So It came to my attention after reading this nice little article about Obama here in the US, lifted restrictions on bringing back Cuban Cigars. I want to know where and how to get a hold of a few of these gems.
Not in the US, just yet, but now you can travel to any country where the sale of Cuban cigars is legal, and you will be allowed to bring back as much rum and tobacco as can be reasonably deemed for personal use only. You can travel to Cuba, Canada, Mexico, anywhere in the EU (check duty free shops at airports).
There will be a lot of sites now claiming to sell legit Cubans by mail order, but odds are high that you’d get counterfeits instead.
As I have heard from representaive of local importer Habanos SA cigars: Supply for Europe is limited to nececary minimum, because vast majority goes to storage in Canada and Mexico and awaits for lift of Cuban cigar ban in US.
As an European I can say cuban cigar are decent, but some other countries produce cigars in same quality as Cubans (for example Nicaragua or Honduras).
Jack
For now its only for bringing them back to the states. After smoking a lot of different cuban cigars they don’t live up the the hype. Maybe back on the day. As jack said other countries produce good sticks. I’m partial to Nicaraguan cigars myself. Not to say others aren’t good, that’s just my preference.
Well it’s a matter of taste and each region has it’s own qualities and taste. Nothing quite like a Cuban that said there is nothing quite like a Honduran. I personally think cuban tobacco is better in chew then cigars.
@lunecat you hit the nail right on the head. The closest thing ive had to cuban tobacco is byron snus. It has a sweet front but not too bad. But for me i need the robust pepper, leather and earthy notes i get from Nicaraguan cigars. I would say hands down tatuje is my go to brand. Second to my father.
reminds me of something a few years ago there were a lot delays around the holidays with people getting their snuffs (oh yeah this was in the u.s.). What happened was customs was checking out supposedly every package they could, because of a “credible” terrorist threat. Well how does this tie into this thread. One of the big things they found were cuban cigars sent from europe. They filled several warehouses. This to me says there are more people in America smoking cubans then people snuffing. And of course I mean before they said sure you can do that.
@lunecat @franko954 Spot on. I lived in Ensenada from late '01 to early '03, and Ensenada was where I picked up my love for good cigars. A selection of Cubans were very, very good, but being Cuban doesn’t make them good in and of itself. Truth be told, my favorite cigars at the time were Mexican made. The States hadn’t heard of San Andreas leaf yet (and didn’t until the release of the Te Amo Revolution), I felt like I had uncovered some huge secret. Many great, rich cigars are still made down there that haven’t seen the American market. These days, I mostly smoke Nicos, for the same reasons @franko954 gave (though I would LOVE to get my hands on a can of Byron), but the Montecristo Robusto “A” Type will always be the first cigar that made me say “wow”. If it becomes available again, I will celebrate our 13 year reunion by purchasing a box or three B-)