2011 Limited Edition from Cuba

Since 2000, Habanos launched every year Limited Editions cigars (Edicion Limitada), introducing to the market cigars not in regular production, in limited quantity, of course, as the name says. Usually these cigars have been issued for the most well-known brands (Cuaba possibly being the exception with their 2008 Piramides).

I understand that initially they were made using regular tobacco and with two-year old tobacco for the wrapper, which was also selected from the upper part of the plant (was it the famous medio tiempio tobacco currently used for the Behike? We will never know! :) ). However, since 2007, all the tobacco used in Limited Editions is at least two-year old. This should contribute to a more enjoyable cigar as the tobacco has had longer time to develop its unique flavour, although not in an assembled cigar (which means that it may still be good not to smoke Limited Editions straight away).

Over time, there have been some magnificent Limited Edition. One I'd certainly like to mention is the Partagas D No. 1 from 2004. Or maybe the Montecristo Sublimes from 2008 (by the way, I felt that these cigars were really good when they first came out, they then lost somewhat strength for a couple of years but they seem to have gained again in flavour over the last 12 months... the power of aging!)

In 2011, Habanos issued three Limited Edition. In classic cuban style we only saw some of them in 2012 but here they are in the picture below:

They include:

1) Hoyo de Monterrey - Short Hoyo Piramides, a 5 3/8 inches long, 46 ring figurado

2) Ramon Allones - Allones Extra, a  5 5/8 inches long, 44 ring gauge

3) Cohiba - Cohiba 1966, measuring 6 1/2 inches long by 52 ring gauge

They are still relatively fresh and they need further time to develop. Generally, I have not been too impressed by them, particularly the Allones Extra which seems to be very much a hit or miss (ie they don't seem to have consistent quality). The Cohiba - which name was chosen to commemorate the 45th anniversary since the launch of the brand - seems to have great potential but it needs a bit of time and it certainly comes at a significant price. The other two are interesting because the Hoyo is a bit stronger than the traditional Hoyo while the Ramon Allones is a bit lighter than the traditional Ramon Allones. But then, why would I buy a Hoyo or a Ramon Allones? I think I'd rather have brands that stick to what they are good and known for, but perhaps time will prove me wrong and with aging I will be praising all of these cigars... In the meantime, I would suggest to stock-up if you can, particularly on the Cohiba. You can most likely expect those prices to go up and once the cigars have run out you will find some major aficionado (or some wealthy newcomer) ready to spend money to still smoke them (assuming that you will have the strength to sell them!). Enjoy!

Partagas E2

A number of new cigars have finally made it to the UK. Over the last couple of weeks, the Limited Editions for 2011 have finally arrived. These include the Ramon Allones Allones Extra, the Cohiba 1966 and the Hoyo do Monterrey Short Hoyo Piramides (more to come on those cigars in forthcoming posts, for now I can say that I tasted the Ramon Allones enjoying it quite a bit...). More importantly, we finally got delivery of the new regular vitola introuced by Partagas, the E2.

We were expecting the launch of the E2 a the Hunters & Frankau summer party back in June. However, due to delay with the production, Hunters was unable to present the cigar and promised to send it to all participants in due course. It was September when I finally got a package with the following message via post

The wait was definitively worth it. I almost immediately tried the E2 and I smoked a few more since. This is certainly a different Partagas. It is a fat cigar, being a 54 ring gage x 5.5" (140mm long), same size as the Romeo & Julieta Limited Edition Duke from 2009. More interestingly, it is not a usual Partagas.

Like many others regular cigar smokers, I love my Partagas. Generally full bodied, they consistently offer best value in my view vs. other more well-known brand (like Cohiba, but also Trinidad). However, the E2 is a bit different. It is certainly not as strong, which means that it is easier to enjoy also after a not too heavy meal... It is a very creamy and peppery smoke, getting stronger of course as you get closer to the top; I have no doubt that it will benefit from a bit more aging but in my view it is a great smoke already.

Here it is again in more detail.



Apparently, E2s are already running short in the UK, but hopefully a new batch will be coming soon from Cuba. Don't miss out!

Why cigarando?

Why cigarando? I started the blog but didn't say why I did it or perhaps even how the name came out... well starting from the latter, the first part of the name is pretty easy to understand, the second one is basically the italian version of -ing suffix... so rather than smoking a cigarette, i will just be... cigarando :)

And why the blog? well, just to be clear, I am not a cigar expert, just somebody who enjoys cigars and likes to find out a little bit more about them - there is a lot of people out there with a lot of knowledge in the space... the aim is therefore to learn more and more and hope you can too by following cigarando... 

I am about to go on holidays for a few days, so will probably touch base with all after that... in the meantime i leave you with a snapshot of a cigar I would have loved to smoke tonight but couldn't..., a picture of my brother Marco, my friend Alessandro and myself at the Cena di Benvenida of the Partagas Festival (I'm proudly showing my badge, got the picture from Marco today, credit to his wife Anna for the picture) and an overview of all the goods available at the La Casa del Habano in Milan - stopped by there quickly this week as was in Milan for work, didn't manage to sample anything but who knows, I might next time... (fyi, they don't allow to smoke inside but there is a nice restaurant around the corner to eat and smoke at the same time) 

A very good cigar... the Behike-sized special cigar of La China given at the Partagas Festival in Matelica (this is worth a post on its own... to follow)

With my brother Marco and Alessandro

An overview of La Casa del Habano in Milan

Before I go, there should be surprises going forward, with a guest blogger making his appearance - stay tuned!

V° Encuentro Amigos De Partagas En Italia - part 2

The second day of the Amigos De Partagas event, on Saturday 26th June, was enriched with an afternoon seminar about "puros magic", ie personal experiences of cigars as described by some major experts in the cigar world, including, amongst others, the torcedores La China and Cueto, Abel Esposito of the Partagas Factory and the President of the Italian Cigar Association, Massimo De Giovanni. A moment of the seminar is in the picture below.


The discussion dwelled around sales of cigars around the world (which were clearly impacted by the economic recession in 2009) as well as favorites cigars purchased in the factory by people of various nationalities... There were some interesting debates, in particular around the use of thicker bands and whether that is a necessity of the industry (getting more torcedores - apparently the bigger the band, the easier it is to roll them) or a request from the smokers... During the seminar everybody was smoking a cigar. I decided to enjoy the Hoyo de Monterrey from Ajay's goodie bag - a double corona from a 2001 cabinet of 50. A relatively light but classy smoke.


In this image you can see my brother Marco - who also attended the seminar - with Cueto and La China while rolling cigars during the seminar. My brother had to leave early as he was helping his wife Anna organising her bday party BBQ for the evening... In the evening, I briefly attended my sister in law's party but I couldn't miss the Gala Dinner in Matelica...

Both the Cena di Benvenida and the Cena di Gala were in fact tasting menu with wine to complement each (local) dish. All the wines, except the Champagne and Spumante, were also from the area and amongst the ones I sampled I have to spend some special words for the Ceresi of the Gagliardi winery made with Ciliegiolo grape (or big Sangiovese) - Umberto Gagliardi is now leading the winery and is a member of the Cigar Club Matelica - he was getting married the following week and therefore received a special cigar courtesy of Cueto...


Here is a snapshot of what we ate... the menu included porcini pasta, gnocchi with duck sauce, veal, etc. Note to the left a snapshot of Don Alejandro Robaina. More about the Gala Dinner to come in the next post!