Clear Havanas?

[Kevin48438]

Brought up in another thread, but I didn’t want to hijack that one.  My understanding is that a “clear Havana” is a cigar made of Cuban tobacco, but not by Habanos SA.   Do I have that right?

About 10 years ago, I went to a shop in Sarnia, Canada that had some cigars that had mostly (all?) Cuban tobacco.  Machine made and if I recall they had 2 wrapper options.   Went for like $80 per box.   Quite tasty and they sold quite a few.  I bought a box of each and a box of Monty4s.  Passed them around to my friends in Toronto and were enjoyed by all.

Are clear Havanas still happening?   I don’t think any B&M will ship them as I don’t know of any out there, if they still are sold in any stores.

Anybody know of any that can be enjoyed while traveling?

[NSXCIGAR]

A Clear Havana is a cigar comprised Cuban tobacco but rolled outside of Cuba, and usually the US. "Clear" refers to the leaf being "cleared" by customs of duties or excise to the destination country. I don't know if the term ever gained use outside of the US, so perhaps Clear Havana referred strictly to US-made, Cuban tobacco cigars.

I also don't know if all Clear Havanas were comprised of 100% Cuban tobacco. Cuban wrapper had been an expensive burden for many US producers. Connecticut and later Sumatra was widely adopted for US made cigars so I'm not sure if a Sumatra wrapper leaf on Cuban filler and binder still qualifies it as a Clear Havana.

I am personally unaware that any Cuban tobacco is being utilized outside of Cuba or LCDHs. Raw leaf is tightly controlled by Tabacuba and none exported commercially as far as I know, although there may be special deals or relationships with certain countries or distributors allowing for limited use such as the Canadian machine-mades you're describing.

[smbauerllc]

A Clear Havana is a cigar comprised Cuban tobacco but rolled outside of Cuba, and usually the US. "Clear" refers to the leaf being "cleared" by customs of duties or excise to the destination country. I don't know if the term ever gained use outside of the US, so perhaps Clear Havana referred strictly to US-made, Cuban tobacco cigars.
I also don't know if all Clear Havanas were comprised of 100% Cuban tobacco. Cuban wrapper had been an expensive burden for many US producers. Connecticut and later Sumatra was widely adopted for US made cigars so I'm not sure if a Sumatra wrapper leaf on Cuban filler and binder still qualifies it as a Clear Havana.
I am personally unaware that any Cuban tobacco is being utilized outside of Cuba or LCDHs. Raw leaf is tightly controlled by Tabacuba and none exported commercially as far as I know, although there may be special deals or relationships with certain countries or distributors allowing for limited use such as the Canadian machine-mades you're describing.

Excellent post.
Everything is accurate in my knowledge and explained everything well.

I have a handful of 1940's and 1950's I was generously gifted and have slowly been enjoying them

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Puros Y Vino]

I'm curious about what you found in Sarnia for $80/box (even if 10 years ago). The Clear Havanas I'm familiar with are from the early to mid 1900's. After the Revolution, raw, Cuban tobacco leaf never left the island again.  There is a vendor in Toronto that has very old Cuban filler, but uses Dominican wrapper.  But they're not $80 a box cheap.

[Kevin48438]

17 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

A Clear Havana is a cigar comprised Cuban tobacco but rolled outside of Cuba, and usually the US. "Clear" refers to the leaf being "cleared" by customs of duties or excise to the destination country. I don't know if the term ever gained use outside of the US, so perhaps Clear Havana referred strictly to US-made, Cuban tobacco cigars.

I also don't know if all Clear Havanas were comprised of 100% Cuban tobacco. Cuban wrapper had been an expensive burden for many US producers. Connecticut and later Sumatra was widely adopted for US made cigars so I'm not sure if a Sumatra wrapper leaf on Cuban filler and binder still qualifies it as a Clear Havana.

I am personally unaware that any Cuban tobacco is being utilized outside of Cuba or LCDHs. Raw leaf is tightly controlled by Tabacuba and none exported commercially as far as I know, although there may be special deals or relationships with certain countries or distributors allowing for limited use such as the Canadian machine-mades you're describing.

Thanks for the clarity!  😆🤣  I’m here all week.  Be sure to tip your waitress...

This post was inspired by a reply from BrightonCorgi in Count of Montecristo’s on favorite coronas.   He mentioned one from Amsterdam.

My intention for the thread wasn’t about finding modern cigars that technically fit the criteria of a “clear” Havana, I suppose.   More of, which house rolls or independent B&M specials contain at least some part Cuban tobacco.  Of course they would be outside the US.  And they would likely be very limited production.  More of a marketing enticement to get people in the shop.  Maybe only sold as singles and a customer is allowed 2.  In the US I know of some good house rolls from Costa Rica that are like that.

 

8 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said:

I'm curious about what you found in Sarnia for $80/box (even if 10 years ago). The Clear Havanas I'm familiar with are from the early to mid 1900's. After the Revolution, raw, Cuban tobacco leaf never left the island again.  There is a vendor in Toronto that has very old Cuban filler, but uses Dominican wrapper.  But they're not $80 a box cheap.

My research hasn’t found them yet.  Trying to remember who told me about them but that was at least 10 years ago and my memory isn’t great.  Or even average.   I did find this, which I found interesting:

https://www.correnticigars.com/home-main
 

Maybe they were made with machine from scraps of cigars made there?  🤷🏻‍♂️
Maybe it was old tobacco and is no longer available? 🤷🏻‍♂️
Maybe not related at all?  🤷🏻‍♂️
 

Just spitballing some leads in case you’re in Toronto and care to investigate.  I don’t anticipate being there for a while.  But this is the sort of thing I enjoy doing on vacation.

[jhalischuk]

1 hour ago, Kevin48438 said:

My research hasn’t found them yet.  Trying to remember who told me about them but that was at least 10 years ago and my memory isn’t great.  Or even average.   I did find this, which I found interesting:

https://www.correnticigars.com/home-main
 

Maybe they were made with machine from scraps of cigars made there?  🤷🏻‍♂️
Maybe it was old tobacco and is no longer available? 🤷🏻‍♂️
Maybe not related at all?  🤷🏻‍♂️
 

Just spitballing some leads in case you’re in Toronto and care to investigate.  I don’t anticipate being there for a while.  But this is the sort of thing I enjoy doing on vacation.

Yeah always been curious about correntis. They say that they have access to Cuban leaf but I've never been able to get it explained any further than that. 

Worth a visit if you've never been, it's a cool space. The cigars aren't very good though, imo. 

[Shrimpchips]

I remembered seeing this about the custom rolls offered on another site:

https://www.halfwheel.com/review-cigars-habanos-custom-rolled/34855/

 

Not sure if anyone here has tried these.  I’ve definitely been curious to try.

[NSXCIGAR]

7 hours ago, Shrimpchips said:

I remembered seeing this about the custom rolls offered on another site:

https://www.halfwheel.com/review-cigars-habanos-custom-rolled/34855/

I would suspect that these are sourced from LCDH Hong Kong or another Asian LCDH. They seem to be typical custom rolls and use the same leaf that they all seem to. Every custom I've ever had taste about the same and HW's description pretty much matches that. He's also not the only vendor to offer customs so I wouldn't be surprised if they're just sourced from an LCDH. 

As an aside, if these are rolled outside the "sanction of HSA" I don't know why revealing the details would be a problem unless he's purchasing the raw leaf from the LCDH and rolling it on his end. Either way, that leaf is likely coming from some LCDH. In fact, I know for a fact that at least one LCDH sells raw leaf.

[Cairo]

15 hours ago, Shrimpchips said:

I remembered seeing this about the custom rolls offered on another site:

https://www.halfwheel.com/review-cigars-habanos-custom-rolled/34855/

I have a couple of bundles of these (smaller vitolas) and the review nailed it imho--in case anyone is curious.