It has been a couple of weeks since my trip to Havana, Cuba, an unforgettable journey that will remain engraved in my memory for years to come. Because we returned to Kuwait on the third day of Ramadan, a month filled with spiritual and social obligations, I had little opportunity to write or fully reflect on my experience. Now that I finally have a moment to breathe, I can look back on my journey and share its highlights with you.

I believe that every cigar aficionado should make a pilgrimage to Havana at least once in their lifetime. I was fortunate enough to do so during the XXV Habanos Festival, which was dedicated to celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the Behike line. Additionally, I had the privilege of representing Kuwait in the Habanos World Challenge alongside my dear friend Taher, making the trip even more special.

The preparations for this journey began months before we set foot on Cuba’s fertile soil. We studied extensively for the Challenge, covering every aspect of the magical world of Havana cigars, from cultivation and manufacturing to brand histories and sizes. It was an enormous undertaking for both Taher and me, especially since we work in the banking industry and have families, leaving us with limited time. Nonetheless, we did our best and presented ourselves in what I believe was a truly respectable manner.

During our months of preparation, I realized how little I knew about Havana cigars despite having read The World of the Habano multiple times, gone through countless publications, and smoked regularly. Casual reading is no substitute for thorough study. With that in mind, we studied religiously and took the time to fully absorb the wealth of information before us.

While learning about the technical aspects of cultivation and manufacturing was relatively straightforward, the most challenging parts were memorizing hundreds of vitolas and mastering the art of blind tasting. My wife joked that she caught me reciting the names of various vitolas a couple of times in my sleep, proof of how seriously I took the challenge! The other major hurdle was blind tasting. Initially, I assumed I could easily identify cigars without their bands, but I quickly realized how difficult that truly is. My confidence was shattered when I smoked a relatively young Robusto and mistakenly concluded it was a full-bodied cigar, only to learn later that it was a Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2. I couldn’t believe it until I saw the box for myself!

From this brief experience in blind tasting, I discovered that many factors affect a cigar’s flavor, including age, storage condition, construction, pairing, and even our own visual perceptions. Moreover, since I typically age my cigars for at least three years before smoking them, I found it more challenging to recognize younger ones. From that point onward, I only smoked fresh cigars until the day of the Challenge.

Thanks to the support and encouragement of our friends and families, we managed to prepare well for the tournament. All that remained was to fly to the birthplace of cigars and participate in this grand event.

Click here to read part two of the series.