Cigars

[Bebs]

 

[BennyD]

When I was visiting Cuba on a regular basis, the resort workers were offering top quality cigars for $10-15 a box. As I don't smoke, I couldn't be bothered bringing them back so I never got involved. Happy days.

 

[Bebs]

 

[Gazcw]

You’re not… spoon are you???

 

[Bebs]

 

[Bebs]

When I was visiting Cuba on a regular basis, the resort workers were offering top quality cigars for $10-15 a box. As I don't smoke, I couldn't be bothered bringing them back so I never got involved. Happy days.

Forgot to reply Benny. Unfortunately they would have been ‘fake’ cigars from the local workers. Everyone and his dog in Havana/Cuba sells Cohiba’s with a story that their uncle works in the factory. It’s just one way of obtaining currency and earning extra income (remember, they are all on US $60-80 a month! The only way to purchase genuine cigars is from the official Habanos shops. Everything else is fake sadly.

 

[Scaf]

Forgot to reply Benny. Unfortunately they would have been ‘fake’ cigars from the local workers. Everyone and his dog in Havana/Cuba sells Cohiba’s with a story that their uncle works in the factory. It’s just one way of obtaining currency and earning extra income (remember, they are all on US $60-80 a month! The only way to purchase genuine cigars is from the official Habanos shops. Everything else is fake sadly.

Is that really the case.
My ex sister in law was from Cuba and her father used to get an allowance from the cigar factory.
He was not allowed to sell them, but of course there was the black market………
I don’t doubt there are lots of dodgy banana leaf cigars on the market though.

 

[Bebs]

Is that really the case.
My ex sister in law was from Cuba and her father used to get an allowance from the cigar factory.
He was not allowed to sell them, but of course there was the black market………
I don’t doubt there are lots of dodgy banana leaf cigars on the market though.

100% Scaf. I’ve been coming to Cuba since the mid 1980s. 3-4 visits per year. All cigar orientated. If anyone offers you cigars outside a factory or an official shop.. they’re 100% fake.
workers get a cigar or two, but not boxes and the paperwork that goes with it.

 

[sionie1]

The Cuban stories remind me of when I was in Havana and 2 chaps approached myself and my mate, offering 'genuine finest Cuban cigars'. We declined, as neither of us smoke, however they continued to follow us giving us the full works, when out from behind a palm tree appeared ( like Mr Benn) 2 plain clothes policemen who then promptly arrested them. It was all rather surreal, but then that's Havana - or it was 15 years ago when we went.

 

[Bebs]

Castro and myself —>

 

[Bebs]

The Cuban stories remind me of when I was in Havana and 2 chaps approached myself and my mate, offering 'genuine finest Cuban cigars'. We declined, as neither of us smoke, however they continued to follow us giving us the full works, when out from behind a palm tree appeared ( like Mr Benn) 2 plain clothes policemen who then promptly arrested them. It was all rather surreal, but then that's Havana - or it was 15 years ago when we went.

Spot on. It’s far more lax now but in the early days they’d get arrested for flogging anything to tourists! These days there are beggars and all sorts outside the hotels, that just didn’t happen when Fidel ruled.

 

[Scaf]

100% Scaf. I’ve been coming to Cuba since the mid 1980s. 3-4 visits per year. All cigar orientated. If anyone offers you cigars outside a factory or an official shop.. they’re 100% fake.
workers get a cigar or two, but not boxes and the paperwork that goes with it.

Makes sense, and we all know you are the oracle when it comes to all things cigars.

 

[Bebs]

Makes sense, and we all know you are the oracle when it comes to all things cigars.

I’m not sure about that..

 

[Hurricane52]

This cigar was on Great British Menu

apologies for the orientation

 

[Bebs]

This cigar was on Great British Menu

Well spotted!
It’s an excellent cigar - got 6 boxes in my humidor

 

[Bebs]

Greetings from a sunny and warm France

 

[Nayf]

Couldn’t help myself at Sao Paolo airport. Just need the weather to warm up so I don’t get hypothermia before I’m finished.
The Alonso Menendez pair are native to my wife’s state of Brazil, Bahia. I’ve yet to try them.

 

[Bebs]

Couldn’t help myself at Sao Paolo airport. Just need the weather to warm up so I don’t get hypothermia before I’m finished.
The Alonso Menendez pair are native to my wife’s state of Brazil, Bahia. I’ve yet to try them.

They look very interesting, I’ve never tried Bahia cigars, do report back. They look like they could be short filler cigars.

 

[Nayf]

Pre Retromobile constitutional

 

[Bebs]

Great pic - enjoy