Tattoos And Cigars

6 May

Back to Saarbrücken again. Not just for cigars this time but to refresh and re-do my old Stones tattoo that I wear on my right ankle. It’s 40 years old and has lost almost all its colour. Faded away literally. I had it done as I like Rock & Roll and the Stones, but mostly Read more…

Another Good Roller – Another Good Day at Salih’s

2 May

Oh, the joys of being retired, having time and having a good roller nearby. Sr Eduardo Pulido from the Partagas factory in Havana is on a tour in Germany and was rolling Robustos today at Salih Dalay in Saabrücken. So another quick, fast and furious drive down towards France, this time at 190 km/h on Read more…

Cologne – Majestic Cohiba Majestuoso And Medio Siglo

25 Mar

Frank and I met again halfway in Cologne at Peter Heinrich’s to smoke some cigars that we didn’t have the time to smoke in Havana … crazy as it sounds. We had received an unbanded Cohiba Majestuoso as well as a banded Cohiba Medio Siglo, the new releases at the Festival and we wanted to Read more…

Cuba 2016 – JJ Fox Event At La Guarida

24 Mar

The only “official” event besides the Partagas Cocktail reception that we attended during the Festival and a crowning farewell party to our week in Havana. So great to meet good friends there in an informal gathering and an excellent atmosphere at the rooftop terrace of this famed Paladar. Truly stellar custom rolled cigars passed by Read more…

Cuba 2016 – Cigars With Rocky Patel In Havana

20 Mar

It is a sign of the changes to come in an evolving political and commercial process that people from the non-Cuban cigar industry start flocking to Cuba. And what better opportunity to see the Cuban cigar scene than being in Havana during the Festival. Keith had suggested we meet at the Nacional’s historical bar for Read more…

Cuba 2016 – Retirement Cigars In Bay Of Pigs

18 Mar

I had taken Frank already twice to the tobacco farms, Viñales and Pinar del Rio so I thought I’d show him a different part of Cuba this time. Give Frank a good cigar, some rum and a nice cannon or machine gun and he is a happy camper. So what better place than Bay of Read more…

Cuba 2016 – Visiting Hector Luis Prieto

17 Mar

Every time I am in Cuba, a visit to Hector Luis’ farm and lunch there with his family and staff is a must-do and much awaited event for me. He had just collected most of this year’s harvest, and a good one it was he told me. 120.000 plants, half shade and half sun grown. Read more…