Women in Cigars Celebration - Romeo y Julieta, Julieta (2009)

THE EVENT
To quote the Cubans, a cigar is like a woman, it needs to be admired, caressed and "warmed up" before placing to your lips to enjoy.  As the CEO of Habanos remarked, women are an indispensable part of the Habanos legacy and future.  70% of the people involved in the growing, production, distribution and marketing of cigars are women.  To celebrate women, Habanos developed a vitola especially sized, cured and packaged for women.


THE LOCATION
For the presentation of the new vitolas "Julieta" we are to spend the evening at the Museo de Bellas Artes.  A beautiful modern building just across the street from the Museo de la Revolution... a stark contrast where one can view graphic photos of combat kills and executions by the glorious Cuban army. 

One mid-eighteenth century day in London, the Venetian painter Canaletto found himself a bit strapped for cash and decided that drastic measures had to be taken. Whipping out a handy blade, he sliced in half a rather long landscape he'd painted, to sell both halves separately. Now one half of Chelsea from the Thames hangs in Blickling Hall in Norfolk. The other half is in Havana in the Museo de Bellas Artes.  There are many pieces from from all over the world that reside in this expansive and rather clinical museum.

There is the usual gauntlet of young people we walk through to get our goodie bag and glass of champers.  I stroll around for a little while and discover some Cubano art that is all naked exotic women only wearing flowers in their hair.  A young lady who works for the museum comes up to me and asks in Spanish if I have any questions.  She speaks English and I asked who the painter was...?  She curtly replies it is the greatest impressionist in the world- Jose Rolando Raul Martinez....erhhh, well you get the idea.  She briskly does a 180 and trots off mumbling some form of obscenities under her breath.  I decide to find my table...



We have fairly good seats and settle down for a great dinner which always consists of lobster somewhere on the menu.  All the wines are Spanish a different bottle and cigar is matched for each course.  The final unveiling is for the new Julieta vitola which for a new small smoke is quite delicious and very much designed for women.  Even the aluminium packaging is designed to fit easily into a purse.

THE CIGAR
I wouldn't devote my traditional Saturday afternoon smoke to this stick, but then again, for the 20 minute drive home from the office, it could make for quite the dalliance.  It's smooth, sweet and lively.  It's very well rolled but as I hold the cigar it is just a tad too dainty for me to hold.  I'll definitely gift the pack to L.




As I sample the smoke the ever-present music and dancing begins....these people know how to enjoy life, just hope I can make it back stateside in one piece.


Rating: (2) AVERAGE
(5) Classic, (4) Outstanding, (3) Very Good, (2) Average, (1) Don’t Bother
Humidor: SMOKE NOW
Smoke Now, Smoke Soon:1–3 Years, Put Away:3–7 Years, Vault:7-12 Years, Inheritance Gift:12+ Years