Newbie Questions

**AOANRoss** · 03-01-2006, 02:33 AM

Ok, im new to the cigar world. Ive been enjoying a box of Helix Coronas the last week or so.

So heres the stupid questions:

1. Cubans. Im in the Navy. Im going to Guam and thailand very soon. Im based in Japan. Where can I find/buy some good cubans and how can I tell that they are real?

2. Ive heard that there is weed in some cuban cigars, is this true? Remember, military and drugs are bad, m'kay.

3. I like the mild cigars. Im not ready for the big boys yet. Any recommendations?

Thanks, and dont make to much fun of me

**Tiny Tim** · 03-01-2006, 08:23 AM

The Montecristo No. 2 is a fantastic Cuban cigar. Also try the Partagas series D no. 2. These are not "mild" but they have a great taste. Vegas Robaina is a very mild Cuban smoke, IMHO.

I've never heard anything about Cubans containing "weed", so I don't think that's a problem. You realize, of course, that Cubans are illegal to possess by an American. You might want to be discreet about having them around your superiors. That being said, your superiors probably have a stash of their own!

**mithril** · 03-01-2006, 09:04 AM

a good mild non cuban would be the arturo fuente 8-5-8. give one of those a try.

welcome to the board.

oh, a word about buying cubans, make sure it is an autherized (sp?) dealer. anything on the street is fake.

**F.T. Pulver** · 03-01-2006, 04:49 PM

To answer your first question, second part first, there is absolutely no way you can tell the difference between a fake and real Cuban cigar because of your limited experience with them. Bands, seals, chevrons, EVERYTHING else can be faked with exact precisions so the even a long time Habano smoker would be fooled. The only way an “expert” can be sure to tell the difference is in the flavor. Once you get a few years of Cuban cigar smoking under your belt, you’ll know too.

In light of that the ONLY place anyone should be buying Cuban cigars is at an LCDH. There are two in Thailand, one in Bangkok and one in Pattaya City. You can buy with much more assurance there than anywhere else in Asia. There is also one in Tokyo.

For milder cigars I would recommend the Quai D’orsay Corona. A fantastic cigar with lots of flavor. You could also get an El Rey Del Mundo Choix Supreme or anything from the Fonseca line.

There are no drugs in Cuban cigars. But, as Tim said, it is illegal for an American to purchase a Cuban cigar under any conditions.

**cigarsarge** · 03-01-2006, 05:06 PM

Phillie Blunts usually have some weed put in em as the tobacco they contain is unsmokable.

**mauied1101** · 03-01-2006, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by F.T. Pulver

In light of that the ONLY place anyone should be buying Cuban cigars is at an LCDH. There are two in Thailand, one in Bangkok and one in Pattaya City. You can buy with much more assurance there than anywhere else in Asia. There is also one in Tokyo.

The website is: http://www.lacasadelhabano.cu/mundo_i.asp.

**ggiese** · 03-01-2006, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by Tiny Tim

The Montecristo No. 2 is a fantastic Cuban cigar. Also try the Partagas series D no. 2. These are not "mild" but they have a great taste. Vegas Robaina is a very mild Cuban smoke, IMHO.

I've never heard anything about Cubans containing "weed", so I don't think that's a problem. You realize, of course, that Cubans are illegal to possess by an American. You might want to be discreet about having them around your superiors. That being said, your superiors probably have a stash of their own!

Vegas Robaina very "mild"???

Not weed - but there is talk that the one thing Cuban cigars have a fair amount of is Lithium. Apparently, Cuban soil is rich with it... Not sure if it's a rumor, but there is definitely something different about Cuban cigars.

Be careful you don't buy any from street vendors anywhere you go. They will be more than willing to sell you REAL "Cuban's". And if you REALLY want to know for sure - purchase the book, "An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Post Revolution Havana Cigars" by Min Ron Nee. Actual size color photos over every Cuban cigar out there - you can lay the suspected on against the one in the book and tell pretty quickly... The book is somewhere around $50, but may be a tad hard to find (well worth it, though)

**AOANRoss** · 03-02-2006, 02:20 AM

Thanks for the help! Ill have to keep this all in mind my next port visit!

**mauied1101** · 03-02-2006, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by F.T. Pulver

But, as Tim said, it is illegal for an American to purchase a Cuban cigar under any conditions.

Just to clarify - it is NOT ILLEGAL for an American to purchase a Cuban cigar under any conditions. You just cannot bring it/import it to the US (AOARoss, I don't know if base counts as "US"). Check out the link http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/al...ban_cigars.xml and make your own determination.

So when you're in Thailand or Japan, buy 'em, enjoy 'em, just don't take 'em back to base. And above all, don't advertise what you're doing.

**F.T. Pulver** · 03-02-2006, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by mauied1101

Just to clarify - it is NOT ILLEGAL for an American to purchase a Cuban cigar under any conditions. You just cannot bring it/import it to the US (AOARoss, I don't know if base counts as "US"). Check out the link http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/al...ban_cigars.xml and make your own determination.

So when you're in Thailand or Japan, buy 'em, enjoy 'em, just don't take 'em back to base. And above all, don't advertise what you're doing.

No, that's not true. From the Justice Dept's website.

! TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING PROPERTY IN WHICH CUBA OR A
CUBAN NATIONAL HAS AN INTEREST - In addition to the prohibitions
on exports to and imports from Cuba, the Regulations prohibit any
person subject to U.S. jurisdiction from dealing in any property in which
Cuba or a Cuban national has an interest. Under the Regulations,
“property” includes but is not limited to contracts and services. For
example, unless otherwise authorized, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction
(including U.S. overseas subsidiaries) may not purchase Cuban
cigars in Mexico; may not sign a contract with a U.K. firm if the contract
terms include Cuba-related provisions(even if those provisions are
contingent upon the lifting of the embargo); and may not provide
accounting, marketing, sales, or insurance services to a Cuban company
or to a foreign company with respect to the foreign company’s Cuba

http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforce.../cuba/cuba.pdf