So, we have had the interesting H Upmann Robustos limited edition a few weeks ago, followed by the Cohiba Piramides Extra which is like a slightly milder version of a Behike and a most splendid cigar in appearance and construction and a few days ago we saw the release of the Partagas Serie C no.3 Limited edition, now this cheeky smoke is more my kind of cigar.
First thing I noticed was that the size was wrong as the ring gauge is supposed to be a 48 but all the boxes we have opened so far (quite a few) are 50 ring gauge cigars – Marvellous. 5 1/2″ length, perfect dimensions for me. Smooth silky dark and oily maduro wrapper and a price tag that I thought was pretty reasonable. I tried 3 cigars from 3 different boxes as soon as they arrived (to see if there was any blend variation from box to box) and they were all perfectly consistent in blend. Construction and pre light were excellent and this cigar truly has a rustic, full flavour (sweet, earthy and a bit of spice too) and full strength Partagas blend. I think this will mature for many many years and turn into a classic.
Yes, yes I know many of us are no longer big fans of limited edition maduro cigars as many have disappointed and never been potentially anywhere near as good as some of the early LE’s such as Monte robustos, Partagas Piramides and SD3’s , Cohiba Sublimes and Piramides but I reckon this one is at least as good as any of the aforementioned. Anyway, awesome smokes so my advice (If you have the space) – Buy a box to smoke and a box to stash away for later and you won’t be disappointed.
Funny old trade which even after many years of being a Havana specialist I still don’t really understand – In the UK we have an incredible range of Havanas, new sizes. Limited editions etc. and literally as much stock as we could dream of from our fabulous importers Hunters and Frankau. You name it and we have it Partagas Sere E, Behike all sizes, Cohiba 1966 LE and on and on. So, no complaints from me there but the contrast is at our La Casa del Habano in Hamburg supplied by an equally excellent importer affectionately known as FAPT (5th Avenue Products) and we struggle to get many of these new lines which seems so odd. Ahh well, count ourselves lucky in the UK I reckon.
We have plenty to get on with in Hamburg of course as we still have a huge range and will be busy for the next few months selling a gigantic collection of interesting Havana cigars on behalf of a client. If you would like details, drop me an email. (Sorry; not possible to deliver these particular cigars to the UK)
I wasn’t surprised to see that one of our best selling accessory ranges is rapidly becoming Cigar Oasis they look good, they are good value and yes, they actually work. Three cheers for Cigar Oasis. These have been so successful for our mail order division that we’ll roll them out to our retail shops in the next few weeks as well.
Squeezed in a Thursday evening herf at the Lanesborough with friends/clients from overseas and puffed through a few Cohiba Piramides Extra which worked very well with Macallan 18, that said, any good smokes work with Mac 18 for me!
My assistant Mishie headed off to Gib for a cigar dinner hosted by our friends at Stagnetto and left me in charge of the office (Good grief!) I managed to cope but missed some good herfing activity at the Mayfair cigar shop – Alfie Turmeaus cigar shop which by the look of things on our webcams had a busy days nonstop client sampling sessions. When it was time to close up I understand we sent all the clients over to Boisdale Belgravia to continue smokes/drinks/dinner and I dare say they likely had a great evening.
London is once again the Mecca for cigar smokers with great new smoking venues opening all the time. I can’t wait for the Wellesely to open in December. I reckon this will be the premier cigars smoking location in the UK if not Europe.
Have to start work on Cigar Auction catalogue in the next week or two as time is marching on. Catalogue will be online and in print around 4 weeks before the auction. The pre auction herf will be at lovely Ten Manchester street as usual, as they take very good care of us and the auction event at Boisdale Canary Wharf.
I hear the next UK regional edition Ramon Allones Petit Belicosos is likely to arrive in our humidors early October now and I just can’t wait for this one. I love the Ramon brand and remember of course the Ramon Belicosos from 2004 which was the first regional edition as such to be made despite not being double banded. We even had our own Orchant Seleccion version of this cigar in 2007. They were simply magnificent smokes and I am hoping that the petit Belicosos will be of the same calibre.
I’m off to smoke another Partagas C No. 3 🙂
Have a smokey week
Peaceful puffing
Mitchell
