| TheRiddick |
08-27-2010 11:22 PM |
Re: Ten Reasons to Lift the Cuba Embargo
Quote:
Originally Posted by M1903A1
(Post 968871)
I have a friend who's in the collectible arms business, and has traveled several times to the former Soviet Union on arms-buying expeditions. He has consistently said that Cuban cigars bought over there were among the worst he's ever had.
|
I am talking about 1960-80s, before USSR fell apart. Back then CCs were cheap and plentiful, actually the only cigars you could buy and "fake" was unheard of since prices for CCs were so cheap it didn't make sense to make fakes. My first memory of CCs was back in 1971, a box of R&J and I can still recall the smell of those cigars (was too young to smoke in '71).
Do a search and read my posts on Cuban cigars in today's Russia, ~99% fake, main reason they are "worst your friend ever had" since they are not even "Cuban" and are produced by some fly-by-night outfits operating in Southern Russia where they grow tobacco. Once USSR fell apart Russia has no reason to deal with Cuba for the most part and although still gives Cuba some money the trade is just a very small fraction of what it used to be. Whatever trickles in from Cuba (trade wise) stays mostly with the "in" crowd, politicians and such, never hitting the retail shelves. Night clubs sell pretty bad fakes that can be easily detected by cursory view from 15 feet away, although sales are esthetically pleasing since they are done via semi-nude young models. Prices are stupid, though, and would be even for real CCs. |
