I have spent more time in Varadero than I have in Havana, so it only makes sense that I have a couple of stores that I enjoy in town. No trip to Varadero is complete without stopping in to see Alphonso at the LCDH at the corner of 1st Avenue and Calle 63. Alphonso has… Continue reading Calle 63: Alphonso’s Domain.
Category: Cigars
Balcon de Habanos
My invitation to this incredible and exclusive event came as a real surprise. Sometimes it is who you know, and sometimes it is the people you just start speaking with that leads to new and wonderful experiences. Liza and I met a group at a bar the other night, and it turns out that one… Continue reading Balcon de Habanos
Hotel Nacional de Cuba: A paradisic patio
Al Capone. Winston Churchill. Meyer Lansky. Fidel Castro. Ernest Hemingway. Mitch Garvis. These are just a few of the famous, infamous, and unknown people from the past century who have sat on the patio of the Hotel Nacional, ordered a drink (mojito for some, whisky for others, a cerveza Cristal for me), and lit up… Continue reading Hotel Nacional de Cuba: A paradisic patio
La Grande Dame de Los Puros: Juanita
For years my friends who come to Havana often have spoken of the lovely Juanita, the in-house cigar roller at the Melià Cohiba hotel in Vedado, but I had never gotten down to meet her... until this trip. I walked into the LCDH at the Melià, only to find out she had been transferred. I… Continue reading La Grande Dame de Los Puros: Juanita
Why I love being a Partagas VIP
A little over a year ago, my friend Greg and I were taken by our buddy Jiolys to the Partagas Store in Habana Viejo (not to be mistaken with the Partagas factory, some three kilometres away). The back yard neighbour of El Capitolo, at the right time of day the store's awning will find itself… Continue reading Why I love being a Partagas VIP
Bienvenido a la Habana!
I started this blog a couple of months ago, and have been busy and stressed almost the whole time, waiting, anticipating, today. At 8:05am this morning I boarded an Air Canada Rouge flight from Toronto to sunny, gorgeous, welcoming Havana, Cuba. By 1:15pm I had kissed my girlfriend, dropped off my valise, and we made… Continue reading Bienvenido a la Habana!
La Aurora Escogidos
Ok, another night at Don's Den of Iniquity and Cigars. I came after the gym, lit up my first cigar, and Don and I watched the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1. I didn't care to blog while relaxing at first... especially since my first cigar was one I have already written about.… Continue reading La Aurora Escogidos
Partagas Maduro No. 1
This is a spectacular cigar that I chose for my first cigar at Ryan's House of Herf this evening. It is a medium to full strength cigar, spicy, and very tasty. As I am partial to Maduro cigars, I was happy when Habanos started producing more of them. The Cohiba Maduro 5 is probably my… Continue reading Partagas Maduro No. 1
Saturday… Ramons at Don’s
It is a beautiful early spring afternoon in Ottawa. Don invited me over to the Den of Iniquity and Cigars, so I pulled out a couple of Ramon Allones for us to enjoy while listening to Metallica and then some jazz. Have a great day folks!
Thursday Evening at Smokin’ Glutes!
It is a busy evening with friends at the Smokin' Glutes Lounge in Kemptville. I think I'm a little overdressed, but having a great time. Cigar: Ramon Allones Edicion Limitada 2015. Have a great evening friends!
Passion For Cigars 