Posted on 05/09/2006 11:58:00 AM PDT by JZelle
MIAMI -- Cigar aficionados beware: Those handmade Montecristos, Cohibas and Romeo y Julietas aren't necessarily premium smokes. Law-enforcement and cigar industry officials say counterfeiters are marketing millions of dollars in fake upscale cigars, some even pretending to be authentic Cubans that are illegal to sell in the United States. A crackdown uncovered several major counterfeit operations, including one in Miami that resulted in the seizure of more than $20 million in fake stogies, labels and packaging.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Oh my goodness...ROTFLMAO!
Did your mom get mad when you shoved the whole thing in your mouth? My mom sure did.
Cubans are way overrated. Dominicans can go head to head with Cubans easy.
"Cubans are way overrated. Dominicans can go head to head with Cubans easy"
Wish I could agreee with that. But, like I always say, smoke what you like! Except for Acid, yuk.
Here's an excellent online shop:
www.holts.com
I'm not hardcore, so I probably don't smoke enough to be able to tell a difference, but I've heard the same from more experienced smokers too. At least the Dominicans aren't so bad as to feel like a cheap imitation. I think they hold their own.
It depends which Cubans, I love Punch Punch, Partagas Series D #4 is always an incredible smoke and so is the Montecristo #2. The Cohibas are good, but way overpriced. There are some incredible Dominican cigars, the Opus X, Anejo, Don Carlos and Hemingways by Fuente are consistently spectacular as are their Ashton Virgin Sun Growth. I enjoy the La Gloria Cubana Series R. The Dominican Partagas 150th anniversary from ten years ago were incredible (I still have a couple dozen left).
I like the Ashton Aged Maduro. Hardly any aftertaste and it tastes like coffee to me. I'm not a cigar expert by any stretch.
In this country, Cohiba is by definition, fake. Or illegal, take your pick. Overpriced for darn sure.
Everyone's tastes vary, but I like LOTS of different kinds, mostly Dominican made. It's a joy trying the different kinds.
Made in India? :-)
Ashtons are great cigars. I was in Vegas back in December and the Davidoff store at the Venetian has the best cigar selection I've ever seen anywhere. I bought two boxes of Opus X and a box of Fuente Anejos and then listened to my wife bitch for weeks about how I spent over $2000 on three boxes of cigars.
If you ever have the chance and the money, try a pre-1980 Cuban Davidoff "Dom Perignon" they sell for about $300 per cigar, but they are amazing.
Normally I can impress the ladies by merely whipping out my pipe...;-)
Yea, there are some good Dominicans. Can't go wrong with Fuente products. Also the Padron line is pretty good, but they are not Dominican.
There are so many sources for legit cuban cigars anymore, that the "hardcores" just buy the cubans. They're cheaper.
A wise man once told me that the reason that Montecristos were so good is that they were rolled on the thighs of young virgins in Cuba. I don't know about that but I always thought they were awfully good cigars. I still get them whenever I have occasion to wander up to Toronto or Montreal.
I love Acid Kubas and Fuente 8-5-8 Flora Fina maduros. For every day smokes, Muniemakers are great and have natural wrappers.
Thanks for posting that picture.
Davidoff Gran Cru #4 for me! LOL! $10.00 a stick where I buy em. Guess you could say I'm smoking less, but smoking better!
She got PO'd when I swallowed it, though!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.