Visiting Canada

[Krautle87]

I'm going to Canada next Friday and was thinking about getting some Cubans. Will Cuban cigars be easy to find in Canada? Also, what brands should I look for. I like cigars a little bit smoother and milder, Ive been smoking alot of Baccarats, Romeo y Juliets, some Don Linos. I dont mind a stronger cigar, but I dont like spiciness. Also, am I allowed to bring small amounts of these cigars home for private use?

[Kenyth]

You can't bring any into the US. They will be confiscated. The law can actually be interpreted to mean that as an American citizen, you are not allowed to purchase Cuban products ANYWHERE in the world. Of course, this is a bit difficult to enforce.

If they're for personal use, you can try to get around it by being sneaky. Here's an idea. Take an empty used cigar box of a generic brand with you or get one in Canada. Maybe have a couple domestic stogies for looks. Take off the cigar labels and fill with bare unlabeled Cubans. Pack haphazardly in your luggage. Take some out to make it loook like you opened the box and smoked a couple. If you want the cuban labels and cigar box, mail the labels flattened in a letter to yourself. Send the cigar box to yourself wrapped in brown paper and packed with personal effects, candy, baked goods, or something else innocuous.

Mind you I've never done this, but a small quantity like this shouldn't gain too much attention. Without the labels and box , how to prove they're Cubans?

[Roham]

You can't bring any into the US. They will be confiscated. The law can actually be interpreted to mean that as an American citizen, you are not allowed to purchase Cuban products ANYWHERE in the world. Of course, this is a bit difficult to enforce.

If they're for personal use, you can try to get around it by being sneaky. Here's an idea. Take an empty used cigar box of a generic brand with you or get one in Canada. Maybe have a couple domestic stogies for looks. Take off the cigar labels and fill with bare unlabeled Cubans. Pack haphazardly in your luggage. Take some out to make it loook like you opened the box and smoked a couple. If you want the cuban labels and cigar box, mail the labels flattened in a letter to yourself. Send the cigar box to yourself wrapped in brown paper and packed with personal effects, candy, baked goods, or something else innocuous.

Mind you I've never done this, but a small quantity like this shouldn't gain too much attention. Without the labels and box , how to prove they're Cubans?

Perfect advise. I think that is what I would do if I was in your situation.

[Roham]

As far as finding them in Canada, shouldn't be a problem at all. In Calgary Alberta there is a cigar shop in most every large mall. And there are a few right downtown along the major roads(where tourists might see them). They usually have huge stickers on the windows claiming cheap Cubans etc.. And they also double as gift shops as well... And they are usually run by middle eastern people... I'd stay out of those places if you are given the choice. They usually charge more and don't even keep their cigars at proper humidity levels etc. They just generally don't care and are in it for the money. If you have time visit a couple of the shops in malls and comparing before making a big purchase. Where in Canada are you going?

[Krautle87]

Missaugua (spelling?) Toronto area. I'm really not sure I'm gonna get a chance to get any cigars up there, I'm going to a goalie training camp for 2 weeks, and I'm not going to have my car. Im flying up and going right to the dorms, but hopefully there will be a cigar store in the area. Also, is Canadian law the same as US for age? I'm 18, I heard it was 19 up there to buy tobbacco. That may be inconvienent

[Roham]

In Alberta you need to be 18 to buy smokes, but I am not sure over there. It could very well be 19. I'll try to find out for sure

[Krautle87]

so its different in the various states...provinces, ehh? that could get confusing. In any case, do you have any suggestions for a very smooth, mild or medium cuban i should try? I was at a party last week, somebody had me try a cigar that they said was a cuban. It was smooth and velvety, very nice, and not strong at all. Unfortunatly I was too tanked to remember anything besides it had a green band and a spanish sounding name. Any idea what it may be?

[SFG75]

You can't bring any into the US. They will be confiscated. The law can actually be interpreted to mean that as an American citizen, you are not allowed to purchase Cuban products ANYWHERE in the world. Of course, this is a bit difficult to enforce.

If they're for personal use, you can try to get around it by being sneaky. Here's an idea. Take an empty used cigar box of a generic brand with you or get one in Canada. Maybe have a couple domestic stogies for looks. Take off the cigar labels and fill with bare unlabeled Cubans. Pack haphazardly in your luggage. Take some out to make it loook like you opened the box and smoked a couple. If you want the cuban labels and cigar box, mail the labels flattened in a letter to yourself. Send the cigar box to yourself wrapped in brown paper and packed with personal effects, candy, baked goods, or something else innocuous.

Mind you I've never done this, but a small quantity like this shouldn't gain too much attention. Without the labels and box , how to prove they're Cubans?

I don't know why, but the Mission Impossible theme song ran through my head while reading this.

[Mr. Das]

I live in Mississauga, so I can help out a bit. There's cigar shops in a grocery store called Loblaws. If you can find a Loblaws, you can find the cigar shop, since it's right at the entrance. There's also two cigar shops in the local mall, Square One. Square One might be easier to look at, though.

And it is 19 to buy smokes. But to be perfectly honest with you, I've never been IDed when buying smokes or alcohol. The only place I get IDed at are bars. So don't be afraid of the warning signs that say something along the lines of "If you're 25 and under, you'll be carded".

[Moheganson]

Perfect advise. I think that is what I would do if I was in your situation.

Advice or advise? I'm confused.

[Korean&Proud]

never crossed the border from the US to canada so I dont know how all that goes. Ive crossed international borders but never had that deep of an interrogation. yes it was after sept 11. lmao, my dad went to cuba (something to do with the military) and smuggled a couple cubans back in the barrell of his shotgun. talk about one hell of a story. if you had an extra hockey stick you could hollow out the shaft and use that. just an idea.

K&P

[Iced T]

Then the FBI spy satellites will shoot laser beams down at you.

[Roham]

so its different in the various states...provinces, ehh? that could get confusing. In any case, do you have any suggestions for a very smooth, mild or medium cuban i should try? I was at a party last week, somebody had me try a cigar that they said was a cuban. It was smooth and velvety, very nice, and not strong at all. Unfortunatly I was too tanked to remember anything besides it had a green band and a spanish sounding name. Any idea what it may be?

My guess is a Romeo Y Juliet. My friend brought some back from Cuba and the description sounds like what I smoked. I have never seen a Romeo Y Juliet that looked like that in Canada though, with a green band. I think that is a perfect cuban to start with any ways, mild to medium in flavor. I find the Montecristo's and Cohiba's to sometimes be medium to strong. Fonseca and Quinteros in the corona size I enjoy also. They seem to be a mild to medium cigar also.

[Roham]

lmao, my dad went to cuba (something to do with the military) and smuggled a couple cubans back in the barrell of his shotgun. talk about one hell of a story. if you had an extra hockey stick you could hollow out the shaft and use that. just an idea.

K&P

Sounds pretty extreme just to get a few cigars back

[cigarsarge]

I prefer the Easy Rider method. Get a long plastic tube, fill it with cigars. Then slide it into your gas tank. Cross the border. Get home, pull out the tube. Wallah...you've done it.

[Krautle87]

Thanks all for the advice. I just got a nice 24ct travel humi that I'll bring along with me. I'm just gonna take off the bands of any cigars I get and put them in my wallet. I dont have the money to buy a whole box however, so that wont be a problem. As far as the age, I never get carded buying cigars from cigar stores, but unfortunatly I still look like a friggin 13 year old, I get carded anytime I do anything else. I got carded buying spray paint. So, knock on wood.

[Krautle87]

Oh, and I'm sure it wasn't a Romeo y Juliet, I was smoking those(non cubans) and I prolly would have recognized the name when I tried the Cuban.

[kbreeezy]

You won't have any problem finding Cubans in Canada. As soon as you cross the border you pass a couple of duty free shops. They have cigars. Also as soon as you get off the bridge you pass about 3 "quickmart" type shops that have pretty extensive humidors.