Cuban Cigars

Quai d’Orsay was established in 1974 for the French market. The brand takes its name from the avenue in Paris beside the river Seine that used to be home to the headquarters of SEITA, the then state- owned tobacco importer for France who with Cubatabaco (now Habanos s.a.), joined forces to produce an elegant Cuban brand with a certain je ne sais quoi.

In 2017 the brand received a make-over and two new modern sizes were introduced (No. 50 & No. 54) to join the one remaining surviving vitola (Coronas Claro). Since  then the brand has gone from strength to strength with Quai d’Orsay selected by Habanos s.a.to join the Habanos Limited Edition family in 2019 (Senadores) and by numerous Habanos Distributors around the world to represent their market as a Habanos Regional Edition.

The No.52 is a new vitola within the standard Habanos portfolio and like its two counterparts, is named after the ring gauge it boasts. It is perhaps closest in size to the Montecristo Double Edmundo, sharing its length but with a two-point wider girth.

Classified as light bodied, this is a delicate, well- balanced and thoroughly modern Habanos.

The Cigar

This highly prestigious Cohiba 55 Aniversario Limited Edition 2021 upholds the grand legacy of the iconic brand, boasting the nationally-recognized Habanos label. Each cigar, expertly hand-crafted with tobacco leaves from the Vuelta Abajo region and a pigtail finish, is presented in 10-count boxes and features an unprecedented 150 mm x 57 ring gauge “Victoria” vitola, thereby creating an alluringly distinctive cigar.

Cohiba BHK 54 (Behike)

The Cigar:

The number of a BHK stands for its ring gauge, so this stout model boasts a diameter of 54/64ths of an inch, which leaves plenty of room for the fourth component in the filler – the Medio Tiempo – that brings a startling intensity to the flavour.

Line: La Linea BHK
Flavour: Full
Vitola: Laguito No.5
Ring Gauge: 54
Length: 5 5/8 Inches / 144mm

H. Upmann Connoisseur B LCDH

The Connossieur B is available in boxes of 25 and single sticks.

Anyway, the first thing to know about this release is that it’s only available at La Casa del Habano shops and Habanos Specialists. Habanos Specialist is a label created by Habanos SA to distinguish shops that carry a wide selection of Cubans and can offer relevant advice.

Dimensions: 5 7/8"
Ring gauge: 54
Flavour category: Light to Medium 

Bolivar Libertador LCDH

LA CASA DEL HABANO EXCLUSIVE CIGARS
La Casa del Habano, as the franchise network of Habanos S.A. is called, comprises more than 150 tobacco shops specializing in Habanos worldwide. Each one guarantees the best possible service as well as a wide selection of Habanos of different brands and vitolas as well as walk-in humidors with ideal temperature and humidity conditions.

Several productions are exclusively reserved for the La Casa del Habano shops, such as the Colección Habanos and Replica Antigua humidors as well as unique vitolas for certain Habano brands.

Dimensions: 6 1/2"
Ring gauge: 54
Flavour category: Medium to Full

Cohiba Talisman Limited Edition 2017

The Cigar 

Launched at the Corinthia hotel, London the Talisman was one of the fastest selling Limited Editions since the launch of the concept in 2000. Already spoken about as a classic cigar and one that seems sure to increase in value over time. A powerhouse of rich and complex aromas.

FLAVOUR: Medium to Full
VITOLA: Sublimes No.1
RING GAUGE: 54
LENGTH: 6 ⅛ Inches / 154mm

Bolivar Soberano Limited Edition 2018

The Cigar 

The Duke vitola (size) was first made famous by the R&J Duke from 2009 but is perhaps best known as the format of the Partagas Serie E No.2. This is just the second time that Bolivar has been selected to produce a Limited Edition and has proved very popular with lovers of full flavoured Havanas.

FLAVOUR: Full
VITOLA: Duke
RING GAUGE: 54
LENGTH:  5 1/2 Inches / 140mm

Not EMS

Juan Lopez Seleccion Superba UK Regional 2016

The Cigar

60,000 Seleccion Superba were produced by the Empresa de Habana at their factory in San Antonio de los Banos in Havana Province. They are presented in 6,000 numbered boxes, containing 10 cigars each and quickly became another very collectable UK Regional Edition. 

This wonderful cigar has full, rich flavours of earth, cedar and wood with a spicy kick throughout. As you smoke the cigar, you will be presented with beautiful, creamy smoke whilst the flavour develops into a medium chocolate flavour which spreads over the palate.

YEAR: 2016
FLAVOUR: Medium to Full
VITOLA: Geniales
RING GAUGE: 54
LENGTH: 5 7/8 Inches / 150mm 

Trinidad Vigia

The Cigar 

This fragrant and approachable cigar is a unique size within the Habanos portfolio and the newest addition to the Trinidad range, having being introduced in 2014

VITOLA: Torres
RING GAUGE: 54
LENGTH: 4 3/8 inches /110 mm
FLAVOUR: Medium

Quai D'Orsay No.54

The Cigar:

This is an entirely new size within the Habanos SA portfolio. It is very similar to the Montecristo Edmundo but a fraction wider. A light bodied, easy going and thoroughly modern Havana that is packed full of Gallic charm. 

About the Brand: 

This brand owes its origin to the refined taste of the French market. Created in the 1970’s, the name is taken from a well-known street in Paris beside the River Seine.

Although the current range is small, all Quai d’Orsay sizes are made with a distinctive light tasting blend of filler and binder leaves from the Vuelta Abajo zone and its wrappers are mainly distinguished by their Claro (light brown) and Colorado Claro (mid brown) colours.

All sizes are ‘tripa larga, totalmente a mano’ – long filler, totally handmade.

Partagas Serie E No.2

The Cigar:

2011 saw the addition of a new letter to the Partagas Alphabet Series. The E means the cigar has a ring gauge of 54. A big cigar in size and taste with attractive packaging improvements too.

Montecristo OPEN  Eagle

The Cigar:

The largest of the Montecristo Open series introduced in 2009. Its innovative 54 ring gauge format houses a different, slightly lighter tobacco blend than you find in standard Montecristos. Suits experienced and novice smokers alike

Hoyo De Monterrey De San Juan

The Cigar:

Hoyo de Monterrey is by far the most popular brand within the light flavour category outlined by Habanos S. A. The Le Hoyo series is typified by a delicate, cedar taste with a hint of white pepper and cream, that remains light enough for inexperienced smokers, while offering enough elegance and layering of flavours to keep aficionados satisfied.

Min Ron NEE in his 2003 tome ‘An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars’ says Hoyo de Monterrey cigars are ‘characterised by their soft, sweet style. The tobacco blend is creamy sweet, mild and aromatic’.

This new cigar displays all of these classic characteristics but, with a 54 ring gauge, does so within a very modern format. Most agree that, although it is displaying a great deal of subtlety, finesse and delicacy already, it also has wonderful ageing potential for the medium to long term.

A most welcome addition to the Hoyo family.

H.Upmann Magnum 54

The Cigar:

H. Upmann is classified as Light to Medium by Habanos S.A, the Cuban company
responsible for the global marketing and distribution of Cuban cigars.

The H. Upmann taste is often said to have a clear and clean tobacco taste, often
mistakenly described as ‘simple’ by less experienced smokers.

The American publication, Cigar Aficionado scored this cigar 89 out of 100 in a February
2017 review, saying "This cigar exudes a pleasant, toasty aroma as it burns. Floral intonations segue into a strong peanut character with touches of cinnamon, woodiness and a mineral finish.”

Although relatively young this cigar is already smoking very well and exhibiting many
classic H. Upmann flavours. However, it seems destined to develop even more once it
has acquired two or three years age.

Cohiba Piramides Extra

The Cigar:

In 2012 the Priamide Extra became the first addition to the Linea Clasica since 1989. The vitola is unique to Cohiba. It is also the only figurado shape to be found within the portfolio of Cuba's premier cigar brand. 

Line: La Linea Classica
Flavour: Medium to Full
Vitola: Pirmides Extra
Ring Gauge: 54
Length: 6 1/4 Inches / 160mm