Diplomatic Talks With Cuba

[Lew]

I did answer this, but somehow it got posted in the wrong place
Before the embargo there were NO honduran or nicaraguan cigars

[Sancho Panza]

Even cigars made here were made of Cuban tobacco.

[TommyBB]

LEW!!!!
Thank you very much, you are missed terribly by the members of this community.

We appreciate your contributions, as always.

[Catdeddy]

Originally Posted by Briandg

Let them hit the states and that point is toast. Just schip will put them beyond the reach of a lot of people. the banner we have has quintero rothschilds for 149 a box of 25. Isn't quintero about the bottom rung? You can get padron 5
5.5x52 for 156, box of 26.

Hoyo de monterey DCs are 310 for a box of 25. Hemingway betwen the lines at 305 was as close as I could come to that. ashton vsg came pretty close.

It's comparing appes to tuna. Seriously. But once they hit the tax wall, I don't know exactly what will happen, but the probability is that cubans will jump in price.

something that surprised me was that the Hoyo was actually pretty expensive compared to other brands. I would have compared the 10 dollar smokes instead if I hadn't gone straight to the hoyo.

The Hoyo DC is still only $12.00. If (BIG IF) the quality is still there (I know, don't start), then you paid $12.00 for one of the very few cigars that rated a 100 from cA (if I remember correctly). You may be able to find a comparably sized cigar, or a cigar of comparable quality, but both? Maybe a Padron or a Pepin (to include Tats.). Prices should be close. But non-cuban prices of those size cigars will be all over the place, while most comparably sized Cubans will be within a couple of dollars of the Hoyo, the Cohiba Esplindido and the V being exceptions.

Excluding Tat's. and Pepins and Padrons, try to find something to compete with a RA Gigantes, or a PL Monte Carlo, or a Boli. CJr. As a constant (and frustrating) "quester", it is difficult, comparing prices. But as stated earlier, mileages vary. (Makes it more fun.)

I've not noticed a great hike in prices since the tax. I doubt it will be any different with Cubans. Most Cubans are sold in boxes of 25. Most non-cubans are sold in 20's. But even so, while it is a blanket generalization, it is accurate that most general-production Cubans are competively priced to comparable non-cubans, and some even less expensive. Like many of our friends in the industry, they might be able to absorb the tax. Remember, there is usually a 100% mark-up with each level the cigars are sold--in some cases the MSRP reflects a 200%, or even 300%, mark-up. The super-premiums like Davidoff, Zino, etc., even more.

The gov't. may even give Cubans an exemption to the tax to encourage acceptance and encourage even more trade. Maybe "grandfather" them in. Even for just the first year, to get people hooked, then lower the tax on them. Stranger things have happened.

[gumby]

Originally Posted by Lew

Before the embargo there weren't any honduran or nicaraguan cigars.
The very first crop grown there was by Anhil Oliva of the Tampa Oliva Tobacco Co.
That was in 1961. However all that tobacco was bought by Frank Llaneza and shipped to Tampa.

Lee great to see ya and I miss the history lessons such as this that you used to give in your catalogs. Great stuff that few of us know. Feel free to impart more on us, few know more about the history of post-revolution cigars than you.

[Catdeddy]

Originally Posted by gumby

Lee great to see ya and I miss the history lessons such as this that you used to give in your catalogs. Great stuff that few of us know. Feel free to impart more on us, few know more about the history of post-revolution cigars than you.

And knowledge pre-revolution.

[Catdeddy]

Still think Lew is the only that can really answer this.......

http://forums.cigarweekly.com/showth...=174670&page=2

[beevod]

I just posted a link in Casa del Habano....looks like it's happening.