Bryant Avelina
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In the event 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 city of Havana was initially known as, or are about to embark for a different country where you can legally buy Havana cigars (that is practically anyplace else in the world except the USA, where it is forbidden to sell Cuban products), here are seven of the top brands from our embargoed neighbor we believe are well worth seeking out. It's currently legal to bring back up to 100 Cuban cigars--that's about four boxes--provided that they are for your personal use and not for resale. RELATED This Beverly Hills Whiskey Hideaway Feels Like a Private Club in the Wild West Among the World's Greatest BBQ Pitmasters Has Created the Supreme Guide to Steak But , some caveats. Beware of counterfeits. They are more rampant than ever--even in Cuba--though now Costa Rica is providing Mexico a challenge for the title of Most Counterfeit Cuban Cigars Per Square Mile. So be cautious. If anybody offers you a Cohiba Esplendido for $5, you are aware that it can't be real. A number of the top places to buy authentic Cuban cigars are the United Kingdom (in which they're rigidly inspected by exclusive Habanos importers Hunters & Frankau), Spain--that also gets a few of the best Havanas--and also some of the official La Casa del Habanos Cuban government-sanctioned retail shops; there are now 90 of these internationally. Duty-free shops are also a safe haven for authentic Cuban cigars, although we recently bought a three-pack of our enviable Montecristo No. two pyramids at Dubai International Airport and found them to be careless so far as taste was worried (a consequence of inferior leaf selection and inadequate aging). Plus, one of those cigars was rolled much too tightly to permit an adequate draw. However, all three Montecristos were genuine Habanos products. This brings up the ongoing problem with Cuban cigars of quality control. That is supported by Mitchell Orchant, managing director of C.Gars, Ltd, among the largest purveyors of Cuban cigars in England, who also critiques the freshness of a cigars, in other words, if they had been aged sufficiently prior to being released. So a good guideline is, once you buy your Cuban cigars safely house, place them in your humidor for at least a month or 2 to give them a while 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 rather mild-smoking Havana cigar which has been introduced in 1999 and showcased at the festival), the XXI Festival was spotlighting the Trinidad brand, which originated in 1996 as Fidel Castro's VIP cigar to supplant the Cohiba, that started being publically marketed in 1982. This year, three new contours have been introduceda 4 1/2 x 50 press luna, a 5 7/10 x 53 Esmeralda, along with a 4 11/12 x 56 Topes, that initially was a 2016 limited variant. Cohiba Still one of the most widely-counterfeited cigars on the planet, only purchase these from reliable sources. The full-powered, large-ringed Behike is a pricey smoke worth paying for, simply for bragging rights, with all the 54 and 56 ring gauges particularly sought after. Another rarity is the newly-launched Cohiba Robusto Reserva, and while we usually don't quote prices because of the changing marketplace for Cuban cigars, it is safe to say these will normally run more than $100 a rod. Employing the best of three year old tobaccos, it's offered in just one dimensions: a 4 7/8 x 50 robusto. Just 500 individually numbered boxes have been published. For something milder (and noticeably less expensive) try the Siglo VI. Montecristo Regardless of our unsatisfactory experience in Dubai, the No. 2 pirámide stays our all-time favourite. To get a smaller smoke, try out the No. 4--the best selling cigar in the world. Partagás This is really a porterhouse steak and Napa Cabernet smoke, in almost any size. However, in addition to the Series D No.4 Robusto, another favourite of ours is that the newly-introduced 6 1/4 x47 Presidente, using its easy-to-light pinched foot and easy-to-clip Perfecto cap. That is just another cigar that never disappoints, particularly for those in between times when you are not quite sure of what to smoke. Ideally suited to a Plymouth Gin martini (extra dry, olive on the side) or a Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask, we've recently switched from the Brief Churchill to the bigger-ringed 5 1/4 x 55 Broad Churchill Robusto. Apart from offering a slightly fuller taste, it appears to be more physically fitting into the contours' namesake. H. Upmann Another fantastic medium strength cigar, this gentle smoke keeps only enough earthiness to ensure it is appropriate for early to late evenings. The recent re-introduction of the previous 2005 limited edition 6 1/3 x 50 Magnum 50 is like welcoming back an old buddy. Orchant of C.Gars believes it's the best from the H.Upmann range and we concur. Do not fall in the preconception that all Cuban cigars are strong. This brand certainly is not, although its potency will vary by shape. Thinking about having a Irish Whiskey and a cigar? 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 spicy Havanas around and perfect for any time after lunch and well into the day. Cuaba The contours of all Cuabas are all figurados: a mild-mannered smoke ideal for the novice as well as the connoisseur who feels just like throttling down a bit in flavor intensity. |