Dr Joe Show on Dave Garafalo's Shocking trip to Cuba

[TonyAccardo]

I just got on the site after watching this most recent episode of The Dr Joe Show half expecting there to be a thread up already about this. It is a 4 part series of videos going over Dave Garafalo from the Cigar Authority and his article/video on his trip to Cuba and how lacking Cuban cigars are now days and on and on.

I'm glad someone, especially Dr Joe, made this video as it sets the record straight and exposes Garafalo and all the other manufacturers and vendors, B&M owners for what they are. I'm tired of hearing all of the stupid and ignorant comments from people like Pete Johnson, the guys on Stogie Geeks, and everyone else who basically has a dog in the fight, about how bad and second rate that cuban cigars are.

If you haven't watched it, take some time out to do so because if anything else, it's entertaining as I don't think anyone here really needs to be persuaded that their views or thoughts on cubans need to be changed.

[PuroDan]

Dr Joe is alright in my book.

[Habana Mike]

Linky?

[JohnS]

Linky?

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheDrJoeShow/videos

Thanks Tony for sharing. Check out the summary video, Part 5.

[TonyAccardo]

Dr Joe is alright in my book.

One of the things I really like about Joe is that he really comes off as genuine and he's well versed and knows what he's talking about. I also like the fact that he doesn't get on the "cubans are the best" kick and is a lover of great cigars regardless of whether they come from Cuba, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, etc. I'm the same way.

What I found most poignant about the episode though was his talk on the "bring back 100" rule from Cuba. In essence, he's right.....Cubans are essentially legal in the United States now but you just can't buy them here. It's kind of like what happened when the Berlin Wall came down. For 24 hours there was an opening of passing between the Eastern Bloc and the West in Hungary and from there the floodgates just opened. Because if you change one rule, you have now changed the nature of alot of other rules relating to that one rule. If you can bring $100 of cuban cigars, how can you honestly say that a cuban cigar in the USA is illegal now without having to go about proving where and how you got them? He made another good point about US customs too. Like him, I also have not had a seizure in over 3 years and it can't be just because I've gotten lucky because I've ordered alot in those 3 years. I honestly think, like him, that customs has been told to not worry about them anymore until they can implement a taxation system on them that works.

[Ubergosupro69]

Dr Joe is alright in my book.

[NJP]

Wait for it.

[stogieluver]

One of the things I really like about Joe is that he really comes off as genuine and he's well versed and knows what he's talking about. I also like the fact that he doesn't get on the "cubans are the best" kick and is a lover of great cigars regardless of whether they come from Cuba, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, etc. I'm the same way.

What I found most poignant about the episode though was his talk on the "bring back 100" rule from Cuba. In essence, he's right.....Cubans are essentially legal in the United States now but you just can't buy them here. It's kind of like what happened when the Berlin Wall came down. For 24 hours there was an opening of passing between the Eastern Bloc and the West in Hungary and from there the floodgates just opened. Because if you change one rule, you have now changed the nature of alot of other rules relating to that one rule. If you can bring $100 of cuban cigars, how can you honestly say that a cuban cigar in the USA is illegal now without having to go about proving where and how you got them? He made another good point about US customs too. Like him, I also have not had a seizure in over 3 years and it can't be just because I've gotten lucky because I've ordered alot in those 3 years. I honestly think, like him, that customs has been told to not worry about them anymore until they can implement a taxation system on them that works.

I believe this 100%. When we returned from Havana to Miami and went through customs, not one question was asked about cigars. At that time (2012), the 100 limit rule had been done away with by the Bush administration. I had way more than that in my luggage. I'm convinced that the current administration told customs long ago to stand down on CC's coming into this country.

[stunod]

Here's a question. I can bring $100 of cigars from Cuba to US, but I don't think it's legal for me to bring Cuban Cigars in from say Canada to US. It's very vague .

[Lant63]

Here's a question. I can bring $100 of cigars from Cuba to US, but I don't think it's legal for me to bring Cuban Cigars in from say Canada to US. It's very vague .

Or, through Canada via Cuba if a U.S. citizen flies out of Toronto.

Sent by telepathic super powers

-Stogie Boy

[CanuckSARTech]

Wait for it.

LOL.

[polarbear]

Personally, I am well and truly over the Cubans vs Non Cubans debate

Whether it be retailers, manufacturers or consumers pushing the argument, can we just all agree that cigars are wonderful, regardless of who rolls them?

I have friends who only like Cuban Cigars

I have friends who only like Non Cuban Cigars

AT LEAST I HAVE FRIENDS WHO LIKE CIGARS!

I've reado Dave Gs full write up of his trip to Cuba and he comes off as a bit of a whinge to me, a guy who expects everything to be perfect all the time.

With the risk of FIA legislation and Cuban cigars flooding the market, I get that NC manufactures and retailer are afraid of what it might do to their business, but must they always **** can Cuban cigars every chance they get?

In my (most humble) opinion, there is no such thing as "best cigar country in the world" where ever there are exception cigars there are always crap cigars

Cuba has Cohiba, but it also has Cuaba

Nicaragua has Tatuaje, but it also has Rocky Patel

Each to their own

[TheGipper]

What I found most poignant about the episode though was his talk on the "bring back 100" rule from Cuba. In essence, he's right.....Cubans are essentially legal in the United States now but you just can't buy them here.

[snip]

Like him, I also have not had a seizure in over 3 years and it can't be just because I've gotten lucky because I've ordered alot in those 3 years.

Sorry, but maybe he hasn't been around long enough to remember that in the USA we're basically back to how it was 10 or so years ago. If you think they are essentially legal now, then you would also have to say they were essentially legal 10 years ago. Back then (as today), you could bring a limited number back from licensed trips. But for personal use only. No gifting them, no selling them.

And you have indeed been very lucky. Customs is still actively enforcing the embargo.

[Fosgate]

I always thought Dr Joe rambled a bit. This time I liked it as I was fuming after reading the article myself and seeing the video clip of the three or four guys that were bashing Cubans also. I watched all five of the series and the fifth had me dying. Well worth the watch.

[Habana Mike]

Joe can take a long time getting to his point but this time i think he made some pretty good ones.

While he may not be quite the authority he makes himself out to be, in this case he is much more so than his subject.

3 primings, they're all made the same way LOL

[JohnS]

Up at 3 am doing the Part 5 summary and he had to work the next day at 6. Passionate, to say the least!

[acidmase]

I was on the fence with his show, but you have to understand he gives you a lot of brand history about each brand he does!

[TonyAccardo]

Joe can take a long time getting to his point but this time i think he made some pretty good ones.

While he may not be quite the authority he makes himself out to be, in this case he is much more so than his subject.

3 primings, they're all made the same way LOL

I agree on that. The simple fact that he is so trusting of a grey market source and touts them every chance he gets tells me right away that he doesn't have all that much experience. With that said though, he gives a better review on cuban or non cuban cigars than 95% of the bloggers or reviewers out there. I enjoyed the brand history when I first heard it.

[FLB03TT]

Dr. Joe is calling it as he sees it and, me thinks, he's seeing it pretty clearly. Joe "Go Laugh Out Loud" is preposterous and so obviously self serving in the vast majority of his comments on CCs and the Cuban cigar industry that you really have to chuckle.

I do value freedom of speech, but.........

[Scroats]

I hope the anti Cuban cigar noise continues... More for me.

Well more for us!

[Guest rob]

Off topic, but I was stopped in November at US Customs as I was transmitting through LAX, to Australia. On the document that asked where I had been previous to arriving on US soil, I told the truth and said Mexico and Cuba. The officer was advising me that he had to confiscate items purchased in Cuba.... even though I was not even leaving the airport and just transmitting through. He went through my bags and wanted to see what I had. He was quite adamant that he had to confiscate the ashtray - and it was only my pleading my case and politely seeking his reconsideration that he let me pass to through with it.

[JohnS]

He was quite adamant that he had to confiscate the ashtray - and it was only my pleading my case and politely seeking his reconsideration that he let me pass to through with it.

Wow Rob, I find that incredible! I bet it took some quick thinking and a few deep breaths to keep yourself calm and talk your way out of it like you did...well done mate!

[Habana Mike]

So I had no issues clearing Customs on my return though TSA did open and search my bag prior to the domestic flight. Left me a polite notice they'd done so..

I'm sure that ashtray looked funny on the Xray.....

[polarbear]

Off topic, but I was stopped in November at US Customs as I was transmitting through LAX, to Australia. On the document that asked where I had been previous to arriving on US soil, I told the truth and said Mexico and Cuba. The officer was advising me that he had to confiscate items purchased in Cuba.... even though I was not even leaving the airport and just transmitting through. He went through my bags and wanted to see what I had. He was quite adamant that he had to confiscate the ashtray - and it was only my pleading my case and politely seeking his reconsideration that he let me pass to through with it.

I've always wondered about this

Its concerned me as I'd be coming home with a very large bag filled with as many Customs as I could get my hands on

[Borgy]

I hear all sides on this argument but I agree with Polarbear like what you like no matter where it comes from cigars are to your taste not from what Country they are from. I love Cubans but there are great N/Cs just enjoy that's what it's all about.Is there such thing as PERFECTION and who will make that judgment.