blessednxs65
Is it Nicaraguan
Connoisseurs, experts and just plain fans are always asking, what is the best cigar?
As far as Habanos, S.A., is concerned, they have an answer for you . . . sort of.
In a meeting in Havana sponsored by Habanos and the rum Havana Club, a group of 27 Cuban sommeliers chose its own top ten list of the best Cuban cigars from among its 27 handmade brands under the direction of Fernando Fernandez, a professor at the Cuban High Hotel and Tourism School. The list:
(1) Montecristo No. 4 (5 1/8 inches by 42 ring), which also happens to be the best-selling size from the best-selling brand in the world.
(2) Romeo y Julieta Churchill (7 x 47), maybe the most famous shape in the Cuban cigar line-up.
(3) Cohiba Lancero (7 1/2 x 38), an interesting and old-school choice since the Lancero was the original shape in what became the Cohiba line.
(4) tie, Cohiba Esplendido (7 x 47) and Montecristo No. 2 (6 1/8 x 52 torpedo), the latter being at one time one of the only shaped cigars in the entire Cuban cigar catalog);
(5) Partagas 8-9-8 (6 5/8 x 43); although not mentioned, this is undoubtedly the Cabinet Selection Varnished, a powerful cigar never to be smoked on an empty stomach!
(6) Cohiba Robusto (4 7/8 x 50), one of the first Robusto shapes that helped to change the industry when the size was re-introduced by the Cubans in 1989.
(7) Partagas Serie D No. 4 (4 7/8 x 50), another robusto, but one which was also produced in Cuba in pre-Revolutionary times by the Partagas factory.
(8) tie, Cohiba Siglo VI (5 7/8 x 52) and Montecristo A (9 1/4 x 47);
(9) tie, H. Upmann Sir Winston (7 x 47) and Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No. 4 (5 x 48);
(10) Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona (7 5/8 x 49).
Thats 13 cigars for ten places, but its interesting to note that the sommeliers picked only six brands in their top ten and only one post-Revolution brand (Cohiba). In fact, the top eight places (comprising 10 cigars) include only four brands: Cohiba (four selections), Montecristo (three), Partagas (2) and Romeo y Julieta (1). Those four, along with Hoyo de Monterrey and Quintero y Hermano, are marketed worldwide by Habanos; all other Cuban brands are marketed more selectively and not exported to all countries.
Moreover, of the 13 cigars selected, ten shapes are represented with three Churchills and two Robustos on the list. And the top-rated cigar of all was a tiny in todays day and age Petit Corona of just 42 ring gauge! Only one shaped cigar the Montecristo No. 2 was tabbed.
Is this definitive? No, but its fun and is sure to start arguments from fans of specific brands. For example, dont try to tell a fan of Juan Lopez about how great the robustos from Cohiba and Partagas are!
As far as Habanos, S.A., is concerned, they have an answer for you . . . sort of.
In a meeting in Havana sponsored by Habanos and the rum Havana Club, a group of 27 Cuban sommeliers chose its own top ten list of the best Cuban cigars from among its 27 handmade brands under the direction of Fernando Fernandez, a professor at the Cuban High Hotel and Tourism School. The list:
(1) Montecristo No. 4 (5 1/8 inches by 42 ring), which also happens to be the best-selling size from the best-selling brand in the world.
(2) Romeo y Julieta Churchill (7 x 47), maybe the most famous shape in the Cuban cigar line-up.
(3) Cohiba Lancero (7 1/2 x 38), an interesting and old-school choice since the Lancero was the original shape in what became the Cohiba line.
(4) tie, Cohiba Esplendido (7 x 47) and Montecristo No. 2 (6 1/8 x 52 torpedo), the latter being at one time one of the only shaped cigars in the entire Cuban cigar catalog);
(5) Partagas 8-9-8 (6 5/8 x 43); although not mentioned, this is undoubtedly the Cabinet Selection Varnished, a powerful cigar never to be smoked on an empty stomach!
(6) Cohiba Robusto (4 7/8 x 50), one of the first Robusto shapes that helped to change the industry when the size was re-introduced by the Cubans in 1989.
(7) Partagas Serie D No. 4 (4 7/8 x 50), another robusto, but one which was also produced in Cuba in pre-Revolutionary times by the Partagas factory.
(8) tie, Cohiba Siglo VI (5 7/8 x 52) and Montecristo A (9 1/4 x 47);
(9) tie, H. Upmann Sir Winston (7 x 47) and Romeo y Julieta Exhibicion No. 4 (5 x 48);
(10) Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona (7 5/8 x 49).
Thats 13 cigars for ten places, but its interesting to note that the sommeliers picked only six brands in their top ten and only one post-Revolution brand (Cohiba). In fact, the top eight places (comprising 10 cigars) include only four brands: Cohiba (four selections), Montecristo (three), Partagas (2) and Romeo y Julieta (1). Those four, along with Hoyo de Monterrey and Quintero y Hermano, are marketed worldwide by Habanos; all other Cuban brands are marketed more selectively and not exported to all countries.
Moreover, of the 13 cigars selected, ten shapes are represented with three Churchills and two Robustos on the list. And the top-rated cigar of all was a tiny in todays day and age Petit Corona of just 42 ring gauge! Only one shaped cigar the Montecristo No. 2 was tabbed.
Is this definitive? No, but its fun and is sure to start arguments from fans of specific brands. For example, dont try to tell a fan of Juan Lopez about how great the robustos from Cohiba and Partagas are!