halfwheel

Review: Ramón Allones Specially Selected Gran Robusto (ER Benelux 2008)

In 2005, Habanos S.A. introduced the Edición Regional releases creating specific sizes for various regions around the world. Most of these regions were entire countries: Canada, Germany, and Spain for example. However, there are a few regions made up of a group of smaller countries who all share the same distributor, like Benelux. Cubacigar is [...]

Review: Ramón Allones Allones Extra (EL 2011)

In 2011, Habanos S.A. released their normal trio of Edición Limitadas consisting of special cigars from Cohiba, Hoyo de Monterrey and Ramón Allones. The program, which was introduced in 2000, releases special vitolas of three different cigars that are not part of the portfolio for the respective brands. Since 2004, Habanos has limited the releases [...]

Review: Hoyo de Monterrey Short Hoyo Pirámides (EL 2011)

At the end of 2011, Habanos S.A. released its 11th collection of Edición Limitadas, a trio of cigars from Cohiba, Ramon Allones and Hoyo de Monterrey: Cohiba Cohiba 1966 — Double Robusto (6 1/2 x 52) Ramón Allones Allones Extra — Corona (5 3/5 x 46) Hoyo de Monterrey Short Hoyo Pirámides — Petit Pyramid (5 3/5 x 44) [...]

Review: Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Gourmet (1994)

Hoyo de Monterrey is not one of the more prolific Cuban brands even with its status of being one of Habanos’ Global Brands. That status places it amongst the likes of Cohiba, Montecristo, Partagás and Romeo y Julieta, meaning that it is one of Habanos’ larger distributed brands. The current rendition of Wikipedia’s history of [...]

Review: El Coloso

When you think of Cuban cigars, you think of Cohiba, Montecristo, Partagás and Bolívar. But, when the average Cuban thinks of cigars, or more importantly purchases a cigar, they purchase something like El Coloso, a peso stick. Peso sticks rarely make it off the island, aren’t featured in La Casa del Habano stores and are [...]

Redux: Reynaldo Lancero (2010)

Back in August of 2010, I reviewed a custom Lancero from Reynaldo Gonzáles Jimenez that was rolled at the La Casa del Habano at Hotel Conde Villanueva. Amongst custom rolls, it’s largely hit or miss. A year and a half ago, when I first reviewed the Reynaldo Lancero, it was a definite hit. As such, [...]

Review: La Escepción Selectos Finos (ER Italy 2011)

In 2011, Habanos brought back an old Cuban brand La Escepción. as an ER for Italy. The size is a 6 1/2 x 38 Panatela called Selectos Finos, a size that had never been offered by La Escepción prior. La Escepción is one of the oldest Cuban cigar brands with its introduction by owner José Gener sometime in the late [...]

Review: La Gloria Cubana Deliciosos (ER Cuba 2009)

In 2009, Habanos S.A. released a new La Gloria Cubana release made solely for Cuba. Launched under its Edición Regional banner, the La Gloria Cubana Deliciosos was the first, and is to this day the only, ER for Cuba. Known more for its packaging and pricing, like many ERs, the Deliciosos found its way out [...]

Review: Davidoff No.1

In August of 1989, one of the most expensive, yet least destructive fires in history took place. Zino Davidoff, founder of Davidoff, allegedly burned upwards of 130,000 Cuban Davidoffs in the infamous Davidoff bonfire that marked the end of white label in Havana. By 1991, after years of frustration over poor quality, Cuban Davidoffs were no [...]

Review: Trinidad Robusto T

For those of you that don’t know… In 2009, Habanos S.A. celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Trinidad brand by releasing a Robusto in the Trinidad line at the Havana Libre hotel during the XI Habano Festival in Cuba. The history of the Trinidad line is interesting to say the least, perhaps the most controversial [...]