April 20th, 2010 by Ned Marks
For those of you who came to age during the 1960′s, you probably vividly remember where you were when JFK was shot. For those of you who are cigar lovers, you probably vividly remember where you were when he made Cuban Cigars illegal.
For over four decades, cigar smokers of America have been left without the ability to procure what’s reputed to be the finest smokes on the market; they’ve been left empty -handed like a child who lost a favorite toy, a very luxurious, flavorful toy, in a neighbor’s backyard. This has placed cigar lovers in perpetual wonderment, asking why they are missing out on one of life’s greatest pleasures.
The History
Bent on a legacy of close economic and geographical relations, the ties between Cuba and America began to unravel when the Cuban Revolution gave Fidel Castro power on January 7, 1959. These tensions between the two countries…
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April 14th, 2010 by Ned Marks
Cigar smokers around the world agree: you have not really experienced the pleasure of smoking a fine cigar until the day you smoke a Cuban one.
The reason for this is the fact that Cuban cigars are made by hand, one by one; each tobacco leaf is carefully selected, cleaned, dried, and finally rolled through a very complex process, following very high quality guidelines to get that strong, tasty flavor that makes each Cuban brand unique.
Although this process takes much more time than other cigar’s manufacturing process (mostly assisted by machines), the resulting cigar provides a smoking experience that no one can leave unnoticed.
Perhaps the most famous Cuban cigars are the “Cohibas”, delicate and flavorful cigars that have smokers all over the planet. But let’s not forget about other unique brands too: “Montecristo”, “Partagas” and many more manufacturers make Cuba the first and most important tobacco producer and…
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April 9th, 2010 by Ned Marks
It is a widely known fact among cigar lovers that the very best quality cigars are those from Cuba. The problem with having that knowledge is that it can land you in hot water if you are determined to buy them or at the very least make you get burned by someone selling cigars as Cubans that really aren’t. If you are insistent on getting yourself a box of these high quality stogies then you should follow some of the advice given below to make sure you get what you are seeking and stay out of trouble at the same time.
Since President Kennedy placed an embargo on Cuba in 1963, Cuban cigars have been illegal to import. One little known fact is that JFK had one of his assistants go to Cuba and bring back a large supply of the Cubans before the embargo took effect so that he…
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April 3rd, 2010 by Ned Marks
For those who want to buy Cuban Cigars for Christmas Gifts online through a Canadian or Mexican source, you might wish to do it early, as Cuba’s tobacco crop is in crisis. Can you actually get Cuban Cigars this year and can other cigars compete for taste? Each year many Americans smoke Cuban Cigars as part of a tradition. This year the Cuban Cigars will be significantly higher priced due to reduced supply.
The record breaking 2005 Tropical Hurricane Season has taken its toll on Cuba’s main exporting cash crop and it is now in critical crisis from catastrophic calamity. Many specialists in the Cigar Trade say it is crucial that Cuba fix the problem. Hurricane Wilma caused the evacuation of 367,000 Western Cubans and caused crops to flood. There were mudslides and deaths. Now Cuba is once again faced with similar torrential rain and flooding causing things to worsen.…
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March 29th, 2010 by Ned Marks
Tropical Storm Gamma may hit Hurricane Status, but for the most part most meteorologists are calling for a Northeasterly shearing affect to take it directly over Western Cuba. If you will recall Tropical Storm Gamma is forming near where Hurricane Wilma and Hurricane Beta formed, which makes it a little more worrisome. Will Tropical Storm Gamma pummel Western Cuba, which experienced 5 days of torrential rains from Hurricane Wilma causing the evacuation of 250,000 people. If you will remember Western Cuba had massive flooding and mudslides.
Will the Tobacco Crop in Cuba survive? Does this mean that Cuban Cigar prices for the Holidays will sky rocket? Does this mean you should buy your Cuban Cigars early for Christmas Gifts? Well, many believe that Cuba cannot handle anymore torrential rains without a huge hit on all of its crops, Tobacco among them.
Is this an economic blockade in the form of…
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March 24th, 2010 by Ned Marks
Even most non-cigar smokers have heard some of the lore surrounding the Cuban cigar. Long revered as the finest and best tasting brands in the world, they have traditionally been extremely difficult to procure. Consequently there exists a very profitable market for importing and distributing Cuban cigars to cigar-lovers worldwide. There are many brands of Cuban cigars available, but some of the most well known include Coronas Especiales (rumored to be one of Fidel Castro’s favorites) and Montecristos.
Many people assume that the distribution of Cuban cigars on U.S. soil is illegal. The truth of the matter is, although there are certain restrictions placed on the importing of cigars from Cuba, there is no outright law forbidding their presence. Recently the Department of Justice altered the original embargo on Cuban products, allowing limited amounts of cigars to be brought back from licensed trips to Cuba. That law has since been…
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March 19th, 2010 by Ned Marks
Cuba may seem like the country to which the cigar industry belongs, with citizens stopping just short of saluting a Havana Sun Grown instead of a flag. However, Cuba is not the only country with this distinction; it’s not the sole place on an atlas known for putting cigars on the map. Lying east of Cuba is another nation known to be smoking hot when it comes to the world of cigars: The Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic, fittingly discovered by Mr. Cigar himself, Christopher Columbus, is the largest producer of cigars in the entire world, making it known as “Cigar Country” and leaving stogie lovers everywhere to search for their passports, book their flights, and come to a place that captures the true culture and essence of tobacco.
Bent on a history of instable organization, ruled by military government and dictators, the Dominican Republic is a nation possessing the…
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