[martin_fierro]

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[mcmuffin]

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!

[tarawa]

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.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

ROFLMAO @ your new graphic. Too cute!

So...what am I going to DO? I’m going to be FIFTY this summer and as you know, I allow myself one ‘ladylike’ cee-gar on my birthday each year.

I want it to be REALLY special and REALLY good this year.

What to buy for my 50th? Price is no object. This is MY 50th Birthday we’re talkin’ about here! I might even buy a whole box for my gal pals, too!

(We do have a Cigar & Spirits Shop that hasn’t been run out of town on a rail by the Commie LefTards. Yet. So I can shop local or at least have them order in something special for moi!)

[jeffc]

The Cubans are in for a very big suprise when the U.S. market is finally opened up to them (again).

1. First mistake they will make is over-pricing their cigars. They will think that Americans, the biggest market in the world, will gladly pay obviously too much for a cigar, just being glad to have a Cuban cigar once again. But the Cuban cigar of today is not even a shadow of its former, pre-Castro self. Castro and his ilk completely destroyed the Cuban cigar industry, nationalizing it and driving away all the best cigar people.

2. Most (not all) of those who enjoyed Cuban cigars back in the late 50's - early 60's are either gone to that great cigar bar in the sky, or don't smoke anymore. Most cigar smoking Americans grew up on Dominicans, Nicaraguans, Costa Ricans, and Hondurans. These smokes are milder and smoother than even the old pre-Castro Cuban cigars. Most of today's American cigar smokers probably will not like today's Cuban cigars, finding them too strong. Now, a pre-Castro Cuban cigar would be a delight to any cigar smoker, if found in perfect condition.

There will be an initial jump in Cuban cigar sales, as we will all want to get our hands on a real Cuban cigar. But the novelty will wear off quickly enough, as people will be turned off by the over-priced smokes. People will eventually start to think and talk about how their old Dominican or Costa Rican cigar was cheaper and, well, just better, than what Cuba has to offer. Hopefully, Cuba will realize all this sooner rather than later and increase quality and drop the prices. Only then will we ever get the old, pre-Castro Cuban cigar of old back.