting the Trinidad brand, that premiered in 1996 since Fidel Castro's VIP cigar to supplant the Cohiba, that began being publically marketed in 1982. Last season, three new contours are introduced: a 4 1/2 x 50 press luna, a 5 7/10 x 53 Esmeralda, along with a 4 11/12 x 56 Topes, which originally was a 2016 limited variant. Cohiba Still among the very widely-counterfeited cigars in the world, only buy these from dependable sources. The full-powered, large-ringed Behike is a pricey smoke worth paying , only for bragging rights, together with the 54 and 56 ring gauges particularly sought after. Another benefit is the newly-launched Cohiba Robusto Reserva, and while we usually don't quote prices because of the changing marketplace for Cuban cigars, it's safe to say these will generally run more than $100 a rod. Using the best of three year old tobaccos, it is available in only 1 size: a 4 7/8 x 50 robusto. Just 500 individually numbered boxes were released. For something milder (and noticeably less costly ) try the Siglo VI. Montecristo In spite of our disappointing experience in Dubai, the No. 2 pirámide stays our all time favourite. To get a smaller smoke, try the No. 4--the best selling cigar in the world. Partagás This is really a porterhouse steak and Napa Cabernet smoke, in any dimension. But besides the Series D No.4 Robusto, another favorite of ours is the newly-introduced 6 1/4 x47 Presidente, using its easy-to-light pinched foot and easy-to-clip Perfecto cap. This is another cigar that never disappoints, particularly for those in between times when you are not very certain of what to smoke. Ideally suited for either a Plymouth Gin martini (extra dry, olive on the side) or a Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask, we have recently switched from the Short Churchill to the bigger-ringed 5 1/4 x 55 Broad Churchill Robusto. Apart from offering a slightly fuller flavor, it seems to be more physically fitting to the contours' namesake. H. Upmann Another great medium strength cigar, that this gentle smoke keeps just enough earthiness to make it suitable for early to late evenings. Orchant of C.Gars believes it's the best from the H.Upmann range and we agree. Do not fall in the preconception that Cuban cigars are strong. This brand certainly isn't, although its strength will change by shape. Thinking about having a Irish Whiskey and a cigar? Try a Powers Three Swallow and an Epicure Especial 5 1/2 x 50 Robusto. Punch The Double Corona is a perfect match for a snifter of X.O. Cognac. Medium-full in taste; the Vegas Robaina is among the most complex and hot Havanas around and ideal for any time and well in the day. Cuaba The contours of Cuabas are figurados: a mild-mannered smoke perfect for the novice in addition to the connoisseur who feels like throttling down a little flavor intensity. |