Hello all.

Just recently returned from my first vacation to Cuba, and may I admit, my first real and true experiences with cigars.

I will be admitting some ignorance of the pleasures here, so please don't laugh too hard.

I always wondered what people got from smoking cigars because I always tried to inhale them same as a cigarette. Not much pleasure at all and always wondered why people would lay down $20 for a midrange Cuban.

During our visit to Cuba, I spent quite a bit of time with another visitor who went there once a year to stock up on finer cigars. He took me to a favourite store, and patiently showed me everything from choosing, preparing, lighting, smoking, etc.

Well. let's just say, I'm hooked. I spent several hours with him and a cigar with either brandy or port, and found it was most enjoyable once you knew what you were doing.

I'm not going to even try to list everything we sampled, but here's a list of what I brought back with me. Note two things; all prices are in approximate Canadian dollars and all are tubed as I don't own a humidor yet, but it's on the list.

  • 10 Hoyo de Monterrey Coronations - $50.00
  • 10 Romeo y Julieta Romeo # 1 - $60.00
  • 30 Guantanamera Cristales - $24.00 / 10


The first two I bought at the cigar shop as he said they weren't readily available at Duty Free. The Guantanameras were bought at the airport.

Now I'm looking forward to getting a nicely sized humidor and getting some from other countries, based on some advice I've read here already.

Great site and I'm looking forward to even more wonderful reading here.