XVIII Habanos Festival Releases
London England, March 10th. With the 18th Habanos Festival over, it's time to look at what was showcased and released this year. It was a big year for Habanos S.A., and with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Cohiba, we should have known that big and expensive things were expected. Let's take a look at the releases. Regular Production: Cohiba Medio Siglo: A new petit robusto for the Cohiba brand, the Medio Siglo falls under the Linea 1492 line, and is a 102 mm (4″) by 52 ring gauge release. It is available in the standard 25 count boxes, and is also available in tubes, 3 count cardboard boxes. The price has not been released, but I imagine it will be fairly affordable when looking at Cohiba offerings. It is a 2016 release, but who knows when these will hit the market. This is actually the new Cohiba release that I am really interested in. Edición Limitada 2016: Trinidad Topes Edición Limitada 2016 (2016): The Trinidad brand is back and bigger than the 2014 Vigia. The Topes will measure 125 mm (4.9″) with a 56 ring gauge, and will be a new robusto vitola titled Topes. Like most Trinidad releases, it will come in 12 count boxes and this is going to be a thick robusto. I am interested to see how the Topes smokes as I have loved what they have done for the brand with the Vigia, but you never know with a limitada. If they give it a super dark wrapper, it will need a lot of age and might throw the brand's profile off as well. Romeo y Julieta Capuletos Edición Limitada (2016): Since 2012, the RyJ brand has been getting a lot of attention, and for 2016 the brand is back with a limited edition. The last limitada release for Romeo y Julieta was in 2013, but they have had some exciting releases much bigger than that. The Capuletos will come in 25 count boxes and will be a larger releases overall. It is a robusto extra titled Sobresalientes, and it will measure 153 mm (6″) with a 53 ring gauge. The RyJ brand overall does not do well for me, and with this being a limitada that comes in 25 count boxes, it will not be a priority. Montecristo Dantés Edición Limitada (2016): Probably the most exciting limited edition release this year, the Montecristo brand is a brand that always delivers with its limited releases. The Dantés is the smallest of new releases in terms of ring gauge, and is a Grand Corona that measures 167 mm (6.6″) wih a 48 ring gauge. It is classified as a Hermosos No. 1, and will come in ten count boxes. Prices has not been announced, neither has the production number, and that is not surprising. This is the limited release that I will gravitate towards, without a doubt. Reserva Cosecha 2012: Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 Reserva Cosecha 2012: It has been two years since the last Reserva release, and for this year we are honoring the Hoyo de Monterrey brand for the first time. The release will be your Epicure No. 2 vitola, 124 mm (4.9) with a 50 ring gauge vitola, but will be composed of tobacco from the 2012 harvest. The Habanos will be packaged in 20 count boxes, and only 5,000 are being made. As with past releases, they will be numbered, and I am expecting a balanced, creamy and delightful Epicure No. 2 release. How will it stalk to other Epicure No. 2s, Commemorative Releases: Cuaba 20 Aniversario: It's been 20 year since Cuaba was launched and to honor that 20th anniversary, Habanos S.A. released a 50 count humidor for the brand in a new vitola offering. It is a double perfecto, as to be expected, and measures 170 mm (6.7″) with a 56 ring gauge at the bell. I don't know what else to say, its a Cuaba.Cohiba Majestuoso 1966: Celebrating the Cohiba brand's 50th anniversary, Habanos S.A. had two releases. The Humidor Cohiba 1966 is one of two special editions to commemorate the Cohiba brand’s fiftieth anniversary, as indicated in the filleted band habanos from this edition have been decked out withThe Cohiba Majestuoso 1966 vitola –unseen in Habano’s vitola stock- is the deluxe dweller of the Humidor Cohiba 1966, Special Commemorative Edition, an exclusive box featuring a one-and-only design and containing 20 habanos.“Cohiba Majestuoso 1966” (ring gauge 58 x 150 mm long) is a commemorative edition with barely 1,966 units rolled, specially designed by Habanos S.A. to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the brand.Its strong-tasting blend is intended to Cohiba aficionados who love intense flavors.The Cohiba Majestuoso 1966 vitola has special sizes unseen in any other Cohiba product nor in Habano’s standard vitola portfolio. It’s a very special product for both enthusiasts of the Cohiba brand and the overall habano buff, thanks to its new format, thick ring gauge, exquisite blend and strong taste, designed for those smokers who love complex and intense tastes.This commemorative edition is presented in an exclusively-designed and limited-edition humidor, featuring elegant simplicity and a subtle layout of vintage-style curves that pay tribute to the launch of the brand back in the 1960s.Right of top of the shiny black-lacquered lid of this humidor-case, the Cohiba 50 Aniversario seal stands out, to be stamped on the brand’s different initiatives in the course of this year 2016. The inner side of the lid has a small plaque tacked on it to indicate the box number within this exclusive output of 1,966 pieces the series is made up of.Habanos in this edition also boast new and exclusive presentations. In addition to the brand’s band, these habanos feature a commemorative filleted band in black and gilt, showing the 50 Aniversario seal and the dates spanning from the foundational year to date.
