by Yannis Valavanis

In this article we will deal with educational issues but without a taste test, we will be content with testing the experts and their production companies, I would not say that a little marketing does not hurt. Of course, I did not say that I have not tried them all, but some are not possible due to exhaustion of stocks and some due to excessively high prices.

The first is a high-quality rum that I discovered by chance during a visit to my friend Periklis’ cellar in Nafplio during a recent visit. Periklis also helps in decentralization from what I understood by raising the variety of products in his cellar to another level. Imagine my surprise when I saw a Dictador rum, from Colombia, in a high-rise and prominent display case. I was immediately intrigued and started asking questions, like little children when they get their new toys, “first your soul leaves and then your hooey” as the older ones used to say.

But to keep it short and not to keep you in suspense, I will tell you what I read when I turned on my computer later because as soon as I heard the price I was a little terrified, despite the much better price that Pericles would have given me, whatever you say, as soon as you hear 15,000 euros you panic. But there is always an explanation for everything. In addition to the excellent quality of the product, a blend of 1976 distillates aged in oak barrels from Port, there is also the excellent crystal bottle from the French house Lalique inspired by the sun and sea of ​​Colombia. I don’t want us to be sad, but as you can see, we’re not the only ones with sun and sea. And as if all this wasn’t enough, its production is only 300 bottles. This explains everything, and the quality of the product in the rum and in the bottle, everything at its best.

As for the product itself, which is the purpose of the entire presentation, it is excellent from what I’ve read, aged Dictador and everything at its best. Earthy aromas of wood and leather with aromas of nuts, fruit, vanilla and chocolate. But it leaves the best for last, an aftertaste of tobacco, chocolate and spices, you say I’ll be tempted to try it, maybe I’ll take the “unintentional step”.

The next thing that caught my attention and I would like to share my pain with you is a collectible humidor from Habanos, Cohiba Majestuosos 1966. It is a humidor that came on the market in 2016 with the corresponding cigars of course, 20 pieces in each humidor, and I even had the opportunity to try them when they were first released, because now they are no longer available, except for the ones I saw in an online store at the price of 70,000 euros.

This is of course a very special and unique product both in terms of the humidifier, which was released in only 1966 pieces, the same number as the year Cohiba was first released, and the cigar itself, which is a Habanos vitola, unique in both flavor and complexity and in unique dimensions, 58 ring gauge and 15 centimeters long, with the Behike 56 and the 55 Aniversario being closer to the Habanos production line. I had mentioned the cigar in a previous article, but I had missed the humidifier. I might have acquired it on one of my trips to Cuba if it had been noticed in the early years of its release, when its price would clearly have been lower. However, after 10 years and with numbered pieces, the price has now skyrocketed since there will be very few pieces left on the market.

Of course, I don’t want to be absolute with my opinions on acquiring the above products because I have been fed up with madness more than once and have moved heaven and earth if I want to acquire something. Maybe in the future the right opportunity and above all the right price will be found and I will manage to acquire them for my collection, maybe.