London, England, March, 16th- Since its birth in 1875, Romeo y Julieta has become one of the best-known brands of Habanos. The brand is particularly appreciated by enthusiasts who appreciate balanced blends with excellent aroma. Albeit almost a year late in coming Habanos S.A. has finally released. the Churchill Reserva first launched at the 14th Annual Cigar Festival in 2012.

To create this Reserva only the best tobacco leaves from the Vuelta Abajo have been used.

However the tobacco dates from the 2008 harvest hence it is not a "Gran Reserva" - as were the Montecristo and Cohiba Siglo VI from previous years in which 5 year aged tobacco was selected.

The emblematic Churchill vitola is one of the most popular cigars historically and is released with an extremely limited production run of only 5,000 numbered cases, each containing 20 units. A tasting committee comprised of more than 50 experts have supervised the blend selected to guarantee a unique flavour, harmonious, balanced, and aromatic.

The Reserva of Romeo y Julieta

Brands: Romeo y Julieta

Commercial name: Churchills Reserva Cosecha 2008

Factory name: Julieta No. 2

Measures: Cepo 47 (18,65 mm) x 178 mm in length

Presentation: 5.000 individually numbered exclusive cases with 20 units each.

Very Limited Availability ! Click Here to buy these cigars

La Habana, Cuba, March, 1st- Heard of a brand with a name of its own? That's Montecristo. The Montecristo legend was born from the reading of Alejandro Dumas' famous novel The Count of Montecristo to cigar rollers at the H. Upmann factory in Havana. Since then, the legend has grown larger-than-life, as the famous character.

Penciled in as a tasting benchmark to size up the other Habanos, Montecristo step on the limelight during the XVHabanos Festival with the launch of two new vitolas and the presentation, with absolute respect for its history, of a new band in an effort to boost its value and image. Now a new proposal, aimed at reviling all that taste in a shorter span of time, has popped up.

Yet it had been a long time since the Classic Line didn't have a range launch, a move that give twice as much significance to the unveiling of Petit No. 2 because it clings to the brand's tradition by now adding a figurado, a niche in which the Montecristo No. 2 is quite a benchmark.

Completely rolled by hand with long filler, the ring gauge will catch on among smokers because of the easy grip and good burning that makes each puff a thrilling moment. For its part, the midsize length makes customers love every minute of it, despite a tough working day.

The exquisite blend of tobacco, exclusively rolled with filler and binder leaves hailing from Vuelta Abajo, guarantees faithfulness to the original Linea Clasica's mild-to-strong taste and captivating scent that enthrall both seasoned smokers and those who are now cutting their teeth in the realm of Habanos.

The Edmundo line grows on with the coming of Double Edmundo, also featuring the new Montecristo band and bigger size. This Habano of Dobles factory vitola delivers this blend's classic scent and taste for approximately a one-hour-long smoke.

Though featuring thinner ring gauge -large enough the delight passionate smokers- its length guarantees slow pleasure and intimate contact between smoke and spirit. In a word, this is a great opportunity to grab all the taste Montecristo has to offer… unhurriedly.

La Habana, Cuba, March, 1st- The Lusitanias Gran Reserva by Partagas - launched during the Habano Festival- has been designed for great Habano lovers and consists of a one-and-only output of 5,000 lacquered cases containing 15 units each, and individually numbered.

Hand-rolled with long filler by seasoned cigar rollers, its blend was devised by Arnaldo Bichot, the larger-than-life master blender at the Partagas Cigar Factory, under the supervision of the Tobacco Institute.

The wrapper, binder and filler leaves -harvested in 2007 and then subjected to a long and thorough aging process- were meticulously selected for this launch.

Hailing from the tobacco-growing lands of San Juan y Martinez, the Ligero leaves used in this blend clinch the brand's characteristic strength, owed to the region's rich soils. For its part, Seco's leaves stem from San Luis, famous both in Cuba and around the globe for the peerless scent of its cigars.

The character of Partagas' blend, made up of cigars rolled with selected filler and binder leaves out of Vuelta Abajo, gives this brand away due to their rich and intense taste.

La Habana, Cuba, Feb 27- Two new Montecristo vitolas: Petit No.2 and Double Edmundo, the first Partagás Gran Reserva, as well as the re-launch of the Vegueros brand focus the interest on the XV anniversary of the Habanos Festival.

The historical Morro Fortress was the exceptional stage for the Welcoming Evening. Attendees were able to sample, exclusively during this night, the new vitolas in the Montecristo permanent range. The first one, Petit No.2, enriches the historic Línea Clásica after many years' wait, and makes it possible to enjoy all the Montecristo flavour in less time, thanks to its innovative figurado -tapered at one end-format. Double Edmundo is the second launch of the brand, offering a larger Habano vitola to enjoy the aromas and flavours of the classic Línea Edmundo in a smoking time of approximately one hour. Both vitolas will carry the new brand band, in line with its simplicity and elegance.

The XV Habanos Festival ended on Saturday 2nd March, with the Gala Evening in honour of Partagás, a brand found in 1845, which this year presents its first Gran Reserva in its 168-year history: Lusitanias Gran Reserva Cosecha 2007. These Habanos are Totalmente a Mano Tripa Larga -Totally hand made, Long Filler-, after a meticulous selection by Ligador -Master Blender- Arnaldo Bichot, of 2007 harvest leaves, aged for 5 years, from Vuelta Abajo, in the San Juan y Martínez and San Luis* tobacco districts. During the night, Italian tenor Darío Balzanelli, will sing the famous Cuban song 'La Comparsa', and the legendary Cuban singer Omara Portuondo will perform with Maestro Patterson's orchestra and Maestro Santiago Alfonso's dance troupe.

LONDON, England, FEB 1.- Quintero has added a new cigar to its range. The Favarito measures 4 ½" (115mm) x 50 ring gauge and joins the Panatela (renamed the Tubulares when placed in an aluminium tube) as the two sizes available in the UK.

Quintero's smooth, medium bodied taste makes it ideal for those seeking to experience the flavour of Habanos at a reasonable price.

It is one of the few Habanos brands not born in Cuba's capital city, Havana. Instead its founder, Augustin Quintero with his four brothers set up shop in the south coast city of Cienfuegos, known as the "Pearl of the South". All of the tobaccos selected for Quintero's filler blend come from Vuelta Abajo and Semi Vuelta zones within the world famous Pinar del Rio region.

All Quinteros are made using the Tripa Corta, Totalmente a Mano - short filer, totally hand made - technique.

With a light flavour and modest smoking time of around twenty minutes, it represents a welcome addition to morning, lunchtime or preprandial smoking.

Brand: Quintero

LONDON, England, FEB 1.- Rafael Gonzalez has added a new Perla sized cigar to their range and it is now available.

This Perla cigar, measures 4" (102mm) x 40 ring gauge, and is available in packs of five (boxes of 25 to follow).

With a light flavour and modest smoking time of around twenty minutes, it represents a welcome addition to morning, lunchtime or preprandial smoking.

Brand: Rafael Gonzalez

From February 26th to March 2nd, 2013

LONDON, England, JAN 5.- From Tuesday February 26th to Saturday March 2nd, 2013, Cuba, once more, will be the venue of the largest international gathering of enthusiasts of the best cigar in the world: the Habano. In this occasion, special tribute will be paid during the event Montecristo and Partagás, two of the most prestigious Habanos brands.

The participants, coming from more than 70 different countries, will have the pleasure of enjoying in exclusive the new vitolas to be launched by Habanos s.a. in 2013, and of discovering the roots and secrets of centuries-long tradition. Habanos, S.A. invites you to enjoy a week of pleasure and delight among the friends who have one thing in common: the passion for Habanos.

The Habanos Festival program offers its traditional activities during this unforgettable week, such as:

Visits to the best tobacco plantations in Vuelta Abajo, Pinar del Rio

Visits to emblematic Habanos factories

Trade Fair

Seminars

Tastings and marriages

International Habanosommelier Contest

Master Class on the cigar rolling technique

Habanos Blind Tasting

As a novelty, a Cooking Show named ¨Tobacco and Gastronomy¨ will be held live. Prestigious international Chefs will prepare Haute Cuisine exclusive recipes using Cuban tobacco.

The Habanos- Rioja Alliance will be a major moment of this 15th Festival. They are historical Denominations of Origin, but both keep on setting trends and renew themselves constantly.

This year, the International Contest "Habanos in Images" will be dedicated to Photography.

The opening event will take place exceptionally this year on Tuesday, February 26th 2013. The Welcoming Evening will be dedicated to the Montecristo brand and will be held at the historic Morro Fortress in La Habana.

On Thursday, February 28th there will be a dinner organized to pay tribute to the Vegueros, - Cuban tobacco farmers- without whom Habanos would not exist.

The closing of the Festival will take place on Saturday, March 2nd , with the Gala Dinner dedicated to Partagás brand, and the Traditional Humidor Auction to the benefit of the Cuban Public Health System.

LONDON, England, NOV 19.- The saying "Better late than Never" might apply to this new cigar which due to packaging problems has been a year late in arriving in the U.K.

The new "Julieta" was conceived as a cigar dedicated to women Habanos smokers. An elegant and slender panatela, almost identical in size to the superb Cohiba Exquisitos, the cigar comes in a stylish lipstick red metal case of just 5 cigars. Delightful old-style flavour and aroma. A perfect gift for both female and male enthusiasts alike.

The long awaited Romeo y Julieta 'Julieta' have finally arrived in the UK. Initially intended for release in 2011, these slender cigars are presented in stylish Romeo red metal cases and are dedicated to the women of Havana. Appealing to both female and male cigar enthusiasts alike, Julietas provide subtle balanced blend of Vuelta Abajo tobaccos and are perfect for those occasions when time is limited or a milder daytime or pre-dinner smoke is required.

Brand: Romeo y Julieta

LONDON, England, NOV 10.- The Romeo y Julieta 'Petit Churchill' joins the 'Short Churchill' (introduced 2006) and 'Wide Churchill' (2010) in the extended range, that bear the name arguably the most iconic cigar smoker of them all - Sir Winston Churchill. Originally used to describe the marque's most famous size the R&J Churchill (7" x 47), the Petit Churchill reflects the modern day trend for shorter, stout cigars that can be enjoyed during brief alfresco smoking breaks.

The petit Churchill is only the second "Petit Robusto" size (4" x 50) to be introduced into the standard Habanos range (Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto was the first in 2004 ) and like the other vitolas in the range, use only the finest tobacco from the Vuelta Abajo region in Cuba to create the mellow, distinctive, medium bodied Romeo y Julieta aromas.

Brand: Romeo y Julieta

LONDON, England, OCT 25.- Since its birth in 1935, Montecristo is one of the best known and most appreciated brands of Habanos throughout the world. It is considered the benchmark for many Habanos smokers against which other brands are judged.

Montecristo 520 Edición Limitada 2012 is a unique Vitola, created so as to commemorate the 520th Anniversary of the arrival of Cuban tobacco to Europe after Columbus first saw it in Cuba in his first trip in 1492.

Montecristo 520, whose factory name is Maravillas No. 3 (55 ring gauge and 155 mm in length), is produced for the first time in Habanos for this Limited Edition. This size provides all the aroma and taste of Montecristo´s classic blend, with its characteristic Medium to full Flavour.

They are produced in small quantities by expert Cuban cigar rollers so as to meet the expectations of Habanos enthusiasts around the world.

Montecristo 520 Edición Limitada 2012 is arriving to the world's specialized Points of sale in a 10 unit Special Labeled Box (CBB)

Brand: Montecristo

Commercial name: Montecristo 520

Factory name: Maravillas No.3

Measures: 55 ring gauge (21.83 mm) x 150 mm in length

Presentations: Special Labeled box (CBB) of 10 units

LONDON, England, OCT 6.- Published by Cuba’s Tobacco Research Institute, "The world of the Habano" is a 190 page book, packed with Pictures, notes and diagrams.

It reveals how Habanos are made from seeds to finished boxes. It contains biographies of all 27 brands and includes an easy guide To all their shapes and sizes.

Limited Editions, Gran Reservas, Reservas and other special productions Are explained and there are chapters on keeping, ageing and tasting cigars As well as information about the Festival del Habano and where to smoke around the world.

It comes with a ring gauge guide and a CD rom that includes not only the complete contents of the book So you can view it on the screen, but also a unique size finder and even a quiz to test your knowledge.

A GREAT GIFT ! Click Here to buy the book

LONDON, England, OCT 6.- We would have liked to have seen this new cigar come in boxes of 25 rather than just 10 cigars but the latest Regional Edition to be made for the U.K has fortunately been produced in double the quantity normally reserved for exclusive single market release ! This pocket torpedo will not disappoint fans of the marque and may well improve with age. But whether it has the impact, balance and flavour of the original 2007 Belicosos Finos is

difficult to discern at this early stage. It has a rich, earthy almost caramel taste, burns evenly and develops a fuller flavour quite quickly finishing on an intense high note. Iam just pleased that Cuba has produced a decent cigar to eradicate the memory of the non descript Ramon Allones "Extra" Limited Edition from 2011? Recommended.

RELEASED in Great Britain !

LONDON, England, SEPT 18.- Habanos S.A presents its second Edición Limitada -limited edition- of 2012. Partagás is the brand selected on this occasion.

Partagás , one of the most famous brands of Habanos, had its origin in the year 1845. It is a brand characterized by its rich and intense flavour, that makes of this brand one of the preferred by smokers who seek intense flavours and exquisite aromas.

Serie C No.3 ( 48 ring gauge x 140 mm in length ) is the vitola selected in Partagás brand for this 2012 Edición Limitada- limited edition offering within the Series of the brand another choice for those who enjoy intense flavours and inimitable aroma.

Serie C No. 3 Edición Limitada 2012 incorporates an innovation in its design: a lithographed piece of paper that covers the cigars it contains, as well as an external red and black sign, and a vitolina- leaflet- that have been added to the wooden boxes decoration. This way of presenting the Partagás "Series" was first introduced with the Serie E No. 2 presented in 2011, is now extended to the Serie C No.3.

Serie C No.3 Edición Limitada is available in UK for sale in a box Semi Boite Nature (SBN) of 10 cigars.

The recommended retail price for the box of 10 is £195.00 and for single cigars £19.95.

RELEASED in Great Britain !

LONDON, England, SEPT 01.- We are pleased to announce that the much anticipated Cohiba Piramides Extra made its UK debut. The new vitola joins the standard portfolio of Cuba's flagship brand in the Linea Clasica range. Presented in Cabinet Boite Nature boxes of 10, the cigars are "torpedo" in shape and measure an impressive 6 ¼" (160mm) x 54 ring gauge.

Cohiba Piramides Extra will be produced every year on limited quantities and its blend includes a Medio Tiempo, a leave that give the cigar an exceptional flavor and character.

The new classic line embodies essential visual characteristics boasting an innovating band featuring holographic elements that make it easier to identify.

The recommended retail price for the box of 10 is £325.00 and for single cigars £33.95.

FOR A LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME, WHILST STOCKS LAST, WE HAVE AN INTRODUCTORY OFFER FOR SINGLE CIGARS AT £30.00 EACH Click Here for the offer

RELEASED in Great Britain !

LONDON, England, August 28th. Habanos s.a. presents the first Limited Edition of 2012. H. Upmann is one of the three brands selected on this occasion.

H. Upmann Robustos (ring gauge 50 x 124 mm in length) is the selected size for this Limited Edition. The Robustos size does not exist in the permanent range of H. Upmann, but it had a great acceptance when launched in an exclusive Travel humidor at Cannes Fair in 2008. The Robustos size is highly appreciated by Habanos smokers. They will now have the occasion to enjoy it within the H. Upmann brand with the special blend and features of flavour and aroma of the Limited Edition.

H. Upmann Robustos is available in the classic H. Upmann labeled boxes of 25 units.

Brand: H. Upmann

Commercial name: Robustos

Factory name: Robustos

Measures: 50 ring gauge (19, 84 mm) x 124 mm in length

Presentation: Labeled Box of 25 units

LONDON, England 15th September. After the presentation of the H.Upmann Half Corona in 25 units Labelled Box in 2011 which was of great acceptance among Habanos smokers, the new Half Corona presentation in metal case of 5 units is already available around the world.

Half Corona offers the possibility to enjoy a Habano in any circumstance, with a format than can be smoked in less than 20 minutes.

Through this attractive presentation, H. Upmann recovers the historical tradition of Habanos to produce metal cases. This Half Corona case can easily be transported and protects your Half Coronas properly.

H.Upmann Half Corona (44 ring gauge x 3.54inches in length) is an invitation to a short smoke of a pleasant blend and it is ideal for those who initiate themselves in the extraordinary world of the Habano.

Exclusive for Great Britain RELEASED !

LONDON, England, May 31st. The UK has yet another superb Regional Edition which was introduced at the Hunters and Frankau Summer party on 31st May 2012 this exclusive Regional Edition cigar was originally scheduled for 2011 but with the Olympics imminent the U.K. distributor thought it best to hold the distribution back until now.

Available in individually numbered boxes of 10 cigars. Each cigar is wrapped in gold foil emblazoned with the EMS ( English Market Selection ) logo. This year the second band now bears the legend "Exclusivo Reino Unido" which translates to "exclusive to the UK".

The classic "woody" Punch taste is showcased particularly well by the heavy ring gauge, allowing for a cooler, slower more "refined" character typical of the brand. Great potential for mid to long term aging.

Exclusive for Great Britain RELEASED !

LONDON, England, April 18th. We are happy to announce the release of the latest UK Regional Edition. Originally intended for 2011, the Bolivar Británicas is the first UK Regional Edition to carry the new Exclusivo Gran Bretaña band (previously Exclusivo Reino Unido) and only 3,000 numbered boxes of ten cigars have been produced.

The Cigar:

The factory name "Británicas" is applied to a unique shape in the world of Havanas. It can best be described as a "Perfecto", but it has the distinction of a wider aperture at the foot than is customary for cigars of this type, which makes it easier to light up and get going.

Why and when the name "Británicas" was chosen by the Cuban industry is unknown, but it seems certain that it was first made for the British market. The shape survived to the present century because it was adopted by Romeo y Julieta for a cigar named the Celestiales Finos, which ceased production in 2002. The original vitola measured 5 3/8 inches (137mm) by 46 ring gauge, but the Bolivar Britanicas has had two extra points added to its girth (48), which strictly speaking makes it a "Británicas Extra".

This very rare size has been specially made for the UK at a factory situated in the Santa Clara region of central Cuba under the supervision of the Partagas factory in Havana, which has the responsibility for the Bolivar brand wherever the cigars are produced.

Hunters & Frankau commissioned a reprint of a special label, known as a "papeleta", which was last used on Bolivar boxes over forty years ago, to wrap over the side of the box.