What it is like?

[rdb6]

Living in the U.S. I was wondering what it's like to walk into your local tobacconist and purchase a Cuban cigar? Please be gentle.

[Wicky]

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

[Bartolomeo]

Illegally, its like a drug..........now back to topic

Bart

[Wicky]

Deleted my post, not wanting to be a boat rocker..... Just a happy CC smoker - no gift horse Wicky when you see what we pay in Oz mate.

I feel you bud. And you did'nt rock no boat. I'm sure one day it's bound to catch up with us.

[Wicky]

Living in the U.S. I was wondering what it's like to walk into your local tobacconist and purchase a Cuban cigar? Please be gentle.

All things being equal it would be Nirvana.... or would it?

[bunburyist]

Never known any different, but nonetheless does still feel a bit luxurious.

Having smoked a few others, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be into cigars that much if I didn't have access. So credit really to you guys in the US who chase the grail as it were.

[rdb6]

I know what it's like to be offered CC's by my local shops. They say my friend or a diplomat I know brought them in. Some are real, most are not, and if they are real how good can they be? I have smoked plenty of those.

As far as taxes are concerned, we in the states probably don't really understand your situation. We have plenty of taxes and if CC's were legal here we would in all likelihood be paying close to what you guys pay. Based on what I read in the forum I can appreciate your anger. I also am angry that if I want to smoke CC's I have to resort to whatever it takes.

[Wicky]

Given the thousands of Ncs I've bought over the years. If I had full acess to CCs at my local shop I would have tried them all by now!

I suppose it will just have to take a little longer.

[Habanakane21]

Living in the U.S. I was wondering what it's like to walk into your local tobacconist and purchase a Cuban cigar? Please be gentle.

I've been a constant, loyal member to my cigar boys in Los Ageles for the 10 years I've live here. I am a member of the OG circle. You have to be asked to sit down in our circle. If you talk on your phone...you gotta go. If you rub a member the wrong way...you might be heading to the door. Patrons have even been banned because of the topics that were brought up.

We have dr's, lawyers, Pro Athletes, Movie Stars TV stars. But when you walk into the shop we are all BOTL.

My advise to you is to be very social and outgoing to the owner and employees. Show then you are a loyal patron and you plan on making them your number 1 shop. In time you both will feel comfortable with each other. If you watch closely you maybe able to figure out when CC are being sold. There may have nicknames that are being used to describe CC...We call them Ricky's...As in Ricky Ricadro. I haven't bought CC from my shop in several years, mainly because of the price. They are outrageous.

[rdb6]

Living in NYC I understand all about tobacco tax. Cigarette smokers are paying $12-$15 a pack. The difference is, in our tax structure the individual states and cities get the priveledge of adding their payoff into the mix. Some of our states have no state tax thus creating huge differences in tobacco prices amongst the states.

Even though you pay a hefty tax for tobacco products I would rather that, than no access at all. I am jealous of your freedom to choose and schmooze.

Back to my original question What's it like? What's it like to be able to see them, to feel them, to touch them? What's it like to walk into a humidor and have those many brands and vitolas in front of you?

[mazolaman]

In The UK,Expensive...

[habanablue]

Living in the U.S. I was wondering what it's like to walk into your local tobacconist and purchase a Cuban cigar? Please be gentle.

Like warm applie pie!

[Kangaroo495]

In Russia tobacco taxes are extremely small, so Cubans are actually less expensive than NCs, and the average stick probably costs around $12.

Buying them at the local shop probably isn't much different as Americans going to their locals to get NCs. You just take it for granted. But sometimes I do feel thankful that they are available to me.

[Guest rob]

Put it this way - I have no idea what its like to walk into a tobacconist and browse a selection of NCs.

[Ryan]

What's it like to walk into a humidor and have those many brands and vitolas in front of you?

It's a bit like this

but smells of damp cuban tobacco.

Edit. and not all of them can hold a tune so well, especially when drunk..

[dicko]

yeah its pretty damn good, the aroma, the anticipation. but as mentioned the price in oz plus very few walk-in stores takes the novelty away quickly!

[habone]

Put it this way - I have no idea what its like to walk into a tobacconist and browse a selection of NCs.

It sucks! When I was young I would go to this local cigar shop and I thought it was the coolest place. Now I never go to it. I get much more satisfaction loggin on to the Cigar Czar shop and making my purchases online. It really is 1 of lifes little pleasures. I can't imagine what it would be like to walk into a shop filled with CCs. That has to be so cool no matter the prices

[matthew261]

In my travels outside the States, I've had the pleasure of visiting shops of several tobaconists around the globe. For me, walking into a humidor stocked to the rafters with CCs is something like a kid going into FAO Schwarz rather than WalMart to shop for toys. It's a heady experience for those unaccustomed to the luxury.

However...There is also something of a rush in having something that few others have (in the U.S.). I realize how shallow that sounds (perhaps mitigated by my generous nature in sharing the bounty), but that is nonetheless one of the mystical associations with having a supply of CCs on hand in the land of the embargo. I love the look on a fellow BOTL's face when he (and one time she) looks at the cigar I've handed them to enjoy and they realize what they're holding. Now, in any other part of the world, there would be absolutely no novelty in that, no pleasing feeling of sharing something rare with a rare friend.

So, while I sometimes envy those who are able to wake up and walk down the lane to go buy a Monte 2 to accompany their morning coffee, I more frequently count my blessings of being able to share the otherwise unobtainable. For that one small moment...I too am the most interesting man in the whole world.

[Wicky]

In my travels outside the States, I've had the pleasure of visiting shops of several tobaconists around the globe. For me, walking into a humidor stocked to the rafters with CCs is something like a kid going into FAO Schwarz rather than WalMart to shop for toys. It's a heady experience for those unaccustomed to the luxury.

However...There is also something of a rush in having something that few others have (in the U.S.). I realize how shallow that sounds (perhaps mitigated by my generous nature in sharing the bounty), but that is nonetheless one of the mystical associations with having a supply of CCs on hand in the land of the embargo. I love the look on a fellow BOTL's face when he (and one time she) looks at the cigar I've handed them to enjoy and they realize what they're holding. Now, in any other part of the world, there would be absolutely no novelty in that, no pleasing feeling of sharing something rare with a rare friend.

So, while I sometimes envy those who are able to wake up and walk down the lane to go buy a Monte 2 to accompany their morning coffee, I more frequently count my blessings of being able to share the otherwise unobtainable. For that one small moment...I too am the most interesting man in the whole world.

Well said. It is nice to see that gleam in their eyes!

[Habanos2000]

The first Cuban cigar stores I went into was in Windsor, Canada. Just walking up a down the street, seeing signs advertising "Cuban Cigars!". That was back in the mid 90's. I would equate that initial experience with finding the Playboy's at the barber shop when I was 9. I couldn't take it all in. Every dream cigar I ever read about was right in front of my eyes. I still remember the Hoyo DC, which at that time was considered the ultimate Cuban cigar. Big, bold, brash. I've also been to LCDH in Cancun and other stores south of the border that stocked Cubans. I just love it.

As a contrast I was out of town this week on business and walked into a cigar shop in Phoenix one evening. So many cigars, many I've not even ever heard of before. But the thrill was gone. Sure I bought one just to support the guys there, a Tatuaje that tasted like a watered down drink. If it isn't Cuban, I just don't care.

[cigcars]

What comes to my mind is how at one time in this nation, Cuban tobacco was all that cigars were made of and big & rich, small & great could obtain all cigars made of that tobacco. Now you can't, unless you know the Czar, and so on. I'm beginning to feel the same way about my instant coffee that I buy. Columbian coffee seems to be diminishing in obtainability these days. Many of the coffees here in the States anyway, are made with combination Mexican, Brazilian, and other coffees. I like my Columbian coffee. That was the main staple of coffees available to us, now you have to really search for it now.

For those shops that are happy to make our CC's available to us, yes authenticity is a major question mark. Sometimes, I think even they can't be sure if they're the real thing or not.

Finally, when they DO become available to us in the States we'll probably have to wait for the sudden high price wave, then settling down into a steady cost range, then the specials & discounts, then we'll no doubt be right back to doing what we are now...looking for reasonably priced authentics from the CZAR!

[MontrealRon]

Here in Montreal, there is a LCDH about a mile from where I work;

I drop in maybe 2-3 times a year.

I just can't afford to shop there. Decent smokes are like $20-40!

It's like the Soviet Union vs modern Russia - before, lots of money, but nothing to buy;

now everything is available, but most people have little money.

My big excitement in cigar purchasing is shopping in Cuba,

maybe once a year.

Then, I'm like a country boy in a big city candy shop!

[SamuraiJack]

Expensive.

[OZCUBAN]

Hi all

There is no feeling like it in the world ,but i have not known it to be any different ,I love to go to cigars shops and just look sometimes ,more often than not i purchase though ,seems the decent thing to do

I love to go to melbourne where there are many cigar shops ,and nice places to smoke them mmmm.

Here in Perth the most isolated capital city in the world we have next to zero choice ,and even less nice places to enjoy them

So my advice to our American brothers is ,even though what you smoke is deemed illegal,live it up while you can, and order up big from Rob in the coming months,years,etc ,because when the Embargo ends so will your ridiculously cheap prices ,and you will discover that hey we do have a customs department .

So in summing up going under the Radar is not such a bad thing enjoy

Cheers OZ

[bolivr]

Can't deny its good seeing and smelling all that range of CCs, they're all laid out calling to me, recognising the Cohiba section from a distance due to the characteristic boxes. It's that feeling of anticipation, choice, discovery, whatever it is.

But you know I feel much the same when I open my fridgador and there they are, smell them there, think about making a choice of what to light up and that is an experience thanks to the Czar that we can all enjoy. I remember when I just had a small desk top with a few singles of this and that, the excitement and anticipation was the same.

I guess I'm a glass half full kind of guy

Just chose a Mag 46 since its been a while and the advantage of the home stash is they are all already paid for.