Hav-a-Tampa cigars closing Tampa plant

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/23/231900/hav--tampa-cigars-closing-tampa-plant/news-metro/

Machine made cigars, will lay off 495 employees. Open since 1902. Blame is on smoking bans and SCHIP.

The Kentucky Derby

Was entertaining family and in-laws at the Kentucky Derby. Enjoyed my Oliva Serie V and a SOSA that I had brought with me. Since my bets somehow were off, the day was not as eventfull as it could have been. At least the rain held off.

CAO Mx2 86.75

Had read about these and were highly talked about. Have smoke 2 of them now several months apart. I got the same impression both time. I typically really like a maduro wrapper, but this one just did not live up to expectations. I even smoked this one with a nice snifter of brandy and just did not enjoy it like I thought I would. It was a little harsh and had no discernable flavors. It is a very well made cigar and gave great ash. Cigar.com had this write-up:
Featuring two maduro wrappers, the CAO MX2 is perhaps the most popular maduro cigar ever made. These cigars are very hard to find and available on a limited basis throughout the year.
If CAO could go back and recreate this cigar, it would be priced a lot higher. They had no idea just how large of a stir they were going to create when they came up with this Maduro masterpiece that features two premium wrappers on one cigar. Competitively priced, it is near impossible to find one of these cigars without putting your name on a long waiting list.
When most people think of a Double Maduro, they typically are reminded of a super dark almost jet-black wrapper. CAO has put a new spin on the term “double maduro” with a second wrapper all together. It is medium to full-bodied and slightly sweet on the lips. The aroma is rich and earthy with hints of black pepper and a long spicy finish. This cigar is ideal for the maduro lover. It is considered to be in the top five in terms of the best maduro cigars being rolled today. Like all CAO cigars, the MX2 has a flawless construction and burn that makes it a solid performer every time you fire one up.

How to enjoy your cigar

You find a nice spot on the front porch with your favorite beverage.  

Then after I light up my cigar I see if my dog likes it or not.  If she gets close

then it is a good cigar.  She gave this Habano Hernandez 3 out of 4 bones.

Then just when your cigar is done the ice cream truck drives up.  With this cigar I 

recommend the ice cream sandwich.  Then you finish by watching the rest of the 

3rd round of the Masters.

Habanos Hernandez 90.255

I found out about these cigars from an email and once they were able to accept credit cards decided to try the sample pack of 3 cigars. You have to call their toll free number to order, but that is probably a good thing because they will send you cigars in strength from 1-5. I decided to try some number 3 cigars. I got the ones they feature on their web site

at http://habanoshernandez.com/. They came in the mail the next day and were still pretty moist so went ahead and smoked the robusto the next day. The others I want to let sit in the humidor to make sure they are at optimal humidity and temp for a while before I smoke and rate those. The only thing I would recommend is that they also might want to offer a Paypal option for those that are worried about giving credit cards over the phone.

The cigar at a level 3 was slightly above most mild cigars and was a very enjoyable smoke. The sampler pack is a bit pricey, but good if you are not sure you want to buy a whole box before trying.

Prior to cutting the cap off, it looks like a well made cigar, however after cutting, I could tell there was a little issue with the wrapper. It looks like it was damaged a little when the label was put on.

You can see how it was torn right next to the label.

However that only detracted a little bit.

The ash got to a good inch and half before falling off.

If you want to support the small rollers who really enjoy making cigars I would recommend checking out their web site and trying their cigars.

Kentucky Derby Week Cigar Events

J Shepherd is holding Cigar Week April 27th thru May 2nd every evening from 4 to 8 pm.

Free sample cigars and door prizes. Mon 27-Rocky Patel, Tue 28-Oliva, Wed 29-Avo Evezian,

Thur 30-Alec Bradley, Fri 1-Teds, and Sat 2 Derby Day-Mystery Smoke. They are at 1429 Bardstown Rd., You can phone Jason for more information at (502) 479-1621.

Jason's Shop has been review here before and he keeps a great selection of cigars. Be sure to stop by.

Camacho Maduro 89.6725

I continue to enjoy maduro wrappers as well as Cameroon.  This was a very enjoyable cigar and smoked it for quite a while when I was out walking the dog around the neighborhood. This cigar is an offshoot of the Camacho Corojo line and the term "Quinto Corte" means "Fifth Priming" which is a reference to the uppermost leaves on the Corojo plant. Since these leaves remain on the plant the longest, they receive the most exposure to the sun and other elements. This gives the leaves a richer, more full-flavored taste than leaves that are picked earlier in the growing process.  I did notice some distinct leather flavors and a rich aroma.  This cigar gave off prodigous amounts of smoke and was very enjoyable. Strength:-Full
Wrapper:Maduro
Filler:Authentic Corojo
Binder:Authentic Corojo

Ashton Cabinet 86.08

This cigar was an OK smoke, not spectacular and not unpleasant. Just an average smoke and nothing to throw in the river. Based on the description below, I should have enjoyed it much more. Hmm.

twoguyssmokeshop.com had this on the cigar:

The Ashton Cabinet is the "White Burgundy" of cigars. "White Burgundy" gets its rich complex taste from the soil and aging of the grape in French oak barrels. The Cabinet's 4 to 5 year old Dominican filler blend has a rich, complex and well rounded taste. The extraordinary Connecticut shade wrapper is aged for an extra year and has an elegant palamino color resulting in a smooth and creamy flavor. The Ashton Cabinet includes no less than six different tobaccos and ends with a "big finish." Seven years pass from seedling to finished cigar before Ashton Cabinet is brought to fruition and presented for your smoking pleasure.

Cigar Rights of America

Now a proud member of http://www.cigarrights.org/. Check it out yourself.

Cusano Cuban 91.255

I continue to enjoy this cigar. I had this one sitting in the humidor for a while to get a good age on it. This cigar has a great taste from beginning to end and is a well made cigar. The only thing keeping it from a higher rating is the lack of any discernable aroma. You know, when someone is smoking a great cigar and you can tell it a block away.

Sungrown Cuban Cigars by CusanoWrapper: Sungrown EquadorFiller: DominicanBinder: Dominican

OLIVA Serie V 90.25

I had the double Toro size 60. This was just a little too big for my tastes. I prefer the 54 ring on cigars. However, that did not detract from the taste of these. It was strong but did not overwhelm. This cigar lives up to its reputation as one of the best. This is from cigar.com:

Rolled with specially selected ligero leaf, all top quality, Serie "V" packs a punch due to its full body; however, its strength does not dominate the experience. Specially aged and fermented tobaccos make for a complex flavor, adding layers of enticing notes of pepper, leather and earthy undertones. This line represents the strongest and richest cigar Oliva has to offer.To be an authorized Serie "V" dealer, tobacconists must undergo special training from Oliva representatives aimed at providing insight to the sheer power of the blend. This cigar only contains ligero leaf (the strongest variety of tobacco), but is blended so the initial taste is not overwhelming with "in your face" power. In other words, Serie "V" is very strong but can still be enjoyed by individuals who prefer medium-bodied cigars. Upon lighting, many may believe Serie "V" is medium in body, but as Jose Oliva himself has explained, if you cycle the smoke through the nose you will realize the true strength of Serie "V." Potent, powerful, yet smooth with a long finish, this blend is must try for all enthusiasts, let alone fans of the Oliva brand.

PROCIGAR FESTIVAL 2009

Doc at StogieFresh.com has some great pictures of the latest Procigar Festival including La Aurora Factory and Davidoff. Check it out at http://www.stogiefresh.com/.

Cuban cigar sales drop amid global crisis

Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:18pm EST

By Jeff Franks
HAVANA (Reuters) - Sales of Cuban cigars, considered the finest in the world, dropped 3 percent to $390 million in 2008 as the world financial crisis and the spread of anti-smoking laws cut demand, officials said on Monday.
The falling sales reflected a decline in the market for luxury products in general as global economic worries mounted, said Manuel Garcia, vice president of Habanos S.A., the worldwide distributor of Cuban cigars.
Speaking at a press conference kicking off Cuba's annual cigar festival, he said 2009 was likely to be a "very complicated" year, but Habanos expected to maintain sales at around the 2008 level.
Three hurricanes raked Cuba last year, including powerful Gustav which cut through the heart of the island's prime tobacco growing state of Pinar del Rio, but Garcia said they had done minimal damage to tobacco supplies.
"Luckily, there was no effect on the harvest and there continues to be sufficient raw material to meet demand," he said. Thousands of tobacco curing barns were damaged by the storms, but most were rebuilt in time for the curing season, Garcia said.
Garcia said laws prohibiting smoking in public places had gone into effect in various countries last year, including some that are big customers for Cuban cigars.
Also, the number of worldwide airline passengers had fallen by a reported 11 percent, he said, which slowed the "duty free" market where Habanos sold about a quarter of its cigars.
He said the top global markets for Cuban cigars, which include well-known brands such as Montecristo, Cohiba, Partagas and Romeo y Julieta were, in descending order, Spain, France, Germany, Cuba and Switzerland.
Due to the 47-year-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, the communist-led island's cigars cannot be sold legally in the United States, the world's largest cigar consumer.
New U.S. President Barack Obama has promised to ease, but not eliminate the embargo.
If it were lifted, "it is probable that an opening of that market would signify a great possibility and great potential for our products," Garcia said.
Cuban cigars are so popular that Habanos, a joint venture between Cuba and British tobacco giant Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, has about 70 percent of sales in its current markets, said vice president of development Javier Terres.
He said an estimated 230 million to 250 million cigars will be smoked in the United States this year.

Vegas De Fonseca 86.75

Smoked this one on a nice Saturday afternoon in my garage while my son-in-law smoked another Kentucky Black Gold. This cigar did not stand out in that I could not detect any special flavors or blend that would make this stick particularly different than other cigars. It was an OK smoke and not disappointing.

Famous smoke shop has these as a discontinued cigar:

The company line is that Vegas De Fonseca cigars are the most ''bold and daring'' of all Fonseca cigars! Made in limited quantity and shapes to ensure consistency, these medium to full-bodied cigars are blended with hearty Dominican & Nicaraguan Ligero long fillers, balanced by a milder, Cuban-seed Dominican binder draped in a specially-cured, African ''Cameroon Deluxe'' wrapper. Complex in flavor, smooth and aromatic, like all Fonseca cigars, the Vegas De Fonseca selection is a memorable and gratifying smoke.

Cusano Killer Cameroon 91.76

Update 4/3/09 Still rate this high, going to buy box.

I am disapointed I only picked up 6 of these from the cigar store. This was my third one to smoke before I rated it to make sure it was not a fluke.

This is a great smoke and the cameroon wrapper really gives this cigar a great 'mouth'. This is a new term I am going to use for the taste of the wrapper on your lips before even lighting it up. Some cigars just have a very bitter taste and you have to have some sort of beverage or liquor to dampen your lips before lighting up to enjoy the cigar. This one does not need that and was enjoyable from start to finish.

http://www.smokeshopmag.com/ had this comment:

Cameroon wrapper is one of the world's sweetest, most flavorful tobaccos and the five-year-old, 1996 vintage used on Cusano Killer Cameroon cigars is one of the finest ever produced says Michael Chuisano, president of DomRey Cigar Co.
"We combined two very potent filler tobaccos, aged three and five years, to mellow out any harshness or bite while still keeping its underlying power intact," says Chuisano. "The delicate Cameroon wrapper provides the perfect finish, as this cigar tests the limits of strength while not overpowering the palette. Every cigar has an excellent draw, burns beautifully and develops a speckled white ash."
Chuisano thought he may have gone overboard in perfecting the blend of the Cusano Cameroon cigar with master cigar blender Hendrik Kelner. But samples smoked by key testers were quickly praised as "killer cigars," with requests for more. Cusano knew they had created the most powerful Cameroon cigar available, and the Cusano Killer Cameroon was born.
All tobaccos are vintage certified by ProCigar, the Dominican Republic cigar manufacturer's association.
Killer Cameroon is offered in four shapes: Robusto (5 x 50), Corona (6 x 46, belicoso tip), Toro (6 x 50), and Churchill (7 x 50), Cigars are individually cello-wrapped, and packaged in 20-count plexi-top, cabinet-style boxes. Retail prices range from $3.49 for a single Robusto to $4.49 for a single Churchill, available to retailers at keystone markup. Free samples are available for licensed retailers from Cusano Cigars.

AVO MADURO 79.575

I kept trying to identify any discernable flavor in this cigar and could find none. It was an OK smoke but nothing to brag to your friends about. Not one i want to buy a bunch of to age in my humidor. I have not smoked a lot of AVO yet, but am not enamored at this point. Brian over at stogie review however enjoyed his and had this to say:

Upon removing it from the cellophane I was greeted with a slightly oily, dark wrapper with a very light dusting of plume near the cap which I took as a good sign of both the cigar and the new B&M. The one vein I could see could barely be felt, the entire wrapper was very smooth. The cut was very clean and the pre-light draw was just right, yielding a nice mild tobacco flavor.
The first couple of draws produced plenty of smoke and the familiar maduro flavor, though not quite as sweet as some others I’ve had. I found the first and second third of this cigar to be rather mild and one-dimensional. Nothing really bad to say about it, just not very complex, pretty much the same flavor throughout. The ash was rather dark, resembling the ash of the Cuban cigars I’ve had the pleasure to smoke. The ash dropped as a little pellet as the burn got into the second third and the body began to build ever so slightly. The burn wasn’t very straight through the first two thirds and required a couple of touch-ups. The last third is where this cigar really began to come alive, I really wish the entire thing could have been just like this. The body picked up while retaining the smooth, light finish, picking up some leathery tones and the slightest bit of spice. I am usually tiring of a cigar into the last third but this one just got better and better. I smoked it down to about a half of an inch, something pretty rare for me personally.

smoked the other one of these I picked up the next night with much the same results. While being rather one dimensional through the first two thirds it really came into its own in the last third and I smoked it down to about 1/2 inch. The aroma on this cigar was unique and rather pleasant, probably one of the better smelling cigars I’ve smoked.

Fonseca Cubano Viso Fuerte 84.24

This was my pre-super bowl smoke. I was not too impressed with the flavor of this stick.

It smoked very well and was a well made cigar, but did not have the blend of flavors I expected.

Cigarcyclopedia like this one and had this to say:

This is the second blend in MATASA’s “Fonseca Cubano” series, aimed at the cigar enthusiast who looks for more flavor and more complexity. The Fonseca Cubano Limitado has been a hit since its debut in 2008 and the Viso Fuerte includes a unique combination of a Honduran-grown Criollo Viso wrapper with a filler blend that includes U.S.-grown Connecticut Broadleaf!It’s a medium-to-full-bodied blend with a nicely spiced aroma. The flavor includes a rich, caramelized note with a short finish. The clear and clean taste is inviting and there is a tangy finish as the cigar moves into the second half.Very well made, with an even burn, the Viso Fuerte continues smoothly into the second half and develops a peppery element at the very end that signals that this show is over.

Obama hails passage of children's health insurance

And add 30 cents to each cigar.


WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack is hailing Senate passage of legislation providing government-sponsored health care to roughly 4 million uninsured children.
A day after the bill was approved 66-32, Obama released a statement saying the action amounts to "a down payment on my commitment to ensure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care."

The measure authorizes an additional $32.8 billion over the next 4 1/2 years for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The House plans to take up the same bill next week.
Obama's statement said the Senate vote is especially significant at a time when "the worsening economy causes families to lose their jobs and health insurance."

PUFF.COM up and running

The new website Puff.com is now up.
It was the merger of www.top25cigar.com, www.clubstogie.com, www.cigarlivevideo.com, and www.cigar-review.com.

GOD OF FIRE Don Carlos 2006 Tubos 91.76

Dang it, I hate it when a $20.00 cigar actually smokes this well. I just cannot afford to stock up on that many of them. My son-in-law John and I both lit one of these the other day and and both of us agreed that this is a great cigar. The burn and draw were very nice and you could tell this is a well made stick. We could taste a little pepper flavor at the beginning and the flavor was better as you smoked it.

Cigar.com website has this to say:

God of Fire is one of the most limited production lines made by the famous Fuente Family in the Dominican Republic.
A joint effort between the industry’s top cigar maker (Fuente) and top accessory maker (Prometheus), God of Fire is one of the rarest cigars produced by the Fuente Family. In an effort to outdo each other, father and son, Carlos and Carlito Fuente set out to make the best cigar they could, tailoring every aspect of the cigar from its size and blend to suit their respective tastes. The resulting blends are the core of the God of Fire line and are released in such small quantities that they rarely surface for sale. When they do, they sell out in a matter of days.

Product keywords
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC , MEDIUM-FULL , NATURAL

J.C. Newman Cigar company

Great CNN report on how cigar factories are trying to stay afloat. Let alone with SCHIP lurking ominously in the future. Even though not hand rolled, it is amazing to watch how these are made. I will try some and rate them in the near future.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/12/26/cigar.smoke.factory.cnn

Outlaw Cigar Kansas City

Had the chance to stop by Outlaw Cigar Store in Kansas City. This is a great cigar store with a very large selection of cigars. Since I am in Louisville which has banned smoking indoors, it was great to find a store that still has a smoking lounge. They also have a wide variety of accessories.

Best of all is the monthly smoking events. You just have to go online at http://www.outlawcigar.com/ and order their calendar. You will not be dissapointed. Fortunately I had the foresight to pick up an extra for my son-in-law who loves his calendar.

How to be 'Cool' with HVAC

OK, this is pic of my little brother and his fellow heating and air co-workers trying to be cool in Dallas on a work trip. How was the cigar Pete?

Boston health board may stamp out cigar bars

In the cozy confines of a former speakeasy in Boston’s North End, men and women gather nightly to sip cognac and savor a cigar.
But these days, Stanza dei Sigari, the cigar lovers’ respite on Hanover Street, isn’t so relaxed.
On Thursday, the Boston Public Health Commission will vote on a tough smoking ban that could put this cigar bar, and others like it, out of business.
“I think it’s kind of unconstitutional, telling people not to smoke in a controlled environment,” said Linda Riccio, one of the owners of the dark-paneled saloon.
“Where will it end?” she asked. “Are they going to tell people they can’t smoke on the streets?”
The city’s health officials may expand Boston’s ban on workplace smoking by prohibiting smoking in cigar and hookah bars, on restaurant patios and loading docks.
The proposed rules seek to ban tobacco sales on college campuses and in drug stores, too.
While critics say the move goes too far, Roger Swartz, director of the health commission’s community initiatives bureau, said the new rules are intended to protect people from the ills of tobacco, in all its forms.
The proposal has sparked an outcry among cigar aficionados.
Since September, when the health commission gave preliminary approval to the new regulations, the commission has received hundreds of complaints.
Most are protesting the proposed smoking ban in cigar bars, health commission spokeswoman Ann Scales said.
To Riccio and other supporters, this ban would unnecessarily limit a beloved adult activity.
Riccio’s clients include businessmen, doctors and guys from the neighborhood.
“They come here to smoke, and they know what they are doing,” she said.Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1137759

Makers Mark Seasoned 74.915

My wife bought this and thought I would enjoy it. I have always heard this was not a very good cigar, and I do not like 'boutique' type cigars or flavored cigars in general. I much prefer a cigar that has tastes that differ because of the different tobbacco's used in the filler and wrapper. Anyway, I was actually suprised that this was not a lousy cigar and was fairly mild. You can taste the flavor they tried to impart on the wrapper, but let me tell you, it is nowhere near the good flavor of Makers Mark Bourbon. I am glad to have tried it, but there are a lot better cigars out there for the $14.00 price tag on this. I gave this one a low appearance rating because the wrapper was a little loose and caused it to have a canoe effect while smoking.

Romeo Y Julieta Torpedo 78.08

What is it with torpedo's that have a hard draw. The taste of this cigar was ok, but even cutting the foot at an angle did not help the draw on this cigar. It maintained its flavor throughout the smoke and was a nice looking cigar. Stogieguys.com had this to say:

Once lit, the wrapper combines with Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian filler to create tasty nut and coffee flavors. Like many Maduros, this is an earthy smoke; unlike many Maduros, it’s light-bodied with a short finish. So, if you’re looking for a powerhouse, this isn’t your cigar.
My experience with Romeo y Julietas had me expecting a well-constructed cigar, and I was not disappointed. The burn remains even, the gorgeous white ash holds firm, and the foot manages to stay lit – even when left unattended for periods of five minutes or more.
I should mention, however, that this is a tightly-packed cigar, and the draw can be a bit difficult.
At about $5.50 apiece, this cigar is a good value. Despite a salty disposition and a firm draw, the Romeo y Julieta Reserve Maduro Robusto has a lot to offer.

Zino Platinum 85.08

I was actually expecting more from this Zino given the Davidoff reputation. I thought it was a good smoke, but nothing that would make me want to run out and stock up on these. It was well made and smoked ok, but I could not tell any specific tastes given that this is labeled as a stout cigar.

This is what cigar.com has to say, however they do sell these:

It does not get any nicer then the Zino Platinum Scepter. The cigar was made for cigar enthusiasts who only smoke the best and most unique cigars.
Blended by master blender Hanky Kellner and rolled at the famous Tabadom Factory, there is nothing missing from this cigar. A Connecticut shade grown Ecuadorian wrapper covers a mix of Peruvian and Domincan fillers that are aged over four years.
As soon as you light up a Platinum Scepter a burst of flavor explodes on the palate. While the cigar is smooth, it is one of the most complex cigars made in the Dominican Republic. It is medium bodied yet full flavored. This combination creates a pleasant aroma without the harsh or long finish that some cigars are plagued with. The Zino Platinum Scepter is the best and only way to spoil yourself on those cigars that warrant only the finest cigars.

VigilantE Sun Grown 81.74

I picked up a box of 25 of these that cigars international had a sale on for $32.00. For the price these were not a bad cigar, just not a lot of flavor. However, I think they will need at least a year of aging to let them mellow out a little and let the flavors blend in.

Origin: Honduras

Size: 6.25 x 50

Wrapper: NicaraguanBinder: Ecuador

Filler: Nicaragua / Honduran Sun Grown
The VigilantE is blended by Rocky Patel and is aged 5 years.

My Brother Pete at London Cigar Store

It is great to have the whole family involved in the love of a fine smoke.

JFK cigars story from about.com

Cuban H Upmann Petit Upmann Cigars.

Here is the full story behind President John F. Kennedy's love for Cuban Petit Upmanns and the signing of the Cuban Trade Embargo, according to an email message received from Dick DiMeola in response to cigar.com review of the H Upmann Corona Major cigar:"I retired as COO of Consolidated Cigar Corp., predecessor to Altadis USA, in 1998, having been in the cigar business since 1956 (I still dabble in it). In my early years, I worked for Faber, Coe & Gregg, Inc., the country's premier importer and distributor of Cuban cigars, among others. What you say about JFK's love of H. Upmann is true, and it is also true that an aide purchased 1200 H. Upmanns for Kennedy just prior to his signing the Cuban Embargo in 1962. That aide was his press secretary, Pierre Salinger, who confirmed the story in a speech at a Cigar Association of America annual meeting, I believe it was in 1987, at which I was present. But the cigar was not the Petit Corona, which in that era was 5" x 41r and retailed for 40¢, it was the Petit Upmann, which was a machine made cigar, 3 3/4" x 32r that retailed for 25¢."
As an aside, although the H. Upmann Petit Upmann is the size mentioned by Salinger, I was in charge of inventory control for FC&G at the time and we did not import that cigar under that name. It was sold in the U.S. under the frontmark, Demi Tasse. Perhaps Salinger was confused because it was called Petit Upmann in England, Cuba and the rest of the world."

After Obama win, goodbye to Cuban embargo?

–Bernd Debusmann is a Reuters columnist. The opinions expressed are his own–
By Bernd Debusmann
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - If votes in the United Nations serve as a gauge of global opinion, 98.9 percent of the world opposes the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, a measure imposed 46 years ago to isolate the communist-ruled island and bring down its leaders.
It failed on both counts. As far as international opinion is concerned, the country that is isolated is the United States, not Cuba. In the latest of 17 successive U.N. General Assembly resolutions on lifting the embargo, Washington mustered only two allies — Israel and Palau, a Pacific island nation difficult to find on a map. It has a population of 21,000.
The Marshall Islands (pop. 63,000), which had voted with the United States from 2000 to 2007, unexpectedly and without public explanation broke ranks this year and abstained in the vote, a non-binding resolution taken a week before the U.S. presidential election.
The count — 185 countries in favor of lifting the embargo, three against — speaks volumes about a bankrupt policy stuck in the Cold War era.
Will that kind of America versus the world line-up change under Barack Obama? Not necessarily. The man who made history on Nov. 4 by becoming the first black to be elected president of the United States has promised to “ease” sanctions if Cuba took “significant steps toward democracy, beginning with freeing all political prisoners”.
He has not said what it would take for the United States to end the embargo, kept in place by 10 successive U.S. presidents, both Democrats and Republicans.
During the Cold War, when Cuba was a heavily-armed outpost of the Soviet empire just 90 miles (145 km) from Florida, a majority of Americans agreed with a hard line on a Communist government that violates human rights and holds political prisoners. That attitude has been changing since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
According to a Zogby poll taken a week before the election, 60 percent of Americans believe that Washington should revise its policies towards Cuba. In particular, 68 percent thought Americans should be allowed to travel to the island and 62 percent said U.S. companies should be allowed to trade with it.
If that happens, it won’t be soon.
Latin America in general and Cuba in particular are not likely to figure high on the agenda of a new president who is inheriting two wars and the worst economic crisis since the 1930s. American presidents tend to promise greater attention to southern neighbors but usually do not follow through.
“I’m not so idealistic as to think that the embargo will be lifted immediately,” Cuban dissident and writer Jorge Olivera told Reuters Havana correspondent Jeff Franks.
“But I expect better times as much for the United States as for Cuba. I don’t want to die without seeing an end to this conflict that began when I was born.”
Worth noting: Under a 1996 law, the president needs congressional approval to lift the embargo or to recognize any government that includes Fidel Castro, who officially stepped down in February, or his brother Raul, who took over from him.
STATIC AND COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE
In the past, the most fervent opposition to ending the embargo — the effects of which have punished the population for the actions of a leadership it did not elect — has come from the Cuban-American community in South Florida. But even this is changing.
“U.S. policy towards Cuba is at best static and at worst counter-productive, a source of increasing frustration to many Cuban Americans,” Jorge Mas Santos, chairman of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF), wrote late in October in a Washington Post opinion column that endorsed Obama.
CANF was set up in 1981 by Mas’s father, Jorge Mas Canosa, with the express aim of overthrowing the government of Fidel Castro. For years, the group exerted enormous influence on Washington policy makers — as well as on presidential candidates keenly aware that winning the White House without winning Florida is a very difficult undertaking. Obama won the state comfortably.
Cuban exiles, numbering around 650,000, account for just over a quarter of the total population of the greater Miami area. In the past, the Republican Party took the loyalty of most of them for granted — Cuban Americans have traditionally voted four to one for Republicans.
The three Miami-based Cuban American Republicans who serve in the House of Representatives — all supporters of the embargo — were re-elected. Their votes against changes Obama might propose once he takes office on Jan. 20 can be taken for granted.
Some of the most pointed criticism of the embargo has come not from Democrats but from conservative businessmen who resent the fact that American business has been kept out of Cuba while most of the world is engaged there.
In the words of Tom Donohue, CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “All you have to do is go over to Cuba and watch how the Spanish, the French, the Latin Americans and everybody else on the globe are building resorts or trying to invest, and we are sitting here with a 50-year-old policy that doesn’t work.”
The prime beneficiaries from an end to the embargo would be American agricultural exporters. “But just about every industry could benefit,” according to Donohue, “for the simple reason that there is such pent-up demand. Look at the cars they are running — Jack Kennedy was in office when half of them were sent down there.”

Cigar.com article on Habano leaves

If you have not subscribed to the newsletters on cigar.com you need to. They always have interesting information. Below is info from their newsletter:

Looking back on my experience in this industry, both as a hobbyist and as a career, I have come to many conclusions about cigars. One of my biggest revelations, due mostly in part to marketing, is how things in this industry appear far more complicated than they really are. Let’s look at Habano seeds, for example. Nearly 50 years ago, Carlos Torano brought some of the first Cuban seeds to the Dominican Republic after the Cuban Embargo was set into place. These seeds were true ‘Pelo de Oro’ and today, you read about literally dozens of different types of Cuban seeds and tobaccos. I think it is high time to set the facts straight on Cuban-seed tobacco and hopefully clear the air on this confusing subject. During the mid 20th century and coincidentally, relatively around the same time as the Cuban Embargo, plants grown in Cuba and in other parts of the world from Cuban seeds became increasingly susceptible to disease; you may have heard of these nasty killers, known as “Black Shank” and “Blue Mold.” By the 1970s, Cuban seeds had spread all over Latin and South America and issues with sick plants began to spiral as farmers would lose entire crops in a matter of days, once signs of disease set in. The increased severity led to initiatives by agronomists in Cuba and all over the world to begin development of new, genetically engineered seeds, which had a natural resistance to known diseases that effect tobacco plants. In the interim, research was also being done on pesticides and fertilizers that helped combat these crop killers. While many purists stuck to their Pelo de Oro seeds, new technological advancements were making way for genetically enhanced seeds that not only proved more resistant to disease, but also yielded larger leaves and healthier plants. By the turn of the 21st Century, there were dozens of varieties of Cuban seeds from H2000, Criollo, Criollo ‘98, Corojo, Corojo ‘99 and a host of lesser-known variations. Suddenly, Cuban-seed tobacco was no longer simply “Habano;” it had taken the form of “super seeds” with complex names and was being sold to farmers in tobacco growing nations throughout the world. In fact, today a market exists strictly for the sale and distribution of tobacco seeds, which is quite profitable. While the obvious advantages of these brave new seeds were welcomed as they increased yield for farmers, cigar enthusiasts were inundated as brands touted their new “Habano XYZ” as the best Cuban wrapper on the market. The public was quickly made to believe that the flavor and appearance of these leaves were vastly different from one another. After nearly 10 years, the results were finally in and the differences between these “varieties” were negligible. In fact, the market is finally going back and reclaiming the word “Habano.” I, for one, could not be happier. The bottom line is this folks – Habano-seed is Habano-seed. People talk about Corojo, Criollo and use fancy numbers, when at the end of the day, I don’t know a single individual that can truly look at or smoke a leaf of these “different” tobaccos and actually tell the difference. On my many visits to Nestor Plasencia’s tobacco facilities (Nestor Plasencia is the largest grower of Cuban-seed premium tobacco in the world) throughout Latin America, the workers and managers routinely, simply refer to the materials as “Habano” and nothing more. So, "what matters when I am looking at Habano leaf" you ask? Like any other seed, the region it is grown plays the biggest role. From the key regions of Nicaragua, Honduras, Columbia, Panama, and Ecuador, the flavor and appearance are largely dependent on the climate and soil. It is not simply limited by country either, as many tobacco growing nations have several regions. In fact, between Nicaragua and Honduras alone there is Jalapa, Esteli, Somoto, Pueblo Nuevo, Ometepe, Condega, Jalapa, Copan, Talanga and San Agustin, just to name a few. These specific areas impart a certain fingerprint on Habano-seed leaves and their unique characteristics can be both seen and tasted.

Age of your Cuban cigar box

http://www.nationalcigarmuseum.com/Dating/Dating_Cuban_Boxes.html
This site was mentioned on Ebay so I thought I would share it with you.

Sancho Panza Dulcinea Torpedo 89.255

Smoked this one after putting up my annual Halloween display. Hence my friend in the picture enjoying a smoke. I was very pleased with this cigar. I usually don't like torpedo's because they can tend to have a hard draw, but this one was handmade very nice. I have several of these aging in the humidor so I look forward to smoking some more. Nice flavor and wrapper had a great taste.

Cigar.com says:

With an everyday low price, Sancho Panza is all about value. These box-pressed Nicaraguan cigars have received top marks by industry publications.Crafted by Estelo Padron, the revered Honduran Cigar Master, these cigars are superbly constructed, draw perfectly and provide exceptional flavor - befitting a cigar named for Sancho Panza, the memorable literary figure created by the great Spnaish author, Miguel de Cervantes. Manservant to the famed Don Quixote de la Mancha, Sancho Panza personifies trustwothiness and reliability - attributes you will find in these cigars bearing his name. A cigar of uncommon character and taste, worthy of its Cuban heritage, Sancho Panza is carefully grown with Cuban-seed filler tobaccos and a rich Connecticut Broadleaf binder. Wrapped with a seamless Connecticut leaf, Sancho Panza provides a light body with full flavors of cedar and earth.

COHIBA EXTRA VIGOROSO 80.08

I was suprised that this cigar was more milder than I would have

expected. It was still a pretty good smoke, though I prefer the regular red dots. I like the little disclaimer label. The Cohiba name fight continues.

The Bonita Smoke shop has this to say:

The Cohiba XV Vigeroso cigars are blended by the famous and talented Cigar master Señor Daniel Nuñez. Señor Nuñez set out to create an extension of the successful Cohiba cigars line. The result are Cohiba XV cigars, an Extra Vigoroso cigar made with all the inspiration and dedication to quality that have made Cohiba one of the most respected premium brands in the country. The most distinctive leaf of Cohiba XV cigars are it's sun-grown Sumatra wrapper from Ecuador. These leaves are harvested only from the tops of the tobacco plants. Each of these wrapper leaves is aged in tercio for three years. The flavor is then enhanced even further by aging all of the leaves again for six months in crates of fragrant cedar. In crafting Cohiba XV cigars, the most flavorful Nicaraguan Ligero and Dominican Piloto Cubano Ligero are bound with the richest three-year-old Connecticut Broadleaf. The result is a cigar that is made, not only to please, but also to impress. Every inch a Cohiba in terms of its tobacco selections and craftsmanship, Cohiba XV vigoroso cigars will deliver you the richest, deepest cigars you can find with the, true to tradition, Cohiba flavor in a bold and beautiful way.

Golden Zeus 14K

Saw this article on the Golden Zeus cigar at the millionaires show in Germany.
I can see the ratings on this one "Tastes a little too rich for my blood, and has a slight
tinny taste that I can't quite put my finger on." I think I will just wrap one of mine in aluminum foil and call it close enough.