doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A question of cigars

Alex, TRUE story. I would have to search my old issues of Cigar Aficionado where the story is mentioned and the name of the aide that was sent on the errand (who confirms the story) is mentioned. If I remember right the order was to get all the cuban cigars he could find.

Dig, I cannot see how someone that likes cigars would turn down the opportunity of a real habano.

JC(AL)

Once you smoke habanas, you will not be able to smoke anything else.

I have smoked cigars for over 35 years and have never bought off on the "none finer" or "you'll never go back" dictums. When the handwriting went up on the wall that Castro was most likely going to overthrow the existing government (Fulgencio Baptista?), a lot of savvy independent businessmen knew what was coming. A lot of them were cigar makers. Many fled before Castro took power, well before Cuba was closed to US trade.

They wound up in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Honduras and half a dozen other small countries where climate and topography closely mimiced Cuba. Using seeds literally smuggled out in the seams of their trouser cuffs, they began growing their own strains of tobacco and marketing them to the world.

IMHO, the best of these expatriate cigars far surpass the run-of-the-mill Cubans, and a select few can go head-to-head with the best Cuba has to offer, depending on what kind of mood I'm in when I smoke them.

The smuggling / contraband / "Mission Impossible" approach taken by many trying to kite Cubans into the US is not only risky but can be a sure key to microscopic-like scrutiny going through customs on a slow afternoon. Take my word for it, nowadays, they search EVERYTHING.

I recently made a trip to Bermuda where one afternoon I made a special trip into Hamilton to purchase a couple of the cigars Castro used to smoke before he gave them up. They were Bolivar Presidentes, and the Bermuda price was $22.50 each. After dinner that evening I smoked the first one and, while yes, it was rich, smooth, and satisfying, I began to recall the days when Coors beer was unavailable East of the Rockies. Students, roadies, and others "smuggled" cases back in their luggage, etc.

I came away with the same impression from the Presidentes as I did the fist time I tasted Coors beer - what was all the fuss about? And at the current exchange rates, there are no bargains - at the duty free shop in Buenos Aires, a box of 25 Presidentes sold for almost $900 USD when I went there in 2004. Thanks but no thanks - I'll stick with Arturo Fuentes, thank you. KBM

Ortolan: not only did I enjoy your post, but thought "I resemble that".

The best I ever had was a smoke called Condall, again grown from Cuban seed. Canary island. The KING of smoke to my pallet!

Have not been able to find them again for a number of years, it saddens me to think of them.

Big Al,
Everyone's tastes are different but no cigar ages better then the Habanas. The Cubans do not age their cigars, so many people smoke one and are not as impressed as they thought they would be. They are like fine wines. You need to age them a minimum of three years with 5-6 being even better. I have smoked a ton of the Honduran's and Dominican's and while they have some decent smokes at times; if you have ever smoked a properly aged cuban from vintage years, there is no comparison in my opinion. I recently tried a couple of Padron Anniverarios and could not even finish them as my tastebuds have been awakened years ago.

Last time I was in Tel Aviv, the cigar bar at the King David Hotel had a sign that they would rewrap your Cubans as Dominicans!!! Service with a smile from our best allies in the Litoral!!!

Actually, Cuban cigars being "unaged" is the norm in Castro's Cuba and they will turn your stomach quickly if you don't have the patience to put them away for 2 or 3 years. Beyond that, their quality once aged pales in comparison to what was available in the 1950's as Castro's agriculture and soil maintenance has gone to hell in a handbasket along with everything else.

Some current Dominicans and Nicaraguan cigars are outstanding including Arturo Fuentes and Padron's to name a couple. But, don't take my word for it. Anyone going to England to shoot should buy some "legals" (suggest black band Fuente's, Fuente Opus X, Padron Anniversario's) and compare to Cubans available in Europe. I think you will find the Cuban cigars expensive and overrated.

I have smoked plenty of those "legals" and in my opinion they do not compare to a well aged Bolivar RC or CE, some Cohibas or many other good cubans. I do agree with the older cubans though, not much comparison today except for an occasional batch.

Kevin, I've smoked Montecristo #2's, Bolivar Robustos, Cohibas all from Vancouver, BC. I've even aged them. We obviously have different opinions. But, as I suggested, take some of the high end Dominicans or Nicaraguans and try for yourself if you'll be in England.

I don't bother going to Vancouver, BC anymore for cigars.

Pete, lets keep those Padron cigars a secret. Otherwise with my shallow pockets I wont be able to afford even the Ambassadors as my everyday smoke.