cuban cigars

peteeey

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2001
1,888
328
83
I'm heading to the States and an American friend wants me to bring him $100 (U.S.) worth of Cuban cigars. He doesn't have a perference other than he'd like some Montecristo 4's.

If you had $100 in American funds to buy a nice mixture of Cubans, what would you select? A friend of mind suggested that I add a couple of Romeo y Julieta into the mix.

Also, I've bought Cubans at Smokin' Cigar on Bayview and didn't have any problem with them, but I've been told the Holy Smokes shops in Loblaws are just as good and maybe a bit cheaper.

Any other good places to buy Cubans? I don't really want to make the trek downtown.
 
Montecristo 4 is alright, R y J is much smoother, R y J no.2 ( in aluminium tube) is quite nice. Anyway , check out Yitz on Eglington/Avenue.

Here is their link, you can also order on the net:

http://www.cuban-cigars.com/
 
Just keep in mind if you get caught with them it is smuggling and the US will treat you like an Anerican with a DWI entering Canada.
 
Thanks for the link, Berlin.

And I know it's illegal to take them into the States but I've done that before with no problem. I think the U.S. border people have more on their minds than some guy taking a few cigars into the States.
 
Monte #4 are nice but $100 isn't going to get you very far.
You could buy him one Hoyo de Monterey Double Corona. It is the best cigar I have ever smoked. It curled my toes! It is a cigar where you need 90 minutes of uninterrupted time, a fine single malt and a friend.

The are quite pricey though and you probably could only buy one of those along with a few monte #4's for $100 US.
Enjoy,
Tell your friend that the best place to buy Cubans (other than Cuba) IMHO, is England. They are quite serious about their cigars and always keep them stored under ideal conditions. I personally have had great luck getting them shipped over. Burlington Bertie cigars in London is an excellent purveyor, http://www.bbertie-cigars.com/. I have been buying from them for years and have always received my shipments. I have purchased cigars in T.O., Montreal, Vancouver, and Quebec and IMO the cigars I get from London are consistently better.
Of course I understand that if you can drive across town and pick up a Cuban, you might not want to have them shipped from England. I have no such luck living South of the border in Bush occupied territory.
Jocko
 
Thanks. I see it listed for $36.99 at the Smokin' Cigar. I just may give it a try.

jocko758 said:
Monte #4 are nice but $100 isn't going to get you very far.
You could buy him one Hoyo de Monterey Double Corona. Jocko
 
Cigar Aficionado

You will be able to get an unbiased rating on many cigars.

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/Home/
 
IMO Yitz's is the best kept secret in town, prices are good too. H.Upmann #2 52 gauge torpedo awesome smoke.
 
Where is that place down town where they roll the cigars right there using Cuban Tobacco, I think i t's on King...you might get something quite good and look like a hero by not showing up with 3-4 cigars for your friend.
 
Personally, I've brought back some Montecristos, Cohibas and a few Romeo y Julietas - by far, the Cohibas are a much smoother cigar! My vote goes for a Cohiba or two!
 
One of the BEST, smoothest cuban cigars you can find is from Frank Correnti.
http://www.correnticigars.com/
He hand-rolls cubans from imported leaf right on King St in Toronto.
They are cheaper than imported name-brands, and a luxurious smoke!
Moreover...NO LABELS!
Easy to take to the U.S.A.
 
FunSeeker27 said:
Julietas - by far, the Cohibas are a much smoother cigar! My vote goes for a Cohiba or two!

I have to agree with funseeker, that overall, any Cohiba you buy is going to be awesome.
The thing about Cohibas is that the Cuban gov't allows them to go around the country and pick the best tobacco first so are consistently a high quality smoke.

My number one choice remains the Hoyo de Monterey Double Corona but I would choose Cohibas over any other brand after that. One of the few cigars that I have smoked that I would puff on until it nearly burned my fingers.
They are wicked expensive!
 
Thanks, Deep, Bone and Baci for the urls. I'm sending the one regarding Frank Correnti to my friend to see if he's interested.

Thanks for the advice Jocko. Funseeker, are there any Cohibas you prefer over the others?
 
Cohiba esplendido (most expensive cigar) Cohiba Siglo IV (best bang for the buck) Cohiba Robusto (short esplendido)
 
I've got 5 Cohiba Siglo III's in their hologramed cardboard box for $200 cash.

That's about a $30 savings.

pm before 18:00 Friday if interested.
 
Cubans

Montecristo #2 probably the most popular cigar in the world, and well worth the reputation. Personally, I am most fond of the Cohiba double corono especial, but $100 will buy only a few of these. Incidentally, many cigar shops will FedEx to the US if you pay shipping and that keeps you from having to work through customs. Don't ignore the Upmann Churchill (one of my favorites, also)
 
Legal question

I work in South America and return through the Caribbean and finally Miami. This is an excellent opportunity to build up a well stocked humidor. I have to go through US immigration at Miami. In transit, can I expect problems with Cuban cigars? I'm not the type that gets searched, usually they just ask to see a boarding pass and passport and wave me through.

Alternately, I can spend a day in Miami and pick up some top flight Nicaraguans.
 
I'm not sure how it is now, but in the past you were allowed a certain amount of cigars, even Cuban, as long as they were for personal use only and you are not American.
 
From U.S. Customs website:

Only persons returning from Cuba after a licensed visit there are permitted to bring Cuban cigars into the United States, provided the value of such cigars does not exceed $100 US dollars and the cigars are for that individual's personal use and not for resale. All other importations of Cuban cigars are illegal. All offers to buy or sell such cigars in the United States involve cigars that were imported illegally. Contrary to what many people may believe, it is illegal for travelers to bring into the United States Cuban cigars acquired in third countries (such as Canada, England, or Mexico).