It's again that great forbidden smoking time of the year – 10th Habanos Festival

From 25th to 29th February, La Habana, was a venue of the 10th Habanos Festival which is a center point of the distributors, specialists and lovers of the best cigar in the world. During that time the presentation were held of all of the novelties to be incorporated to the Habanos portfolio in 2008, to the cigar aficionados world .
Inside the Habanos Festival besides the novelties for 2008 the most pleasurable experience must be the local of Havana which create a unique atmosphere to fully enjoy the unique aroma, flavors and texture of the Habanos, the true celebrated stars of the Festival.

Habanos Novelties

There are three new Limitadas officially announced for the 2008 that will debut during the Habanos Festival, including the Partagas Serie D No. 5, Cuaba Piramid, and the Montecristo Sublimes. The great news is that also the H. Upmann Magnum 50 (which was a Limitada a few years back) will become a regular line, as will something from Hoyo de Monterrey the line extension to Epicure which would be Epicure Especial, which was as well a 2004 EL.
Another thing worth of a note is the addition of few new Tubos (like the super cool black on red Partagas Serie P No. 2) to the market, as with the previous few years that saw the intro of the hugely successful Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill, Cohiba Siglo II, VI, etc.

CA’s James Suckling tasting of the Habanos 2008 Edición Limitadas:

Cuaba Piramides
6 1/8 by 52 ring
This is the same size as the popular Montecristo No. 2. It is super refined and long with light coffee and nutty character. Full flavored with a long finish. Gorgeous and fresh. All is in balance. Perfect draw.
93 points (non blind)

Montecristo Sublimes
6 1/2 by 54 ring
The strongest of the three, it shows lots of espresso bean, roasted meat and earth under the tobacco. Full and rich. Long and flavorful. Full throttle.
92 points (non blind)

Partagas Serie D No. 5
4 1/3 by 50 ring
This is essentially a Serie D No. 4 but short. However, it has a different flavor profile and is more spicy. The cigar comes across a little herbal at first but turns to dried flowers. Full and balanced with a spicy finish. I smoked three yesterday. The more I smoke them, the more I like them.
91 points (non blind)

All of these sound very tasty and they should be available in a few month so hopefully I will have a chance to sample all of them and report with my personal impressions.