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This brand is only included for the sake of completeness & not a recommendation! It does demonstrate not every commercial decision Habanos has made, has been a winner. in 2002 Habanos moved away from machine mades & short fillers like RG Pan X, which is still short filler but hand made. So the price went up but did the quality of the smoke? Personally, I was quite happy with the previous Pan X's, perfect fishing smokes that did actually improve with a few yrs age.
And then Habanos brought out Guantanamera, taken from the song title, that you'll hear all over Cuba. These were machine mades, exactly what they said they were moving away from, to raise the profile of Habanos & saying all products were hand made.
My name objection is that Cuba was rife with these boxes & tourists were buying them, thinking they were buying typical Cuban cigars. Gifts for friends, that they knew smoked. If they'd never tried a real handmade Cuban before - these would surely put them off! I know some smoke them think them a decent cheap, mid week smoke but remember, friends don't let friends smoke Guantanamera!
Guess Habanos quickly realised this wasn't really impressing & they were removed from the line up in lasting only from 2002 -2005. Then it was transferred to ICT International Cubana de Tobacos under license to Habanos S.A.
Light strength, made with tobacco from the lesser Vuleta Arriba region i.e. not where premium tobacco is grown, which is Vuelta Abajo, in the Pinar de Rio region. 'They are cheap cigars, made for the mass market & have pre-cut heads.'
Biggest joke, a 20th Anniversio Cristales was produced, 20 cristal plastic tubes in a tin, 2022. No known number produced. Sadly, one special release I could afford but won't be appearing on my shelf.
Puritos Chicos 29 x 4 1/8" Pack x5 2002 - Current.
Cristales Cristales Mano 41 x 5 7/8" 2002 - Current.
Decimos Universales 38 x 4 1/4" 2002 - Current
Minutos Minutos 42 x 4 3/8" 2002 - current.
Compay Standard Mano 40 x 4 7/8" 2002 - discontinued 2016
Guantanamera Seleccion box (as shown below). 2019 release. 15 cigars, replaced a box with 13.
CigarCollection.2017.01.24.CubaAirport._171202.jpg
Says something, that I have no photos of the couple I tried, ditched in disgust.
And then Habanos brought out Guantanamera, taken from the song title, that you'll hear all over Cuba. These were machine mades, exactly what they said they were moving away from, to raise the profile of Habanos & saying all products were hand made.
My name objection is that Cuba was rife with these boxes & tourists were buying them, thinking they were buying typical Cuban cigars. Gifts for friends, that they knew smoked. If they'd never tried a real handmade Cuban before - these would surely put them off! I know some smoke them think them a decent cheap, mid week smoke but remember, friends don't let friends smoke Guantanamera!
Guess Habanos quickly realised this wasn't really impressing & they were removed from the line up in lasting only from 2002 -2005. Then it was transferred to ICT International Cubana de Tobacos under license to Habanos S.A.
Light strength, made with tobacco from the lesser Vuleta Arriba region i.e. not where premium tobacco is grown, which is Vuelta Abajo, in the Pinar de Rio region. 'They are cheap cigars, made for the mass market & have pre-cut heads.'
Biggest joke, a 20th Anniversio Cristales was produced, 20 cristal plastic tubes in a tin, 2022. No known number produced. Sadly, one special release I could afford but won't be appearing on my shelf.
Puritos Chicos 29 x 4 1/8" Pack x5 2002 - Current.
Cristales Cristales Mano 41 x 5 7/8" 2002 - Current.
Decimos Universales 38 x 4 1/4" 2002 - Current
Minutos Minutos 42 x 4 3/8" 2002 - current.
Compay Standard Mano 40 x 4 7/8" 2002 - discontinued 2016
Guantanamera Seleccion box (as shown below). 2019 release. 15 cigars, replaced a box with 13.
CigarCollection.2017.01.24.CubaAirport._171202.jpg
Says something, that I have no photos of the couple I tried, ditched in disgust.
