As I write this, still slightly damp from the sleety rain that bombarded me when I nipped out for lunch, I can’t help but reflect jealously on C.Gars’ own Mitchell and Roy, whom – if you follow us on social media – I’m sure you have seen are hard at work out in Cuba, for the annual Habanos Festival. This is where upcoming Havana releases are announced and sampled, so as solace to those of us still shivering in the UK, I thought I’d give a quick run down of what we can expect to arrive out of Cuba soon.
Romeo y Julieta Linea D’oro
Romeo y Julieta celebrates its 135th birthday this year and to mark the occasion they are releasing a brand-new line; Linea D’Oro (Gold Line.) This will feature three brand new sizes, all of which will be trend-friendly, heavy gauge offerings. Look forward to seeing the Dianas (5 11/16” x 52,) The Hidalgos (4 15/16” x 57) and The Nobles (a 5 5/16” x 56 Figurado.) A significant thing to note here: the 57 gauge Hidalgos will be the heaviest gauge Havana to be available in regular production (previously, we haven’t seen anything above a 56 gauge outside of Edicion Limitadas and even then: only very occasionally.) The Nobles will also be the heaviest gauge figurado Havana to date. I’ve always been a big fan of heavy gauge Romeos, so I’m very excited to see this chunky trio arrive in the UK.
New LCDH & Havana Specialist Lines
Montecristo are also releasing a new cigar to celebrate a milestone birthday (their 85th anniversary.) So, they are releasing the Herederos; an elegant 6 3/8 x 47 offering. This shares a ring gauge with the legendary Julieta No.2 (More famously known as The Churchill) format, but is just over half an inch shorter. These will be exclusive to Habanos Specialists (which all Turmeaus establishments are) and Casa del Habanos.
Speaking of La Casa del Habanos; the franchise turns 30 this year so a new LCDH Exclusive is being released. Funnily enough, the Juan Lopez brand is celebrating a milestone birthday, their 150th. So, the new LCDH exclusive, the 6 11/16” x 52 Juan Lopez Seleccion Especial is being released as a joint celebration of the two occasions.
…and even more:
We can also look forward to seeing the following:
Partagas Tropicales (6 7/8” x 54) 175th anniversary humidor
Bolivar Belicosos Finos Reserva (Cosecha 2016)
Hoyo de Monterrey Primaveras (6 9/16” x 48)
And the first announced 2020 Edicion Limitada: The Partagas Legado (6 3/16” x 48)
So that’s everything we have to look forward to. Just remember the old adage of this trade; “This is Cuba…” As any regular cigar smoker knows, Cuban cigar releases run on a particularly erm… “Laid back” time scale, so we might not see all of these cigars this year… or next year, but they’re on their way. Which are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments or via our Social Media outlets.
Personally, I’m always down for a new, heavy gauge Romeo, so the Linea D’oro is very exciting. I’ve also never had a Partagas Edicion Limitada that I didn’t love, so I can’t wait to try the Legado.
-Calum
Store Manager @ Turmeaus & LCDH Chester.