Expert: M J Robbins - 6/1/2010

Question
Hi there!
I went to Cuba a couple of years ago and inevitably picked up a mini passion for Cuban cigars whilst there but have not smoked any since. Some friends have said that the best way to get them into the States is using online retailers - based all over the world but I see that many are from Switzerland - I presume for tax reasons and I hear they enjoy their cigars there also.

Where do I start - some offer incredibly low prices which makes me suspicious. How much do you think is a fair price for a box of Montecristo No. 2s for instance? I have seen the price vary from 169-359 USD?!
Any recommendations for a particular site that you may use or have a good relationship with?

Many thanks in advance

Philip

Answer
I personally cannot lead you to any site that encourages the breech of the law in the USA.
So all I can do is suggest that you try the best cigars in the world - which are not made in Cuba.
Padron Anniversary is the best cigar made today in the world. It is the most award winning in the world and has achieved the highest ratings in the industry for 17 years.
Padron follows all the Cuban rules
Own the land – plant the seeds – grow the tobacco – harvest the tobacco – age it properly - hand select the leaf -  get the best rollers and pay them top dollar for their ability – sell the product. Those were the Cuban rules thrown out by the Cuban government.
I have not smoked a cigar that comes vaguely close to the quality of the Padron Anniversary or 1926 or 45th anniversary. The Padron family performs magic every year like clockwork.

Cuban cigars are controlled by the Cuban government. Imagine the wine industry in America taken over by the government - they force all the growers to leave the country and Obama puts his cousin in charge of wine production. Then, they lower the wages to minimum wage for all wine employees and double the price of the wine and there you have the Cuban cigar market “in a nut shell”.
The Cuban soil imparts a different taste to the Tobacco but the rest is lost in mass production facilities controlled by the state.

I have smoked the best from the Island nation brought back by customers that travel all over the world. Fun to try them but I have smoked NONE that are consistent. Tight cigars and long runs are pretty much the standard for lesser quality Cuban cigars. They have an interesting taste though and they do seem to smoke better after they have been aged for a decade or 2.

Try Padron anniversary Exclusivo Maduro $250 to $300 a box most popular
Padron Diplomatico Maduro $350 to $450 a box   smoothest
Padron 1926 # 9 $500 to $600 stronger- the highest rated cigar ever by cigar aficianado
Padron 45th anniversary maduro 10 box $270 to $400 - best ever, but stronger

www.habanos.com will lead you to the main web site for the distributors of Cuban cigars and they could perhaps help you decide whether a site is official or not.

Monte #2 $200 - $300

Mike