Premium Cuban cigars made with non-Cuban grown tobacco?

[cigarros]

Bravo Guy! Agreed completely! Great boast, small roast

[Jesuscookies]

Interesting posts. Guy, great stuff! Even Rob came in to defend, must be a humdinger.

Cuban tobacco may be going to other NC manufacters. However, without some type of hard proof it all seems quite speculative.

Do cargo ships or cargo planes regularly come out of Cuba? If so, where are they offloading "product"? If they are offloading product you would imagine someone would have information?

Also, as invasive as our Government is, I cannot imagine them not having an eagle in the sky to watch over what goes in and comes out of Cuba.

Anyway, just my 2 pesos.

[jawofboston]

Who cares? They could be putting tobacco from outer Mongolia in the sticks for all I care; they taste great!

I would not doubt that 1. after the embargo is lifted, and 2. when Cuba achieves cultural and economic freedome, people will experiment with blends of Cuban and non-Cuban tobacco. Who knows - maybe those blends will be fantastic. If they are, I'll smoke them. If they're not, I won't.

[harryleech]

Do you think there is Nicaraguan grown tobacco in any Cuban cigars?

Do you think there is any Cuban grown tobacco in Nicaraguan cigars?

Short answer? No and no.

It suits non-Cuban cigar makers to make casual remarks like that to 'prove' that there's little difference between their tobacco and Cuban tobacco. There is.

Is there any proof? Shipping manifests? Receipts?

Only rumours and conjecture. Devoting this much discussion to it gives it far more legitimacy than it deserves.

[samb]

I certainly hope not. If Im going to spend good money on good cuban cigars, I dont want tobacco from anywhere else.

[mrcoin]

It's amazing how these nonsense stories spread like wildfire.

[Jimmy2]

For those that don't know America was blending Cuban and non-Cuban tobacco before Castro took over Cuba.Their was hundreds of brands Robert Burns,White Owl, Bering and Dutch Masters to name a few..Their is nothing new to this and America was the biggest buyers of cigars in this format and also the full Cuban Puro.

This is all marketing bullshit the ones who are educated cannot be fooled as we know cigar history .. Do I think Cuban tobacco should be blended in NC tobacco yes but put it back in the companies that once blended it in their cigar before the Embargo that was Clear Havana or Bonded Havana's (some of the cigar listed above).

Before the Embargo they were more brands and they supplied the world with no problems.

All the NC companies today no matter how nice some of them are they should never get any of the Cuban Tobacco when the Embargo is lifted.All NC companies if they get there hands in Cuba will exploit every corner of that Island just to raise $$$ for their cigars.

[reigndrop]

The real question is, if you found out that the CCs were blended with Nicaraguan tobacco, would your perception of CC's change?

[Jimmy2]

Again i can tell Cuban tobacco from other tobaccos from other countries and i could say thier is no NC tobacco in Cuban cigars.

This is why i can't stand most NC cigar companies they are all scared and want Cuban tobacco for their cigars.

And again blending Cuban tobacco with NC tobacco was very normal pre Castro days their were hundereds of differant brands blended like this.

But today no way Cuba is going to give their tobacco away to anyone as they have tons and they have tons of stock that is not selling because of the economy!!! So why would they need any tobacco from another country?

This is one of the most Stupid topics that has been going on for years and the people who listen to these idiots should not even lend them their ear...

[phxkev]

The real question is, if you found out that the CCs were blended with Nicaraguan tobacco, would your perception of CC's change?

I think that IS the real question. And vice versa... would your perception of some non-Cubans change if you found out they had a blend that included some Cuban tobacco?

[phxkev]

Again i can tell Cuban tobacco from other tobaccos from other countries and i could say thier is no NC tobacco in Cuban cigars.

This is why i can't stand most NC cigar companies they are all scared and want Cuban tobacco for their cigars.

And again blending Cuban tobacco with NC tobacco was very normal pre Castro days their were hundereds of differant brands blended like this.

But today no way Cuba is going to give their tobacco away to anyone as they have tons and they have tons of stock that is not selling because of the economy!!! So why would they need any tobacco from another country?

This is one of the most Stupid topics that has been going on for years and the people who listen to these idiots should not even lend them their ear...

There are several comments in this thread about how non-Cuban cigar manufacturers are jealous of Cuban tobacco, that they market to take advantage of the Cuban image, that they create these rumors, etc. Yet many of these non-Cuban brands are owned by Altadis.... which owns 50% of Habanos, S.A. So if they perpetuate these rumors, they are essentially accusing themselves, right? They market against themselves, right? Although none of what I have heard has involved Altadis directly or indirectly.

I don't know the truth. I have never heard that tobacco is being sold or purchased..... only that it is beng sent to and from Cuba and used in premium cigars. So the tobacco could be traded straight up. As long as the US is not involved, what is stopping them?

I think if a boutique non-Cuban cigar contained 20% Cuban tobacco that the majority of aficionado's wouldn't detect it or notice it. Many Cuban aficionados won't even try it anyway. Too many people I know who smoke "only Cubans" have no idea what is available out there today but they seem to know they won't like it (they refuse to believe there are good non-Cubans out there.... there are a few.... just as there are some Cubans that's aren't worth buying. That attitude is too bad because sometimes a multi-contry blended cigar with a Sumatra, Cameroon or Criollo wrapper is a whole other cigar experience that Cuba can't offer). The cigar I heard that might contain Cuban tobacco has never publicly claimed or hinted at it. Cuban style and tradition or seed is not a part of their marketing. It wouldn't make sense for the owner of the brand to say something publicly so stupid that could get him investigated and banned from the US market.

[El Presidente]

There are several comments in this thread about how non-Cuban cigar manufacturers are jealous of Cuban tobacco, that they market to take advantage of the Cuban image, that they create these rumors, etc. Yet many of these non-Cuban brands are owned by Altadis.... which owns 50% of Habanos, S.A. So if they perpetuate these rumors, they are essentially accusing themselves, right? They market against themselves, right? Although none of what I have heard has involved Altadis directly or indirectly.

I don't know the truth. I have never heard that tobacco is being sold or purchased..... only that it is beng sent to and from Cuba and used in premium cigars. So the tobacco could be traded straight up. As long as the US is not involved, what is stopping them?

I think if a boutique non-Cuban cigar contained 20% Cuban tobacco that the majority of aficionado's wouldn't detect it or notice it. Many Cuban aficionados won't even try it anyway. Too many people I know who smoke "only Cubans" have no idea what is available out there today but they seem to know they won't like it (they refuse to believe there are good non-Cubans out there.... there are a few.... just as there are some Cubans that's aren't worth buying. That attitude is too bad because sometimes a multi-contry blended cigar with a Sumatra, Cameroon or Criollo wrapper is a whole other cigar experience that Cuba can't offer). The cigar I heard that might contain Cuban tobacco has never publicly claimed or hinted at it. Cuban style and tradition or seed is not a part of their marketing. It wouldn't make sense for the owner of the brand to say something publicly so stupid that could get him investigated and banned from the US market.

I really want to be clear here. I don't care if company A contracts with HSA and blends a premium cigar using premium leaf of various tobacco's or vice versa. Good luck to them.

What I am against is lies being told to denigrate the essence of another industry, in this case the Cuban cigar industry.

I have heard these rumours told over a table many times. Always by Nic and Dom owners but not by any company affiliated to Altadis USA. I have asked for proof time and time again but am invariably fobbed off by a sly all knowing smile.

There is no proof. Not a shipper, a handler, a blender, an exec, a roller has ever come forward in Havana and said that they had seen or used foreign leaf.

I have no doubt that the occasional bale leaves farms via fast boat. However the price for being caught is jail, the logistics not easy.

[phxkev]

I really want to be clear here. I don't care if company A contracts with HSA and blends a premium cigar using premium leaf of various tobacco's or vice versa. Good luck to them.

What I am against is lies being told to denigrate the essence of another industry, in this case the Cuban cigar industry.

I have heard these rumours told over a table many times. Always by Nic and Dom owners but not by any company affiliated to Altadis USA. I have asked for proof time and time again but am invariably fobbed off by a sly all knowing smile.

There is no proof. Not a shipper, a handler, a blender, an exec, a roller has ever come forward in Havana and said that they had seen or used foreign leaf.

I have no doubt that the occasional bale leaves farms via fast boat. However the price for being caught is jail, the logistics not easy.

I think the non-Cuban cigar industry has a reputation for dishonesty. Some have artifically colored their maduro wrappers for example. And I think many General Cigar brands use the same dirt tasting blends. I think they are deliberately deceptive when they copy Cuban brand names and even the design of cigar bands. When it comes to honesty, they seem to be lacking credibility.

[rallones]

I think that IS the real question. And vice versa... would your perception of some non-Cubans change if you found out they had a blend that included some Cuban tobacco?

"If you could be a tree, what kind of tree would you be?" is an equally useful question as these. This whole rumor is sheer and utter nonsense. I smoke 98% Havanas, but enjoy and occasional non-havana, so my perception is not skewed by Havana hagiography.

A waste of time to try to chase this ghost. Those who would know (i.e., Rob) have tactfully indicated that this rumor is complete b.s. Let Secretariat rest in peace.

[Colt45]

..... only that it is beng sent to and from Cuba and used in premium cigars.

Again, to what end, especially relating to Cuba importing tobacco? It would be like the Italians importing sangiovese or the French importing pinot noir.

[Habanos2000]

I think that IS the real question. And vice versa... would your perception of some non-Cubans change if you found out they had a blend that included some Cuban tobacco?

My perception, or desire, of a cigar is based 100% on taste. If the cigar tastes GREAT I could care less what country the tobacco comes from.

[thechenman]

My perception, or desire, of a cigar is based 100% on taste. If the cigar tastes GREAT I could care less what country the tobacco comes from.

Well said...couldn't agree more. It just so happens that the best tasting cigars are coming our of Cuba...