Do you feel bad buying cuban cigars since it is against the law

**the ox** · 07-12-2005, 07:44 AM

I was just wondering. I have never had a ISOM but I might have some coming to me through a buddy at work and it got me thinking about "law abiding" cigar smokers breaking the law just to have a havana. Feelings of guilt?? anyone etc.... I am actually considering retracting my order.

**Kenyth** · 07-12-2005, 08:42 AM

Most folks who think they've had a Cuban should rest easy, they probably didn't. From what I understand, even most of the cigars IN CUBA are fakes. I'd be scared to try and buy one personally. If you have had a real Cuban, don't feel too bad. The president that enacted the embargo to begin with stockpiled the cigars before enacting it. Talk about inside information! Our embargo on Cuban cigars isn't hurting Cuba one bit either. If we don't buy them, someone else will. All we did was help keep prices down a little bit, maybe. As a matter of fact, most of the cigar smoking world dreads the day the embargo ends. Demand will skyrocket along with prices, and quality will probably go down as a consequence. I can only imagine the number of counterfeits that will circulate as a result.

**cigarsarge** · 07-12-2005, 08:48 AM

I don't buy em. I usually get bombed with em from folks that have too many on hand. If you feel guilty about posessing them or just have too many lying around my addy will be furnished on request.

**ggiese** · 07-12-2005, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by cigarsarge

I don't buy em. I usually get bombed with em from folks that have too many on hand. If you feel guilty about posessing them or just have too many lying around my addy will be furnished on request.

Yeah - me too!!! Like this one guy who sent me a Cohiba EL 2004 Sublime... He musta felt guilty about possessing it or something...

**Drake** · 07-12-2005, 09:08 AM

the only time i feel guilty about breaking a law is if i hurt someone in the process. which i can't think of a time i have. or if it gets me arrested. that normally makes me feel pretty guilty. do you actually feel guilty or are you just scared you might get caught?

**Johnny** · 07-12-2005, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Kenyth

Most folks who think they've had a Cuban should rest easy, they probably didn't. From what I understand, even most of the cigars IN CUBA are fakes. I'd be scared to try and buy one personally. If you have had a real Cuban, don't feel too bad. The president that enacted the embargo to begin with stockpiled the cigars before enacting it. Talk about inside information! Our embargo on Cuban cigars isn't hurting Cuba one bit either. If we don't buy them, someone else will. All we did was help keep prices down a little bit, maybe. As a matter of fact, most of the cigar smoking world dreads the day the embargo ends. Demand will skyrocket along with prices, and quality will probably go down as a consequence. I can only imagine the number of counterfeits that will circulate as a result.

Cubans are not cheap in the UK, I buy from a Hong Kong trader. I'm more worried that if and when they become legal, smokers in the US may buy Cubans at the expense of cigar brands they smoke now, which may in turn lead to less variety of cigars. I love the variety that US websites have to offer, unfortunately only a few ship to the UK. I've had a CAO, Gurka and Puros Indio so far and I've got a La Perla Habana in the humi for tonight.

**ggiese** · 07-12-2005, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Johnny

Cubans are not cheap in the UK, I buy from a Hong Kong trader. I'm more worried that if and when they become legal, smokers in the US may buy Cubans at the expense of cigar brands they smoke now, which may in turn lead to less variety of cigars. I love the variety that US websites have to offer, unfortunately only a few ship to the UK. I've had a CAO, Gurka and Puros Indio so far and I've got a La Perla Habana in the humi for tonight.

I just watched an interesting documentary about the cigar business in Cuba. The members of the Cuban cigar manufacturers say about 60 percent of the Cuban cigars are currently entering the United States. Pretty staggering, if you think about considering we have an embargo in effect.

The next thing he said, which was more disturbing, is if the ban were lifted tomorrow, they are prepared to ship 100 percent of their output to the US in order to fulfill the demand they expect. That would mean if you wanted a Cuban cigar, you'd have to go through US channels to get it. From the experience you're now having, Johnny, that would REALLY suck!!!

The one thing that the US market produces is a wide variety of choices. Unfortunately, the US is a glutton when it comes to just about everything. Cigars are no exception. I do love the fact that I can walk into my local shop, and choose from several hundred different choices of cigars. And my retailer has no signs of having difficulty moving their product lines.

I like certain Cuban cigars - but not all. I've had some domestic cigars which I feel tasted and smoked better. It will be interesting to see what happend if and when the embargo is lifted. To be honest, I think it would be best kept in effect so that the demand will not outstrip the supply. It seems to me that can only cause prices to rise, and quality to diminish...

**Johnny** · 07-12-2005, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by ggiese

To be honest, I think it would be best kept in effect so that the demand will not outstrip the supply. It seems to me that can only cause prices to rise, and quality to diminish...

Excellent reply, do you know the title of the documentary?

I feel though your last point has more to do with you and I getting cigars

**ggiese** · 07-12-2005, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Johnny

Excellent reply, do you know the title of the documentary?

I feel though your last point has more to do with you and I getting cigars

I believe it was entitled, "Smoke in Your Eyes". It's a version of the Cuban cigar story, but it seems to be more of a big ad for Cuban cigars.

**Johnny** · 07-12-2005, 11:49 AM

Cheers, another one to look out for on Amzon

**Kenyth** · 07-12-2005, 04:14 PM

If 60% of Cuban produced cigars are getting into the US and only 10% of US buyers buying Cubans, are actually getting authentic Cubans!

Wow!

That means about 18% of the current demand equals the entire current production capability of Cuba! Demand is bound to rise if the embargo is lifted too!

**ggiese** · 07-12-2005, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Kenyth

If 60% of Cuban produced cigars are getting into the US and only 10% of US buyers buying Cubans, are actually getting authentic Cubans!

Wow!

That means about 18% of the current demand equals the entire current production capability of Cuba! Demand is bound to rise if the embargo is lifted too!

That was the other interesting thing about the video - and I wish I could remember exact figures - but the persons they talked to mentioned that in their piece. Counterfeiting in other countries is being dealt with, and they feel they are pretty successful. There was concern about the counterfeiting in the US, primarily because it destroyed the impression US consumers had of their product... Very interesting indeed...

**kevin7** · 07-12-2005, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by the ox

I was just wondering. I have never had a ISOM but I might have some coming to me through a buddy at work and it got me thinking about "law abiding" cigar smokers breaking the law just to have a havana. Feelings of guilt?? anyone etc.... I am actually considering retracting my order.

You are shitting me arent you? Scared of smoking a CUBAN because of some enbargo made by tired old men ,most of whom are dead. The great prick JFK had Pierre Salinger(sp) go and buy all the Upman petite coronas he could find before he signed the embargo. We trade with one of the most genocidal nations that has ever existed CHINA like they are our great allies. Guess what they are scum making garbage ,ever had a quality anything from china?

You know why we don't trade with Cuba now? Because 80% of Flordia is so called cuban immigrants who "lost everything" when they came to America. Guess what when Fidel kicks they ain't getting their shitty land back . THESE people are very wealthy and powerful now and will piss and moan about repirations for generations to come. I ain't scared of shit in this world including some fed digging through my cigar order.

K7

**Shagaroo** · 07-12-2005, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by kevin7

You know why we don't trade with Cuba now? Because 80% of Flordia is so called cuban immigrants who "lost everything" when they came to America.

**cigarsarge** · 07-12-2005, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by ggiese

Yeah - me too!!! Like this one guy who sent me a Cohiba EL 2004 Sublime... He musta felt guilty about possessing it or something...

I feel that man's pain. Guilt is a bitch.

**alexgtp** · 07-12-2005, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Kenyth

Most folks who think they've had a Cuban should rest easy, they probably didn't. From what I understand, even most of the cigars IN CUBA are fakes. I'd be scared to try and buy one personally. If you have had a real Cuban, don't feel too bad. The president that enacted the embargo to begin with stockpiled the cigars before enacting it. Talk about inside information! Our embargo on Cuban cigars isn't hurting Cuba one bit either. If we don't buy them, someone else will. All we did was help keep prices down a little bit, maybe. As a matter of fact, most of the cigar smoking world dreads the day the embargo ends. Demand will skyrocket along with prices, and quality will probably go down as a consequence. I can only imagine the number of counterfeits that will circulate as a result.

WHAAAT?
DAMMIT.. That's news to me. Oh well looks like I am S.O.L.

I also read somewhere else on some forum that cuba only uses their wrapper in cigars that are shipped to H.K..EUROPE and Swiss and Spanish markets.. All other markets get honduran or D.R. wrappers.. PFFFFFTTTTTTt.

WHats next?

That cuban tobacco is really grown in little habana, FL? by the exiled Cubans..

I wonder where you ppl get this information from.

**8-5-8** · 07-12-2005, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by alexgtp

WHAAAT?
DAMMIT.. That's news to me. Oh well looks like I am S.O.L.

I also read somewhere else on some forum that cuba only uses their wrapper in cigars that are shipped to H.K..EUROPE and Swiss and Spanish markets.. All other markets get honduran or D.R. wrappers.. PFFFFFTTTTTTt.

WHats next?

That cuban tobacco is really grown in little habana, FL? by the exiled Cubans..

I wonder where you ppl get this information from.

LOL... Most of the cigars in Cuba are fake!?!?

Yeah I bet there's a huge market for rebanded Domincans in Havana...

**cigar no baka** · 07-12-2005, 05:34 PM

I don't feel bad about smoking them

I don't feel bad about buying them.

I will feel bad about getting fined or penalized in some way though. I think the embargo is ridiculous and an archaic remnant of past conflicts and the world has passed us by while we are still basing our policies as if it is still the 1960's

SFG75 · 07-13-2005, 10:29 AM

Well, you have to feel a twinge of guilt knowing that a penny or two might just go to pay some guard who is torturing a dissident student or priest.

Then again, I'm sure we buy products all the time that on down the line, the money is used to finance bad guys-just our bad guys who do the same kind of things.

**Kenyth** · 07-13-2005, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by alexgtp

WHAAAT?
DAMMIT.. That's news to me. Oh well looks like I am S.O.L.

I also read somewhere else on some forum that cuba only uses their wrapper in cigars that are shipped to H.K..EUROPE and Swiss and Spanish markets.. All other markets get honduran or D.R. wrappers.. PFFFFFTTTTTTt.

WHats next?

That cuban tobacco is really grown in little habana, FL? by the exiled Cubans..

I wonder where you ppl get this information from.

I read it on this board somewhere. Doesn't necessarily mean it's true though. More specifically than my generalized comment. The post said Cuban cigars bought from the common market and not bought through government regulated stores are likely fakes. This was from someone who supposedly went to Cuba. Let's face it. Cuban cigars are a valuable commodity, even in Cuba, and are easily counterfeited just like designer clothing. Small time petty theives will try to use this to their advantage anywhere in the world, regardless of location.