Custom/ House Rolls In Cuba. Where to Send Someone?

[polarbear]

I've got a friend heading to Havana next week and he's offered to pick me up some sticks while he's there.

He's not a cigar guy but I was hoping to get him to grab me some custom/house rolls while he was there

What are the best places to send him?

Where else should he go?

He's happy to trek around as he's there to see the island

I've already had the "dont buy anything off the street" conversation

[CigarEnthusiast]

Not sure if you told him, but tell him to buy only from LCDH since I've read of stores that sell fakes on the island.

[polarbear]

Yeah, mentioned all the usual advice

Dont buy off the street

Only buy from an LCDH

Check your currency when you change it

Photocopy your passport and carry it with you

The usual tips I've picked up around here

[matt123]

The customs at melia habana are very good. The lcdh at club habana are amazing. Ask for the monsdales. And the house rolls at the lcdh at hotel Conde de Villanueva are very good as well. Hope this helps.

[LordAnubis]

The customs from the Nacional are apparently pretty good.. roller just sitting there rolling, and reasonably priced. i've got one courtesy of Gary but not smoked it. Sitting in the humi waiting for the day.

[Diamondog]

Reynaldos

Conde Villanueva

[matt123]

Yea definitely go to Conde Villanueva!! Awesome shop and hotel. And Reynaldo's custom rolls are superb!

[rodrigodeanda]

Cool! Following this now!

A good friend of mine who's in habanos cigar smoking is going to Havana next year! I'll be sure to ask him for some customs. Is it allowed here to ask for a price range? Just to know how much cigars I could afford

[matt123]

I don't think so.. If anything pm me.

[matt123]

I've also heard Maria from 5th and 16 house rolls are very good as well.

[LordAnubis]

Cool! Following this now!

A good friend of mine who's in habanos cigar smoking is going to Havana next year! I'll be sure to ask him for some customs. Is it allowed here to ask for a price range? Just to know how much cigars I could afford

In general terms the rules are there to prevent people talking about prices of standard every day cigars and associating those prices to a particular vendor. I would suggest it's easy enough to talk about prices and sources in PM in any case. So i don't have to ban you in my first week on the job

Can i even ban people?!?!?!?

[tmac77]

In addition the those mentioned above, Juanita rolls out of Melia Cohiba. Her Robustos are quite nice.

[AussieCanuck]

Yea definitely go to Conde Villanueva!! Awesome shop and hotel. And Reynaldo's custom rolls are superb!

^^this^^

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[Rye]

I've been lucky to have tried Alejandro's (Alex's) behike 52's and they are superb. He's Crissantos replacement at the Commodor I believe.

[Guest rob]

I could be off base, but I'd be sure to exercise discretion if discussing certain roller's customs around any shops in Cuba. The walls have ears and eyes.

[Lant63]

Any mons blend from club havana is an absolute must.

Sent by telepathic super powers

-Stogie Boy

[Ryan]

Custom or shop rolled cigars in Havana are generally all good.

If you are sending someone who doesn't really know cigars, the Conde de Villanueva hotel is the best bet.

Up the steps in the courtyard of the hotel is the shop. Through the door and the room on the right has the custom rolls.

There is usually a good selection of sizes. 5 cigars each of 5 different sizes is a nice selection of his cigars.

They'll be an average of about 7 cuc each, between 5 and 10 cuc per cigar.

Yolanda usually has bundles in the little cabinet humidor in the shop in the basement of the Melia Habana hotel.

I like the dalia and Churchill sizes there a lot. 100 - 125 cuc for a bundle of 25.

Monsdales are great cigars but on more than one occasion I've been told there that they have none left. I usually go at times of the year when there are a lot of people buying these though. Quieter times should be OK.

Hamlet is paid to work as an employee in a cigar shop. He is not paid to roll cigars. The Partagas shop won't have custom rolls "in stock" other than, possibly, La China, who is the roller who works there. Her cigars are nice by the way.

There are times, while traveling in Cuba, that discretion is advised. Hamlet, if your friend gets a chance to talk to him, may be able to help with specific requests for "hard to find cigars" but nothing is guaranteed.

Whatever you happen to get, freeze them when they get to you.

[Blackham]

Alejandro from Hotel Commodoro, I recommend his corona & robusto

[El Presidente]

I suspect he will not want to go around a half dozen LCDH looking for customs if he is not a cigar guy.

Best bet is Conde. He will be in Old Havana anyway.

have him ask for Reynaldo Lancero. We picked them up for 3 CUC from memory. The best customs of the week for smoking young.

Edited December 9, 2014 by bundwallah
Edited for should know better. 30 day suspension

[polarbear]

Thanks guys

I gave him all suggested options and locations in the hopes that if he finds that's he's close to one he can just head there rather than having to make the trek to one specific location on the other side of Havana

Is the Partagas Factory doing factory tours yet?

Last I heard they were considering re-opening the factory to tours

[Habana Mike]

I suspect he will not want to go around a half dozen LCDH looking for customs if he is not a cigar guy.

Best bet is Conde. He will be in Old Havana anyway.

have him ask for Reynaldo Lancero. We picked them up for 3 CUC from memory. The best customs of the week for smoking young.

True on this Rob. However a couple of weeks ago the last remaining Lanceros were sold.

We asked when there'd be more and Reynaldo told us 'next year'

That could mean January/February I imagine.

[CanuckSARTech]

Frank, love all the edits!