New here-Cuban ?'s

[ggiese]

Thanks for the info Craig!

I knew none of that about the Cuban cigars and little about the rest. It's good to know.

I'd take anything Lew Rothman says with a grain of salt. I think there's some form of truth somewhere in his statements... But if you know Lew Rothman - he's short of many things EXCEPT "opinions". Kinda like P.T. Barnum, in a way...

I also mostly agree with the observations Craig made about the Cuban cigar industry. It is state run, no doubt - and they (theoretically) put the "best" into the Cohiba brand (followed by Trinidad). But I don't believe it's otherwise as cut and dry as Craig lays it out.

It is worthwhile knowing what a certain Marcas is generally comprised of. For example - it's good to know that Vegas Robaina is generally made from tobacco's harvested in the Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba. If you know anything about Cuban cigars - you know it's a good thing when tobacco in a cigar comes from Vuelta Abajo - just as it's good to know that a "domestic" cigar may come from Nicaragua or a cigar is wrapped in "Cameroon" leaf.