Just back from sunny Havana having spent 4 days and nights of herfing with numerous friends from all over the world.

Bumped into Lord Brocket and Sir Terrance Conran too

1000 cigar aficionados,connoisseurs,distributors,retailers together for what can only be described as the herf of the year

Hanging out at the Partagas LCDH and Melia Habana ( Robaina shop) smoking cigars,sipping Havana Club and catching a glimpse of the pre release Bolivar Gold Medals…what a perfect way to spend my days!

Tried a few of the new Cohiba maduros ( due out later this year) and was pleasantly surprised.With a little time to mature ( hopefully before the cigars are actually released ) these cigars will be an outstanding smoking experience.

The Festival gala dinner was a slick event this year and I was delighted to try the Montecristo no.4 Reserva ( due out later this year)

I sat on the Hunters and Frankau table of course, next to Ajay Patel from Broadweighs Cigars ( first rate UK Havana cigar specialist) and Simon Chase ( marketing director of Hunters and Frankau) who conducted the auction with great success. ( I’ll put the auction brochure photos and prices on the website in the next few days) The auction lots were truly amazing this year but sadly not signed by Fidel due to his recent ill health.

British journalist Nick Faulkes won the Habanos Man of the year award for communications…well done Nick!…I hope Angelo Bigi wins it next year

Lots of talk about the Cohiba 40th anniversary Behikes humidor which was presented at the last Festival….yet no one has received theirs as yet….word is they are due out any day now and are changing hands at double the price between collectors worldwide ( only 100 made)

Mojitos on the veranda of the Nacional Hotel and daiquiris at Floridita…life doesn’t get much better

Good smoking and long ashes

Mitchell

A busy day at the office herfing with my friend Huminie from California…we enjoyed some splendid Cohiba Piramides 2006 with…diet coke..perfect

Off to Havana tomorrow for the Festival and a few good smokes with many good friends from all over the world.

It’s the one chance in the year to see 100’s of friends from far and wide

I can’t wait to see and smoke the new Cohiba maduros as well as the new Montecristo Reserva

Hasta Luego!

Saludos

Mitch

It was a real pleasure to be a guest on Weekend Business Live on Radio 5 at the BBC this evening.

The show was presented by Jeff Randall of the Daily Telegraph and Ian King,business editor of the Sun.

Nice chaps…especially when I found out they like to smoke the occasional cigar ( I left them with a few to smoke!)

Hope you caught the broadcast ..if not..it’s on their website for a few days http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/listen/ click “Listen again”

Best

Mitchell …cigar connoisseur and radio star

Pol Roger is a brilliant champagne and totally underrated.1999 is generally thought to be a great vintage,

This is fast becoming my fave champers with a good Havana as the flavours are so delicate,they don’t drown out the flavours of the cigar.

I’m afraid I don’t have the same experience with NV Champagne and find them sharp and bitter tasting in general…ruining the experience of pairing up the cigar with the drink.

I find a good vintage champagne to be soft,round and balanced without any harshness whatsoever.What could be better with a fine cigar? I say no other drink particularly as Champagne is so refreshing on the palate.

Yes,a decent vintage will cost more than a non vintage but as with cigars,I do believe in “drink less …but better” or for that matter best quality.

Cuvee Winston Churchill and Pol Rose 1999 are of course available at very keen prices on my website

…long ashes.

Mitchell

Radio Five Live !

19:00 Sunday 25th Jeff Randall’s Weekend Business
The latest news and features from the world of business and finance.

…and I’ll be interviewed about Havana cigars

I wonder if they let you smoke cigars in Television House???!!!

Best

Mitchell