Cuban and other cigars

[AACJ]

I am going on a cruise to Cozumel and Costa Maya in a month or so and I know there is a reputable Cuban cigar place there. Any suggestions on what to get? Whether it's Cuban or not, I just want a few really good cigars, both expensive and inexpensive.


Of course I will have to smoke them before I come back on the ship (or hide them really well), there is a cigar lounge on the ship.

[jwhite]

I am going on a cruise to Cozumel and Costa Maya in a month or so and I know there is a reputable Cuban cigar place there. Any suggestions on what to get? Whether it's Cuban or not, I just want a few really good cigars, both expensive and inexpensive.


Of course I will have to smoke them before I come back on the ship (or hide them really well), there is a cigar lounge on the ship.

I will deffer to those more experienced than I, but it is my understanding that carrying a few boxes of cigars not available for sale in the US is legal as long as it is for personal use and not smuggling for resale. Perhaps some others can provide means of verifying this.

[penmanship]

I have a few favorites, but for me a sure fire "GO TO" cigar is the CAO PIRANHA....................

[davecmu]

Partagas Serie D #4. Best cigar I've ever had.

[inkcoffee]

Partagas Serie D #4. Best cigar I've ever had.

+1 best Cuban I ever smoked

[Jim]

Partagas Serie D #4. Best cigar I've ever had.

+3 A very good choice.

Monticristo #2 is my go to cigar.

[Dustinl]

I will deffer to those more experienced than I, but it is my understanding that carrying a few boxes of cigars not available for sale in the US is legal as long as it is for personal use and not smuggling for resale. Perhaps some others can provide means of verifying this.

Bear in mind that it is illegal for an American citizen to possess or purchase anything "hecho in Cuba", be it here in the United States, Europe, Latin America etc. In other words, if a Texan were to visit his Aunt Sally in London and wanted to buy a cuban cigar from an authorized Habanos dealer or anyone else, it would be against the law. How that works, I don't know. They can legally sell them to us in say Lisbon or London, we just can't legally buy them.

In regards to the OP, I would stay away from Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, and Monte Cristo when it comes to buying Habanos from Mexico. They are the three most highly counterfitted Habanos out there. I agree with davecmu, Partagas PSP2 or PSD4 would be great choices. Also look for Ramon Allones, and El Rey Del Mundo. They won't let you down. Once you get them back on the ship, smoke the hell out of them until you have to get off the ship and go through US customs. The best I can recall though, when my wife and i were in Cozumel, when we were getting back on the ship, they were doing random searches.

For non Habano, you can buy cigars on the ship. They will gladly cut them for you also. My first premium cigar ever was an Arturo Fuente Hemingway that I bought and smoked on that cruise. It is still one of my favorites to this day.


DL

[jwhite]

Bear in mind that it is illegal for an American citizen to possess or purchase anything "hecho in Cuba", be it here in the United States, Europe, Latin America etc. In other words, if a Texan were to visit his Aunt Sally in London and wanted to buy a cuban cigar from an authorized Habanos dealer or anyone else, it would be against the law. How that works, I don't know. They can legally sell them to us in say Lisbon or London, we just can't legally buy them.

In regards to the OP, I would stay away from Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, and Monte Cristo when it comes to buying Habanos from Mexico. They are the three most highly counterfitted Habanos out there. I agree with davecmu, Partagas PSP2 or PSD4 would be great choices. Also look for Ramon Allones, and El Rey Del Mundo. They won't let you down. Once you get them back on the ship, smoke the hell out of them until you have to get off the ship and go through US customs. The best I can recall though, when my wife and i were in Cozumel, when we were getting back on the ship, they were doing random searches.

For non Habano, you can buy cigars on the ship. They will gladly cut them for you also. My first premium cigar ever was an Arturo Fuente Hemingway that I bought and smoked on that cruise. It is still one of my favorites to this day.


DL

Thanks for this, I'd hate to get anybody into trouble.

[Ruger Packer]

Have never smoked a cuban ceegar. But have worked in a cigar shop and have met and talked to lots of people that love cigars. These people had the opportunity to go to other places outside the US where they could buy and smoke cubans.

From talking to them, when Castro took over Cuba, he took over the tobacco farms and the cigar factories. The old tobacco growing and cigar making families fled to other countries. Namely Honduras, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, etc and started over.

The cubans are no longer the benchmark.

[saltypete]

Partagas Serie D #4. Best cigar I've ever had.

+4 Consistently the best Cuban I ever smoked.


Pete

[Commander Quan]

The cubans are no longer the benchmark.

Usually the people that say that are the ones who have never had a Cuban or are selling Non-Cuban cigars.

If your going to buy cigars, go here www.lacasadelhabanocozumel.net LCDH is the authorized cuban cigar shop. If you go anywhere else your just taking a chance, especially if you don't know what your looking for. Don't buy anything off of a street vendor, and don't buy anything with a glass top box.

Here's a list of stuff that is pretty common and should be available expect to pay for upwards of $10 for them and even more for the larger sized cigars.
Monte #2
Monte #4
Patrigas Serie P #2
Partigas Serie D #4
Bolivar Petite Corona
Bolivar Belicosos Finos
El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme
H. Upmann Petit Coronas

[RichGem]

I will deffer to those more experienced than I, but it is my understanding that carrying a few boxes of cigars not available for sale in the US is legal as long as it is for personal use and not smuggling for resale. Perhaps some others can provide means of verifying this.

My understanding is that it is illegal for a US Citizen even to purchase *anything* made in Cuba whether it is for personal use or not. Fines and/or imprisonment and/or confiscation are all possible outcomes. Or, you might get away with it.

I've heard that you can bring contrabanded items on the ship in many cases, but you cannot bring them back into US waters.

It's also my understanding that Castro ruined the Cuban cigar industry and they are now mostly hype and cache' rather than anything that fantastic/desirable.

[Dustinl]

The cubans are no longer the benchmark.

I disagree with this statement wholeheartedly. Smoke a Ramon Allones Specially Selected with four or five years of age on it or a Vegas Robaina Famosos with the same. This is where the benchmark is. I don't mean to sound standoffish and hope you don't take it that way but I smoke both cc and non cc cigars. Some of the best non cc's that I am smoking are La Flor Dominicanas and Illusiones. They are awesome cigars but in flavor profile, there is no comparison.

As far as the families fleeing the socializing of their tobacco farms; they took the seed with them but they didn't take the soil. So you grow habano seed in Dominican soil? Tastes completely different.

Usually the people that say that are the ones who have never had a Cuban or are selling Non-Cuban cigars.

+1

That is usually the case.


DL


DL

[Bruce Wayne]

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfe...g-to-Cuba_7191

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/va...restricted.xml

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-cen...ts/ccigars.pdf

Only persons returning from Cuba after a licensed visit
there are permitted to bring Cuban cigars into the United States,
provided the value of such cigars does not exceed 100 US dollars
and the cigars are for that person's personal use and not for
resale. All other importations of Cuban cigars are illegal. All
offers to buy or sell such cigars in the United States involve
cigars that are imported illegally. Contrary to what many people
may believe, it is illegal for travelers to bring into the
United States Cuban cigars acquired in third countries (such as
Canada, England, or Mexico).

It is also illegal for U.S. persons to buy, sell, trade, or
otherwise engage in transactions involving illegally-imported
Cuban cigars. The penalties for doing so include, in addition to
confiscation of the cigars, civil fines of up to $55,000 per
violation and, in appropriate cases, criminal prosecution which
may result in higher fines and/or imprisonment.

[dixee6]

Calibre 58 and La Aurora 107's from Miami Cigar Company,.....a biker bar I went to once has some pretty good Jack Daniels cigars too,...haven't found the source yet though

[Azza]

Getting the cigars confiscated would be painful enough and then to get slapped with a fine for your efforts would be a cruel way to end a trip.

- Aaron

[The Pontificator]

Getting the cigars confiscated would be painful enough and then to get slapped with a fine for your efforts would be a cruel way to end a trip.

- Aaron

Not to mention having your name in "the system".

DO NOT BUY CIGARS FROM STREET VENDORS OR GIFT SHOPS!

Go to a HABANOS S.A. shop and buy and smoke them there. Habanos S.A. is the official Cuban Government Cigar store.

BTW I always like the Cuban "country cigars" (short filler "worker's cigars") but for the life of me cannot remember who makes them. Those, and the Cohiba Exquisitos (little cigarette size).



http://www.habanos.com/default.aspx?lang=en

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Not to mention having your name in "the system".

DO NOT BUY CIGARS FROM STREET VENDORS OR GIFT SHOPS!

Go to a HABANOS S.A. shop and buy and smoke them there. Habanos S.A. is the official Cuban Government Cigar store.

BTW I always like the Cuban "country cigars" (short filler "worker's cigars") but for the life of me cannot remember who makes them. Those, and the Cohiba Exquisitos (little cigarette size).



http://www.habanos.com/default.aspx?lang=en

Pontificator:
+ 1 and I agree with you 100%.

The only Cuban (Habanos S.A), short-filler cigars are;

1. José L. Piedra (hand-made).

2. La Flor de Cano (hand-made).

3. Guantanamera (machine-made...and in my opinion the worst Cuban cigar on the planet).

However, the best cigar I've smoked in my opinion is the Cohiba Coronas Especiales. This cigar is simply the best Panatela ever made and is truly elegant and simply represents a classic Havana.

Enclosed below is my Reveiw.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=176899

Cigar Data

Coronas Especiales Laguito No.2 38 (ring gauge) x 152 (6.0"in long) Panetela
Cigars: Handmade.
Bands: Standard bands B, C, D.
Packaging: P5, vBN25. P3, B25, B50, BN25c, BN50, BN50c.
Status: A 1967 release. Current.
History: This cigar was not named until 1969 and was not commercially available until 1984.

Christopher

"Those who Smoke Havana's will never die of Cancer...but those who don't...will die of Envy". Cuban Cigar Slogan

[Ruger Packer]

Usually the people that say that are the ones who have never had a Cuban or are selling Non-Cuban cigars. If your going to buy cigars, go here www.lacasadelhabanocozumel.net LCDH is the authorized cuban cigar shop. If you go anywhere else your just taking a chance, especially if you don't know what your looking for. Don't buy anything off of a street vendor, and don't buy anything with a glass top box.

Here's a list of stuff that is pretty common and should be available expect to pay for upwards of $10 for them and even more for the larger sized cigars.
Monte #2
Monte #4
Patrigas Serie P #2
Partigas Serie D #4
Bolivar Petite Corona
Bolivar Belicosos Finos
El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme
H. Upmann Petit Coronas

No offense taken. But I know my customers. Some I took seriously, some I didn't. Those I took seriously were for the most part hard working businessmen, well traveled and liked the finer things in life and could afford it.

None were impressed with any of the cubans they'd tried. Thats all. And, none were selling Cubans. Its against the law to sell or import Cubans into the US. They had nothing to lose or gain by sharing their knowledge with me.

Cuba for their part uses brand names that belong to the founders of those brand names. Which in many instances are still used today on the tobacco and cigars now made in other countries in the region.

I say it again, cuban cigars are overrated. No longer the benchmark. However, its your money to spend.....

[RichGem]

No offense taken. But I know my customers. Some I took seriously, some I didn't. Those I took seriously were for the most part hard working businessmen, well traveled and liked the finer things in life and could afford it.

None were impressed with any of the cubans they'd tried. Thats all. And, none were selling Cubans. Its against the law to sell or import Cubans into the US. They had nothing to lose or gain by sharing their knowledge with me.

Cuba for their part uses brand names that belong to the founders of those brand names. Which in many instances are still used today on the tobacco and cigars now made in other countries in the region.

I say it again, cuban cigars are overrated. No longer the benchmark. However, its your money to spend.....

Which will/would create -- I imagine -- quite the legal problem (copyrights at the very least) in the US if the embargo is ever ended.