It is a drive of just 170KM from Havana to the small village of San Luis in the Cuban province of Pinar del Rio. No big deal but nonetheless a challenging experience. However, we reached the hidden farmhouse and met the grandmaster of Cuban wrapper producers at his veranda.

Alejandro was sitting in his rocking chair and gave us a very warm welcome. Pure luck was that for the day no big groups were expected and thus we could sit down in tranquility. Two very funny Spanish cigar friends joined what should turn into a funny afternoon.

Robaina, about to celebrate his 90^th birthday in just three week, called some of the wonderful girls taking care of his guests to get us some rum – yet there was no Havana Club Anejo left. But, there was a bunch of others. He proudly showed us a unique bottle of rum blended as sample by Havana Club on the 20^th of Feb. The bottle had a hand written note saying Ron Don Robaina and some additional information. We all liked the idea of such a rum and soon started testing it. The nose showed loads of fruitness and the flavor was mild, elegant and reminding me to a serious Rhum Agricole, these light style rums made from fresh sugar cane. Of course we had to sip one more gals just to make sure our impressions were right.

When Alejandro Robaina then asked for the OTHER bottle, the one in the wodden box, I thought for a minute he might serve Havana Club Maximo, the worlds most expensive and exclusive rum. You know what – he did. The coffee, toffee, chocolate flavors lingering of my glass….nahh, I will stop making you even more jealous now.

That Havana Club Maximo, currently retailing at some 1400 Euro (approx. 1800 USD) per 0.5 Liter decanter was mind blowing – just good the HC Anjejo was out that afternoon. I should have checked out the Robaina bar and wine cellar years before…

Hirochi Robaina then invited us for a lunch. For various reasons I was sworn to secrecy and thus I am not telling you what we had. Surf ‘n turf Cuban style J

A lump hammer of a cigar called Padrino followed our excellent lunch. By pure guess that enormous stick was ring gauge 54 by 200mm in length with an overall impression of being  mild, well balanced and of a certain sweetness. Before we hopped into the car a had a little walk with Alejandro who was suffering from an infection in the last weeks. He recovers steadily and his doctors take very good care of him. He is full of energy and I wish him many more years.

So far about the day. Later the evening we founded a cigar merchant cartel at the Nacional – if the cigar mafia meets it had to be there. The foundation party went on until 2:30 in the morning when we all headed back to bed.

The new Havana cigar cartel. From left to right Nareesh from Malaysia,
Christoph Wolters, Rob Ayala from Down Under, Zdravko Brikc from Serbia
(dont even try to pronounce his name) and my fellow buddy Michael from
Hamburg.

I shall be back with more later. Tonight we attend the dinner of the Havana Cigar Club…thus stay tuned for more.

To read yesterdays blog click here