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Saludos,

Greetings, faithful followers of Habana Port! We know we haven't posted our Grand Opening pictures and video yet but we wanted to let you know about our Facebook Fan Page. You can visit us now at www.facebook.com/HabanaPort. Or you can click the Like Button below. We hope you'll like us! I don't think we can handle rejection too well.



Until the next post, siempre fumando,
Habana Port

Grand Opening Update

Saludos,

Greetings, faithful followers of Habana Port. We just wanted to quickly post an overall update of this past Saturday's Grand Opening Event. What a fantastic day! We had a great turnout throughout the course of the event. Many cigars were smoked, great food was served and spirits were high! We will post some pictures and a YouTube video later in the week.

We also wanted to thank all who made it out and to all the cigar companies who contributed to raffles and promotions. We'll post a list of the cigar companies who helped out later in the week as well.

And remember that we will continue the promotions for the big raffle prizes until December 20, 2010, so make those purchases in order to qualify!

Until the next post, siempre fumando,
Habana Port

Grand Opening Promotions

Saludos,

Greetings Faithful Followers of Habana Port! Tomorrow is the Grand Opening Event for our Covington shop and we are very anxious to get the party going. Remember that everyone gets a FREE cigar when they arrive and that we'll have complimentary food, beverages, and shop promotions and sales. Everything will be discounted 10% off for the day and we will have a cigar roller showing off the trade.

Here is a summary of the awesome promotions and raffles we will be showcasing (it begins tomorrow but the promotions will continue until December 20 or until supplies run out):

Padilla:

-A $500 limited Padilla 1932 Signature Humidor to be raffled off on Monday, December 20, 2010. For every 3 Padilla cigars you buy, get 1 Raffle Ticket for the Humidor Raffle.

-For every 20 Padilla cigars you buy, get 10 Raffle Tickets for the Humidor Raffle & a FREE Padilla T-shirt.

La Flor Dominicana

:

-Buy any 3 LFD cigars and get 1 raffle ticket for an ultra-limited box of LFD Double Ligero Oscuro Natural "A" Edicion Limitada cigars Giveaway which will be drawn on Dec. 20, 2010.
-Buy any 20 LFD cigars (or a full box) and get　10 tickets for this Giveaway AND a FREE LFD OYA sampler set.

Fonseca / Casa Magna

:

-Buy any 20 Fonseca family of cigars (including Casa Magna and Quesada) or a full box and get a FREE Fonseca Sampler box (includes 2 Fonsecas and 2 Cubano Limitados).

Gran Habano:
-Buy any 3 GH cigars and get 1 specially-selected GH cigar FREE and 1 raffle ticket for a chance to win a full box of 3 Siglos Robustos　which will be drawn on Dec. 20, 2010.
-Buy any 20 GH cigars (or a full box) and get 4 specially selected GH cigars FREE & 10 tickets for the Box Giveaway.

Oliva:

-Buy any 3 Oliva cigars and get 1 raffle ticket for our Grand Oliva Set which includes an Oliva Ashtray, Oliva cap and Oliva polo shirt which will be drawn on Dec. 20, 2010.　
-Buy any 20 Oliva cigars (or full box) and get 10 raffle tickets for this Giveaway and an Oliva Cigar Sampler box FREE.

Alec Bradley:
-Buy any 3 AB cigars and get 1 FREE AB Prensado Corona Grande and 1 raffle ticket for our Grand Alec Bradley Package which includes a Tempus Sampler Box, an AB T-shirt, an AB Burner tabletop lighter (valued at $50) and an AB cutter which will be drawn on Dec. 20, 2010.
-Buy any 20 AB cigars (or full box) and get one Hendrix lighter (valued at $40) FREE and an AB cutter FREE and 10 raffle tickets for our Dec. Giveaway.

A. Fuente / J.C. Newman

:

-Buy $25 worth of Fuente / Newman cigars and get a FREE Diamond Crown Robusto #3 FREE, valued at over $16.

J. Fuego

:
-Buy any 21 J. Fuego family of cigars (or a full box) and get a FREE J. Fuego / Xikar lighter valued at over $100 for FREE.

Viaje:

-Buy any 2 Viaje cigars and get 1 specially-selected Viaje cigar for FREE.　

Drew Estate / Joya de Nicaragua:

- Buy any 3 DE/JdN cigars and get 1 raffle ticket for our Grand DE/JdN Set which includes a Joya de Nic. Dark Corojo Sampler Pack, Liga Privada T-Shirt and a Liga Privada Double Blade metal cutter (valued at $35) which will be drawn on Dec. 20, 2010.　
-Buy any 20 DE/JdN cigars (or full box) and get 10 raffle tickets for this Giveaway.

Los Blancos:
-Buy any 3 LB cigars and get 1 raffle ticket for your chance to win a full 25-ct box of Los Blancos Nine Double Corona to be raffled Dec. 20, 2010.

- Buy any 20 LB cigars (or full box) and get 10 raffle tickets for this Giveaway.

Toraño:
-Buy any 3 Toraño cigars and get 1 raffle ticket for your chance to win our Toraño Grand Package which includes a Lotus Table Lighter, a cap and a T-shirt to be raffled Dec. 20, 2010. Value is worth over $75!

-Buy any 20 Toraño cigars (or full box) & get 10 raffle tickets for the Giveaway plus a FREE 7-ct Toraño Sampler Box.

Ashton / San Cristobal / La Aroma de Cuba:

- Buy any 3 Ashton family cigars and get a cutter FREE plus 1 raffle ticket for our Grand Ashton Package which includes a 10-ct Sampler Box, a T-shirt and cutter which will be drawn on Dec. 20, 2010.　
- Buy any 6 Ashton family cigars and get San Cristobal cigar FREE plus 3 raffle ticket for our Grand Ashton Package.

- Buy any 20 Ashton family cigars (or full box) & get 4 SC cigars FREE, an Ashton T-shirt FREE & 10 raffle tickets.

Altadis:
- Buy any 3 Altadis cigars (Romeo y Julieta, Montecristo, H. Upmann, Don Diego, Gispert, etc.) and get 1 raffle ticket for your chance to a limited La Flor de Copan Ashtray to be raffled Dec. 20, 2010.

- Buy any 20 Altadis cigars (2 Casa de Garcias = 1 Altadis cigar) and get a Cigar Savor Torch Lighter FREE (value is $35) and 10 raffle tickets.

We hope to see you here and celebrate our official landing in Covington, LA.

Until the next post, siempre fumando,

Habana Port

Cigar Tip #2

Note: This tip is republished from our email newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

How do I cut my cigar and what cutter should I use?

Cutting the head of the cigar is one of the steps needed to start your smoking session. The majority of handrolled cigars do not come cut so the consumer must make sure that there is an opening in order to have a draw (the process of pulling in the cigar smoke to the inside of your mouth). Essentially, as long as there is an opening, the cigar is ready to be smoked.

There are a variety of cutters but realize that each method has its pros and cons. A guillotine cutter provides the largest opening/cut and, as a result, the easiest draw. When using a double-bladed (or single-bladed) cutter, just make sure to cut above the cap (the portion of wrapper leaf on the head of the cigar that is applied by a cigar roller (or torcedor) to cover this area). A double-blade provides equal pressure from both sides of the cigar while a single-blade only applies pressure from one side (not as desirable as the head of the cigar is more likely to see damage).

A punch cutter is basically a blade in a circular shape that (you guessed it) is punched into the cap and a circular cut is made. The benefits of using this style of cutter is that it is easy to see where you are making your incision and that the cap is left more intact than a guillotine. The drawback is that since the hole is smaller, the tars and nicotine of the cigar get built up more as it is smoked and a harsher and bitter smoke can ensue. Try punching the cigar more than once to create a larger opening if desired.

A V-cutter is a style of cutting instrument that creates an angular wedge into the head of the cigar. Similar pros and cons exist in the V-cutter as the punch cutter.

A pair of cigar scissors is another type of cutting tool; these are actual scissors made especially for cutting cigars. They have fallen out of favor in recent years because many are too big and not convenient for the traveling cigar smoker. However, Xikar makes a great pair of cigar scissors that can fold easily for those wanting a compact accessory.

Finally, the last type of cigar cutter are your natural ones: your teeth. Although it doesn't cost you anything to use, your teeth can be used as an emergency cigar cutter when you forget your real cutters and are in a bind. Many of the tobacco farmers and torcedors in Latin America use their teeth but we don't recommend this as your pearly whites are not as sharp as an actual cutting device. Consequently, teeth can rip apart the cap thus ruining your smoke and creating a mess!

Whatever style of cutter you choose, we at Habana Port can lead you in the right direction and we are more than happy to show you in person how each style works. We offer all the different methods mentioned above (except our teeth) at every price range; so come in today and let us show you the world of cigar cutlery!

Until the next post, siempre fumando,

Habana Port