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Cigars/Varadero, Cuba

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Expert: - 9/4/2007


Question
Hi James,

Just wondering if you have been to Varadero, Cuba and bought cigars there.  I am going to Varadero in a couple of weeks and would like to know where to purchase authentic Cuban cigars. I've been told there are many counterfeits being sold.

Answer
Hi Fred,

There's a La Casa Del Habanos (LCDH) shop in Varadero.  Here's the address:

LCDH - Varadero
c/63 y 1a Ave.
Varadero
Tel: 535 66 7843

LCDH shops are authorized Habanos SA retailers so they are all guaranteed to carry genuine Cuban cigars.  There are many La Casa Del Habanos shops in Cuba (including Havana, Holguin, Pinar del Rio, Santiago, etc.) so no matter where you are in Cuba, just ask for "La Casa Del Habanos" and somone will gladly show you the way.

I hope this answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I'll be happy to help.

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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