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Cigars/Cuban Montecristo's

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Expert: - 8/15/2007


Question
James,

I acquired an unopened Box(25) of MONTECRISTO, PETIT TUBOS.
My question is;
Does the box have to be opened for the Cigars to remain fresh, or will they be Ok sealed in the Box?
Also, How much would a Box of these be worth?
I appreciate your help.

John

Answer
Hi John,

It’s perfectly fine to leave the box sealed.  The box and cigar tubos are not airtight so your cigars will still be humidified if you keep them in a properly maintained humidor (or humi-pouch).  You should break the seal just to examine the cigars and make sure they’re all OK.  (If you plan on selling these cigars, the potential buyer will most likely ask to examine the cigars so you’ll have to break the seal on the box anyways.)

I haven’t smoked Montecristo Petit Tubos in a long time but I think a whole box is worth about $400-$425 CDN in Ontario.  In Canada, prices vary by province due to tobacco taxes.  In Cuba, they probably retail for about $100-$115 USD (don’t quote me on this because I haven’t bought petit tubos in a long time.  That's the approximate price range.)

Regards,
James

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James Yee

Expertise

My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".

Experience

I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.

Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)


Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto

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