The get together of the Cigar Club of Havana took place at the fancy restaurant La Guardia downtown Havana. The setup of this remote place is just unbelievable and every time I climb up the stairs to the 3rd floor place I am amazed about the interior. Owner Enrique prepared a superb table just besides one of the balconies with a great view overlooking Havana.

Now, as promised I shall make you a bit jealous with what the club had on the schedule for that night. After a short speech and a warm welcome one of the foundation members served a Magnum bottle of Cohiba Atmosphere – a red wine made by Riojas winery Martinez Bujanda. With the top notch food (which was actually the best of this years trip to Havana and the best I ever had at that restaurant) we emptied a bottle of Cuban Mathusalem 15 years old rum which another member of the club found in a hidden wine cellar just out of Havana. That rum was stored in that cellar since purchased back in the early 1980’s. Amazing to say the least as it showed a very nice barrel flavor when we opened it, a nose reminding of cinnamon, leather and orange peel and it had the best aftertaste I ever had from any rum. Mild, never ending and almost like a great Spanish brandy !! 100% - 10 out of 10.

The cigars served that night were also real stuff. A member from Central America brought Montecristo No.4 Reservas that turned out being super powerful by now. They show a far better performance now than they did when released two years ago. After that small size Havana we smoked Cohiba Sublimes Extra which is a well balanced, rich and creamy cigar that of course needs some more age. Finally we had the big pleasure of test smoking the first Cohiba Gran Reserva that was given to us by some Habanos S.A. official. That cigar was out of this world to say the least. The balance and the fragrances are truly amazing, so is the construction and the aftertaste. I can not remember a cigar tasting so sweet and pleasant even in the final third and leaving just sweet flavors in the mouth – no “smoke and ashtray”-side taste even one hour later. Great great great !!

Back home we almost finished the rest from the Mathusalem 15years old. The rum was made at Caney distillery as diplomatic gifts until the mid 1990’s when the production was closed due to legal issues. It is a shame things like this product are impossible to find today. That rum is a blast ! Don’t get confused with todays Mathusalem coming from Puerto Rico – that is nothing like what I am talking about.

Tonight the Habanos Festival 2009 will end with the big Gala Dinner talking place at Pabexpo in Havanas elegant part of Miramar/ Siboney. Habanos S.A. will launch of the Cohiba Gran Reserva and so by tomorrow that great cigar shall have some more true fans. Just let me tell you that by now there is no date of release fixed – subsequently we will not take orders tonight J  I shall report about that night before we head back to the airport tomorrow

My impressions about the Festival 2009 and the general mood I will summarize in the final blog from this Festival to be out on Monday. Stay tuned for the latest and last from Havana – and a great offer I have ready upon my return.

Have fun and a great weekend
Happy smoking from Havana
Christopher Wolters
La Casa del Habana Hamburg
www.thecigarsmoker.com

Click here to read yesterdays blog