Cuban cigars

[Zundfolge]

One of my favorite things about cigars is after you've smoked them. For the rest of the evening you have that pleasant musk of cigar hanging around on your clothes and hair and its a nice reminder of the cigar you enjoyed earlier (it also reminds me of my grandfather who all but chain smoked Romeo y Julieta's and it kind of takes me back to my childhood).

Not so with these. I've changed my shirt and am considering taking a shower because that "pleasant musk" is now making me feel a little ill.

[funkymonkey1111]

It wasn't that the Cuban cigars were all that good in the first place. It was more the whole "forbidden fruit" thing.

This. Now I haven't had the opportunity to sample all, but have had a handful, and wasn't blown away. I wouldn't trade any of them for my favorite, the La Flor Dominicana DL700

[TEAMRICO]

Sergeant, you get that contraband stogie out of my face before I shove it so far up your ass you'll have to set fire to your nose to light it.
Gunny Highway

[glenncal1]

I too have noticed a drop in the quality of Cuban cigars. I was in the Bahamas about 10 years ago and had some MonteCristo #2s that were incredible. Went on a cruise this year and had some that weren't any better than a Dominican MonteCristo (and maybe not as good).

[rondog]

From what I've read, all the big name cigar companies/families started operations in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and other Caribbean locations years ago, using their best Cuban seed. So their cigars from those places have rivalled the legendary old Havanas for years.

I've also read that the biggest source for cheap, shitty knockoffs of big-name Cuban Havanas is Havana itself. Just because a cigar is made in Havana, Cuba, and wears a famous name, doesn't mean it really came from that maker in Havana. Sure, the big names still make them there, but there's a lot of Back Alley Julios making them too.

So I've read and been told.

Just go to Edwards Tobacco in Englewood on Broadway, they'll hook you up.

[Delfuego]

Just go to Edwards Tobacco in Englewood on Broadway, they'll hook you up.

This guy knows what he's talking about We even met for a deal there because we both knew exactly where it was.

I actually asked the boss at Edwards if I could bring him back some Cubans as a gift for him from a recent trip to SA, he said don't bother.

[Hoser]

Just because a cigar is made in Havana, Cuba, and wears a famous name, doesn't mean it really came from that maker in Havana.

Yeah bootleg cigars were everywhere. If you knew what you were looking for and got them for a stand up dealer you could find good smokes in places like Bogota, LaPaz and even the Falkland Islands.

I have had some really good Macanudo Black Toros. I think they are Dominican or Jamaican and didn't break the bank.

[Graves]

For sure, all I saw was counterfeits in the Caribbean tourist areas. I knew many weren't genuine but my curiosity got the best of me so I tried a few and to my surprise, they weren't bad...Not as good as the real deal but better than some of the more premium sticks I tried in the past. Do your research before buying a bundle to bring home. If you know what you're looking for, you can usually spot fakes before you crack the box open. A good fake will take some closer looking at but they all usually cut corners somewhere.

ETA: These Cuban counterfeits are IMO VERY tasty for the money.

[Delfuego]

I have had some really good Macanudo Black Toros.

Make mental note of what kind of cigars Hoser likes. May be useful sometime in future....

[Graves]

Or you can just offer him a flipper rub.