Not much to my surprise some of the people in Pinar de Rio told me about the outstanding quality of the 2009 tobacco crop. The weather in the last months was just perfect for the plants as hot days were followed by rather chilly nights during many weeks. Tobacco loves that climate and thus the crop was outstanding both in quality and quantity.

I was amazed when a fellow friend from San Juan y Martinez told me about clones of Criollo and Corojo from the early 1980’s which they still keep alive. We know these traditional varieties are easily affected by blue mold etc etc  – but cigars made with these tobaccos are the ones that are still the most outstanding ‘cause they are full bodied and aromatic smokes. There is some hope that in future some of the charismatic tobacco planters down there in the Hoyo de Monterrey Valley will take the risk and just grow some of these……

Something else: Robaina needs to wear an oxygen mask, has lung cancer and many more serious things….  That is what some suckers commented all over Havana, and when I say that I mean people that came into town and attended the Festival as guests. They knew all that because someone (you know this someone, the guy that shows up everywhere !!) delivered some oxygen tank and masks to Pinar de Rio. If something like that goes to Pinar it must be Robaina needing it – and if it is oxygen he has lung cancer. This kind of gossip makes me sick!

Robaina has two sisters, one is 100 years old and the other one is 95 – he is the youngest one and keeps kicking. I had some drinks with him (he had tea, I had his best rum), we walked around the house and had some good laugh. I did not see him in need of oxygen – so good old SOMEONE must be out his frigging mind. These suckers should shut up and stop filibustering all over the place.

Back to more interesting issues

The best drinks this year were served again at the Floridita Bar – the Daiquiri Mulata is just great. The price of some refreshing 6 CUC (approx.) 6.50 USD is heavy for a Cuban bar – but be it like it is – its da best in town. Second to mention is the Mathusalem 15 Years (all discussed already) and the currently available Santiago 20 Years old rum.

The set we received during the Gala night - two Cohiba Siglo VI Gran Reserva

The hottest smokes in town .......

The best cigars this year: The new Cohiba Gran Reserva – no doubt about that. Also one other cigar caught my attention. My friend Gary Heathcott gave me a single Hoyo de Monterrey he called Double Piramide (kind of 54 ring stick) – sold in Spain about 5 years ago. That, my dear friends, was a decent smoke. Balanced, sweet, full, yummy, long and whoooow. Gary, ye need to find me some more of that stuff!!!

The biggest disappointment: The cigars handed out during the opening Party in the elegant Club Havana. The cigars called OPEN did not please me at all. Harsh, green, bitter, hollow in taste and totally bland. I said that before and I stay with my word.

Now the secret behind this (in my opinion) unfortunate blend is very simple – a lack of time. I have found out that the panel that was supposed to discuss the blending of the new cigar called OPEN was under serious time pressure. They met in January, sat down, found out the tobacco was not cured accurately by then – and then some industry official closed the meeting by announcing that this is the blend as it has to be the blend. End of discussion. I hope someone (here he comes again) will work a bit harder on the issue. There is certainly some space left for improvement.

So far so good.

Have fun, be happy and keep smokin’

Christopher Wolters

LCDH Hamburg