Help Buying Cigars

[lrskier]

Headed to WCar 8/1 on the Rhapsody and got a bud that wants me to get him some Cohiba's.. Where would you buy them - GC or Coz??? How much would you expect to pay-or i think he likes the shorter ones, Robusto??? Any problems bringing them home??

 

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Thanks in advance.

 

LRSkier

[lrskier]

Anyone, what about cigar purchases on WC route??? please.....

 

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[pcbeck]

Don't know much about cigars but if they are Cuban US Customs will not allow them back into this country.

[lrskier]

How about changing their clothes so they look Mexican????

[lrskier]

any one else ???

 

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[mmeadows]

Sorry if this is more information than you want or need.

 

Here's the thing about cigars. The vast majority of what you're going to see is going to be fakes, probably 90-95%, particularly in Cohibas. From the sounds of it, you're not very familiar with cigars (don't worry, extremely few people are), so that makes it even tougher.

 

First things first... it is illegal to purchase Cuban goods as an American citizen, even if you're in a country that does business with Cuba (which is everywhere BUT America). What does that mean? Well, if customs catches them, you'll definitely have them taken from you and be out whatever you spent. I can't give you any advice about getting them through Customs as that is an illegal act and I would never do such a thing. I just know all this from, um, reading.

 

Assuming you're still going to buy the cigars and do whatever you feel necessary (not that I'm endorsing that) - I will give you what I know. Fact of the matter is that since you cannot identify real ones versus fake the only place you should buy them is an authorized retailer. Much like Nike will sell at places authorized to sell their product, Habanos SA (the company that oversees Cuban cigar production) does the same. Much like Nike has their own retail venues, so does Habanos (La Casa del Habano). That is what I would recommend to someone who wants to make sure their money is well spent on real ones.

 

Here is the address in GC: No. 9 Cayside Galleries. Habour Drive

 

The price of Cohibas are probably the highest of any cigar, so you might be surprised. If he likes shorter cigars, he may want to try the Siglo I or II. You're probably looking at least over $200 for the Siglo I, easy, and possibly more depending on GC's taxes and such. From that point on you keep moving up as you go up the Siglo line (it goes from 1-6 now). The Robustos probably are close to double that. Since one place distributes basically everything, prices in a country for legit cigars should always be nearly the same (minus hotels/casinos/etc that buy from a wholesaler instead of a distributer).

 

One last note... do not buy from the street at any cost. They are not selling real ones. They do not have a friend who travels to Cuba. They do not have connections. Would you buy Nike shoes from someone in the street for 1/10th of the price if they looked obviously fake? Well in this case these are obviously fake but almost everyone doesn't know the difference since they don't know what the real ones look like.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions.

[trabucocruiser]

Try the Havana Club in Cozamel, good Cubans at a good price.

[CDLTEL]

Hello,

 

Just Back From That Voyager. When You Go To Grand Caymen, Go To La Casa De Habannos Cirgar. Its 2 Blocks From Where The Tenders Drop You Off.

 

Ask For Walace, He Will Take Care Of You.

 

Bought A Couple Of Boxes.

 

 

Joe