La Casa Del Habanos- A cigar smokers dream!

[03hemi]

While out of the country on vacation I was fortunate enough to visit, smoke and buy some Cubans at a La Casa Del Habanos.
It doesn't get much better than this! Smoking a few in the Casa's lounge with my best buddy James on the trip. I almost met my quota in purchases for an American citizen at the shop.

 

[ditrina]

Which one were you at?? I've been to a couple

Aruba, Saint Kitts, Rome Headed to Aruba in a couple of weeks.

 

[03hemi]

St. Kitts. The wife got jewelry, I got cigars. We're doing Switzerland next year, I want a watch. lol

 

[Rudi]

Very cool! Did you get any rum?

 

[Old_Cop]

Bolivar, mmmmm.

 

[03hemi]

Bolivar, mmmmm.

Bolivar are definitely some of my favorites, looking forward to getting into these Liberatadors too, nice and big.

No rum, don't drink the stuff. Spent a small fortune on a ring for the wife though, but that's okay, she's going to repay me with a Breitling next year. hahaha

 

[ditrina]

It took me awhile But I thought I recognized the wallaper

The gentleman in the photo on the right, is the GM of the Saint Kitts Casa.. He was the one that introduce me to H. Upmann #2 and Havana Club 7 year old rum,,

 

[03hemi]

It took me awhile But I thought I recognized the wallaper

The gentleman in the photo is the GM of the Saint Kitts Casa.. He was the one that introduce me to H. Upmann #2 and Havana Club 7 year old rum,,

Love all the Upmanns, try the half coronas.
They still have most of those Cohiba Behike's too. (Humidor picture, middle row, black boxes top right).
Nothing taste better with a cigar than coffee.

 

[glenncal1]

Were the Cuban's really good. They last few I have had were ok but really no better than a good Dominican. I was told by a cigar shop owner in Florida that Cuba gets most of their tobacco from the DR as the regime doesn't have the skills to grow the quality tobacco.

 

[delcrossv]

Were the Cuban's really good. They last few I have had were ok but really no better than a good Dominican. I was told by a cigar shop owner in Florida that Cuba gets most of their tobacco from the DR as the regime doesn't have the skills to grow the quality tobacco.

That's my understanding as well. The last few Cuban's I've tried haven't impressed. La Gloria Cubana (Dominican) for me (maduro). My oldest son likes Padron (Nicaraguan) - it's growing on me.

 

[03hemi]

Were the Cuban's really good. They last few I have had were ok but really no better than a good Dominican. I was told by a cigar shop owner in Florida that Cuba gets most of their tobacco from the DR as the regime doesn't have the skills to grow the quality tobacco.

That's my understanding as well. The last few Cuban's I've tried haven't impressed. La Gloria Cubana (Dominican) for me (maduro). My oldest son likes Padron (Nicaraguan) - it's growing on me.

Totally false and B.S.
All Cuban's have a specific "twang" that's present in all of them even tough each cigar taste completely different, this taste runs consistent in all of them. (one indicator of a real Cuban)
That's obviously someone that either doesn't know much about Cubans or trying sell you a bill of goods. If you can't tell the difference upon the first or second taste of a Cuban cigar, then it's fake or you're not an experienced smoker.
Cubans aren't the "Nirvana" of cigars when you light them up as an inexperienced smoker, they'll taste about the same as a any cigar, but to an experienced cigar smoker that's been smoking non-Cubans for years will immediately be blown away by the taste, complexity of flavors, how the flavors change and the ability to smoke it to the nub without any bitterness, harshness or bad aftertaste.
Construction, ash and most important, taste will always be the true indicators.
There are more fake Cubans in Cuba than anywhere in the world, that's why you only buy from a Govt. sanctioned store like a Casa if you can't tell the difference by construction alone.

 

[delcrossv]

..... but to an experienced cigar smoker that's been smoking non-Cubans for years will immediately be blown away by the taste, complexity of flavors, how the flavors change and the ability to smoke it to the nub without any bitterness, harshness or bad aftertaste.

Yum! A good Dominican will do that too.

Construction, ash and most important, taste will always be the true indicators.

There are more fake Cubans in Cuba than anywhere in the world, that's why you only buy from a Govt. sanctioned store like a Casa if you can't tell the difference by construction alone.

Maybe got some bad /fake ones(?). I'm willing to give them another whirl if I knew it was the real deal.

 

[03hemi]

Yum! A good Dominican will do that too.



Maybe got some bad /fake ones(?). I'm willing to give them another whirl if I knew it was the real deal.

OpusX is the only Dominican I've ever had that can hold a candle to a Cuban.

 

[delcrossv]

OpusX is the only Dominican I've ever had that can hold a candle to a Cuban.

Those are good. I like the oilier smoke of La Gloria Cubana maduros . (personal preference)

 

[glenncal1]

I had some Cuban Montecristo #2's in the Bahamas several years ago that were outstanding cigars.

 

[03hemi]

I had some Cuban Montecristo #2's in the Bahamas several years ago that were outstanding cigars.

I love the #2's.

 

[Bill Bates]

I've only been in a couple of LCDH stores in Mexico. Both were nice, well stocked and served a great mojito. I only bought a few cigars to enjoy while on my trip. Ouch the prices are high in Mexico because of the taxes.

I'm another person that smokes almost exclusively Cuban cigars. Overall on many levels they taste superior to me than most of the non-Cuban cigars at almost every price point.

I have a love hate relationship with the Monet #2. Of the two boxes I've enjoyed they have been hugely inconsistent. Some will be a pure religious experience, some pretty darn good, some so so and a few complete tent pegs.

I sure wish that the Cubans could the constancy of their competitors.

These cheapies are well worth searching out.

 

[03hemi]

Monte#2's are one of my favorites too! You nailed it spot on with their inconsistency, in fact, I've read in Cigar Aficionado and have personally experienced one box being superb and the next tasting flat. This is always my biggest fear when I order them. Strange thing is the #2's are the only Cubans I've ever had this issue with too? Try the Trinidad's yet? They're made by the same growers and factory as the Cohibas and way cheaper, but wow, amazing in flavor.
My buddy Glen and I enjoying some Partagas Lusitanias I had saved in my humidor for a couple of years at this point.

 

[rwsmith]

That's the cream of the crop.........

...and a hobby i enjoyed thoroughly. But I had to chop off all the unhealthy habits and I left with shooting.

 

[03hemi]

I've wondered what I'd do too, probably give all my smokes to a buddy that really appreciates the Cubans as much as I do.