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Post by puffy on Jan 23, 2019 11:48:15 GMT -5
I'm sure that I'm far from the only pipe smoker who also enjoys cigars.Like a lot of folks I always long for some things that aren't available.Cuban Cigars being one of them..Here's something I was once told by a fella who ran one of the larger mail order cigar companies at that time..He said that the amount of land in Cuba that can be used to grow tobacco is limited.If and when Cuban Cigars become legal to sell in this country the demand will surpass the supply.This will lead to shortages and higher prices..Of course when I can I will smoke some but I doubt that I will be able to afford them as an every day smoke.
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Post by Legend Lover on Jan 23, 2019 12:03:56 GMT -5
I'm never sure if any cigar I smoke is Cuban. I should pay more attention.
Then again, I like mild cigars, like hamlet.
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Post by oldcajun123 on Jan 23, 2019 12:05:58 GMT -5
 I will recall a tale , but deny it, there was a young man from Louisiana, went into Navy, then went into UDT, was sent to GitMo to do sneaky Pete’s. One night an excursion under the wire, he lay still and a Cuban patrol made camp almost on top of him. He waited until early hrs, and crawled out of his hidey hole, he saw the patrol all sleeping, no post man so he slowly crawled and saw one man had some cigars in his top camo coat pocket, he ever so slowly lifted one, crawled back out and came back to base under the wire. In debriefing his Senior Officer questioned his story until so called young man, casually produced a cigar and lit it puffing proudly. Until his muster out he was sometimes called the Cajun Cuban. I will deny this story till I die.
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Post by monbla256 on Jan 23, 2019 12:18:12 GMT -5
I have a Brazilian friend I used to work with back in the '70s and he went back to Brazil back in the '80s but still has family here that he comes to see around Christmas/New Years and he brings me a box of Punch Punch coronas from Cuba when he comes and we get together. They are my fave cigar and really the only ones I smoke usually. They are GOOD ! 
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Post by slowroll on Jan 23, 2019 12:59:54 GMT -5
When I used to travel on business, quite a few of my clients would give me Cuban cigars. I always preferred, and still do, Dominican Arturo Fuentes.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Jan 23, 2019 15:09:48 GMT -5
I only can remember the aroma and smell in the air when my fathers' friends from Havana would stop by and have a chat. This was back before Castro...back when Havana was the jewel of the Caribbean...this was in the early 50's...long, long, time ago. Still remember that smell...something that was so distinctive that I would remember it.
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Post by sperrytops on Jan 23, 2019 15:24:24 GMT -5
I'm sure that I'm far from the only pipe smoker who also enjoys cigars.Like a lot of folks I always long for some things that aren't available.Cuban Cigars being one of them..Here's something I was once told by a fella who ran one of the larger mail order cigar companies at that time..He said that the amount of land in Cuba that can be used to grow tobacco is limited.If and when Cuban Cigars become legal to sell in this country the demand will surpass the supply.This will lead to shortages and higher prices..Of course when I can I will smoke some but I doubt that I will be able to afford them as an every day smoke. I think Cubans are already costly. An acquaintance of mine in London who smokes therm on a regular basis pays 30 pounds to 50 pounds a cigar. You could Honduran sorry guys, I messed up this post - here it goes at the London prices, you could imagine what a box costs. I'll smoke an occasional Honduran during the summer - $5-8 a cigar. That's my price range. Cubans in California run 40+. |
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Post by Scott W on Jan 23, 2019 17:32:02 GMT -5
I'm sure that I'm far from the only pipe smoker who also enjoys cigars.Like a lot of folks I always long for some things that aren't available.Cuban Cigars being one of them..Here's something I was once told by a fella who ran one of the larger mail order cigar companies at that time..He said that the amount of land in Cuba that can be used to grow tobacco is limited.If and when Cuban Cigars become legal to sell in this country the demand will surpass the supply.This will lead to shortages and higher prices..Of course when I can I will smoke some but I doubt that I will be able to afford them as an every day smoke. I think Cubans are already costly. An acquaintance of mine in London who smokes therm on a regular basis pays 30 pounds to 50 pounds a cigar. You could Honduran sorry guys, I messed up this post - here it goes at the London prices, you could imagine what a box costs. I'll smoke an occasional Honduran during the summer - $5-8 a cigar. That's my price range. Cubans in California run 40+. That’s crazy. I buy my favorite CCs for $135 for a box of 25. When I started on cigars, they were $75 for a box of 25. Cubans are probably cheaper than many of the newer Dominican and Nicaraguan blends. I doubt highly that the ones in Cali are even real, just an opportunity to gouge unsuspecting consumers. |
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Post by instymp on Jan 23, 2019 17:45:29 GMT -5
After the first couple of Cubans, I thought over rated and over priced.
Just my opinion.
I smoke a cigar every evening at cocktail hour & very glad I don't like them.
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Post by Baboo on Jan 23, 2019 18:00:45 GMT -5
The high-end Padron's won me over the AUTHENTIC Cuban cigars long ago... Padron is pricey, available, and worth it!
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gav
Junior Member
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Post by gav on Jan 23, 2019 19:23:51 GMT -5
Cubans are no more expensive than any other high end cigar (Padron). The cheap Cubans (Jose Piedre) are the same price as any lower end brand. Cuban Cigars have a very distinct flavor and if that's the profile you prefer then there is no going back. I only smoke Cubans now and have boxes of Fuentes and Padrons that sit there or give away. Although in the past year I've mostly switched to pipe tobacco. Mainly Mcclelland Virginias.
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Post by Scott W on Jan 23, 2019 19:24:42 GMT -5
The most expensive Cuban I’ve smoked was $40 which is the price of the Padron Anni Series and also some (not all) Opus Xs. My average Cuban costs between $5-10 so I’m not sure where these crazy prices are coming from. To each is own for sure, smoke what you like but I’m just blown away by what some vendors are charging. My guess is they are not LCdH vendors.
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Post by Scott W on Jan 23, 2019 19:25:05 GMT -5
Cubans are no more expensive than any other high end cigar (Padron). The cheap Cubans (Jose Piedre) are the same price as any lower end brand. Cuban Cigars have a very distinct flavor and if that's the profile you prefer then there is no going back. I only smoke Cubans now and have boxes of Fuentes and Padrons that sit there or give away. Although in the past year I've mostly switched to pipe tobacco. Mainly Mcclelland Virginias. This! |
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Chuckus
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Posts: 373
First Name: Chuck
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Post by Chuckus on Jan 23, 2019 19:33:22 GMT -5
I have a small box of Partagas that I got from my daughter.I haven't tried yet.I did like the Arturo Fuentes special edition someone gave me last year.
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Jan 23, 2019 20:18:44 GMT -5
I'm sure that I'm far from the only pipe smoker who also enjoys cigars.Like a lot of folks I always long for some things that aren't available.Cuban Cigars being one of them..Here's something I was once told by a fella who ran one of the larger mail order cigar companies at that time..He said that the amount of land in Cuba that can be used to grow tobacco is limited.If and when Cuban Cigars become legal to sell in this country the demand will surpass the supply.This will lead to shortages and higher prices..Of course when I can I will smoke some but I doubt that I will be able to afford them as an every day smoke. I doubt the demand will go through the roof.
The world's best cigar tobaccos are not grown in Cuba. The world's best cigars are not made in Cuba.
Unless free enterprise returns to Cuba, and the growers, blenders, and manufacturers who fled the country return to examine and purchase Cuban tobacco again, you won't see very much that rivals the handmades sold in the United States.
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Jan 23, 2019 20:20:26 GMT -5
This is your annual reminder that the United States alone is over 51% of the global market for cigars, and over 45% of total global imports. Cuba is the #4 exporter of premium cigars, neck and neck with the likes of Ecuador and Mexico. The D.R., Honduras, and Nicaragua are way out ahead, because they have the growers, the blenders, the makers, and the market access.
If you look at all cigars instead of premium "handmades" (in scare quotes for a reason) Cuba doesn't even break the top ten.
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Jan 23, 2019 20:23:07 GMT -5
Cubans are no more expensive than any other high end cigar (Padron). The cheap Cubans (Jose Piedre) are the same price as any lower end brand. Cuban Cigars have a very distinct flavor and if that's the profile you prefer then there is no going back. I only smoke Cubans now and have boxes of Fuentes and Padrons that sit there or give away. Although in the past year I've mostly switched to pipe tobacco. Mainly Mcclelland Virginias. I'd rather have a Padron or Fuente than any Cuban maduro.
And it's even worse when you get down to the lighter wrappers. The U.S.-market Montecristos with genuine Connecticut shade-grown are night and day better than their Cuban knockoffs.
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Post by Scott W on Jan 24, 2019 6:41:03 GMT -5
Cubans are no more expensive than any other high end cigar (Padron). The cheap Cubans (Jose Piedre) are the same price as any lower end brand. Cuban Cigars have a very distinct flavor and if that's the profile you prefer then there is no going back. I only smoke Cubans now and have boxes of Fuentes and Padrons that sit there or give away. Although in the past year I've mostly switched to pipe tobacco. Mainly Mcclelland Virginias. I'd rather have a Padron or Fuente than any Cuban maduro.
And it's even worse when you get down to the lighter wrappers. The U.S.-market Montecristos with genuine Connecticut shade-grown are night and day better than their Cuban knockoffs.
Cubans don’t make regular production Maduros. The only line that had them was Cohiba until Bolivar did a limited release of a Maduro belicoso in 2009. If maduros are you’re thing, I’d do Nicaraguan all day |
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Post by papipeguy on Jan 24, 2019 9:17:40 GMT -5
FWIW, ther are "legal" Cuban cigars on the US market. My B&M has them at about $50/per. The tobacco is from 1959-1960, so pre-embargo. A large cache of the Cuban tobacco was kept in a warehouse in Florida for all those years. After the estate of the original owner of the tobacco was settled the leaf was sent to Nicaragua or Ecuador (I can't remember which) and re-imported to the US. All legal and above board. I have one left in my humidor so I may get a few more next week. Very good smokes at an affordable price.
The cigars are made by Pinar.
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Slow Triathlete
New Member
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Post by Slow Triathlete on Jan 24, 2019 12:40:04 GMT -5
Also, despite what most Americans think, we will not be at the top of the list to get Cuban cigars once they become legal. Cuba already has full accounts right now with the people who can sell these now. America might be at the bottom of the pile when it comes to distribution if they become legal.
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Jan 24, 2019 13:28:53 GMT -5
I'm sure that I'm far from the only pipe smoker who also enjoys cigars.Like a lot of folks I always long for some things that aren't available.Cuban Cigars being one of them..Here's something I was once told by a fella who ran one of the larger mail order cigar companies at that time..He said that the amount of land in Cuba that can be used to grow tobacco is limited.If and when Cuban Cigars become legal to sell in this country the demand will surpass the supply.This will lead to shortages and higher prices..Of course when I can I will smoke some but I doubt that I will be able to afford them as an every day smoke. I think Cubans are already costly. An acquaintance of mine in London who smokes therm on a regular basis pays 30 pounds to 50 pounds a cigar. You could Honduran sorry guys, I messed up this post - here it goes at the London prices, you could imagine what a box costs. I'll smoke an occasional Honduran during the summer - $5-8 a cigar. That's my price range. Cubans in California run 40+. He’s paying a markup for the use of the “sampling lounge” Cigars are more reasonably priced in less-snazzy locations. |
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Post by sperrytops on Jan 24, 2019 17:55:00 GMT -5
I think Cubans are already costly. An acquaintance of mine in London who smokes therm on a regular basis pays 30 pounds to 50 pounds a cigar. You could Honduran sorry guys, I messed up this post - here it goes at the London prices, you could imagine what a box costs. I'll smoke an occasional Honduran during the summer - $5-8 a cigar. That's my price range. Cubans in California run 40+. He’s paying a markup for the use of the “sampling lounge” Cigars are more reasonably priced in less-snazzy locations. You make a good point. Since Cuban cigars are not yet approved for direct import to the US , what we see is sort of grey market. They come in under the radar. I think the issue is that the brand names used by Cuban cigar makers are also used by non Cuban companies, so there is a trademark issue. So there is only a limited number of places you can get Cubans in the US at the moment and I don't know if they are 'on the shelf' or 'under the counter'. My brother smokes them occasionally and in California those are the prices he pays. |
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Post by Scott W on Jan 24, 2019 21:34:17 GMT -5
Need to have a trusted LCdH vendor.
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Jan 25, 2019 0:29:08 GMT -5
You make a good point. Since Cuban cigars are not yet approved for direct import to the US , what we see is sort of grey market. They come in under the radar. I think the issue is that the brand names used by Cuban cigar makers are also used by non Cuban companies, so there is a trademark issue. Altadis and Cubatobacco worked out their differences over trademarks some years ago.
(Altadis, the owner of many, if not most, of the old Cuban trademarks in the U.S., is a much bigger cigar company than Cubatobacco!)
So there is only a limited number of places you can get Cubans in the US at the moment and I don't know if they are 'on the shelf' or 'under the counter'. My brother smokes them occasionally and in California those are the prices he pays. I was talking about London. London is filled with "sampling" lounges, where if you buy a cigar on site, it is technically legal to smoke it on site. And they will charge you for the privilege. In cigar shops without lounges, and lounges that aren't attached to swanky restaurants/hotels, the sticks cost a lot less.
In the U.S., the embargo is still 100% in effect. It's a serious crime to trade with Cuba. People visiting Cuba for tourist purposes are committing crimes every day, and it is a matter of selective prosecution that keeps them out of hot water. At any time that could change, and they could all end up with extremely heavy fines, or prison terms, or both. Don't expect to see Cubans on your local cigar shop's shelf without an act of Congress to end the embargo. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Jan 25, 2019 5:09:20 GMT -5
You make a good point. Since Cuban cigars are not yet approved for direct import to the US , what we see is sort of grey market. They come in under the radar. I think the issue is that the brand names used by Cuban cigar makers are also used by non Cuban companies, so there is a trademark issue. Altadis and Cubatobacco worked out their differences over trademarks some years ago.
(Altadis, the owner of many, if not most, of the old Cuban trademarks in the U.S., is a much bigger cigar company than Cubatobacco!)
So there is only a limited number of places you can get Cubans in the US at the moment and I don't know if they are 'on the shelf' or 'under the counter'. My brother smokes them occasionally and in California those are the prices he pays. I was talking about London. London is filled with "sampling" lounges, where if you buy a cigar on site, it is technically legal to smoke it on site. And they will charge you for the privilege. In cigar shops without lounges, and lounges that aren't attached to swanky restaurants/hotels, the sticks cost a lot less.
In the U.S., the embargo is still 100% in effect. It's a serious crime to trade with Cuba. People visiting Cuba for tourist purposes are committing crimes every day, and it is a matter of selective prosecution that keeps them out of hot water. At any time that could change, and they could all end up with extremely heavy fines, or prison terms, or both. Don't expect to see Cubans on your local cigar shop's shelf without an act of Congress to end the embargo. Is that still the case since the indoor smoking ban came into action? I would be surprised (but also, it would be nice to allow it in places where smoking is part of the raison d'etre. kirk13 - maybe you would know. Can you smoke indoors in London if it's a smoking club? |
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Jan 25, 2019 11:13:10 GMT -5
Is that still the case since the indoor smoking ban came into action? I would be surprised (but also, it would be nice to allow it in places where smoking is part of the raison d'etre. kirk13 - maybe you would know. Can you smoke indoors in London if it's a smoking club? Cigar lounges have exploded since the smoking ban. Hotels, steakhouses, swanky restaurants all added cigar lounges and "comfortable outdoor smoking areas." The first "loophole" is that it is technically "sampling" cigars, in anticipation of buying a box. So the customer must buy the cigar on site, or else it isn't "sampling." The second loophole is that London has rather mild weather, and you can do a surprising amount to a patio and still have it technically be "outdoors." Heated, roofed-in gardens with upholstered furniture are not uncommon. |
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Post by toshtego on Jan 25, 2019 11:30:34 GMT -5
My favorite Cuban cigar story has to do with General Alexander Haig, President Nixon's last Chief of Staff. While walking to his car following the burial of President Nixon, he was approached by a reporter who wanted comments. The reporter noticed General Haig's cigar and inquired, "Isn't that a Cuban cigar you are smoking, Sir? Aren't they contraband" The General removed his stoogie, looked at it, and replied, "I prefer to think of it as burning their crops".
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Post by sperrytops on Jan 25, 2019 12:23:34 GMT -5
Did a little research on travel to Cuba and whether you can bring cigars back.This is what I found -
Travel to Cuba is allowed from the US under limited circumstances:
"However, it appears that Americans can still travel to Cuba independently under some of the eleven categories of allowed travel. Categories include travel for humanitarian purposes and in "support of the Cuban people." It also appears that visitors can conduct transactions while visiting at local restaurants and shops as long as they are not affiliated with the dis-allowed government entities. In fact, in doing so you are "supporting the Cuban people."
With these changes, some airlines have stopped flying to Havana, while others continue to do so. Cruise ships continue to take passengers to Cuba and offer group tours from the ships."
Regarding cigars from state department web site:
Can I import or bring Cuban cigars into the U.S. for personal use?
As of October 17, 2016, the purchase or other acquisition in Cuba and importation as accompanied baggage into the United States of merchandise is authorized, provided that the merchandise is imported for personal use only. The importation of Cuban-origin information and informational materials is exempt from the prohibitions described in 31 C.F.R. § 515.206. The commercial importation into the United States of cigars made in Cuba is prohibited.
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Post by smellthehatfirst on Jan 25, 2019 12:29:58 GMT -5
If the executive branch decides to prosecute cases again, the burden of proof will be on you to demonstrate your humanitarian bona fides.
Flying to Cuba puts your name on a list of people who could be prosecuted for a federal felony at any time.
You won't find me booking a Cuban vacation any time soon. Not without an act of Congress.
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Post by sperrytops on Jan 25, 2019 12:42:26 GMT -5
Cubans are no more expensive than any other high end cigar (Padron). The cheap Cubans (Jose Piedre) are the same price as any lower end brand. Cuban Cigars have a very distinct flavor and if that's the profile you prefer then there is no going back. I only smoke Cubans now and have boxes of Fuentes and Padrons that sit there or give away. Although in the past year I've mostly switched to pipe tobacco. Mainly Mcclelland Virginias. I'd rather have a Padron or Fuente than any Cuban maduro.
And it's even worse when you get down to the lighter wrappers. The U.S.-market Montecristos with genuine Connecticut shade-grown are night and day better than their Cuban knockoffs.
Legality aside, I've had a few Cubans and I didn't find them any tastier than Nicaraguans and Hondurans. I prefer the Central American brands as well. |
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I will recall a tale , but deny it, there was a young man from Louisiana, went into Navy, then went into UDT, was sent to GitMo to do sneaky Pete’s. One night an excursion under the wire, he lay still and a Cuban patrol made camp almost on top of him. He waited until early hrs, and crawled out of his hidey hole, he saw the patrol all sleeping, no post man so he slowly crawled and saw one man had some cigars in his top camo coat pocket, he ever so slowly lifted one, crawled back out and came back to base under the wire. In debriefing his Senior Officer questioned his story until so called young man, casually produced a cigar and lit it puffing proudly. Until his muster out he was sometimes called the Cajun Cuban. I will deny this story till I die.
