So I don't (yet) have an authentic Cohiba 1966 cigar to do a comparison (but I'm hoping this will change soon). But here's an interesting comparison anyway.
First, here is TL's "mountain of 2011 Edicion Limitada (Limited Edition) Cohiba 1966" cigars:
[img]http://www.onlinehumidor.com/forum/gallery/2171_01_04_11_4_23_10.jpg[/img]
So as has been noted before, there are just not masses of banded cigars laying about. The cigars are rolled, then put away for aging (unbanded). The cigars are then color sorted, banded, and boxed.
Here's what the actual release looks like:
[img]http://people.ambrosiasw.com/~andrew/cigars/cohiba_1966_box.jpg[/img]
Some interesting quotes:
1) "Yes, they have been released now. The cigars are still not available at the market. The [b]production began in april at the la Corona factory.[/b]"
2) "I don`t think that they are available in la Habana in May"
3) I examined the EXIF info in the JPEG picture that TL took above... the date that the picture was taken. The picture was taken on [b]March 29th.[/b]
So assuming the information on the [url=http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=106128&hl=]FoH web site is correct,[/url] TL had the pre-release Cohiba 1966 (March 29th) to sell that production hadn't even started yet (April).
Kinda tough to have the cigars banded, exported, and for sale in quantity before production even began... no?
I plan to smoke one soon, and hopefully compare it to the real deal. If anyone has a known-good Cohiba 1966 (not from TL), I'd love to see it.
Triple Ligero's "Cohiba 1966 EL 2011" cigar examined
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moki
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gibbleguts
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Re: Triple Ligero's "Cohiba 1966 EL 2011" cigar examined
Production was started sooner then that. I was in the La Corona factory on the friday of the festival and there was at least a couple of rollers rolling them then. The cigars that were handed were at the H Upmann dinner which was wednesday so these were not for that. Unfortuneately because this was not a festival tour they would not let me take pictures but there is no other cigar in that size with a pig tail and that dark of a wrapper in production that it could have been. I have sent all the ones I had out but may be able to get one of them forwarded to you for comparison at least. One of the ones I did send out was reviewed on BOTL.org and had some decent pictures in the review but may be able to get more forwarded to you as well. I have a few pics of the cigar at the event but the lighting is not great but can post them as well if you like.
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Bill86
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Re: Triple Ligero's "Cohiba 1966 EL 2011" cigar examined
Whether anyone believes it or not, I never assumed ONE person could have THAT many rare cigars.
Call me spectacle, an asshole, a liar or whatever. But I truly believe no one has THAT kind of connections. I've dealt with Ryan he's a class act and sold me the best cigar I've had to date. By the way thanks for those 08 CoLa's! But I never believed that TL sold real cigars no matter who vouched for him. Even though some TOP notch people vouched for TL.
This whole thing was really no surprise to me. The only thing that surprised me was the extremely good detective work done here.
Call me spectacle, an asshole, a liar or whatever. But I truly believe no one has THAT kind of connections. I've dealt with Ryan he's a class act and sold me the best cigar I've had to date. By the way thanks for those 08 CoLa's! But I never believed that TL sold real cigars no matter who vouched for him. Even though some TOP notch people vouched for TL.
This whole thing was really no surprise to me. The only thing that surprised me was the extremely good detective work done here.
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insight
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moki
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Re: Triple Ligero's "Cohiba 1966 EL 2011" cigar examined
[quote author=gibbleguts link=topic=9439.msg52252#msg52252 date=1305523018]
Production was started sooner then that. I was in the La Corona factory on the friday of the festival and there was at least a couple of rollers rolling them then. The cigars that were handed were at the H Upmann dinner which was wednesday so these were not for that. Unfortuneately because this was not a festival tour they would not let me take pictures but there is no other cigar in that size with a pig tail and that dark of a wrapper in production that it could have been. I have sent all the ones I had out but may be able to get one of them forwarded to you for comparison at least. One of the ones I did send out was reviewed on BOTL.org and had some decent pictures in the review but may be able to get more forwarded to you as well. I have a few pics of the cigar at the event but the lighting is not great but can post them as well if you like.
[/quote]
Gotcha. Still a little doubtful that the first rollings of these cigars would be spirited off by some mysterious diplomat, rather than being used for the imminent release of a high profile line of cigars... :)
Production was started sooner then that. I was in the La Corona factory on the friday of the festival and there was at least a couple of rollers rolling them then. The cigars that were handed were at the H Upmann dinner which was wednesday so these were not for that. Unfortuneately because this was not a festival tour they would not let me take pictures but there is no other cigar in that size with a pig tail and that dark of a wrapper in production that it could have been. I have sent all the ones I had out but may be able to get one of them forwarded to you for comparison at least. One of the ones I did send out was reviewed on BOTL.org and had some decent pictures in the review but may be able to get more forwarded to you as well. I have a few pics of the cigar at the event but the lighting is not great but can post them as well if you like.
[/quote]
Gotcha. Still a little doubtful that the first rollings of these cigars would be spirited off by some mysterious diplomat, rather than being used for the imminent release of a high profile line of cigars... :)
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gibbleguts
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Re: Triple Ligero's "Cohiba 1966 EL 2011" cigar examined
[quote author=moki link=topic=9439.msg52262#msg52262 date=1305546952]
Gotcha. Still a little doubtful that the first rollings of these cigars would be spirited off by some mysterious diplomat, rather than being used for the imminent release of a high profile line of cigars... :)
[/quote]
I will agree but his timing was almost perfect. I saw them go up for sale right while I was in Havana. I never really realized the quantity he claimed to have but they did exist in Havana at the time. I don't think I am that well connected in Havana but have been able to get a lot of great cigars so that helped lower my skeptisism.
Gotcha. Still a little doubtful that the first rollings of these cigars would be spirited off by some mysterious diplomat, rather than being used for the imminent release of a high profile line of cigars... :)
[/quote]
I will agree but his timing was almost perfect. I saw them go up for sale right while I was in Havana. I never really realized the quantity he claimed to have but they did exist in Havana at the time. I don't think I am that well connected in Havana but have been able to get a lot of great cigars so that helped lower my skeptisism.
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moki
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Re: Triple Ligero's "Cohiba 1966 EL 2011" cigar examined
[quote author=gibbleguts link=topic=9439.msg52279#msg52279 date=1305554489]
I will agree but his timing was almost perfect. I saw them go up for sale right while I was in Havana. I never really realized the quantity he claimed to have but they did exist in Havana at the time. I don't think I am that well connected in Havana but have been able to get a lot of great cigars so that helped lower my skeptisism.
[/quote]
Also...
[url=http://www.cigaraficionado.com/blogs/show/id/15960]http://www.cigaraficionado.com/blogs/show/id/15960[/url]
May 2nd, 2011 -> "There were no Cohiba Behikes in stock (all of Cuba seems to be out of them at the moment) and [b]the 2011 crop of Edicion Limitadas were not yet in stock.[/b]"
But I'm sure TL had better connections than this David guy. :)
I will agree but his timing was almost perfect. I saw them go up for sale right while I was in Havana. I never really realized the quantity he claimed to have but they did exist in Havana at the time. I don't think I am that well connected in Havana but have been able to get a lot of great cigars so that helped lower my skeptisism.
[/quote]
Also...
[url=http://www.cigaraficionado.com/blogs/show/id/15960]http://www.cigaraficionado.com/blogs/show/id/15960[/url]
May 2nd, 2011 -> "There were no Cohiba Behikes in stock (all of Cuba seems to be out of them at the moment) and [b]the 2011 crop of Edicion Limitadas were not yet in stock.[/b]"
But I'm sure TL had better connections than this David guy. :)
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gibbleguts
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Re: Triple Ligero's "Cohiba 1966 EL 2011" cigar examined
[quote author=moki link=topic=9439.msg52309#msg52309 date=1305562417]
Also...
[url=http://www.cigaraficionado.com/blogs/show/id/15960]http://www.cigaraficionado.com/blogs/show/id/15960[/url]
May 2nd, 2011 -> "There were no Cohiba Behikes in stock (all of Cuba seems to be out of them at the moment) and [b]the 2011 crop of Edicion Limitadas were not yet in stock.[/b]"
But I'm sure TL had better connections than this David guy. :)
[/quote]
Funny thing is that is one of the shops I refuse to buy from many shop owners I know will swear that much of their single selection is rebanded custom rolls from their staff roller. Still decent cigars but not what you are paying for. I also think Ninja would be better connected in Havana as this was the first year I saw Gordon or David at the festival. Cuba was always the domain of Suckling. I still ran into Suckling more this year then the other 3. He still got his invitation to the Pacific Cigar dinner and other private distributor events. Only time I saw the 3 from CA outside of Festival events was when they were waiting for our table at la Guarida.
Also...
[url=http://www.cigaraficionado.com/blogs/show/id/15960]http://www.cigaraficionado.com/blogs/show/id/15960[/url]
May 2nd, 2011 -> "There were no Cohiba Behikes in stock (all of Cuba seems to be out of them at the moment) and [b]the 2011 crop of Edicion Limitadas were not yet in stock.[/b]"
But I'm sure TL had better connections than this David guy. :)
[/quote]
Funny thing is that is one of the shops I refuse to buy from many shop owners I know will swear that much of their single selection is rebanded custom rolls from their staff roller. Still decent cigars but not what you are paying for. I also think Ninja would be better connected in Havana as this was the first year I saw Gordon or David at the festival. Cuba was always the domain of Suckling. I still ran into Suckling more this year then the other 3. He still got his invitation to the Pacific Cigar dinner and other private distributor events. Only time I saw the 3 from CA outside of Festival events was when they were waiting for our table at la Guarida.
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Ninja
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Re: Triple Ligero's "Cohiba 1966 EL 2011" cigar examined
[quote author=gibbleguts link=topic=9439.msg52319#msg52319 date=1305565753]
I also think Ninja would be better connected in Havana as this was the first year I saw Gordon or David at the festival. [/quote]
Actually, my contacts are just people that work down there who have, shall we say, good jobs. And they are real cool. I have never met Gordon or Dave or Suckling. Don't really care too. Never went to a Habanos Dinner either. I kinda find that stuff pretentious. But that's just me. If someone else likes it, then I support them.
Several years back, I was smoking and getting hammered on HC7 with the old manager of the Melia Habana CDH in Miramar. I asked about going to the festival the next year, and he slammed down his glass, pointed his finger at me said, "No, the festival is not for you. In Feburary the stores are filled with tourists, and they are crazy and touching everything, and there is no time to talk or have fun. For you, you like to relax, and talk and make jokes, and get to know people. So Feburary is a very very bad time for you." lol
As a result of that conversation, I have never been to Havana in the month of Feburary. All other months, yes, but never Feburary. ;D
I also think Ninja would be better connected in Havana as this was the first year I saw Gordon or David at the festival. [/quote]
Actually, my contacts are just people that work down there who have, shall we say, good jobs. And they are real cool. I have never met Gordon or Dave or Suckling. Don't really care too. Never went to a Habanos Dinner either. I kinda find that stuff pretentious. But that's just me. If someone else likes it, then I support them.
Several years back, I was smoking and getting hammered on HC7 with the old manager of the Melia Habana CDH in Miramar. I asked about going to the festival the next year, and he slammed down his glass, pointed his finger at me said, "No, the festival is not for you. In Feburary the stores are filled with tourists, and they are crazy and touching everything, and there is no time to talk or have fun. For you, you like to relax, and talk and make jokes, and get to know people. So Feburary is a very very bad time for you." lol
As a result of that conversation, I have never been to Havana in the month of Feburary. All other months, yes, but never Feburary. ;D
CubaLegally.com
I was gambling in Havana, and I took a little risk. Send lawyers, guns, and money.... Dad get me out of this!
I was gambling in Havana, and I took a little risk. Send lawyers, guns, and money.... Dad get me out of this!
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gibbleguts
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Re: Triple Ligero's "Cohiba 1966 EL 2011" cigar examined
Melia Habana is one of the best shops in all of Havana. One of the best rollers, selection of singles, and properly maintained humidors. One of the few shops I have never spotted a fake at and some of the best staff out there. Funny part is they are also one of the shops that will never have Behike's on the shelf. They save most of thier best stuff for special customers. It is a lot like opus, just because it isn't on the shelf it does not mean that they don't have it. I will agree that the festival is not for everyone but I like it for the pre release cigars even if I mostly share them with others. I wouldn't be suprised if we know some of the same people in Havana.