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Posted on 02/24/2010 12:44:45 PM PST by martin_fierro
Cuban Cigar Sales Fall Again ... and Faster
Posted Feb 24th 2010 1:50PM by Tom Johansmeyer
Cuban cigar sales are off yet again, and there's plenty of blame to go around. Global economic conditions have constrained consumer spending, and smoking bans worldwide have made it harder to find a place to light up.
The quality issue can't be ignored, as well, with many cigar smokers finding that a Cuban cigar just isn't what it used to be.
Habanos S.A., the government-run company behind the Cuban cigar industry, has reported a substantial decline in sales for the second year in a row. In 2009, the company's top line fell 8% to $360 million, which came after a 3% drop to $390 milion from 2007 to 2008.
The embargo severely restricts access to American cigar smokers, who may purchase them outside the country or illegally at home, which means that Habanos relies largely on the non-U.S. market. Spain is Habanos' largest market, and a weak Spanish economy in 2009, characterized by rising unemployment, provided a tough environment for Habanos.
The travel market recession has also hurt Habanos, particularly in airport duty-free shops.
Habanos Vice President Manuel Garcia said during a news conference at the beginning of Cuba's five-day yearly cigar festival, "This is not what we were expecting, not what we hoped for anyway."
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The last box of Cubans I got was definitely sub-standard. I notified the place I buy them from and they sent me another box (from 2007) and that was fine.
The popularity of cigars started dropping years ago and I’m sure the economy hasn’t helped.
The taxes don’t help either.
Another benefit of Cubans is that there aren’t any taxes.
Cuban cigars (except for Cohibas) are typically less expensive than the best Dominicans (Ashton VSG, Fuente, etc.), I can get a box of great Cubans for under $200.
I want to order a box, but have been scared to....I heard the quality was off considerably from days gone by...Any suggestions on a good brand that remains quality?
I'll have a Fuente any day.
Spanish Lonsdale Maduro's my benchmark smoke.
There's some in my stash are "less" favorable and a few that are "MMM, MMM, MMM" !
Thanks for the ping!
I'm with ya.
Consequently, a lot of factories have shortened up the aging and curing process to move product out more quickly. That has caused the tobacco to have a harsher quality. Also, Cuba has lost many of its best tobacco experts over the years, and many of the great production experts and their experienced rollers have died off.
There are still some good brands out there, but stick to the "old line" names like Partagas, Romeo y Julieta, Punch, Hoyo de Monterrey, and H. Upmann. Forget about Cohibas - overpriced and most of them are fakes. Also, pay attention to the size of cigar you order. The smaller ones (robustos, Lonsdales, delicatos) are frequently better than the Churchills and "gordo" sizes.
The truth is that there are terrific cigars being produced now in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras, and I mean "World Class". Check them out.
I do the JR thing, but on occasion go off-shore. However, the last time was a big disappointment...
Consequently, a lot of factories have shortened up the aging and curing process to move product out more quickly. That has caused the tobacco to have a harsher quality. Also, Cuba has lost many of its best tobacco experts over the years, and many of the great production experts and their experienced rollers have died off.
There are still some good brands out there, but stick to the "old line" names like Partagas, Romeo y Julieta, Punch, Hoyo de Monterrey, and H. Upmann. Forget about Cohibas - overpriced and most of them are fakes. Also, pay attention to the size of cigar you order. The smaller ones (robustos, Lonsdales, delicatos) are frequently better than the Churchills and "gordo" sizes.
The truth is that there are terrific cigars being produced now in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras, and I mean "World Class". Check them out.
Dominicans are just as good if not better these days. Ashton maduro is one of the best cigars around.
I like cheap smokes. Cuban Mistakes, from Thompson Cigar, are some of the finest tasting cigars I’ve ever had. Dominican, Sumatra wrapper, spicy and smooth. From Victor Sinclair. They are not terribly well made, and unravel sometimes, but for a buck apiece, I can accept that.
If you want a better version of those, the Tusker sells for about twice that. Excellent smokes.
Gurkha cigars are made in Honduras. Excellent.
andy, Thanks for the detailed reply. I smoke OTC (other than Cubans) from all areas and have found them to be as good as Cubans in many cases. And, the quality keeps getting better.
On my last trip to the Caribbean, I bought about twenty Cubans of different sizes and brands. I have smoked four so far and am disappointed, the Cobibas ran, the Monte #2 was tasteless, the best one was the new Spartus. Yes, I bought real Cubans from La Casa de Havanba, actually some of the fakes I bought were better. I am letting the others age in hopes they improve. I wish I had done as a friend did buy boxes of Hondourans for $40 a box, the Santa Rosas, I did buy were good.
Could you add me to the Cigar ping list please? I have noticed myself that the quality of the Cuban cigars has declined somewhat, but I think you also have to factor in the fact that the Cuban-seed tobacco in several of the other countries has now matured enough, and the cigar companies now know how to use them well enough, that the quality of the non-Cuban cigars has certainly gone up enough that they can compete on a level playing field. I think that, whenever the embargo finally ends, there will be a lot of folks who have built up in their minds the idea of Cuban cigars being so great and they will be in for a shock.
$200 a box is a great price, I paid an average of $30 a stick.
bm
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