Cuban Cigars

  On February 6, 1962, US President John F. Kennedy ordered his Press Secretary, Pierre Salinger, to buy him one thousand H. Upmann brand Cuban cigars. The following morning, after Salinger arrived with the cigars, Kennedy signed into law a trade embargo against Cuba, thus making it illegal for Americans to import any goods from Cuba, including the island’s famed cigars. While Kennedy obviously recognized the advantage of stockpiling some of Cuba’s most popular export, as a result of the embargo – which is still in effect today – Cuban cigars have gained an added air of mystique, particularly among Americans who are unable to legally purchase them.

  While high-quality cigars manufactured in Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic have all elicited praise in recent years, Cuban cigars are still commonly assumed to be the best in the world. This reputation probably stems from the unique climate of Pinar del Río, Cuba’s westernmost province and primary tobacco farming region, in which fertile valleys in the shadow of the Cordillera de Guaniguanico mountain range yield 70% of the island’s entire tobacco crop. The small town of San Juan y Martínez, on Pinar del Río’s southern coast, is known for producing the most high-quality tobacco of all, earning it the nickname “the Mecca of tobacco” among Cubans.

  All Cuban cigars are manufactured and distributed by the government-owned Cubatabaco company, while export and foreign distribution is controlled by an arm of Cubatabaco called Habanos SA. Cubatabaco produces several distinct brands of cigars, including Cohíba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and Quintero. Cohíbas are the most revered Cuban cigars, and until 1982 they were only available to Fidel Castro and other high-ranking Communist Party officials. Cohíbas are typically hand-rolled with the best quality tobacco from San Juan y Martínez, and are prepared with a unique third round of fermentation in barrels to give them their signature smooth flavour. The other most popular brand of Cuban cigar are Romeo y Julietas (named after the Shakespeare play), which were famously smoked by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War 2. Romeos are cheaper than Cohíbas, and are of noticeably lower quality, but they are still fantastic cigars compared to most brands.

  The easiest time to buy Cuban cigars is, of course, while you’re in Cuba! However, keep in mind that many street vendors in Cuba target unwitting tourists by offering them “discount” cigars; these are almost always scams, and you should never accept such an offer from anybody. So be sure to buy cigars from reputable retailers, and make sure the packages have all of the official seals and labels on them. If you bought a box of cigars and plan on taking it home with you, you will need to ask the cashier to fill out an official Habanos SA receipt for you; the cashier will put both your passport number and the cigar box’s serial number on the receipt. If you don’t have this official receipt, your box may be confiscated at the airport on your way out of the country. If you’re an American and travelling to Cuba is legally difficult for you, your best bet is to take a trip to either Canada or Mexico and buy Cuban cigars from legitimate retailers in those countries. 95% of “Cuban” cigars sold in the United States are fakes, so don’t be fooled! There are also several Dominican cigars which are sold under Cuban brand names like Cohíba and Romeo y Julieta, so be wary of these as well. With that said, best of luck finding the cigar that suits you and happy smoking!

About the author:

  Curtis is a writer specializing in politics, popular media and the entertainment industry. Based out of Vancouver, Canada, he graduated from Kwantlen University College with an Arts degree in 2006 and is now a contributing editor at TrendPimp magazine. His online portfolio can be found at CurtisSpring.com.