Robert McConnell Pure Havana

The two things to remember about Pure Havana, are that it is intended as a blending component, and that if you order it in the US now-a-days, you will receive Pure Caribe instead.

I am fortunate enough to have some of the original left, which is, in contrast to Havana cigars, a mild tobacco. The taste is whisper-y of 1920s Havanas, not the rich, strong modern ones, and it is a useful blending spice, but it is not meant to replace a cigar by filling your pipe with it.

it does smoke well on its own, but it is entirely mono-dimensional, and you should not expect more of it than you receive. It blends well with mild VAs and Perique; Latakia overpowers it, unless you use it very gradually.

If you can find this anymore, it is worth snapping it up (with the old, paper label and a rubber stamp imprint of 'Pure Havana'. Otherwise, you could do better if you want a stronger cigar blend to buy a few pounds of raw leaf, and then process it yourself.

On its own, a medium-sized briar, around a Group 3 or 4 will be the best option; in a blend, you actually want a larger bowl, and you should pay attention to the blend as it is when you mix it, and after a few weeks to months of marrying. You will need to take care to ensure that your base tobaccos do not overpower the Pure Havana, and that it lofts high in the background notes of your ultimate end mixture.

I suggest treating it as you would Latakia or Perique, but with the knowledge that it too easy to overshadow it. That said, Pure Havana does add a unique character to any blend that will make it stand out as unusual. I have tried Pure Caribe, which is similar, though not quite the same, as it is even lighter in body, and thus even more care is needed in this regard with its US replacement.