Must Pick Up Cuban Cigars in Cuba

[BDSpiritual1]

Hi,

A friend of mine is going to Cuba next week and said they can pick me up some cigars if needed.

As I don't have a lot of experience with Cubans, it's hard for me to say which to pick up.

In your expert opinion, what would  be some must pick up options that I can let them know  to look out for? Also,  are the prices generally the same or are some  better than others? Currently, I'm into more medium bodied cigars.

Any suggestions or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. 

[Derboesekoenig]

Price limit or budget?

[taylorgov2]

I hope your friend is knowledgeable and has experience with CCs if you're going to ask him to buy you some while he's down there. 

[BDSpiritual1]

Nothing crazy.. maybe under $300 a box... Maybe closer to $200/$250 is possible. 

[BDSpiritual1]

Just now, taylorgov2 said:

I hope your friend is knowledgeable and has experience with CCs if you going to ask him to buy you some while he's down there. 

Unfortunately not ?. It's more of a favour. They'll probably be taken to a B&M spot. I told them no beach buys or anyone saying they work at the factory and that it's part of their salary, etc. Lol

[Hammer Smokin']

save your money, which could very easily go towards buying fakes...

 

and buy from here.

at least they'll be real.

[Guest Nekhyludov]

3 minutes ago, Hammer Smokin' said:

save your money, which could very easily go towards buying fakes...

 

and buy from here.

at least they'll be real.

^^^

Yup. This.

Based on what you've described, I would think there's very little chance that you'll get authentic cigars. The street hustlers in Havana are better at scamming inexperienced tourists than your friends are at dodging them.

[Derboesekoenig]

As long as they buy only at La Casa del Habano, there won't be any issues getting legit cigars. 

I know it's more difficult, but I would want them to bring back $300 worth of custom rolls.

Otherwise, for the current Cuba gov price list, check out yulcigars.blogspot.com/ 

[Philc2001]

I was just in Cuba 2 days ago, and here is what I would recommend;

 

1- go see Yolanda at the LCDH in the Melia hotel. Get some of her custom rolled and then get a coffee in the LCDH and smoke a cigar in one of the nice big leather chairs with your coffee.

 

2- a block or so away from the Melia you can go see Alex (Alejandro) and get some Puntillas (custom rolls). Alex is really a nice guy, so enjoy your time with him.

 

3- go to the LCDH in the Hotel Nacional and check their humidor, they have some Monte Dumas in stock, and lots of other stuff. Then go outside on the back terrace and have a mohito and smoke a cigar while watching the sun set.

 

Anything else you can buy back home, so I would not spend a lot on the regular stuff, you’re better off to buy from Rob.

 

If time permits, stop at Cannonazzo for lunch, heck of an experience. Have fun.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Derboesekoenig]

11 minutes ago, Philc2001 said:

I was just in Cuba 2 days ago, and here is what I would recommend;

 

1- go see Yolanda at the LCDH in the Melia hotel. Get some of her custom rolled and then get a coffee in the LCDH and smoke a cigar in one of the nice big leather chairs with your coffee.

 

2- a block or so away from the Melia you can go see Alex (Alejandro) and get some Puntillas (custom rolls). Alex is really a nice guy, so enjoy your time with him.

 

3- go to the LCDH in the Hotel Nacional and check their humidor, they have some Monte Dumas in stock, and lots of other stuff. Then go outside on the back terrace and have a mohito and smoke a cigar while watching the sun set.

 

Anything else you can buy back home, so I would not spend a lot on the regular stuff, you’re better off to buy from Rob.

 

If time permits, stop at Cannonazzo for lunch, heck of an experience. Have fun.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

He says he isn't going himself, but that a friend is going.

Great suggestions though

[ac031898]

I was just in Cuba 2 days ago, and here is what I would recommend;
 
1- go see Yolanda at the LCDH in the Melia hotel. Get some of her custom rolled
 
2- a block or so away from the Melia you can go see Alex (Alejandro) and get some Puntillas (custom rolls).
 

Can you share recent pricing on custom rolls that you mentioned? Ballpark is fine. Thanks!

[Derboesekoenig]

I don't know off the top of my head, but La Puntilla from Alex were around 120-125 CUC per bundle of 25. These are the only ones I bothered to purchase. Should've bought more from him and the other rollers. Next time!

[BDSpiritual1]

Thanks for all the feedback. 

Unfortunately, I won't be going but was hoping to get a chance for utilize my friends duty free limit.

[Hookmaker]

7 hours ago, Philc2001 said:

I was just in Cuba 2 days ago, and here is what I would recommend;

 

1- go see Yolanda at the LCDH in the Melia hotel. Get some of her custom rolled and then get a coffee in the LCDH and smoke a cigar in one of the nice big leather chairs with your coffee.

 

2- a block or so away from the Melia you can go see Alex (Alejandro) and get some Puntillas (custom rolls). Alex is really a nice guy, so enjoy your time with him.

 

3- go to the LCDH in the Hotel Nacional and check their humidor, they have some Monte Dumas in stock, and lots of other stuff. Then go outside on the back terrace and have a mohito and smoke a cigar while watching the sun set.

 

Anything else you can buy back home, so I would not spend a lot on the regular stuff, you’re better off to buy from Rob.

 

If time permits, stop at Cannonazzo for lunch, heck of an experience. Have fun.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Absolutely the best advice in 1 and/or 2.

I had a cigar novice friend pick up 50 customs from Alex that I ordered from him via FB messenger a week before.

4.50 a stick, AWESOMELY good cigars and value and no way to go wrong.

your friend MUST remember to get and keep a factura (invoice) for Cuban customs from Alex.

[BDSpiritual1]

This is all great information! So, it sounds like I should ask them to buy any of the commercial cigars but pick up the custom rolls instead? 

The reason why I was thinking about getting the commercial ones because in Canada, just an example, a Montecristo No. 2 can be like $40 a stick! Our taxes and duties on things is crazy!! But, if you guys are saying that the custom rolls are the way to go, I'll definitely share that information.

How did you get in contact with Alex? Is there anything specific I'd have to let my friend know?

[bpm32]

6 hours ago, Hookmaker said:

Absolutely the best advice in 1 and/or 2.

I had a cigar novice friend pick up 50 customs from Alex that I ordered from him via FB messenger a week before.

4.50 a stick, AWESOMELY good cigars and value and no way to go wrong.

your friend MUST remember to get and keep a factura (invoice) for Cuban customs from Alex.

Unless things have changed very recently facturas are for factory cigars only. For the customs you can’t get them. Alex can give you a standard receipt, but it wouldn’t be what people refer to as a “factura”, which is a halfsheet-sized paper with a lot of information like passport number, etc. The limit in place by Cuban customs is 20 cigars, but enforcement can change week-to-week, depending on the terminal you fly out of, how you’ve packaged the cigars, whether you put them in check-in or carry-on luggage, and apparently whether there’s a good opportunity  to “tip” a customs officer. And then sometimes they just don’t care if you have a suitcase full of them.

[Hookmaker]

I stand corrected on the factura issue. My friend got a standard receipt.

[stogieluver]

33 minutes ago, bpm32 said:

Unless things have changed very recently facturas are for factory cigars only. For the customs you can’t get them. Alex can give you a standard receipt, but it wouldn’t be what people refer to as a “factura”, which is a halfsheet-sized paper with a lot of information like passport number, etc. 

I was given the “official” factura by Alex, Yolanda, & Reynaldo for customs in June. 

[bpm32]

12 minutes ago, stogieluver said:

I was given the “official” factura by Alex, Yolanda, & Reynaldo for customs in June. 

That’s great then!—did they get rid of the limit of 20?

[Derboesekoenig]

3 hours ago, bpm32 said:

Unless things have changed very recently facturas are for factory cigars only. For the customs you can’t get them. Alex can give you a standard receipt, but it wouldn’t be what people refer to as a “factura”, which is a halfsheet-sized paper with a lot of information like passport number, etc. The limit in place by Cuban customs is 20 cigars, but enforcement can change week-to-week, depending on the terminal you fly out of, how you’ve packaged the cigars, whether you put them in check-in or carry-on luggage, and apparently whether there’s a good opportunity  to “tip” a customs officer. And then sometimes they just don’t care if you have a suitcase full of them.

Yep I brought back 50 customs with factura in July. Never had issues going back stateside either. I guess it can be hit or miss

[BDSpiritual1]

So, I know the duty free limit is 50 on return... But... are you guys saying there may be a Cuban limit of 20?

[FatPete]

As a novice will be buying, my advice is buying standard cigars from a LCDH with a fractura, so there won't be any possibility of hassle at the airport. 

H. Upmann noellas are cheaper in Cuba than elsewhere and come in a nice jar!

just my opinion 

[Nino]

4 hours ago, stogieluver said:

I was given the “official” factura by Alex, Yolanda, & Reynaldo for customs in June. 

There is NO official factura for CR's ... ONLY for boxes.
You mean you got a receipt maybe, but NO official Factura

4 hours ago, bpm32 said:

That’s great then!—did they get rid of the limit of 20?

NO - the official Cuban customs limit outbound is 20 CR' or unbanded cigars....

2 hours ago, Derboesekoenig said:

Yep I brought back 50 customs with factura in July. Never had issues going back stateside either. I guess it can be hit or miss

Again and s l o w l y for you - There is NO factura for custom rolled cigars ....

1 hour ago, Jequan_sparxxx said:

So, I know the duty free limit is 50 on return... But... are you guys saying there may be a Cuban limit of 20?

Not : there may be - but : There IS a Cuban customs limit of 20 unbanded cigars

THIS is an official Factura used ONLY for boxes ...

 

[Derboesekoenig]

I must've received something very similar then, because it looked like all the other receipts I got. I threw them all away when I got back though, so I don't remember now.

[Nino]

There is NOTHING remotely "very similar" to this official Factura in Cuba -  which consists of 3 pages and records where you bought the cigars, what cigars, your name, Passport number, nationality and total amount paid ....