The Castro Dipolmatic Gift

[UpmannRocks]

I haven't been through the entire site yet, so please forgive me if this is a re-hashing of an old topic. PsychoBob and I have talked about this in the past, and more recently last night as we enjoyed a Cohiba after supper.

There's documentation online that will suggest the Trinidad Fundadore was the cigar Castro gave out as a dipolmatic gift. However, we can find online info that suggests it was the Cohiba Lancero that was the gift of choice.

Oddly enough, even when we went down to Cuba, we got conflicting stories from whichever Cuban tobacconist we talked to. One said it was the Lancero, the other said, the Fundadore.

So, the debate continues I guess. Thanks for any opinions folks.

UR

 

[Electric Sheep]

Have you read the Cigar Aficionado interview with Castro?

He has some interesting comments on this topic, particularly on the Trinidad.

 

[Headbanger]

If you have the MRN book there is good information in there about this subject somewhere.

 

[Kurtdesign1]

Without going elsewhere for information, I believe both were offered at different times, in different presentations and to different people. They were also not the only gifts given out officially, IIRC. I believe personalized banded cigars were given at times as dignitary gifts. Some of which are available from time to time.
The Fundy was the typical lancero size when it was a diplomatic gift (7-1/2"x38), compared to the current Laguito Especial @ 40rg.
Hope I'm more right than wrong...

 

[tubaman]

Without going elsewhere for information, I believe both were offered at different times, in different presentations and to different people. They were also not the only gifts given out officially, IIRC. I believe personalized banded cigars were given at times as dignitary gifts.

Yes, this is my understanding also.

 

[gibbleguts]

My understanding was the trini has been given as a diplomatic gift but Fidel himself never gave anything but Cohiba lancero's

 

[gotham-cigar-museum]

Here's an actual picture of Castro with a presentation humidor, too bad we can't see inside...........it was Cohiba, the Trinidads did not exist at the time....I believe that is what Castro himself said in an interview with CA.

 

[daniyal]

According to Castro he's never gifted anything but a Cohiba he never gave out Trinidad's as diplomatic gifts as some suggest. He said some junior officials may have gifted Trinidads but he never did.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[daniyal]

My uncle was the foreign minister here for some time on visiting Cuba he received Cohiba Esplendidos from Castro... They're double banded I think I still have one or two lying around I'll try and put up a pic.
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[PsychoBob]

I found the Esplendido was a huge smoke (too much to handle at the time); rather opulent ring size. Mind you, I only tried one, I had planned to bring back a box, but changed my mind and opted for Lanceros and Especiales.
I believe Fidel said in the Aficionado interview that he normally gave Especiales ("like this one (Lancero), only smaller" - quote not exact). I love the Especiale size for an everyday chew, Lanceros take a bit longer, for a lingering, warm summer evening .....
If Fidel handed out Esplendidos, I think it must've been a real gesture of friendship, those are big-end high-priced smokes.

 

[Danilo]

from the cigar aficionado interview:
Shanken: Trinidad. We understand that it is a brand of cigar that is your own personal brand, which you give to diplomats and friends as presents.

Castro: No. I principally give Cohibas for presents.

Shanken: You don't give Trinidads?

Castro: No. I don't give Trinidads. I give Cohibas. I have been advising the people who are in charge of tobacco production, Cubatabaco, that they should come up with new brands and new blends. This would help the situation with the conflicts over the brands [with similarly named cigar brands from such countries as the Dominican Republic and Honduras]. If we have the best raw material, we have the best soils and the best know-how, why shouldn't we create new brands?

 

[avid toker]

Without going elsewhere for information, I believe both were offered at different times, in different presentations and to different people. They were also not the only gifts given out officially, IIRC. I believe personalized banded cigars were given at times as dignitary gifts. Some of which are available from time to time.
The Fundy was the typical lancero size when it was a diplomatic gift (7-1/2"x38), compared to the current Laguito Especial @ 40rg.
Hope I'm more right than wrong...

This is correct....Fidel smoked primarily Cohiba's ergo, he gifted Cohiba's as gifts.
Other Cuban officials gave out Trinidad's as diplomatic gifts both in humidors, boxes and singles. A family member of mine some years ago was given a few Trinidad's as diplomatic gifts. Alas, I smoked them a long time ago...