This year, the 8th Habano Cigar Festival was rich in events and new cigar introductions. During it all they celebrated the 40th anniversary of Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta celebrated its 131st anniversary, first time feature of the Armagnac Habano Trophy and the Cigar Roller competition. In addition there were visits to: Pinar del Río(visit to Vuelta Abajo region, in the province of Pinar del Río, featuring most prestigious plantations of the whole world); El Laguito Tobacco Factory(production site of the great Cohiba); ETC
Most importantly to us there will be more then a dozen of new vitola introductions many of which were inspired by the "lost" vitolas of the past.
• Romeo y Julieta - Short Churchill. This Robusto, measuring 4 7/8 x 50, is one of the most popular sizes in the Havana range and was made in the Romeo y Julieta blend only in 2001 (as part of the Edicion Limitada series) and in 2003 (as part of the special Seleccion Robustos case).
• Cohiba - Behike. The Cohiba Behike has the same length as the Lancero and the same girth as the Siglo VI. New vitola size 7 1/2 x 52. The 4,000 Cohiba Behike cigars will be sold in 40-unit containers – double-ringed and numbered from 1 to 4,000 – presented in 100 humidors made by Elie Bleu.
• Cohiba Siglo II (5 1/8 x 42) will be offered in aluminum tubes, styled after the Siglo VI.
• Partagas - Culebras sized 5 1/4 inches x 33. All-handmade Culebras de Partagas – offered for the first time since before nationalization of the Cuban cigar industry in 1960. Since then, only machine-made Culebras have been offered by H. Upmann, Romeo y Julieta and Partagas and only the latter is still in production.
• The 2006 E.L. line celebrating the 5th anniversary of their introduction are re-issuing three favoritesthis has to be my favorite :thumbs: )
Cohiba Piramides (6 1/8 x 52), originally issued in 2001, in boxes of 10;
Montecristo Robustos (4 7/8 x 50), from 2000, in boxes of 25 and
Partagas Serie D No. 3 (5 5/8 x 46), from 2001, in boxes of 25.
• New Coleccion Habanos edition– book humidor issued for the 5th time featuring Trinidad brand containing 20 cigars of yet another new shape.
Trinidad “Torre Iznaga” (i.e. Iznaga Tower) measuring 6 11/16th x 52. A total of 500 boxes will be made.
• H. Upmann Humidor a new production of an old style, filled with 50 cigars of the new factory shape “Tacos Imperiales”.
H. Upmann “Tacos Imperiales” which is a perfecto shape measuring 6 5/8 x 49. Only 200 humidors will be made.
• Regional releases a special exclusive vitolas for a limited number of the 2006 cigars available at regional retailers in Asia-Pacific, Germany, Italy and France.
Asia-Pacific:
Punch Super Robusto (6 1/8 x 50)
Ramon Allones Estupendo (7 x 47);
Germany:
Por Larranaga Lonsdales (6 1/2 x 42
Bolivar Colosales (6 1/16 x 50)
Italy:
Punch Superfinos (4 3/4 x 42)
France:
Bolivar Libertadores (6 1/2 x 54)
Juan Lopez Obus (5 1/2 x 52)
Now we are just left with a lot of drool and realizing a dream to actually get our paws on any of these fine new offerings.
Most importantly to us there will be more then a dozen of new vitola introductions many of which were inspired by the "lost" vitolas of the past.
• Romeo y Julieta - Short Churchill. This Robusto, measuring 4 7/8 x 50, is one of the most popular sizes in the Havana range and was made in the Romeo y Julieta blend only in 2001 (as part of the Edicion Limitada series) and in 2003 (as part of the special Seleccion Robustos case).
• Cohiba - Behike. The Cohiba Behike has the same length as the Lancero and the same girth as the Siglo VI. New vitola size 7 1/2 x 52. The 4,000 Cohiba Behike cigars will be sold in 40-unit containers – double-ringed and numbered from 1 to 4,000 – presented in 100 humidors made by Elie Bleu.
• Cohiba Siglo II (5 1/8 x 42) will be offered in aluminum tubes, styled after the Siglo VI.
• Partagas - Culebras sized 5 1/4 inches x 33. All-handmade Culebras de Partagas – offered for the first time since before nationalization of the Cuban cigar industry in 1960. Since then, only machine-made Culebras have been offered by H. Upmann, Romeo y Julieta and Partagas and only the latter is still in production.
• The 2006 E.L. line celebrating the 5th anniversary of their introduction are re-issuing three favoritesthis has to be my favorite :thumbs: )
Cohiba Piramides (6 1/8 x 52), originally issued in 2001, in boxes of 10;
Montecristo Robustos (4 7/8 x 50), from 2000, in boxes of 25 and
Partagas Serie D No. 3 (5 5/8 x 46), from 2001, in boxes of 25.
• New Coleccion Habanos edition– book humidor issued for the 5th time featuring Trinidad brand containing 20 cigars of yet another new shape.
Trinidad “Torre Iznaga” (i.e. Iznaga Tower) measuring 6 11/16th x 52. A total of 500 boxes will be made.
• H. Upmann Humidor a new production of an old style, filled with 50 cigars of the new factory shape “Tacos Imperiales”.
H. Upmann “Tacos Imperiales” which is a perfecto shape measuring 6 5/8 x 49. Only 200 humidors will be made.
• Regional releases a special exclusive vitolas for a limited number of the 2006 cigars available at regional retailers in Asia-Pacific, Germany, Italy and France.
Asia-Pacific:
Punch Super Robusto (6 1/8 x 50)
Ramon Allones Estupendo (7 x 47);
Germany:
Por Larranaga Lonsdales (6 1/2 x 42
Bolivar Colosales (6 1/16 x 50)
Italy:
Punch Superfinos (4 3/4 x 42)
France:
Bolivar Libertadores (6 1/2 x 54)
Juan Lopez Obus (5 1/2 x 52)
Now we are just left with a lot of drool and realizing a dream to actually get our paws on any of these fine new offerings.