Demaris Freyer
| 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 initially called, or are about to embark for a different nation at which you can legally purchase Havana cigars (which will be practically anywhere else in the world except the USA, where it is forbidden to sell Cuban products), here are seven of the top brands in our embargoed neighbor that we believe are well worth seeking out. It is currently legal to return up to 100 Cuban cigars--that's about four boxes--as long as they are for your personal use and not for resale. RELATED This Beverly Hills Whiskey Hideaway Feels Just Like a Private Club in the Wild West One of the World's Greatest BBQ Pitmasters Has Made the Supreme Guide to Steak Adam Perry Lang Is Finally Making His World Famous Barbecue Again But , some caveats. They're More rampant than ever--even in Cuba--although currently Costa Rica is giving 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, then you are aware that it can't be real. Some of the best places to purchase authentic Cuban cigars are the United Kingdom (in which they are rigidly scrutinized by exclusive Habanos importers Hunters & Frankau), Spain--that also gets a few of the best Havanas--and any of the official La Casa del Habanos Cuban government-sanctioned retail stores; there are currently 90 of these globally. 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 result of inferior leaf selection and inadequate aging). Plus, one of those cigars was rolled much too tightly to permit a decent draw. However, all three Montecristos were real Habanos products. That brings up the ongoing issue with Cuban cigars of quality control. That is confirmed by Mitchell Orchant, managing director of C.Gars, Ltd, among the largest purveyors of Cuban cigars in England, that also critiques the freshness of some cigars, that is, if they were aged sufficiently prior to being released. So a fantastic guideline is, once you get your Cuban cigars safely house, set them on your humidor for at least a month or 2 to give them a little time to more fully develop the flavors that created Havana famous. Bearing that in mind, here are our recommendations for your following cigar buying excursion overseas. Trinidad As well as celebrating the 500th anniversary of San Cristobal de La Habana (which also appears to be the title of a rather mild-smoking Havana cigar that was introduced in 1999 and showcased at the festival), the XXI Festival has been spotlighting the Trinidad brand, that originated in 1996 since Fidel Castro's VIP cigar to supplant the Cohiba, which began being publically marketed in 1982. The medium-full-flavored Trinidad is Havana's top-of-the-line cigar. Last season, three new shapes are introduceda 4 1/2 x 50 press luna, a 5 7/10 x 53 Esmeralda, and a 4 11/12 x 56 Topes, that originally was a 2016 limited edition. Cohiba Still one of the very widely-counterfeited cigars in the world, only buy these from reliable sources. The full-powered, large-ringed Behike is a high-priced smoke worth paying for, only for bragging rights, together with all the 54 and 56 ring gauges particularly desired. 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 that these will normally run more than $100 a stick. Using the best of 3 year old tobaccos, it is offered in just 1 dimensions: a 4 7/8 x 50 robusto. Only 500 individually numbered boxes have been published. For something milder (and clearly less expensive) attempt the Siglo VI. Montecristo In spite of our unsatisfactory experience in Dubai, the No. 2 pirámide remains our all-time favorite. For a more compact smoke, try out the No. 4--the best-selling cigar in the world. Partagás This really is really a porterhouse steak and Napa Cabernet smoke, in almost any dimension. However, in addition to the Series D No.4 Robusto, another favourite of ours is the newly-introduced 6 1/4 x47 Presidente, with its easy-to-light pinched foot and easy-to-clip Perfecto cap. That is just another cigar which never disappoints, especially for those in between times when you are not very certain of what to smoke. Ideally suited to either a Plymouth Gin martini (extra dry, olive across 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. Besides offering a slightly fuller taste, it seems to be physically fitting into the contours' namesake. H. Upmann Another great medium strength cigar, that this gentle smoke keeps just enough earthiness to ensure it is appropriate for early to late evenings. Orchant of C.Gars feels it is the finest from the H.Upmann range and we agree. Do not fall into the preconception that all Cuban cigars are strong. This brand certainly isn't, although its potency will vary by shape. Thinking about having an Irish Whiskey and a cigar? Punch The Double Corona is a perfect match for a snifter of all X.O. Cognac. Vegas Robaina Medium-full in flavor; the Vegas Robaina is one of the most complicated and hot Havanas around and ideal for any time after lunch and well in the day. Cuaba The contours of Cuabas are figurados: a mild-mannered smoke perfect for the novice as well as the connoisseur who feels like throttling down a bit in flavor intensity. |