Today I was preparing for the big Havana Smoke Out sponsored by The Midwest Cigar Summit. The event starts tomorrow in Havana, Illinois at 1 p.m. until dusk. The event is free and will be held at the new Gas Line Lounge & Cafe's 4,000-square foot patio on Main Street. Food, drinks and cigars will be available for purchase and at 2 p.m. you can take a tour of the town with local historian Nancy Iona Glick. From 1850 to 1960 , Havana, Illinois was host city to over 80 cigar manufacturers. At one point, I am sure Mark Twain paid a visit to Havana to get his humidor filled; I plan on doing the same.

In preparation for the trip, I fired up an old reliable smoke called the Hoyo De Monterrey Maduro Rothschild. I have been enjoying these smokes since the late 1980's when they only cost two bucks a stick. Now, they run for about five bucks and are still worth every penny. They are constructed with Honduran, Nicaraguan and Cuban Seed Dominican fillers. They are then finished with a dark, oily Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. This is a full-bodied smoke that has hints of cedar and coffee. Consistent throughout the years, they always have an even burn and smooth draw. The Hoyo De Monterrey Maduro Rothschild measures a mere 4 x 50 and will hold a solid ash until you want to drop it. These little guys come in a box of 50 for about $150. They are as good now as they were twenty years ago.

Next time your at your local B&M, buy a box of Hoyo De Monterrey Rothschilds and fill your humidor with one reliable smoke.

MonkeyDan Rating: 87