Zedman05

A Lusi will go for 48-52 here. Sent from my SM-G973W using Tapatalk

Nope. Look into what OZ is getting bent over for. We are only half way to what they are. A pack of darts up here only costs like $15, but in OZ they are around $40. Taxation without representation, baby. Sent from my SM-G973W using Tapatalk

First car, my '74 Austin Mini. Leaks oil from the rear main...still to this day. Never have fixed it, 26 years later. I think this summer is the summer of Mini-love. Sent from my SM-G973W using Tapatalk

I usually cut my nails pretty short, but after they start growing out, I like to use the circle-the-top-of-the-cap with your nails to make a punch-style hole. I imagine it is pretty close to what is being described here. Works really well, tbh. The biggest problem is with thin and/or fragile wrappers.

A thing to note; as temperature is lowered, humidity in the air drops out. If you set your temp to 60 F, you will have more condensation build up than if you had it set for 65 F. If your ambient is a lot warmer than that, it will also be an issue with introduction of new humidity in large quantities. Make sure to leave the door closed as much as possible.

If anyone is going down to Varadero on a trip, they had 2 boxes in the humidor at the shop on the resort Grand Memories Varadero 2 weeks ago. Not sure if anyone wants to spend the time or energy enough to go all the way out there, but if you are close, you can always swing in there and check. Not sure on the price though, as they had La Isla's as well, but marked up 35 CUC/ box more, so I imagine the SC's will most likely be the same.

Aaahhhh, the obligatory snow-blower facial. Always fun.

Thanks guys, love the discussion and not agruement. I would have assumed the custom rolls would never have been frozen, as it is all just leaves entering. Never doubted that. As far as newer freezing, this is a good sign. Hopefully it continues as I know everyone here likes not having to worry about it as much. I will still continue to freeze my stuff from when I go to the Island as a precaution, no matter box or bundle, for now. Cheers.

I have seen the thread. My thoughts are; Cuba builds something once, then usually doesn't have the resources to maintain things properly that have parts and pieces from all parts of the world. Why has it been a question that was never proven until very recently, and how much do they actually use it ? I would lay down a sizable bet to say they MAY have a facility now, but it never gets used on cigars that are sold on-island. I have seen too many boxes of cigars (in stores, personally, and from boxes people brought home) that had beetles. This begs another question though; storage. If they are freezing everything, and beetle eggs are frozen, why is it more common in the boxes on the island ? Do they just store the cigars in way too warm a temp and thus increase gestation probability ? I have purchased from our host, like most of us, and a couple other places and have never seen beetles in those boxes, just to be clear. So does everything now get frozen leaving the island ?

Heard it. Probably the same place I heard about Cuba freezing cigars before leaving. Still have never seen proof and I have more evidence to the contrary.

Country: Canada. Packaging: 10 count SLB. No one could afford more, with taxes going up every day. Besides, with plain packaging, you could offer these in a milk carton and it wouldn't matter. Name: 49 North Size: Corona Grande 6.1 x 42 or Lonsdale 6.4 x 43

With all their issues getting oil/gas for cheap enough now, maybe this is a band-aid solution for them ? They barely have enough electrical power for the infrastructure now, let alone 10 electric scooters charging at the same time just in Havana alone, heh.

Punch Serie D'Oro No.1 Juan Lopez Minuto

Fresh Prince of Belair I too think the Chappelle Show was was too short.

Comodoro for Alex's awesome customs. Habana Libre for singles/LE's in singles. Conde de Villenueva for the atmosphere. Melia Habana atmosphere is great too. Club Habana is a great place to see, but with the guards at the gate and the lack of friendliness, I wouldn't put this on "must visit". I was told I couldn't walk around and check out the grounds...."cigar shop and that's it" by the guards.

I noticed a big change. It used to be a lot of NC's that had a TON of mouth coating smoke. I was never really one for strong, like My Father, Avion or stuff that was nicotine heavy, but was more of the regular stuff. About 4 years ago, I started smoking more and more CC's and found there was a distinct profile I was not enjoying with the majority of NC stuff. CC's were just "smoother" in general and I enjoyed that sweet/salty charcter I would get. Now I smoke mainly CC's and thus any NC stuff I did buy a bunch of sits in my humi, never really to be touched. I was thinking ahead, but it didn't work out there...but with cigars I feel like you can never really lose out.

All custom rolls were in checked. They xray'd my carry on, which had a couple boxes. They asked for facturas. I produced them. Then was walking around the secure area of airport and was called back 10 mins later to open my checked bag.

In November I had Cuban Customs take all but one bundle of my custom-rolls at the airport. You know what I did ? Nothing. I sat there and asked questions in a polite manor because I knew there was 0 chance I can change their minds, no matter how polite or mad I was. I really don't see what the point of yelling and demanding is going to get you, other than the person definitely won't be helpful. Once you are pulled aside to be checked, you are pretty much screwed. The only difference in my story was dealing with the Cuban side. No one here knows what rights we really have with their customs. I also don't want to fight with them and somehow end up in a super nice Cuban holding cell for any reason, heh. Your loss of cigars sucks, but how do you bring back 24 boxes in one trip and claim that as personal ?

The wife and Mother in Law are in Varadero. Good thing they didnt plan a trip to Havana for Sunday. It is not a likely occurance. They have had some real bad weather there over the last couple years...

I have noticed, from a couple visits before the November festival, that Reynaldo limits/locks up his custom rolls so there are enough for the festival. If you have no relationship with them, you may have a harder time grabbing a bundle or more. I do not know if this is the same for the other custom rollers, as I never had a problem anywhere else. I already have a relationship ( if you can call it that ) with some, and it makes things easier, but finding those HTF cigars is still an issue. There are way too many people coming in and buying a LARGE volume of cigars that get specialty treatment over us regular folk. Your best bet is to go there and look for cigars that you like, no matter if they are rare or regular production, and have a great time chatting and smoking. Some days you get lucky and are in the right place at the right time.

I have bought in Varadero and Havana a lot over the last 9 years. There was a time, earlier on, that I found a greater number of boxes were just "ok". This was also the period though. In 2012 things started to pick up, and have been even better since 2014, which was a fantastic year. I would also have to say that I try to stay away from the cigars that are produced in greater numbers though: Monte 2 & 4, PSD 4, Partagas Short, any Romeo. I buy those from here, that way I know they are looked over. There certainly is shithouse boxes of cigars in Cuba, and I have seen them opened before purchase, but it really is getting few and far between. I have seen more boxes opened with beetles than boxes I would refuse, tbh.

Off-island, he looks at everything, and I agree. This thread was dedicated to on-island purchase, where I have opened multiple boxes with beetles of different markas. I wasn't allowed to take pics, as they skirted them away quickly. This was also a couple different locations, Havana and Varadero at 2 different years. All I am saying is; I would freeze everything from purchasing on-island, to be sure.

I disagree. I have made multiple trips to the island, and had the privilage to open many boxes in the LCDH's. I have seen multiple 3 & 4 year old boxes with beetles ravaging them, in the stores. Different brands, different sizes. I had only seen one box this last trip, and that was only a 2 year old box with a couple holes. If you want to take the chance to not freeze everything that comes from a purchase while on the island, I personally think you are taking a chance. I too had never had a problem, until I saw that in 2016. It scared me straight into freezing my stuff when I got home.

I have a newer refrigerator in my house. It displays the temp in the freezer section at 0F, which is -18C. That is exactly the same temp walk-in restaurants, commercial freezers and any other regular freezer will be set for. If you want colder, you are now talking a specific style of refrigeration that most are not delving into. I work in the trade, and have seen so many posts about how your freezer at home is warmer than some magical commercial set up. It is not. They should "technically" be the same; 0F. If yours is warmer, turn the temp down then. You can get a chest style freezer to go that low, as well as your refrigerator (just dont open the freezer when cigars are in there). Freeze everything coming off the Island. Everything. I too like the fridge-freezer-fridge method as I am always worried about thin wrappers cracking with sudden shrinkage due to temp-shock. I have no proof of it, just worries. Nice pick ups.

Yes, this is up in the middle of no where. I flew into Cambridge Bay, Nunavut last year. You really can't grasp how big our country is until you have flown farther north to get to a spot, than you would fly south to Cuba.