Cubanacan Cigars will be launching a new cigar with the initials of familiar name. The HR blend represents the initials of Hirochi Robaina, who is the grandson of the late Don Alejandro Robaina. The brand will pay homage to the Robaina family and Hirochi will be partnering on the cigar with Cubanacan. The first HR cigar will launch at the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas.
The HR is a joint effort between Hirochi and Don Omar Gonzalez Aleman. Hirochi currently runs the Vegas Robaina farm located in Pinar del Rio, Cuba which has been in his family since the 1800s. Gonzalez who has over 40 years involved in the cigar industry from the cultivation of tobacco to spending many of those years overseeing La Corona Cigar Factory, one of the largest factories in Havana where Cuban brands such as Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey, Cuaba, Por Larranaga, Saint Luis Rey, and San Cristobal de la Habana are rolled. Gonzalez is currently in charge of the day to day operations of tobacco growing, curing, fermentation and blending. The HR cigar is being made at the Cubanacan factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.
HR marks the first major release by Cubanacan since they restructured earlier this year. HR joins the other brands under Cubanacan Cigars that includes Mederos, Soneros, and Cubanacan.
At a glance here is a look at the HR blend:
Blend Profile
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano 2000 seed Hybrid
Binder : Nicaraguan, Jalapa
Filler: Nicaraguan, Esteli and Jalapa
Vitolas Available
Hermoso: 5 1/8 x 48
Belicoso: 5 1/2 x 52
Toro: 6 x 52
Sublime: 6 1/2 x 54
I've smoked the HR Belicoso size. The cigar is too sweet (sugar cane) and medium in strength. The HR cigar's favors in between AJ Fernandez the Bull and Avo Classic. It is a $10 or less good. It isn't $20 + good yet. He is using the name Robaina to raise his cigar price but he is lacking the Robaina favors in Cuba.
The HR is the most interesting cigar I have ever smoked in almost 20 years of cigar smoking. Almost every puff seemed to change flavors. My current favorite.