 Habanos plans to introduce Partagas torpedo in 2005
Los Angeles, January 21 – While the Cuban government cracks down on smoking, Habanos S.A. is planning its 2005 release schedule for three new sizes and the 2005 Edicion Limitada.
The 2005 Festival de la Habano, coming up in late February, will emphasize four anniversaries: 160th for Partagas, 140th for Hoyo de Monterrey, 130th for Romeo y Julieta and 70th for Montecristo. All of these brands will be featured in new releases.
Our European sources suggest that the new cigars to the Cuban line in 2005 will include:
• Two new Partagas cigars, one in a limited-production edition:
> The debut of the Partagas Serie P No. 2 torpedo to the standard production line, in the same format as the famed Montecristo No. 2: 6 1/8 inches by 52 ring, to be offered in boxes of 25, packs of three and in tubes. At present, there are two shaped cigars in the Partagas line: the Presidente, a 6 1/4 by 47 perfecto and the 3-in-1 Culebras, which is machine-made.
> The second edition of the Seleccion Reserva series, this time featuring the Partagas Serie D No. 4, the legendary 4 7/8 x 50 robusto. These are cigars made from tobacco aged for a minimum of three years. The Serie Ds will be offered in limited quantities, in boxes of 20.
• A new Hoyo de Monterrey in the “Gordito” production size to be called the “Epicure Especial.” This was the Hoyo Edicion Limitada size in 2004 and it will be a popular addition. It’s a 5 1/2-inch by 50-ring robusto, continuing the Habanos push toward new sizes in larger ring gauges. Like the current Hoyo Epicure models, it is to be offered in a boite nature slide-top box.
• Three cigars in the 2005 Edicion Limitada:
> Montecristo “D” in a lonsdale format of 6 3/4 inches by 43 ring, slightly larger than the No. 1, possibly packed in an 8-9-8 format box. The Montecristo “A” (9 1/4 x 47) is still in production, while the “B” (5 5/8 x 42) left the line in the late 1990s and the “C” (5 5/8 x 46) was part of the 2003 Edicion Limitada.
> Romeo y Julieta in a new factory size, the “Petit Piramide,” a 5-inch by 50-ring torpedo, again expanding the Habanos line of heavy ring gauges.
> A new brand to the Edicion Limitada series, H. Upmann – a non-anniversary line for 2005 – in a classic toro format to be called “Magnums” (factory name: Robusto Extra) of 6 1/2 inches in length and 50 ring.
With these introductions, the Cubans will have nine sizes of 50 ring or more in the regular-production lines and nine new factory sizes for limited/special production for a total of 18. Compare this to the grand total of three sizes offered in 2000, two torpedoes and one robusto and the outline for production in the new century is clear. Now, smokers who prefer thicker cigars can take their choice of regular-production 50-plus ring cigars from:
> Petit Robusto: 4 x 50 in Hoyo de Monterrey only.
> Robusto: 4 7/8 by 50 in Bolivar, Cohiba, Hoyo de Monterrey, Juan Lopez, Partagas and Ramon Allones.
> Gordito: 5 1/2 x 50 in Hoyo de Monterrey and San Cristobal de la Habana.
> Dobles: 6 1/8 x 50 in Trinidad only.
> Edmundo: 5 3/8 x 52 in Montecristo only.
> Canonazo: 5 7/8 x 52 in Cohiba only.
> Campanas: 5 1/2 x 52 torpedos in Bolivar, Diplomaticos, Romeo y Julieta, San Cristobal and Sancho Panza
> Piramide: 6 1/8 x 52 torpedo in H. Upmann, Montecristo, Vegas Robaina and now Partagas in 2005.
> Salomones: 7 1/4 x 57 perfectos in Cuaba only.
In addition, there are another nine special-production models of 50 ring or more like the Robusto Extra or Petit Piramide for 2005 or the massive 7 x 54 “Rodolfo” torpedo made for San Cristobal or the decades-only Serie D No. 1 and No. 2 made as Partagas Edicion Limitadas in 2004 and 2003, respectively.
It’s almost worth a trip to Cuba to try them . . . except you can’t smoke there any more . . .
From the Cubador:
A Reuters follow-up story on the Cuban smoking ban that will start on February 7 indicated that smoking will be prohibited in “offices, stores, theaters, buses and taxis, schools, sports facilities and air-conditioned public areas.” While the list does not include factories, does this mean that smoking will no longer be allowed in the indoor, air-conditioned Casas del Habano or the famed store inside the La Corona factory?
An Agence France Presse story notes that government ration books still include subsidies for cigarettes. Cubans born prior to 1954 can buy four packs of cigarettes a month at seven cents a pack! Those who have to pay full price face a per-pack price of 26 cents each!
The new regulations will also prohibit sales of tobacco products to those under 16 (there is currently no restriction) and cigarettes vending machines will be removed island-wide.
I can think of some other things that should be removed while they are at it.
~ Rich Perelman
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