Cuban disappointment?

[biggbob]

I have thought about this a little bit. What I think would happen, should the embargo go away, is that at first Cubans will become very expensive due to the new indulgent American demand. If Cuba doesn't drop its quality to make more then I will be surprised. That would probably last several years.

The second thing to happen would be a slowly rising blended market. Alot of NCs are not puros, but are blends of this and that from all over. With Cuban leaf allowed, in 10 years or so after the lift, blends with Cuban leaf will show up. These will probably be very popular, but probably not very good at first because blenders will take almost any crap from Cuba just so they can label their premiums as Cuban blend.

After the blended market lessens and levels out, the real great blends will rise to the top and there will be a revolution of cigars with the best of all leaf from the best of all areas of the world. Imagine Dominican/Nic fillers with that gorgeous silky Cuban wrapper that makes them look so distinct. Or super-smooth Cuban fillers with a toothy Nic oscuro wrapper. This will probably take another decade to get itself together and stable.

All in all, I'm fine with the embargo. Although in 20 years post-embargo I predict the best cigars the world has ever known, I will be too old and properly enjoy them and the wait while the market stretches and contracts around the new supply and new demand will not make me enjoy my hobby any more than I enjoy it now. Very selfishly, I say leave well-enough alone.

--bob

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by biggbob

The second thing to happen would be a slowly rising blended market.

Cuba does not allow raw leaf exports today. Were the embargo to drop in the near term, I could only imagine they would be all the more adamant about this policy.

Why do so many people imagine raw Cuban leaf suddenly becoming available? Its unavailability has no direct relation to the US embargo.

[Noodles]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Cuba does not allow raw leaf exports today. Were the embargo to drop in the near term, I could only imagine they would be all the more adamant about this policy.

Why do so many people imagine raw Cuban leaf suddenly becoming available? Its unavailability has no direct relation to the US embargo.

This is not true. Custom rolled abound.

Years ago, and they may still be available, Spain, Germany and/or Canada produced cigars that were made of cuban tobacco.

I know of at least one non-cuban manufacturer who has bales and bales of cuban tobacco in his warehouse.

Originally Posted by Noodles

This is not true. Custom rolled abound.

Years ago, and they may still be available, Spain, Germany and/or Canada produced cigars that were made of cuban tobacco.

I know of at least one non-cuban manufacturer who has bales and bales of cuban tobacco in his warehouse.

Let the $hi+ storm ensue

[Noodles]

Originally Posted by ChicagoWhiteSox

Let the $hi+ storm ensue

**** storm here or the industry? I understand why is it so in the industry, that's why I didn't name the manufacturer.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by Noodles

This is not true. Custom rolled abound.

They do not "abound" in the sense described in this thread (ie. major manufacturers making commercially-marketed blends). There is a very small number of manufacturers who have been granted exception and offer Cuban leaf in a non-Habanos product, commercially identified as such.

Originally Posted by Noodles

I know of at least one non-cuban manufacturer who has bales and bales of cuban tobacco in his warehouse.

We'll talk again when this manufacturer becomes able to acquire new harvest leaf and identify it in the market as Cuban tobacco without facing the legal retaliation of Habanos, SA.

Have I smoked as many Cubans as some of the guys here, hell no. But I have had my fair share of Cuban cigars and I prefer a Nicaraguan just about any day of the week over a Cuban. And I'm not talking about a kick you in the head strong cigar either. But of course that's just me, doesn't make it right or wrong.

If the sanctions are lifted anyone buying them would be dissapointed with the build quality as we all are from time to time, but the taste, mystique and Cuban persona will win out and there will be a shortage like never before, causing even worse quality and steep prices for several years until things even out.

[OLS]

I agree with Triumph the insult comic dog, the major makers SPEAK of this new blend possibility when the embargo
drops, but I believe this would only tighten Havana's resolve to keep island tobacco on the island. Of course, you can
now get boxes, bands, seals, holograms and cigars there on the black market, so I imagine the leaf will escape, too.
BUT will the manufacturers be able to state that the blends now include CT if the CT was gotten illegally?

I smoke CCs because I absolutely do not prefer my nostrils to be singed by one-note NC cigars. I will smoke a Padron
that's about it. At least to enjoy. I have been gifted some of the top o the line NCs lately by members here and
while I was appreciative, naturally, I was not impressed by what I have apparently been missing all these years.

[Dunkel]

Yes Cubans are a disappointment.

In my personal opinion, I would love to see the travel restriction lifted. Cuba has some of the most beautiful beaches, great culture, great people and food. I would love to travel there.

[shilala]

You'll find full bodied, strong CC's if you look, I have. I had trouble finding cc stuff I like for a long, long time, because I enjoy nic puros and dominican puros.
I didn't necessarily get a ton of help from the guys because what was strong to them was pretty tame to me. Eventually I found lots of wideass spicy stuff I really enjoy.

[DPD6030]

The strongest CC I've ever smoked was a Monte Sublime...made me dizzy and the back of my head tingled. Sailchaser can attest to this as well.

[Aporschaguy]

Good point N2 GOLD. it also begs the question if they can produce enough given the US market is SO huge. Quality would decline I'm sure.

[alfredo_buscatti]

If 70 or 80% of Cubans are complex and medium-strength, and cost the same as NCs, I can see myself buying some. But even now, the amount of NC cigars from which to choose is staggering. I certainly can't keep up, and I have 4-500 premium cigars.

I smoked 5 Cuban Montecristos and wasn't impressed. That's it; just that 5. They were medium-strength while I prefer full; but strength doesn't get it for me in the end. What a really value is taste and complexity. They didn't have it.

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by alfredo_buscatti

If 70 or 80% of Cubans are complex and medium-strength, and cost the same as NCs, I can see myself buying some. But even now, the amount of NC cigars from which to choose is staggering. I certainly can't keep up, and I have 4-500 premium cigars.

I smoked 5 Cuban Montecristos and wasn't impressed. That's it; just that 5. They were medium-strength while I prefer full; but strength doesn't get it for me in the end. What a really value is taste and complexity. They didn't have it.

The only take-away here is that you don't care for the Montecristos. That should not mean that all CC's are "unimpressive". As with NC's (or anything) you just need to find what you like... The experimentation can be fun!

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by CigarNut

The only take-away here is that you don't care for the Montecristos.

I wouldn't even take that much from it. I think he just got some lame Montecristos (there are plenty out there). My favorite Montecristos are the definition of complexity, so I would warn against writing off the marca (let alone CCs as a class!) on the basis of a literal handful of unimpressive sticks.

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

I wouldn't even take that much from it. I think he just got some lame Montecristos (there are plenty out there). My favorite Montecristos are the definition of complexity, so I would warn against writing off the marca (let alone CCs as a class!) on the basis of a literal handful of unimpressive sticks.

Well put. Within a marca there are MANY variations on taste/strength, some of which you may enjoy. On top of production smokes there are LE's/RE's which add even more variation.

[Noodles]

Originally Posted by CigarNut

The only take-away here is that you don't care for the Montecristos. That should not mean that all CC's are "unimpressive". As with NC's (or anything) you just need to find what you like... The experimentation can be fun!

You can say the same thing about Cuban smokers who only smoke one or two "premium" NC and declared them as one dimensional, too strong and/or nicotine bomb. There are far too many non cuban cigars out there that will rival, if not exceed cuban cigars in terms of quality and consistency*, flavor and complexity**.

Regardless of where the tobacco was planted, if you look hard enough, you can find something that you will enjoy or be disappointed with.

*NC use to be so much better with these but Habanos is getting better the last 5 years or so

**Cuban cigars use to be the king in this area but all you need to do is try some of the new J Fuego, Oliva, Fuente, La Flor Dominicana and Pepin to change your mind.

Originally Posted by Noodles

You can say the same thing about Cuban smokers who only smoke one or two "premium" NC and declared them as one dimensional, too strong and/or nicotine bomb. There are far too many non cuban cigars out there that will rival, if not exceed cuban cigars in terms of quality and consistency*, flavor and complexity**.

Regardless of where the tobacco was planted, if you look hard enough, you can find something that you will enjoy or be disappointed with.

*NC use to be so much better with these but Habanos is getting better the last 5 years or so

**Cuban cigars use to be the king in this area but all you need to do is try some of the new J Fuego, Oliva, Fuente, La Flor Dominicana and Pepin to change your mind.

For me, and I know many others too, I've smoked many NC's. I still do smoke many NC's. After a fairly large sample (I say fairly large because some old farts here have been smoking cigars for 20+ years) I have to say NC's don't even come CLOSE to the complexity and flavors as CC's. Not only that, but I can't get past the harshness most, not all, NC's have. It's just my two cents. My opinion. Nothing more. But I can say that I have not smoked just 1 or 2, or even 100 NC's and have written them off based on those cigars. I've smoked many NC's. (and I still do smoke NC's, I enjoy some NC's)