DarkSky Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 Ok, we finally booked our vacation. Apr.5 -> 12th. Now, does anyone know what Cuban policy is on bringing cigars (personal) *in* to the country? I don't have the cash to be smoking green (new) Cubans down there all day long, and they'd probably need a LOT of rest time in the humi before they 'smooth out'. So I was hoping to bring a 10 count travel humi with me, stocked with some of my faves from home (non Cubans... ie: CHEAPER ) I know how much pride Cuba puts into its tobacco industry so I'm not even sure if they'd allow cigars coming in. Does anyone know the policy on this?
cigcars Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 *Just slip some in your case and see what happens. You can always say they came from Dominica!
Omskakas Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 Bring your own food to a feast. Bring your own booze to a bar. Bring your own snow to Canada. Bring your own sand to Sahara. But don't bring your own cigars to Cuba. If the cost is an issue smoke peso cigars.
Charltonc Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 Why go to Cuba, if you can't afford it save your money and rebook. I would love to smoke some custom rolls.
Tarks Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 Why go to Cuba, if you can't afford it save your money and rebook. I would love to smoke some custom rolls. I agree. Bring one short cigar with you to smoke in the airport while you are waiting for your luggage. Don't see the point of bringing anymore with you. Your in Cuba for crying out loud! If you can't afford to buy cigars while there, wait till you can!
mtaill Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 I have brought my cigars to Cuba... a few just because I knew I would not have time to go to the LCDH right away. So brought a few smokes to keep me busy until I get the chance to go. But I have to agree with the comments above... You are a cigar lover and going to the mother land, don't waist your time with NC's!
El Presidente Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 No problems at all bringing a box or two of cigars into Cuba. I really don't know why you would do it. One of the great joys of my life is enjoying fresh cigars in Havana. You can also go to almost any Divan and fine older boxes 5-10 years of age in the not so popular stuff. ie you won't be able to do that with a PSD4 but you are likely with a Tainos/Fundadores/Especial/HDM Le Hoyo Du etc.
CohibaBehike Posted February 23, 2011 Posted February 23, 2011 Correct me if I'm wrong, but to my understanding cigars at the local (credited) shops are really pretty affordable. I've heard it's cheaper there than anywhere but I may be wrong...
Tarks Posted February 23, 2011 Posted February 23, 2011 Correct me if I'm wrong, but to my understanding cigars at the local (credited) shops are really pretty affordable. I've heard it's cheaper there than anywhere but I may be wrong... Cigars in Cuba are more than the "black market" online retailers. Not much more, but more. Generally speaking of course.
DarkSky Posted February 23, 2011 Author Posted February 23, 2011 No problems at all bringing a box or two of cigars into Cuba. I really don't know why you would do it. One of the great joys of my life is enjoying fresh cigars in Havana. You can also go to almost any Divan and fine older boxes 5-10 years of age in the not so popular stuff. ie you won't be able to do that with a PSD4 but you are likely with a Tainos/Fundadores/Especial/HDM Le Hoyo Du etc. Thanks! I wasn't sure if a fresh cigar would be too new to smoke (ie: harsh tasting), which is why I was going go bring some of my own that have been aging in my humi for a year already. I found that many cigars I've ordered and smoked right away were very harsh tasting, but after sitting in the humi for 6 months or so, seemed to mellow out quite a bit and be much smoother. I'll be buying at least 2 boxes while there, maybe 4. But my plan was to bring them back and let them age for awhile before enjoying them. As to other people's replies asking why I'm going if I can't afford the cigars. I can afford the trip, but not the trip + $10 daily smokes X2 or X3 a day. Which is why I'd rather save some $ and smoke some (still very good) non-Cubans that I've collected on sale over the past year. If I smoke 3 a day, at 3 bucks a stick, $9/day is a lot better than $30/day on my finances. I'm happy that the people replying CAN afford trips to Cuba AND on top of it smoke premium Cubans all day long. I can't. I just wasn't sure if a fresh cigar down there that hadn't aged, was still a great cigar. I see in the YouTube reviews, Rob and the gang often saying how much a cigar needs to age before it's ready. And from my own experience, I can attest to this being true for many of mine.
DarkSky Posted February 23, 2011 Author Posted February 23, 2011 I have brought my cigars to Cuba... a few just because I knew I would not have time to go to the LCDH right away. So brought a few smokes to keep me busy until I get the chance to go.But I have to agree with the comments above... You are a cigar lover and going to the mother land, don't waist your time with NC's! Just wasn't sure if a non-aged cigar bought straight out of a store was ready to smoke, or if they should be aged first. I would hate to spend 10 bucks on a single stick only to get into and think " wow this needs to sit for half a year at least", when I have a bunch here that have already been sitting in the humi, are much cheaper, and I KNOW are good smokes that they're ready for smoking. See what I'm getting at? Not sure if my point is coming across properly. ( ? ) What I was trying to get at, is, do I spend $25-40/day on cigars that aren't really ready to smoke yet, or $10/day on cigars from home that are. I'm going down for a wedding (gf's sister is marrying a Cuban) so either way I'm going. Just wanted to make sure I have good cigars to smoke while there, without doubling the cost of the trip. But as Rob replied, if fresh cigars are a great smoke there, I'm in no position to question the advice of the grand master
DaBigDog Posted February 23, 2011 Posted February 23, 2011 There are plenty of sticks available in cuba for well under $10 a stick! Hell, even $5 a stick. As for 'aging', I personally don't consider a one year old cigar as an 'aged' cigar. I do however find that any cigars that travel, need to sit for a bit before they're smokeable (my rule of thumb is 3-6 months, but I'm anal...LOL). The 'FRESH' cigars in cuba are definately smokeable (watch out for customs, they can be WET!), and enjoyable. But if you travel back and try them at home 2 days after landing, they'll taste sick (IMHO). Go to cuba. Leave the NC's at home !!!!! my 2 cents
CBL Posted February 23, 2011 Posted February 23, 2011 I took one cigar to cuba (I take one cigar on a plane at all times, just in case the thing comes down, I can enjoy one last smoke ) You're seriously wasting a great trip if you're gonna bring some NC to Cuba! With fresh cigars they mean cigars that are seriously rolled in front of your eyes, still wet from the arabian gum used to seal the leaves. I think you're mistaken the fact that cigars come from Cuba with the fact that all cigars in Cuba are fresh out the factory. I can assure you that most of the cigars you'll find there have been "rested" to juicy perfection. And there's some great cigars to be found for way less than 10 bucks. Just buy 3 to 5 when you arrive at a good LCDH. I made the mistake of just buying one single stick at the hotel shop (in the late evening) and when I got back to the hotel and wanted to smoke another one, the shop was closed and I had to go to Hotel National and get a smoke from the bar (a 20 dollar RyJ Churchill) that was the most expensive cigar I got in Cuba. Look around a little, I'm sure you'll find most sticks to be over 5 years old and if you're lucky some great unpopular ones that have been resting since the late 90's. Enjoy your trip and don't forget to post some pics when you're back!
DarkSky Posted February 23, 2011 Author Posted February 23, 2011 Cigars in Cuba are more than the "black market" online retailers. Not much more, but more. Generally speaking of course. http://www.ukcigarforums.com/showthread.ph...Prices-Sep-2010 - I have another list somewhere too, and the prices on that one are also very close if not the same. But, here in Canada, ANYWHERE else is cheaper. We have outrageous tobacco taxes generally tripling any base price. The only way I can afford them is to buy from US sites (NC of course) that mark them as 'gift' so that customs doesn't see them as a commercial product. I once ordered (almost) from a site that sent it as regular commercial on the customs declaration, and my $118US cigar order came to $238 after taxes/duty was applied. But from what people are saying in this thread, buying some singles at a local LCDH means getting a good smoke, with no cigar aging needed. Ready to smoke right after purchase. So I'll try just buying singles down there and smoking those instead. I'm buying a couple (maybe 4) boxes as well, but I can't smoke any of those of course, since they need to remain sealed through customs. I just figured with all the tourists buying singles from stores, there's a high turnover, meaning the cigars probably weren't ready for smoking yet. 'Not sure why people say cigars need aging before they're ready to be smoked a lot of the time ( ? ) But like I said, I've experienced this personally. Bought 10 sticks on sale, got them, had one about 3 days after they arrived, and it was VERY peppery (burning), no smoothness at all. Tasted like I stuck my tongue in a dirty cigarette ashtray. Let them sit, tried one the following summer (I had purposely avoided them thinking they were just horrid cigars to begin with), and to my surprise the harsh taste wasn't there, and it had become quite a bit smoother and more enjoyable. Could have just been the batch itself, with one stogie being very different from the other.
DarkSky Posted February 23, 2011 Author Posted February 23, 2011 I took one cigar to cuba (I take one cigar on a plane at all times, just in case the thing comes down, I can enjoy one last smoke ) Yah maybe 3 in a travel humi as I might not be able to get to a shop for a full day. You're seriously wasting a great trip if you're gonna bring some NC to Cuba! With fresh cigars they mean cigars that are seriously rolled in front of your eyes, still wet from the arabian gum used to seal the leaves. I believe they use that gum on all cigars, even ones not rolled before your eyes As for the waste of the trip - I'm buying 2 boxes, maybe 4, so it's no waste to me no matter what I do down there I can assure you that most of the cigars you'll find there have been "rested" to juicy perfection. And there's some great cigars to be found for way less than 10 bucks. Sounds good! My budget is the trip itself, and the boxes I'm bringing home. I'm not rich like most people on here. (a cigar is a luxury to me, not just a good habit ) so I'll be sticking to the cheaper sticks. Look around a little, I'm sure you'll find most sticks to be over 5 years old and if you're lucky some great unpopular ones that have been resting since the late 90's. WOw! I was expecting the singles in LCDHs to be really really fresh/harsh/nicotine laden/unready. That's great news. Enjoy your trip and don't forget to post some pics when you're back! For sure! The main purpose of the trip (aside from the wedding which is the actual reason for it) is to buy some boxes to bring back, and take a lot of photos/video. I'm stuck in Varadero but will be taking as many day trips to Havana (and hopefully Trinidad) as possible.
Tarks Posted February 23, 2011 Posted February 23, 2011 I'm buying a couple (maybe 4) boxes as well, but I can't smoke any of those of course, since they need to remain sealed through customs. Why do the boxes need to be sealed? That's not true. My boxes are never sealed when I leave Cuba including my recent trip earlier this month where I brought 170 cigars home. I open all boxes for inspection and I highly recommend you do the same to avoid disappointment when you get home. Keep in mind, you are allowed to leave the country with 50 cigars (without factura). Everything else needs a factura.
Tarks Posted February 23, 2011 Posted February 23, 2011 "Look around a little, I'm sure you'll find most sticks to be over 5 years old and if you're lucky some great unpopular ones that have been resting since the late 90's." Don't expect to find singles with much age. Yes, you can get lucky but don't expect it. 99% of all singles sold in a LCDH (Cuba) are 08/09/10 cigars.
stunod Posted February 23, 2011 Posted February 23, 2011 I have brought my cigars to Cuba... a few just because I knew I would not have time to go to the LCDH right away. So brought a few smokes to keep me busy until I get the chance to go.But I have to agree with the comments above... You are a cigar lover and going to the mother land, don't waist your time with NC's! Since you've been to Cuba, when you by your sticks at LCDH, are the a cheaper because your in Cuba, or not ?
Tarks Posted February 23, 2011 Posted February 23, 2011 Since you've been to Cuba, when you by your sticks at LCDH, are the a cheaper because your in Cuba, or not ? http://www.marty.514crew.com/cigarprices.html
DarkSky Posted February 24, 2011 Author Posted February 24, 2011 Why do the boxes need to be sealed? That's not true. My boxes are never sealed when I leave Cuba including my recent trip earlier this month where I brought 170 cigars home. I open all boxes for inspection and I highly recommend you do the same to avoid disappointment when you get home. Keep in mind, you are allowed to leave the country with 50 cigars (without factura). Everything else needs a factura. I thought I read on the Canada Customs site that they had to be sealed. Maybe I was just thinking of the fact that boxes leaving Cuba had to have the state seal on it. ( ? ) But now that you've refreshed my memory, yes I even have it in my text file of 'important things to remember' to open and inspect the box before buying. I wouldn't be able to bring back more than the 50 allowed to leave Cuba anyway, because in Canada we're only allowed to bring back 50.
DarkSky Posted February 24, 2011 Author Posted February 24, 2011 "Look around a little, I'm sure you'll find most sticks to be over 5 years old and if you're lucky some great unpopular ones that have been resting since the late 90's."Don't expect to find singles with much age. Yes, you can get lucky but don't expect it. 99% of all singles sold in a LCDH (Cuba) are 08/09/10 cigars. Yah that's why I posted this thread - I thought maybe they would be waaay to green to be smoked right away. But people have posted that the fresh cigars down there are just great. So that's good news!
DarkSky Posted February 24, 2011 Author Posted February 24, 2011 Since you've been to Cuba, when you by your sticks at LCDH, are the a cheaper because your in Cuba, or not ? (above quote was in reply to someone else's reply, not mine) Depends where you live, but if you're Canadian, WAY cheaper. Example: http://www.walpertobacco.com/cigars-cuban-...to-c-21_29.html Montecristo #2 - $29 PER STICK Canadian (and as Cdn worth just a tad more than US$). Compared to $7.60 per stick in Cuba as posted in the cigar price link a few posts back. Cohiba Siglo V from Walper: $49.50. In Cuba: $13.30
Tarks Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 I thought I read on the Canada Customs site that they had to be sealed. Maybe I was just thinking of the fact that boxes leaving Cuba had to have the state seal on it. ( ? ) But now that you've refreshed my memory, yes I even have it in my text file of 'important things to remember' to open and inspect the box before buying. I wouldn't be able to bring back more than the 50 allowed to leave Cuba anyway, because in Canada we're only allowed to bring back 50. You can bring back to Canada as many cigars as you want. They don't limit you to 50. You are only allowed to bring back 50 cigars duty free. Big difference. I always bring 3 - 4x the duty free limit. Rarely get dinged with duties, and I declare everything. No hiding with me.
bigfunkyg Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 http://www.marty.514crew.com/cigarprices.html Good old Marty's Mix! It's a great resource even though it is about three years out of date. I think some of those numbers are actually still accurate but for the most part I would imagine 20% lower that what the actual is. I had a box of HdM Epi 2's that recently came back from Cuba with the same amount on the bottom of the box as the site references. G
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