So, I'm back from a week in Varadero. It was great: hot & sunny the whole time; great hotel; fantastic service; wonderful beach and pool (water warm as p1ss); ok food... and great cigar selection at the LCDH on Calle 63. Smoked to my heart's content, of course.
Didn't have much space in my humidors, so I got a cabinet of 25 Punch Royal Selection 11 and 2 boxes of RyJ Dukes EL 2009.
looks like you and your family had a great vacation. that is what life is all about
"Cuban seed tobaccos grown in Nicaragua and Cuba. The wrapper would be from Cuba. The binder leaves would be from Nicaragua. For the ligero tobacco in the filler, he would use two types, one from Esteli and the other from Jalapa in Nicaragua. The other filler components, seco and viso, would come from Cuba, the former from Villa Clara, the latter from Pinar del Rio. That Cigar, he says with pride, would score 100 points." -Don Pepin Garcia
Great pictures Flash. Any problems at the airport getting the cigars out? Are those prices on the form in CUC? I have a 10 day trip booked in Havana in February, looking forward to it.
"If it was raining soup, the Irish would go out with forks." Brendan Behan
Posts: 1755 | Location: Dublin | Registered: November 29, 2006
Originally posted by LiLo: Those dukes look so dark and oily! how did you like them?
The Dukes were great, but they surely will be even better in a few years. They have the potential, IMHO, of becoming true classics.
They were very earthy, slightly woody, with undertones of coffee and a hint of cocoa. Medium bodied for the first half, going on full for the last half, with more spice and pepper. The large gauge made the smoke plentiful, yet cool and smooth.
A 92 with a potential of 95.
As for the Punch RS 11: a fantastic corona gorda, totally underrated and highly enjoyable. The box I got was from september 07. Perfect burn; slightly tight draw - yet easy and generous. Nicely sweet (honey; molasses), nice "Cuban" twang, cedary with a dash of unsweetened espresso.
An easy 91.
________________________ "Tobacco is my favorite vegetable." --FZ
"Government is the Entertainment Division of the military-industrial complex." --FZ too
Originally posted by AnRyan: Great pictures Flash. Any problems at the airport getting the cigars out? Are those prices on the form in CUC? I have a 10 day trip booked in Havana in February, looking forward to it.
No problems getting the cigars out. They didn't even ask me for the receipt - though I had them in my carry-on when passing customs. And, yes, the prices on the form are in CUC (100 for the Dukes; 151 for the Punch RS11).
________________________ "Tobacco is my favorite vegetable." --FZ
"Government is the Entertainment Division of the military-industrial complex." --FZ too
Well, it's Cuba (don't plan on eating like in France or Italy)... But, despite the horror stories you've certainly heard about the island, the food was surpringly good. The buffet was varied, immense and not at all on the cheap side (even had lobster one night). All in all, I'd give it 7 on a scale of 10.
quote:
Originally posted by CompitaVeggie: Great vacation. How was the Iberostar? Thinking of heading out there next summer.
JOse
The Iberostar was amazing: beautiful site and set-up; amazing gardens; clean (maids made the room twice a day); great activities (sailing, snorkeling, fishing, "safaris", etc); totally friendly and fast service (be generous when tipping, especially the first days - trying to communicate a bit in Spanish will also give you points). Also, Iberostar is managed by Spaniards, rather than Cubans, so it's more, how shall I say, professionally tended...
I highly reccomend it!
________________________ "Tobacco is my favorite vegetable." --FZ
"Government is the Entertainment Division of the military-industrial complex." --FZ too
Originally posted by michaels: those limited robaina's look good..saw them may have to dive in...
The Robainas are REs, from Spain. Just to avoid confusion, I have to say that the pictures after the Cuban cigar receipt are from last year's vacation in Spain (where I got said Robaina REs).
________________________ "Tobacco is my favorite vegetable." --FZ
"Government is the Entertainment Division of the military-industrial complex." --FZ too
