I love Cuba ....but when it comes to smoking cigars

[zathan]

I agree and I blame it on humidity. The air coming into the cigar is close to 100% RH most of the time. It might start all right if it was kept in a air conditioned humidor but 15 minutes after you light up, the tobacco starts to swell from the humidity. On the island I tend to stick to custom rolls and Partagas E2/D4. They're not my favorite brand but in Cuba, I've had good luck with them.

[oliverdst]

Next time in Cuba I will try to be sober for some hours and smoke a cigar. Then I will tell you what I think. I hope.

[Colt45]

On 12/15/2016 at 5:02 PM, El Presidente said:

The long and short of it is that the few cigars that I bring with me from home "outsmoke" almost anything that I purchase or store in Cuba.

That's because the cigars you buy in Cuba use only Cuban tobacco while exported Cuban cigars use a high percentage of tobacco sourced from other countries.

Cheers!

[Lotusguy]

That's because the cigars you buy in Cuba use only Cuban tobacco while exported Cuban cigars use a high percentage of tobacco sourced from other countries.

Cheers!

?‍♂️

[PapaDisco]

Don't know about Cuba, but I have the exact same problem in Saigon.  Unless the cigar goes straight from the humidor to an indoor, temperature controlled lounge, they suffer.  When I smoke out of doors in the evenings in Saigon (80F 90rH) it's very hit or miss, even if I've dried the stick out ahead of time in the fridge.  If I keep things indoor in a proper lounge, and the cigar hasn't been getting overheated in advance, it tastes just like at home.

So I'm betting it's heat and humidity as the culprit.  Our cigars may be rolled there, but almost everyone of us keeps them and smokes them at something cooler and dryer than the ambient Cuban environment.

[El Presidente]

19 hours ago, oliverdst said:

Next time in Cuba I will try to be sober for some hours and smoke a cigar. Then I will tell you what I think. I hope.

We couldn't ask you to take such a hit for the team........it is just not right 

[Diamondog]

I find it the exact opposite, smoking cigars in Cuba is difficult to find one that smokes better at home...

[SaintMickey®]

12 hours ago, Colt45 said:

That's because the cigars you buy in Cuba use only Cuban tobacco while exported Cuban cigars use a high percentage of tobacco sourced from other countries.

Cheers!

I was just in a cigar store in Atlanta a week ago and was given a dissertation on how much tobacco leaf Cuban imports. This guys brother works in industry in Nicaragua bla bla bla yada yada yada.

[Colt45]

2 hours ago, SaintMickey® said:

I was just in a cigar store in Atlanta a week ago and was given a dissertation on how much tobacco leaf Cuban imports. This guys brother works in industry in Nicaragua bla bla bla yada yada yada.

Yeah, that kind of talk is nothing new. While I guess nothing is impossible, as has been mentioned here a number of times, it would be difficult to hide the trail of the amount of tobacco necessary to make it worthwhile

[Dave O)))]

Interesting discussion which begs a question; how does the Cuban cigar industry test their blends in such an inappropriate environment? How do they achieve the complexity......?

[Troels]

Been to cuba twice - first time I started smoking cigars, and I really appriciated them, tasting better than cigarettes. Second time, five years and many cigars later - I had the same experience - no wow cigars. Some just seemed a little dried out from aircon i shops, some where too fresh - but there was some other reasons as well. 

One reason might be the high expectation

[LLC]

Been many times and it's one of my favorite places to have a cigar. Of course the ones I buy there to smoke while in Cuba can sometimes be to fresh and or too moist, especially customs. Still had plenty of great cigars in Cuba over the years.


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[Zedman05]

I will say that cigars definitely taste different to me as well. I find a lot of youthful cigars. The custom rolls are all youthful and chalked full of amonia, but you really do get used to smoking like that after a couple days. I found Alex's cigars had the most ammonia, to be honest, but I still loved them. After they have been in the humi for a month, they are already showing tons of promise. Very happy again with the pick up.
A lot of the singles I picked up in Havana were young and therefor lacked complexity. I am not sure how aged stuff would be, as I don't have a locker to keep aging stock there.
To me, the humidity is a huge factor that I don't have at home, and thus the cigars are always moist and a bit softer than I usually prefer; makes a noticable difference to me.

[SaintMickey®]

 

@El Presidente

Just watched this video Sir...! Some proof for your theory? LOL

 

https://vimeo.com/196220150


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[dshapiro]

On December 15, 2016 at 7:28 PM, Lant63 said:

You cant go wrong with those. IMHO he is the best roller in havana right now.  His Salamones need a little work for him to be mentioned along side Hamlet though.  

Yes! Just picked up a bundle of Alex Sublimes. Cannot wait to try one!