Like Us on Facebook

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

Become a CCT at Habana Port!

Saludos,

Greetings, educated enthusiasts of Habana Port! We want to inform you about Tobacconist University's Certified Consumer Tobacconist (CCT) certification program that we can assist in administering. Here are some of the details about this wonderful program for those interested:

Certified Consumer Tobacconist (CCT) is a non-professional certification with the designation CCT; it is a lifetime certification with no recurring or annual dues. The retail cost for Consumer Certification is $250† or $175 for CRA members (a 30% discount).

Consumers interested in becoming CCT will need to contact Habana Port, a CRT Sponsor. The curriculum, Training Seminars, and Post-Certification Seminars for CCT are almost exactly the same as for CRT; with the notable exception of Service College, which CCT do not have to study. CCT are the most passionate and knowledgeable consumers of luxury tobacco, as substantiated by our academic curriculum and final exam.

STEPS TO CERTIFICATION:

1. After you talk to Habana Port, you can purchase your CCT Certification in TU's Campus Store or print the CCT Intro, provide the requested information, and mail payment to TU: 66 Witherspoon St., PMB 322 , Princeton, NJ 08542. (Habana Port can mail the form for you, too!)

2. After payment is received and you accept the CCT Code of Ethics & Standards, you will be listed on the CCT webpage.

3. Register on the TU Forums to download the CCT Apprentice Seminars from the Certified Tobacconist & Apprentice section: TU will have to grant you special access to this section.

4. Contact Habana Port, your CRT Sponsor and agree upon a date/time to take the final exam. Habana Port must request the final exam from TU two weeks ahead of test date/time.

5. Take the final exam with Habana Port. (You can even smoke a cigar while you take the test! What other college allows that?!) Sign and seal the test; Habana Port will mail back to TU.

6. Wait up to one month for test results, diploma, and lapel pin. Test re-take fee is $50.

A Consumer Tobacconist candidate must study TOBACCO COLLEGE, ACCOUTREMENTS COLLEGE, and TASTE COLLEGE as well as the FAQ & GLOSSARY to attain the requisite knowledge for TU Certification. Unlike a Certified Retail or Salesforce Tobacconist, a Consumer Tobacconist does not have to attend SERVICE COLLEGE. All of the independent study is conducted through the internet-based curriculum and Apprentice Seminars sent directly from TU. In order to pass the final exam and earn TU Certification, a candidate must score 80% or better. Upon successful completion of the final exam the apprentice earns TU Certification and all the benefits and privileges associated with it.

Certified Consumer Tobacconists (CCT) are the most passionate consumers of luxury tobacco. They are the TU infantry, giving loyal patronage to Certified Retailers, knowledgeable feedback, engaging in peer-to-peer teaching, and they epitomize the values of self-learning and connoisseurship. After earning their certification, CCTs receive an array of benefits and privileges commensurate with their extraordinary accomplishment.

† The CCT degree is a lifetime certification with no annual fees. If you fail the final exam, the test re-take fee is $50. Only one re-take per year is allowed, a minimum of four weeks after the first.

If you have any questions about earning your CCT certification, do not hesitate to call us at 985-809-1818 or email us at info@habanaport.com.

Until the next post, siempre fumando,

Habana Port

CRA Great American Cigar Shop

Support CRA!

Saludos,



Greetings, devout dons of Habana Port. In case you didn't know, we are a proud CRA Great American Cigar Shop. Click here to view other Louisiana shops that have been designated as a Great American Cigar Shop and support CRA and your inalienable right to enjoy fine cigars and other tobacco products!



Until the next post, siempre fumando,

Habana Port

Cigar Tip #1

Saludos,

Greetings, cigar smoking citizens of Habana Port. As a dutiful CRT, Habana Port will post cigar tips from time to time. These nuggets of information will enhance your cigar-smoking experience. Many of you may be familiar with this advice but we hope that if we can educate just one smoker then we have done our job. Enjoy this first post of many regarding cigar knowledge!

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

My cigars in my humidor are too dry. What do I do?

Although one may feel overwhelmed with this problem, we can help. It could be a number of issues but some of the more common include a humidor with a faulty seal; your humidifying agents are no good; your hygrometer is not calibrated correctly which may mislead you into thinking your cigars are in the right conditions; or your humidor wasn't seasoned properly to begin with. We are more than happy to take a look at your humidor to find the problem or we can show you the humidor accessories that can fix the dry issues. Or consider our private locker program where you can store your private stock (or alcohol if you wish) & not be worried with everyday humidity maintenance as we oversee this regularly.

Until the next post, siempre fumando,
Habana Port