Knvb Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 After being unable to bring home any 'hamlets' from my week in Havana last year and having met and sampled a couple. This years impromptu varadero trip I sought out some of Alphonso' customs before I left. Unfortunately he wasn't around but I managed to grab a dozen I selected from their stock. I have only smoked two robustos which were most definitely way way above what I paid in quality I fired up one of the churchills I've been saving tonight and I gotta say it's by no small margin the best cigar I've smoked in a long time. Arrow straight burned perfectly and having never been great at describing cigars I'd say that it was just pure class. Complex changing flavours, spicy yet smooth as can be creamy then a rush of floral pot pourri in just the right strength. Id first like to thank the members for turning me on to his wares and second love to hear fr members what their experiences have been like w custom rolls. Where did you find them and who rolled them. Cheers guys 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shlomo Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Senor Alfonso is hands down my favorite roller in all of Cuba. Been saying it for a couple years now. I know quality of tobacco has the largest influence on quality of the cigar, but he seems to have a magic touch even with very mediocre tobacco. On my last visit, half my cigar allowance were boxes (Upmann RR, Conn. A..), other half were Alfonso rolls, mostly robusto, but some pyramid and edmundo sizes in there as well. So excellent. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckSARTech Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Agreed, Alfonso at the Calle 63 LCDH does some really nice custom rolls. I still have one robusto and one piramide I think. Other favourite is Monsdales, from Jorge at Club Habana in Miramar, and Reynaldo's customs (from the Conde De Villaneuva). A shame that Hamlet isn't the house roller for the RyJ factory / storefront anymore. He's a great ambassador for Habanos. Hopefully he gets to take that position again soon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stogieluver Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Does anyone know which roller might have been rolling at the Habana Libre Hotel back in 2012? I know it's a long shot to know this, but I stayed there and each person in our group was given a custom roll and several of the group gifted their cigars to me. I was really ignorant then of custom rolls and didn't appreciate fully what I had. I smoked them not long after returning home. Might have been just another roller, but might have been somebody, and I've always been curious to know who it may have been. I don't mean to hijack the thread, but its not totally off topic. I've had very limited experience with customs. Bartolomeo recently gifted me a couple of customs and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Thanks again, Ryan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lant63 Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Does anyone know which roller might have been rolling at the Habana Libre Hotel back in 2012? I know it's a long shot to know this, but I stayed there and each person in our group was given a custom roll and several of the group gifted their cigars to me. I was really ignorant then of custom rolls and didn't appreciate fully what I had. I smoked them not long after returning home. Might have been just another roller, but might have been somebody, and I've always been curious to know who it may have been. I don't mean to hijack the thread, but its not totally off topic. I've had very limited experience with customs. Bartolomeo recently gifted me a couple of customs and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Thanks again, Ryan. Correct me if I am wrong. But I believe that is Yolanda.Personally I am a huge fan of Juanita at the Riviera. Reynaldo is phenomenal as well. But the mons blend at club havana is the absolute best. Sent by telepathic super powers -Stogie Boy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunks96ss Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Nice picture, just a question how many rollers do their own custom blends, thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvickery Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Lant To the best of my knowledge ... Yolanda medina ... Only rolls at melia Havana . You might have a different Yolanda in mind tho . Derrek 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lant63 Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Lant To the best of my knowledge ... Yolanda medina ... Only rolls at melia Havana . You might have a different Yolanda in mind tho . Derrek You are correct! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Yolanda works at the Melia Habana. There are two regular rollers in front of the shop at the Havana Libre. They work on alternate days. The older man is Mario Lopez, very nice man. He has been there since at least 2011 when I first met him. I'm a big fan of his panetelas, lovely, sweet volado-only cigars. I don't know the other roller there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Nice picture, just a question how many rollers do their own custom blends, thanks Just about every shop in Havana has its own house roller, off the top of my head, at least 15-20 shop rollers in Havana, I don't know Varadero at all. The term "Custom blends" can be contentious, but they do generally blend their own cigars. The idea is to show tourists how cigars are rolled, then the cigars can be sold. Some shops, the better known ones, seem to get more tobacco for these cigars than others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laficion Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 No one Is talking of the great cigar boss, Hector Luis Prieto at his farm he has a great roller called, "Miguel" who only rolls a Robusto Extra cigar that Is really great and tastes like the smells of all that surounds his farm. Guy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUBANO Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 No one Is talking of the great cigar boss, Hector Luis Prieto at his farm he has a great roller called, "Miguel" who only rolls a Robusto Extra cigar that Is really great and tastes like the smells of all that surounds his farm. Guy Couldn't have said it better myself. Great cigars, great persons. They treated me like family when I was there. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrantheman Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Does anyone ever do a group buy on these? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckSARTech Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Agreed with others - Yolanda is at the Melia Habana. And, I always get her and/or that hotel mixed up with the Melia Cohiba. LOL. Yolanda is at the Melia out in Miramar, on the waterfront. And, don't know if it helps, but yes, like Andy said - Mario Lopez, a kind, quiet older gent, I think that's who you might be thinking of Stogielover, as he was there in November 2012 when we were there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoohBore Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 I always think the Melia habana looks like a British 60's multi storey car park. Love Yolanda's cigars and the ladies that work in the store showed how to check a cigar for draw. my god did I blush ..... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk when it bloody works properly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stogieluver Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 Agreed with others - Yolanda is at the Melia Habana. And, I always get her and/or that hotel mixed up with the Melia Cohiba. LOL. Yolanda is at the Melia out in Miramar, on the waterfront. And, don't know if it helps, but yes, like Andy said - Mario Lopez, a kind, quiet older gent, I think that's who you might be thinking of Stogielover, as he was there in November 2012 when we were there. Thanks, Keith. That pretty well describes the fellow I watched rolling customs there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MostlyHarmless Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Does anybody here know who this gentleman is? I got some customs from him and i really like them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TypicalSituation Posted February 27, 2015 Share Posted February 27, 2015 Interesting stuff. Hadn't heard of customs before I saw someone post about "Johnny O customs". Might have to find a few and give em a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyO Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 RoRo...most of my customs run between $5-7. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stogieluver Posted February 28, 2015 Share Posted February 28, 2015 RoRo...most of my customs run between $5-7. John Helluva cigar you roll, Johnny O! Had one the other night. One of the best cigars I've smoked. Ever. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter1974 Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Helluva cigar you roll, Johnny O! Had one the other night. One of the best cigars I've smoked. Ever. I want one damn it ! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter1974 Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 RoRo...most of my customs run between $5-7. John cant wait to try these when I find out where to get them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleDD Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 cant wait to try these when I find out where to get them Contact the guy you just quoted. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jiggler Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 I've got two or three bundles of Johnnys napping until the end of this year. Trying my best not to touch them. Great value and his service is top notch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbill72 Posted March 1, 2015 Share Posted March 1, 2015 Is going to cuba ghe oly way to get the custom rolls? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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