Rare Havanas to Go Under The Hammer

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 10/14/2010

The world's biggest auction of rare pre-embargo Havanas, organised by C.Gars, will take place at Boisdale of Belgravia, London, on November 30. "There will be almost 300 lots of much sought-after vintage Havanas in our third cigars auction, most of them still smokeable," said Mitchell Orchant, managing director of C.Gars. "We have already had huge interest from cigar aficionados in America, mainland Europe, India and China, especially in a rare part box of 23 El Talento Hemingway pre-embargo Havanas that is anticipated to fetch £1,200-£1,500. "Hemingway was a devoted cigar smoker and loved Cuban coronas. When he was out hunting on sugar plantations in Cuba the great American writer occasionally used a machete to remove the cap, unlike the Cubans who tend to use their teeth. He also believed the smoke from an Havana had the importance of Proust's sugar cake, and once presented Ava Gardner with a Cuban cigar band as a token of their meeting. "Another unique lot is a sealed box specially selected by the famous theatrical impresario, Emile Littler, containing 25 pre-embargo H. Upmann Double Claro No.15. "The most expensive lot may well be the Fidel Castro 300 cigar capacity Presidencia Humidor by Elie Bleu, containing 150 Presidencia Havanas vintage 2004, and signed on the lid under the lacquer coat by the great man himself. It's expected to go under the hammer for £15,000-£18,000. The humidor lid is also embedded with 10 Cuban pesos solid gold coins, and two five Cuban pesos gold coins dated 1916. "We've got several customers who have walk-in humidors in their homes and are now rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of an early Christmas present - to themselves." Enditem