People are always asking me why I don't have rating system on TopCubans.com for the cigars. I find it hard to put a cigar in an abstract rating system - numbered one to ten or, o to 100. This may sound extremely corny, but I respond to a cigar more on an emotional level as well as a technical level. I have smoked some cigars which are rated highly by other well known magazines or sites and had no pleasure at all whe...

The vast selection of dried/cured/smoked hams and sausages are a vital part of the Swiss (European) aperitif and meal culture. Be it the tasty Jamon de Serrano from Spain, the thinly sliced salty Italian Parma Ham, a solid German Würst or a Game Saucisson Sec from France..... the list goes on and on, these meaty morsels play a key role in the 'repas' protocol. Be it as a starter, a main meal accompaniment or as finge...

The last of the Habanos S.A. 2007 Edicion Limitada's is now available. The Cuban Trinidad Ingenios Edicion Limitada 2007 is the first ever Edicion Limitada from the Trinidad Family. The tobacco used for these cigars is aged for 2 years and wrapped with a dark/maduro wrapper. This Cuban Lonsdale will suit smokers who enjoy subtle, slow smokes. Perfect cigar for the rocking chair. Try it and give us your thoughts.

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Habanos S.A. has certainly changed it's outlook on tobacco blending since the old days. The power and strength that was once the sole trademark of Cuban cigars has evolved into an exploration of more aromatic and flavorful blends that marry the body of the Ligero leaves with the more aromatic favors that ooze from the Seco and Valado leaves. But luckily for us cigar smokers, we now have access to both of theses very ...

'Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.' A Shakespearean mouthful that evokes all the terrifying excitement of the All Hallows Eve. Here at TopCubans.com, we organize an annual Halloween fancy dress party (an excellent excuse for a food, drink and smoke or...

Short, direct and to the point, the Robusto is the ideal modern cigar. 30-40 mins of intense pleasure, perfect for after dinner or at an aperitif, these cigars come in a full range of power and aromas depending on the family you choose. Big ring gauge means you have a complex smoke in a smaller cigar and the shorter length allows you to dive directly into a second phase type of smoke. Looks for full body-ness in Part...

A good cut is key to a good smoke. Like so many aspects of smoking Cuban cigars, the type of cut you choose has to suit your smoke. The choice of a punch trigger, guillotine or v-cut, will depend on the cigars you are smoking and the type of draw you prefer. My recommendation is always use a guillotine (or double) for Figurado cigars. This gives for an undisturbed smoke and will amplify the conic concentration of the...

The cheese season is upon us in Switzerland, with a plethora of recipes to choose from. House favorites include the infamous Fondue and the very communal Raclette. Both dishes were created as a means of using up the old bits of cheese left lying around in the larder. Try a light, citrusy cigar, like a Vegueros, for a post Cheese dinner smoke. Very interesting and helps with the digestion.

Apart from the aesthetic of personal preference and a slightly more tingly effect on the lips from a darker wrapper, the color of a Cuban cigars does not have a major effect on the overall experience of your smoke. Apart form the Edicion Limitada series, and now the new Cohiba Maduro line, the wrapper color of Cuban cigars comes in a variety of shade (Claro to Oscuro) and depends on the quantity of stock, weather var...

With the cooler weather arriving, your palate will start to demand richer aromas and more substantial power. The corporal clock has ticked in the Power Hour! Look for the Bolivar, Partagas, Ramon Allones families for the strength and Cohiba, Punch and Vegas Robaina for the spicy touches. This is our favorite time of the year to smoke, as food, wine and cigar seem to meet on a common ground of constructive complementa...

How long can one leave a cigar in it's dormant state and relight it, to still find a flavorful smoke. Obviously, this varies from smoker to smoker. I know a man who sleeps with a cigar and immediately lights it up again when he awakes. I always think that a cigar that has been out for over three hours, starts to take on the burnt flavors in the remaining tobacco. Letting a cigar rest for a n hour, even two, is comple...

We will be there, smoking live to you on all the action in the 2007 Rugby World Cup! A hooligan's sport played by gentlemen, this is the perfect venue to pour yourself a pint of Dark Ale and light up a Romeo y Julieta Churchill, kick back and enjoy the rough and tumble of the finest Rugby players in the world.

I think what makes a difference between EL's and regular smokes is firstly the EL's are produced only for one year, that means they are one of a kind. Secondly they are produced in small quantities, adding to their exclusivity. All limitadas have maduro wrappers which is unlikely to happen in regular production. El's tend to come in new and old re-produced sizes not commonly found in regular production. Like a fin...

Wow! Are we lucky! Topcubans have bagged the new Edicion Limitadas from Hoyo De Monterrey and from Romeo Y Julieta ! Great for ageing these EL's would be a classy addition to your humidor. So get ready to rumble!

Hello from Tuscany! I had the pleasure of spending my afternoon In the Grotto Del Vento, a natural cave just outside the village of Barga in Tuscany, Italia. The cave is as big as a Cathedral and very awe inspiring, although i had a little trouble taking the tour because I had eaten a huge fillet of beef topped with rucola and parmesan cheese at lunch, my feet were heavy to say the least. During the tour of this u...

They are finally here! Its like Christmas come true for the aficionados of the world! The Cohiba Maduro trio, dressed in their dark and rich wrappers that have been aged for five years and are real beauties! The Genios is the big brother, stocky and rich in flavour. The Magicos is the middle brother, a mine of diversity of aromas. Last but by no means least is Secretos, the little guy of the family, fruity and play...

Many people ask me what is the difference between Cabinet and box pressed cigars?. Its simple really. Space. Quality. And time! In Cabinets there is more space than in a box, hence the deforming of the cigar into a square shape in the box. This change in the shape changes the cigars ventilation, thus altering the original smoke.To properly mature a cigar need a little room! Thus the quality of Cabinet cigar...

The sun is a great thing! Smoking a great summer cigar in the sun is to me a spiritual thing. My cigar has to be in communion with the sun. It has to be easy going, light, fresh, smooth, fruity and spicy. Your choice of cigar can make or break that BBQ, it can enhance that cold beer on the porch. The sun is a great thing and summer smokes punctuate that!

Petit Punch is back in stock! Grab these popular stunners whilst you can!

Bolivar Inmensas are back! Yes the master of ceremonies has entered the building. Perfect for the after dinner smoke these babies are rich,so rich! Topcubans.com welcome the Inmensas home and back into our humidor.

We at Topcubans.com would like to welcome our influx of newest members.The Topcubans family is growing all around the world. With so many great cigars out there its a good job we have each other to advise and lend a hand to when making our choice of cigar. No question is a stupid question and giving your opinion on a cigar can help someone else form their opinion on any given smoke. Communication is a great thi...

Please take the time to view CNN's 'Art of Life' videos on the Art of Rolling a Cuban Cigar. An excellent document that shows the grueling labor process involved from seed to box for producing a Haban...

Seasonal Free Shipping continues on TopCubans.com. Get your favorite Cuban cigars shipped to you for free through 11th April (offer applies to all orders min $200).

Just a quick note to remind you all that Rick and I are real people, we are madly passionate about the world of Cuban cigars and we adore sharing this culture with you all. TopCubans.com is an official Habanos S.A. registered retailer, based in Geneva, Switzerland, generally regarded as the finest market for Cuban hand rolled cigars. We have been in the business for over 10 years and have smoked our fair share of cig...

All new on TopCubans.com, create your Personal Cuban Cigar box from the full range of cigars in the TopCubans humidor. This is your chance to smoke THE cigar you have always wanted to try, sample a selection of different smokes, create your own tasting packs or devise the prefect gift for a friend. Use the Personal Box creator to take your palate to the next level. With the possibility of creating your own 5, 6 or 10...

The trend continues for small, fat cigars. Habanos have understood that what we are looking for is a cigar that has complexity and development, but doesn't necessarily require a day to smoke. In the foot steps of the Hoyo Petit Robusto, The RyJ Petit Piramides, the RyJ Short Churchills, comes the Montecristo Petit Edmundo. A great cigar that kicks in directly into the second phase of a regular Edmundo smoke. The stre...

I have had feedback from quite a few Members, informing me of a number of new Cuban cigar web sites on line who have been plagiarizing our TopCubans.com txts and images. Please be aware that these sites are not linked or affiliated in any way to TopCubans.com and have taken these txts and images without our permission. I have contacted these sites to demand that they remove these, but to date have had little success....

Was 2006 a Classic year for the Cuban cigar ? Which cigars improved, which cigars suffered ? Who were the stars ? This is your chance to have your say in deciding which Cuban hand rolled, long filler cigars were the best of 2006. By size and overall, the title of Best Cigar 2006 is up for grabs. VOTE NOW !

Look out for the all new Montecristo Petit Edmundo, now available on TopCubans.com. Great small, power smoke, which will suit the palate in search of a strong break time cigar.