Cuban Cigars

Sister is taking a vacation from Canada to Cuba in a few weeks. She is allowed to bring back 50 CIGARS I believe when she returns. Any suggestions on which ones she should bring back for her favorite brother ?

Not Cuban, they are really inferior now, Castro quit
smoking and the quality went to hell.

I got Cuban cigarettes in Mexico and didn't like them. I've heard in the past that when the Cubans switched from growing tobacco to sugar, they ruined the soil for tobacco.

With that said, Cuban Cohibas are what Castro and Che smoked.

Quote: heather

With that said, Cuban Cohibas are what Castro and Che smoked.

Dominican Cohibas are excellent, a Cuba Cohiba would be your best choice just because of the history.

Are you/your sister US citizens? Although she most likely won't get caught, it's TECHNICALLY illegal for her to both purchase them in another country and transport them into the US. Most people would shrug this away, but just a fair warning.

Quote: coilman

Sister is taking a vacation from Canada to Cuba in a few weeks. She is allowed to bring back 50 CIGARS I believe when she returns. Any suggestions on which ones she should bring back for her favorite brother ?

I've had Cuban cigars in Canada, Mexico, and Bahamas. If ever there was an overrated product, this is it. You are NOT allowed to bring them in, if customs finds them they will be siezed. To be really technical, a US Citizen is not supposed to even buy and smoke one at a casino in Canada, it breaks the embargo.

I prefer Ashton cigars, lately I like the little ones since I hack too much the next morning on the big ones. But it is as personal a decision as Coke or Pepsi.

I live in Canada also so its all fine with Canada Boarder personal

I agree with AZ, they are overrated. The best cigars come from Honduras and Nicaragua. If you can find those, they are great. Punch is a good brand. I like Ashtons a lot, also.

BUT . . . since you asked, it doesn't really matter what brand she brings back, since the Cuban cigar industry is centrally controlled and all brands are basically the same -- Cohiba, Romeo Y Julieta, H. Uppmann, etc.

Just a suggestion ....been smoking cigars for most of my life 4-7 per week

Never had a Cuban Cigar but for my taste: (And your Sister may find these in Cuba also)

La Roma de Cuba Mia Mor (maduro) the Churchill size my favorite--is mild but tasty.

Perdomo Habano Gran Torpedo 7X60 (Maduro)--real good

My favorite a truly real great smoke; Gurka Special Edition (maduro) Although I was told by my retailer just last week that these are no longer available
truly sad ---this has been my "Go To Cigar" for the last 2 years. If you can find these ---a guaranteed pleasure!

As with all good Cigars...one should snip off the plug (end) and put the Cigar in one's mouth for a few minutes to moisten the end

after moist and a few unlit "light chomps" --then light up. Better flavors come out, (much sooner) in the smoke.

All of the above --mid range price!

go big or go home you only live once......BEHIKE Cohiba's....so what if they are $500 for a box of 10 :)........

even thought the dr no longer allows me to drink or smoke anymore, i still pine for one more Partagas 898 cabinet Varnished before I go...6 and 1/2 inches of pure heaven.

I here ya. Dr told me I should quit smoking (already HAD to quit drinking). Told him: No more romancing No more booze,----- I Gotta have something!!!!!

For now he tolerates me with just an evil eye!!

Cubans are already available in Canada....what's the big deal?

Cuban Cohibas and Partagas are absolutely the best. Not the ones you get in Mexico or Dominican (really, guys?) But the actual, fresh Cubans.
Tell your sister to get as many as she can, you won't regret it.

Quote: weaselman

Cuban Cohibas and Partagas are absolutely the best. Not the ones you get in Mexico or Dominican (really, guys?) But the actual, fresh Cubans.
Tell your sister to get as many as she can, you won't regret it.

a Cuban cigar is a Cuban cigar the world over....Of course the are non Cuban Cohibas and non Cuban Partagas....But if the box has a Habanos sticker on it and a tax stamp from Cuba.....It doesn't matter what country you buy it in....unless of course it is counterfeit, which happens of course....And I'm not sure what you mean by "fresh"...I want my cigar to be WELL aged.....10+ years if I have my choice

Quote: vert1276

a Cuban cigar is a Cuban cigar the world over....Of course the are non Cuban Cohibas and non Cuban Partagas....But if the box has a Habanos sticker on it and a tax stamp from Cuba.....It doesn't matter what country you buy it in....unless of course it is counterfeit, which happens of course....And I'm not sure what you mean by "fresh"...I want my cigar to be WELL aged.....10+ years if I have my choice

Yes, most Cubans you buy in Mexico are counterfeit, even if they have a sticker. It matters a lot what country you buy it in.
The other thing is, that fine cigars must be meticulously kept under very particular conditions, otherwise, they go really bad really soon. That's what has happened to most cigars you buy in Mexico, even if they really are Cubans. That's what I meant by "fresh".

And you really don't want it aged 10 years, unless you are going to pay a few hundred bucks for a "vintage cigar". A normal age for a regular cigar is a few weeks to a couple of years. And when I say "age", I mean that they should be aged professionally, under precise conditions, not just collect dust on the shelf on some Mexican convenience store. After 7 years or so, most cigars become totally mellow and pale, and not enjoyable anymore. When you buy "vintage" cigars, most of the time you pay for the rarity, not really for taste.

Quote: weaselman

Yes, most Cubans you buy in Mexico are counterfeit, even if they have a sticker. It matters a lot what country you buy it in.
The other thing is, that fine cigars must be meticulously kept under very particular conditions, otherwise, they go really bad really soon. That's what has happened to most cigars you buy in Mexico, even if they really are Cubans. That's what I meant by "fresh".

And you really don't want it aged 10 years, unless you are going to pay a few hundred bucks for a "vintage cigar". A normal age for a regular cigar is a few weeks to a couple of years. And when I say "age", I mean that they should be aged professionally, under precise conditions, not just collect dust on the shelf on some Mexican convenience store. After 7 years or so, most cigars become totally mellow and pale, and not enjoyable anymore. When you buy "vintage" cigars, most of the time you pay for the rarity, not really for taste.

Well I don't want to get into a huge cigar debate LOL....But I will say cigars are not only a hobby of mine they are a passion for me. My wife thinks I love them more than her sometimes.....I have two 6000 count Aristocrat humidors and spend countless hours a year buying, collecting and smoking small batch/limited run, boutique cigars. So much so, it pretty much borders on an obsession for me lol....Now all that being said the majority of Cuban cigars you buy in Mexico or anywhere else where they are legal ARE NOT counterfeit. If you are buying it from a retailer in a big hotel or large tobacconists they are not "fakes"....there are licensed dealers/retailers all over the world for Habanos...and none of these retailers want to lose their licensed by selling counterfeits....its the same reason why casinos don't cheat....."they don't want to kill the goose that laid the golden egg"...

As for aging cigars.....a 7+ aged wrapper is really not all that uncommon anymore.....4-6 years is pretty much the industry standard these days....Unless you are buying cheap bundled sticks and even they have 3 years of age on them when they are rolled.....Now the binder and the filler probably doesn't have more then 2-5 of years age on it when its rolled but the wrapper in most cases has better than 5-6 years of age on it by the time you buy it at your local smoke shop....And if you're a cigar dork like me, you don't smoke a cigar till its been in your humidor for at least 3 or 4 years anyways.... I know people who wont smoke a cigar till its been aged in their humidor for 10 years, till their is so much "plume" on the cigar it looks like its been rolled in flour lol......as for your statement of "After 7 years or so, most cigars become totally mellow and pale, and not enjoyable anymore." Add a Zero to that number and then you are kinda in the right ballpark(70 years).....I would say IMO the peak of aging is about 35-40 years....that's why the cigars of the 80's right now are hitting their peak in pricing....and the early 80's Davidoff's are going for crazy money right now....But normally when you see retailers selling "vintage cigars"....most of the time they are selling cigar that were rolled less than 10 years ago(of course the leaf itself is much older than 10 years)....they are just rare sizes or limited runs that are no longer in production......I cant tell you how many times I have clicked on retailer link for their "vintage cigars" and they were selling rare sizes of 2 year old Opus X's(like "A" sized coffins) or 3 year old Liga Privada T52's or #9's or flying pigs, Or a 2 year old limited run from Viaje or Tatuaje or some other boutique cigar....Not really what most collectors would consider "vintage" LOL...But still a VERY good cigar I would smoke any day or the week and twice on Sundays :)

I guess all I'm trying to say is if you buy cigars from a smoke shop in your hotel there is a 99% chance they are real...now if you buy one off a street vender....you are probably getting ripped off lol....And "fresh" cigars otherwise known as "fresh rolls" or "young cigars" or "green cigars"(but not the color green that a whole different thing)....are not really desirable....I would say anything that is rolled with less than 5 years age on the wrapper and less than 3 age on the binder and filler when it is rolled.....is gonna be a stick you pay less than $3 a piece for if not $1.50 a stick......

EDIT:.....I see now that when you said "fresh" you meant being cept at the proper temp and humidly in a humidor.....In Cigar lingo "fresh" normally means a cigar rolled with leaf aged less than 3 years....

Quote: appistapp1s

even thought the dr no longer allows me to drink or smoke anymore, i still pine for one more Partagas 898 cabinet Varnished before I go...6 and 1/2 inches of pure heaven.

I have to agree with appistapp1s on the Partagas 898 Varnished. I'd also recommend the Partagas Serie D. #4. along with just about any Cohiba.