Cuban cigars come in all shapes and forms and today there are 27 different brands. While all Habanos are Cuban, by no means all Cuban cigars are Habanos. The title ‘Habano’ is the Protected Denomination of Origin —Denominación de Origen Protegida D.O.P—, reserved for a selection of the most outstanding brands whose cigars are manufactured to highest standards from tobaccos grown only in particular areas of Cuba —which are also protected as denominations of origin— and fully hand made. While there are between six and eight brands that are the most renowned and the usual choice of Habanos for cigar connoisseurs, there are three brands that are in the top of mind and that we tend to consider three of the five kings of Cuban cigars. Cohiba, Partagas and Romeo y Julieta are part of this short list of the kings of Habanos.
Cohiba is a brand that enjoys a formidable reputation in the world of cigars and is considered to be the 'crème de la crème' when it comes to Habanos —Cuban cigars. Created in 1966 for Fidel Castro and handmade at the world famous 'El Laguito' factory, these cigars were originally only seen outside of the island when presented as gifts to heads of state or dignitaries throughout the world. Today, Cohiba cigars are sold internationally and are the most reputable and consistent brand when it comes to quality and a superior cigar smoking experience. The Cohiba Exquisitos are a Seoane vitola that is a medium to full bodied cigar with wrapper leaves have been carefully chosen to provide a great smoking experience. Measuring good 5" in length but with a very thin 33 ring gauge —half an inch— this is a perfect cigar for when time is of essence and you can't spend a full hour or more enjoying one.
Partagas much like Cohiba sits at the upper echelon of Cuban cigars. If there is one particularly famous cigar factory in Havana, Cuba, it is Partagas. Located right behind Cuba’s Capitol building in the heart of its capital city, this cigar factory was opened almost two centuries ago in 1845 by Don Jaime Partagas and it has been making the cigars that bear his name ever since. A Partagas is immediately recognisable by its deep, earthy flavour. A big favorite of ours and perhaps the most sold Partagas vitola in the world, Serie D No.4 dates back to the 1930s and is a strong robusto with leather and cocoa notes. Intense, yet smooth at the same time.
Lastly, named after William Shakespeare’s tragic lovers novel, Romeo y Julieta dates back to 1875 when the brand was established. In 1946, during Sir Winston's Churchill visit to Cuba, the brand instantly became his favorite. Afterwards, Romeo y Julieta decided to add Churchill's name to their 'vitolas' in order to describe the brand's most famous size —Churchills— measuring 7" long with a 47 ring gauge. Back in 2006, Romeo y Julieta launched a new 'vitola' under the Churchill name; the 'Short Churchills', a fabulous 'Robusto' that was missing in this brand and then in 2010 during the 'XII Festival del Habano' the 'Wide Churchills' were released with a 55 ring gauge. The Romeo y Julieta 'Wide Churchills' are just as good as the 'Churchills', but packed with more of the goodness that comes from the selected leaves from the 'Vuelta Abajo' region in Cuba in a much thicker cigar. And with what it’s still one of the hottest watches since 2018, the Rolex GMT Master II Everose Gold ref. 126715CHNR 'Rootbeer’ is the perfect source of fire to light up any of these fantastic cigars accompanied by a nice pour of Hennessy X.O. by the campfire or the fireplace.
A perfect combo for what’s left of the Winter.
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