Nedule Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 When I was in San Fran last month, I stayed at the Fairmont & checked out the Vendetta too. Some old cigars but to pay $135 - $300 for one cigar, not worth it. And I'm sure the average person wouldn't be able to tell the difference between 50 yr old & a 10 yr old cigar. I asked the guy if he wanted to trade for some current production cubans, he laughed at me. Some of the cigars looked a little beat up too, but if they're 50+ yr old. Cool little shop though.
Puros Y Vino Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 A 1958 unbanded Monte 2 would raise my suspicions a bit. I don't believe they ever came unbanded. Plus...there was a bit of a revolution going on during that year. So I'm not sure if tobacco production/cigar rolling even carried on. I'd imagine it was pretty tumultuous throughout all of Cuba. As for value. That really depends on you. If you could be 100% certain of provenance and the cigars smelled good and the overall condition was excellent you might want to take a shot at one. When you consider any Cuban Davidoff throughout it's run goes for well over $100 a stick (depending on vitola) a 1958 Monte 2 at that price might be worth the experience. That's a pretty iconic stick. I've kept my eye on the pre-embargo market. I really don't see any of the classic marcas up for sale. No Monte's, Partagas, etc. I'd love to get my hands on a pre-embargo PSD4.
Orion21 Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 Here is a big issue I would have: How would this guy even know they were from 1958? I was under the impression they didn't start using date codes until the mid 80's, right? If this is true the use of a specific date would indicate to me that someone was trying REALLY hard to make you think they are real. The Bay Area is awash with so much money these days even Thomas Keller is selling Pre-Embargo Cuban at his French Laundry in Napa Valley. The best advice I have seen was to check the auctions. Inevitably they are very overpriced because they are being sold in San Francisco at a hotel.
Puros Y Vino Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 Here is a big issue I would have: How would this guy even know they were from 1958? I was under the impression they didn't start using date codes until the mid 80's, right? If this is true the use of a specific date would indicate to me that someone was trying REALLY hard to make you think they are real. You're right. No date codes back then. That started in 1985. At best, the vendor/distributor might stamp the box with a date. Probably to denote when it was received. We've seen this up here on CC boxes from the 70's.
Orion21 Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 That's what I thought, but the average buyer of one of these wouldn't know this. Easily scammed.
Laxman Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 Yes kinda of crazy unless maybe you got it a major auction house but even then just because it is over 50 years old does not mean its good. I have smoked a handful or so of pre-embargo cigars a few were excellent and few were cardboard or past there time maybe. But as always it is up to you.
cigaraholic Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 Sounds like there's a lot of expensive smoke that comes out of that store.......most of it gets blown up your ass........." 1
laficion Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 Their Website Is full of It, even If I had the money, And I say,"IF"
cigcars Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 * If it's alright to mention it here; you could check out the Gotham Cigar Museum which is stocked full of pre-Embargo clear Havanas. And those prices are a LOT more reasonable.
Dozerhead Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 Every now and then I get tempted to buy/try a preembargo cigar. The biggest factor for me, other than authenticity, would be how these cigars were stored for the last 62+ years. It would be difficult to have records of storage conditions for a cigar like that over that length of time.
Skyfall Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 * If it's alright to mention it here; you could check out the Gotham Cigar Museum which is stocked full of pre-Embargo clear Havanas. And those prices are a LOT more reasonable. AND, he's an awesome FOH brother!!!
Maplepie Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 Just wanna chime in here: Monte 2s are a few of the most valuable with age. Unlike most marcas (or even vits. from Montecristo themselves, they actually fetch a pretty penny even with only 10 years under their belt. But this one, I'd go with the general consensus of being skeptical. The price seems normal to me for a pre embargo Monte 2 though... but nothing else does. Again, just tooting the horn again: the exact age would be very fishy without the papers. That's why anything before 1980s just say 1970s or 1960s with no clarification. because even very experienced collectors and sellers just honestly cannot tell! Sent from my BlackBerry Q10 using Tapatalk for Android.
jazzbass Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 If it was the real thing, I'd have NO problem spending the $$
ramon_cojones Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 Not an unreasonable sum for a cigar like that but I wouldn't purchase from a hotel/restaurant.
LouisMazzini Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 I don't understand the purpose of removing the bands from those cigars from cabs did originally have bands on them. Is everything there sans bands? Or just a few here and there?
Orion21 Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 Considering the location in San Francisco there are plenty of young guys with more money than sense that wouldn't blink at dropping $250 in a "real" Cuban cigar. My BS meter has been going off since reading this post and looking at the website that doesn't even work properly.
CaptainQuintero Posted February 22, 2014 Posted February 22, 2014 Recent auction prices are about $5k for a 25 count box of 60s monte #2
laficion Posted February 22, 2014 Posted February 22, 2014 Hey, I didn't see It at frist, They are talking about a DUNHILL, SELECCION SPECIAL box and cigars of Monty 2's, That Is why there Is no band and why expensive.
sactochris Posted February 22, 2014 Posted February 22, 2014 I bought a cigar from the guy back in late 99, back when his shop was in a little alley in Union Square. It was fine. It was supposed to be a 58 Hoyo Churchill and I paid 90 bucks for it. At this point I am extremely suspicious of the guy. He still tells the exact same story about how he acquired the cigars. I find it a bit hard to believe that his stock has lasted nearly 15 years.
Maplepie Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 Recent auction prices are about $5k for a 25 count box of 60s monte #2 up to $5500 now Capt. quint and with VAT, the price you actually pay is upwards of $6800 and with many MANY bids too. oh lord is it fun watching sometimes...... and what i'd give to try even one of these sticks. but for $275+! oh lord!
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