Vancouver Cigar still has a steady supply of the Edicion Limitada Cohiba Sublime 2004.  They have been unavailable on the general market for over 4 Months.  Click here to order this amazing Limited Edition Cohiba while quantities last.

"Not just a cigar, it's a memory"

I was sitting in the Vancouver Cigar Company watching a customer pore over the hundreds of Cuban cigars carried.  It was a daunting task.  He was looking for the perfect smoke for his boss.

The guy on the counter that day had reviewed about 30 cigars with our guest when one of our regular "Cigar Club" guys Gregg stood up (Gregs a big guy) and asked the customer:

"Do you want a cigar or a memory?  You can buy any of these Cuban cigars here and your boss will have a good smoke.  But... how would you like to create a memory?  Buy a couple Cohiba Sublimes and enjoy them with him, it will be a meeting he won't forget."

And that was it.  The guy left with arguably one of the best cigars (or memories as Gregg calls them) available.  Always a rich deep oily wrapper these cigars have a deep, full bodied flavour, on the stronger side but absolutely one of the smoothest most flavourful cigars you will ever experience.

Review by Shane Gibson - shane@closingbigger.com

Find the Cohiba Sublime here: Cuban / Cohiba Sublime

Cuba is trying something new with region-specific special edition cigars.  Canada is due to receive a new Bolivar called the Bolivar Simones (5 x 48) sometime before the end of this year.  Here is the full list of 2007 ER:

Asia/Pacific: Por Larranaga Robustos de Larranaga (4 7/8 x 50);
Baltic States: Rey del Mundo Vikingos (5 1/2 x 50);
Belgium: Ramon Allones Specially Selected Gran Robusto (6 1/8 x 50);
Canada: Bolivar Simones (5 x 48);
Great Britain: Por Larranaga Magnifico (6 5/8 x 50);
Mexico: Edmundo Dantes 109 (7 1/4 x 50) for an unspecified brand (perhaps Montecristo);
Middle East: Bolivar Double Coronas (7 5/8 x 49);
Spain: Vegas Robaina Maestros (5 1/2 x 50) and
Switzerland (2): Punch Robustos (4 7/8 x 50) and Ramon Allones Eminencias (5 7/8 x 44).

Ediciones Regionales (regional editions) is a rather new type of marketing of Cuban cigars. Perhaps the success of the Ediciones Limitadas (limited editions) is what played an important part while contemplating how to provide collectors with additional specialty items. Or maybe the national importers wanted to create something of their own in order to differentiate from importers in other countries. In any case, the previous limited editions were always sold out after a short while.

The beginnings of the Regionales can probably be traced back to sometime in 2003. The first step was taken by the German company of 5th Avenue with their birthday edition of the Robaina Robaina. Hunters & Frankau in England followed with the Ramón Allones Belicosos. However, back then there wasn’t much talk of “regional editions” — it was simply a vitola produced for one single market.

Since the first appearance of the Ediciones Regionales, the standards according to which they can be launched have changed somewhat. The following common characteristics of these cigars have been established:

• The quantity is between 1,000 and 1,500 boxes, or 10,000 and 30,000 cigars usually (there are exceptions to this rule).

• Ediciones Regionales are available only in brands that are not to be found in the top bracket of the Habanos brand pyramid. Presently this group is comprised of Cohiba, Montecristo, Cuaba, Trinidad, and Robaina. (The Robaina Robaina for Germany is — as the first regional edition ever — an exception.)

• The Ediciones Regionales are developed and commissioned by the respective national distributor as well as possibly the distributor’s dealers.

• The distribution is also only handled exclusively through some of the national dealers.

• No more than two vitolas can be offered as Ediciones Regionales every two years. New special editions can only come on the market once again after two years have passed.

• The box, or any other form of packaging (that which is usual for the respective brand), should carry the imprint of “Torcido exclusivamente para ...” The first boxes provided with this imprint were the Swiss Punch Robustos.

The Cohiba Siglo VI is measures 5 7/8 x 52. It was the first Cohiba to feature the new golden embossed Cohiba band. The new band was designed to change the image of the brand and to battle the onslaught of fake cigars on the market.

More information on Cohiba Cigars at the Vancouver Cigar Company

This is a member submitted photo, as the story goes one of the lobsters at their Lobster and Hockey night got a hold of a stogie and wouldn't let go. This Coronas Gigantes HR by Bolivar was going to break if pried out of theis fiesty Nova Scotia Lobster's claws so the decision was made to share the Bolivar with the Lobster.

Have a fun, or unique Cuban or Cuban cigar photo?  Send it to us and we'll post it on our Cuban Cigar Blog.

by Shane Gibson, Member

A new cigar arrived at the shop this past week.  The San Cristobal Del Habana Muralla.  For a Cuban cigar the wrapper is quite dark.  It is considerably longer than a Montecristo No. 2 and the Muralla Boasts a ring gauge size of 54 making it the largest ring gauge available in the store. 

To be honest I bought it to celebrate closing a deal and bought it for it’s sheer size and color.  What I found was a new favorite.  It tastes similar to a Montecristo No. 2 but draws much more consistently, slightly less bold than the Montecristo and requires a serious commitment of time to enjoy. 

I have tried several new cigars recently and will definitely be adding the San Cristobal De La Habana Muralla to my list (short list) of favorite Cuban cigars. 

You can find the San Cristobal De La Habana Muralla in our store. 

Friday night I asked Adam to pick my cigar for me.  He suggested the largest cigar I think I've ever smoked; the Sancho Panza Sancho. (resized to fit within the cigar blog page).

Sancho Panza Sancho

I'm partial to the Ramone Allones Gigantes and the Montecristo "A" when I'm looking for a cigar I can enjoy over an hour or so.  This one appeared a little lighter in color than I would normally want; right or wrong I usually look for a dark oily wrapper on my cigars as this usually implies age and strength in a good cuban cigar (but not always).

I was suprised when I lit up the Sancho Panza Sancho.  The flavor was very similar to that of the Montecristo and the draw was smooth and consistent.  For what appeared to be a younger box of cigars this one was quite rich, deep and flavourful with a light coffee accent to it.

If you looking for good quality both in flavor and craftsmanship the Sancho Panza Sancho is a good buy. The Sancho Panza Sancho can be found here.

Review by - Shane

Nigel Horsley (left) and Shane Gibson (right) pictured here after work on a Thursday, smoking Cuban cigars. Nigel and Shane frequently can be found relaxing and talking business over a cigar and a single malt scotch.  This particular evening they were enjoying two Montecristo Edmundos.

Nigel a consummate PR professional and Shane, business author and consultant, both claim that the relationships they have built while smoking cigars with other people in the business community has paid dividends.  Shane stated that:

"...in this environment we all leave the office at the door, enjoy a Cuban cigar with each other and truly get to know what people are like.  That guy at the office, that's not me, that's Shane the author and speaker, this way we really have an opportunity to get to know each other and solidify business relationships... this beats a power lunch anytime."

The Importance of Buying Cuban Cigars from Authorized Dealers

A recent article about the volume of counterfeit Cuban cigars (and other varieties) that are entering the USA was brought to my attention from Findlaw.com.  Following is an astonishing excerpt:

"Still, what was seized late last year from several warehouses in Miami astounded both police and industry officials. There were enough counterfeit cigar bands, boxes, cellophane and other materials for between 30 and 50 million cigars - sufficient to make a significant dent in the legitimate premium market."

This was just one organized group of cigar counterfeiters passing off fake Cuban and non-Cuban brands in the premium category.  Unfortunately, it's buyer beware when you buy Cuban cigars online from non-authorized dealers or importers.  If it's from an individual online, your chances of getting a box full of sawdust instead of those wonderful dark Cohiba's is pretty high.

My advice is to seek out sites online that are authorized by organizations like Havana House, and verify with Havana House that the dealer is actually authorized. If you have any questions about the authenticity of Cuban cigars in Canada you can contact Havana House. 

The bottom line is if the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is!