New to cigars....need advice on a good first.

[MMAB]

Many of the cigar brands have a national duality.

RyJ was originally a Cuban brand as are many of the cigar brands out there. But since the dawn of Fidel Castro and the Cuban embargo in the early sixties, many cigar manufacturers fled Cuba to begin anew in the Domincan Republic and parts of South America where they continue to use the original Cuban names, logos and artwork even though the names are still used in Cuba today. The new versions can be as good or sometimes even better than the Cuban originals.

The RyJ you have is unlikely Cuban. It would say Romeo y Julieta "Habana" on the label. Even if it does, there's a good chance it's a counterfeit as the USA is plagued with counterfeit Cuban cigars. The RyJ you have is probably Domincan and an excellent cigar. But as I said, if it's dry, it's not worth smoking.

Don't waste your time pursuing Cuban cigars now. Don't walk into a cigar shop and ask for Cuban cigars either. You'll sound like a fool. Cuban cigars are illegal in the USA and have been since 1963 because of the Cuban embargo. No reputable dealer will sell them. If you did find someone selling them they are most likely fakes and you'll be seriously ripped off. But you must remember, they are only illegal in the USA. Other countries including Canada import them. So you will see a lot of print about Cuban cigars on the internet and in magazines. They can be some of the best available but not worth the hassle and money it would cost to get them.

Another piece of advice........read......read all you can about cigars and their storage and cigar etiquette.

A great web site is this one >>>>>> www.cigarnexus.com

If you do go to this site, scroll down just a bit and cllick on the heading that says "The Ultimate Cigar Storage Manifesto".

It's a good read on basic cigar storage.

Search the web. There's LOTS of stuff out there!