"A cigar lover's guide to the Caribbean"

[oliverdst]

Some tips for those heading to the Caribbean.

BTW, I am going to Punta Cana in the end of october. If someone wants to herf let me know.

http://experience.usatoday.com/caribbean/story/best-of-caribbean/2015/09/25/smoke-caribbean-cuban-cigar-tours/72755258/#

Up in smoke: A cigar lover's guide to the Caribbean

by Mark Rogers, Special for USA TODAY | Published on September 25, 2015

The actual birthplace of the cigar is hidden in the mists of time, although there's agreement that the cigar was first rolled somewhere in the Americas, with some claiming it dates back to the time of the Mayas. When Columbus sailed into the Caribbean in 1492, he was the first tourist to enjoy a good smoke, and introduced the practice to his compatriots on his return to Europe. Over the centuries, the cigar has been an important part of the Caribbean's heritage, and today there's a significant amount of travelers who have one thing on their mind when they arrive in a Caribbean destination: Where can I light up a good Cuban?

Steely-eyed Gen. Alexander Haig, an avowed anti-communist, was brought up short when he was once discovered enjoying a Cuban cigar. When asked how he dared, he recovered nicely: "I prefer to think of it as burning down their crops."

With travel restrictions easing between the U.S. and Cuba, and hope for the trade embargo to be lifted, it would appear that cigar lovers will eventually be able to light up a Montecristo or Cohiba at home. Until then, a Caribbean vacation is one of the best opportunities to indulge.

Increasingly, beach resorts have on-site tobacconists. Some resorts, such as The Caves in Negril, Jamaica have a unique take on the cigar smoking experiences. The resort's Blackwell Rum Bar – where cigar smoking is irie - is carved out of the cliffs facing the sea. Another welcome touch at various resorts is the occasional cigar maker who will set up in a corner of the property, hand rolling cigars for sale.

Even though Cuban cigars are the most highly prized, the Dominican Republic is giving Cuba a run for its money. The upside of finding a fine Dominican cigar is the freedom to return home through customs carrying a box or two. There are several ways a visitor to the Dominican Republic can create a sea, sand & stogie vacation.

Some of the fine cigar brands in the Dominican Republic include Arturo Fuente, Davidoff, Fonseca,La Flor Dominicana, Leon Jimenes, Macanudo, H. Upmann, VegaFina, and Thiriet Mercedes. The Tobacco Museum (Museo del Tabaco) in Santiago is a good place to start. The museum has exhibits and a demonstration showing the processing and rolling techniques that produce some of the Dominican Republic's most famous tobaccos.

Many of the cigar factories located throughout the Dominican Republic offer tours of their facilities.Cigar Country Tours have four tours that take visitors through the cigar making process, from cultivation in the fields, to bunching, rolling, cigar aging and packaging the finished product. The four tours are spread out geographically: Tabacalera La Matilde Cigar Factory Tour, in La Romana; Tabacalera de Garcia Cigar Factory Tour, also in La Romana, where highly-prized Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta cigars are made; La Aurora Cigar Factory Tour, in Santiago, the oldest cigar factory in the Dominican Republic; and the Don Lucas Cigar Factory Tour in Punta Cana.

Cigar aficionados finding themselves in Nassau, in The Bahamas, should definitely make tracks forThe Graycliff Cigar Company, which is housed in the historic Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant. Over the years, Graycliff has hosted such cigar heavy hitters as Winston Churchill, who was known to smoke up to 10 cigars a day. Graycliff has been producing its own cigars since 1997. Guests can take a crash course in cigar making at the Graycliff Cigar Company by learning how to become a "torcedore" (twister, or cigar roller) and sort, clean, store and roll their own cigar. The lesson includes a short history of tobacco, an explanation of where the best leaves come from, and why certain leaves are blended together to make award-winning Graycliff cigars. The hotel also offers a Graycliff Cigar Package that has such inclusions as a different Graycliff cigar each evening for turndown service, a dinner for two at Graycliff Restaurant, with courses paired with cigars; a cigar rolling lesson; and a box of Graycliff Cigars to take home.

In Barbados, those in search of an island smoke can head over to the Caribbean Cigar Company, at Pelican Village in Bridgetown. This is the home of the premium, handmade Royal Barbados Cigar, available as the Royal Barbados and Sam Lord varieties. Visitors can view the stages of the cigar-making process, from rolling to packing the finished cigars in cedar boxes.

After a long, stressful day of traveling, few things feel as good as lighting up. The caustic English writer Evelyn Waugh was uncommonly mellow when he observed, "The most futile and disastrous day seems well spent when it is reviewed through the blue, fragrant smoke of a Havana cigar."

[BigWill]

Nice read, I'm traveling to Punta Cana on 10/31 for a week and have already spoken to the folks at Don Lucas. I'm really looking forward to the trip.

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[oliverdst]

Nice read, I'm traveling to Punta Cana on 10/31 for a week and have already spoken to the folks at Don Lucas. I'm really looking forward to the trip.

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28/OCT-03/NOV

Melia The Reserve.

Where are you staying?

[El Presidente]

Good read!

Should the oppotunity ever present itself again, I would be hitting the La Flor Dominicana lanceros. Still a favoutite NC of mine.

[BigWill]

10/31 - 11/6 at the Iberostar Grand.

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[PointFivePast]

Been wanting to do a cigar trip to Caribbean/South America for a while. This post just made me want to go more. GF has never been out of the country so I need to broaden her horizons... and smoke some fine cigars! Hoping to go sometime after the new year.