Dara

@Harikezo does the serial number check out on Habanos.com and also does a barcode scanner app match the barcode to the serial number? There were a lot of fake Behikes supposedly being sourced from a LCDH in Central America and two of the biggest tell tales was the date stamp font being wrong and the barcode not matching up to the serial number below it!

The only things Habanos buy are boxes and bands. I seriously doubt the idea of paying money to use a name on a Cuban Cigar would pass at any HSA meeting....unless it was to be given to HSA as part of a settlement in a trademark dispute....

We had a similar battle in Ireland, we grew up with “salad cream” but that’s now gone the way of the kiwi and been replaced by “mayonnaise” !

So long as you buy something in the lounge then I couldn’t imagine them objecting....after all it’s no longer illegal to have Cuban cigars in the US (even if the shops aren’t allowed sell them) so less risk to the lounges license I’d imagine!

Need to get a box of something to smoke while on honeymoon, the wife is concerned I don't have enough cigars packed ?? On the accessories side, FOH ashtray is on my list for Christmas so I'll pick one up after honeymoon if there are still stocks!

Di, I'm going to take a wild guess that Kens suggestion will start with Spring and end in Steen! If you guys are going to sing Hi Ho, does this mean Rob is Snow White??

Hmm, wonder could I convince the wife to go to Brisneyland instead of the carribean for the honeymoon ??

4 day weekend here in Ireland. Rob, to ensure we go to mass the Irish government helpfully force all pubs and bottle shops to close on Friday so thankfully it's a good day for catching up with mates at house parties although I always feel sorry for the tourists wandering about town wondering what the f%#^ do you do in Dublin on a wet Friday when every single pub is closed....over the years I've done the decent thing and adopted tourists and brought them to parties with me! Theres talk we might be dragged into the 20th century with the government thinking of changing the alcohol laws to allow pubs to open next year onwards though

"Those Robusto T Tubos totally existed before we deleted them!" ?

Obviously Rob would have to double the staff shoe allowance to allow for the added wear and tear a second 24:24 would cause Di, every cloud has a silver lining ?

Beard was at a wedding during the summer, popped out for a smoke while the wife was chatting to her friends. 2nd photo was with my best mates and father in law at my wedding in December....first cigar I had and it was about 1am!!

Bring a good lighter with you, preferably a jet....it's handy for warming up the food at the gala ?

They've been creeping up over the last few years.....2012 prices were Opening Event - 210 CUC Midweek Event - 200 CUC Gala Event - 525 CUC (In each of my 3 visits during festival time I've never bothered with the Gala dinner as I've preferred to invest the money in cigars instead and hit El Ajibe with others for the alternative dinner good food good smokes and lots of rum Oh and the award for most inflated price must go to the Cuban hotel industry/cartel, in 2013, 6 nights in the Nacional cost me the total of 850CUC......It's probably that for 1 night now!!!

They've managed to piss off the Canadians....wow, that takes a lot to do! so if Trump rolls back Obamas changes then the hotels who've been half full at inflated prices suddenly start making losses and can't rely on the Canadians to fill their rooms.

It's just after his wife gets a walk in closet and "shoe room" ?

Was away with out access to a scale, best of luck to all!

I keep missing this, but not this year!!!

Cheers Stevie, Peter,Andy, Mus & everyone else. Had a blast yesterday despite only getting to smoke a petit robusto (a 5 star hotel in this day and age with no heated smoking area and just a small spot outside the front door is pretty piss poor) but it was a great day enjoyed by one and all!

Shirts - the more pockets the better for carrying cigars.....you can get guayaberas in Havana (hotel shops and LCDHs are expensive for these but there's a good shop off Calle obispo if I remember correctly that does good value good quality linen ones, @Ryan is the best man to advise on this as he's bought a few while there over the years) Khakis and a semi formal shirt should be ok for the partagas events but the Friday gala would also be a jacket event if you're going. best thing you could bring would be a FOH cigar traveller with a few spare cartridges (gas can be hard to get and often quality of has found in Havana is crap), don't bring a good lighter as you'll end up losing it or swapping it with a barman in the gato tuerto for drinks (it's happened to the best of us). Failing that the LCDH in the media Havana used to sell jet lighters for 2 cucs which were good but not sure if they still do those! hope that helps a bit!

Perhaps you should explain the rule about ordering Duck in Cuba to those who haven't been to Cuba before Rob.....

Bring back Smithy...that guy knew how to run a LFTH ?

Last time I checked no airlines had direct flights to Cuba yet, only people with OFAC issued licenses can travel and so it's all chartered aircraft used by travel agencies, who most likely sold the information. @nino is there still the 10% tax when changing USD into CUC? If so then @Blackham it might be worth telling your friend to bring some CAD with them to get more bang for their buck!

The above rules go out the window in the case of a salesperson for Jimmy Choo/Louboutin/Manolo Blahnik who arrives at the door with a case full of samples who will be welcomed with open arms by @WarriorPrincess on a shoe for entry and cigars basis

Video has been removed by the user

Looking forward to number 3. It will be tough for Diaz to drop weight and retain strength in his hits, McGregor had to up his weight but that doesn't translate directly into bigger hits. Obviously as an Irishman I was rooting for McGregor....sure he may be arrogant but he's making serious money for the UFC and anyone who fights him, as he is a box office draw (his dad was quite recently saying that he's on 20million per fight, other reports have put it in the 12-15million range win or lose while he still holds a championship belt). I read reports saying that he was even a factor in the UFC attracting the price it did when sold recently as his fights consistently bring in high Ppv figures since he joined the franchise He may not be the greatest fighter that is currently alive in this era, but like Ali he has the personality to be able to promote himself and the sport simultaneously while winning fights......would love to see him take on Mayweather but if it's a straight boxing contest then McGregor won't have a hope. I'm assuming his next fight will be a Aldo rematch at 155lbs and then Diaz.