I resonate with your thoughts. I have been/started smoking Habanos since June 1980 when I worked in Saudi Arabia. It was the only available brand at the time and I continued to smoke 'em after I left in '83. I'm now in Los Angeles since '84 and have been going on an annual pilgrimage to Cuba since mid 90's only stopping after my Jan '2015 trip when Barrack opened travel in Dec 2014. Never went back after that with no intention in the future. I've visited the entire island staying 2 weeks on average. Seeing prices increase thru the years border obnoxious. I have a 3000ct humidor stocked with upper tier Habanos brands with limited editions, regionals, reservas etc., however, these are now my 'celebratory' cigars. Recently, I have opened my collection to New World options for dailies. Even my 18yr old son enjoys his Royal Release, Spectre, Atabey, Opus & Unicorn options just as much. We were at the LCDH in Amsterdam last year. No specials there, only over priced gars. It is at a very nice hotel which has a wonderful and peaceful outdoor smoking area. You may want to light up there...we did. No good finds to be had in our month stay in Europe. We will be in Spain & Portugal this Summer. Hopefully, we find 'bargains'. Cigar Havane' in Geneva had 300 euro Behikes each...ouch. I've had a few custom rolls and lower tier Habanos however, it will not replace aTrinidad and would opt for a 1926 maduro. I enjoy your channel.
Wow thanks for sharing your experiences. I have nothing against other cigars from other countries and I do smoke some from time to time. One thing I have not been able to find with rest of world cigars is the creaminess and consistency that some of the habanos have. That being said, with the price increases for regular production I cannot justify the prices unless 1) I find aged boxes of at least >4yrs 2) certain regional 3) limited editions. My cigar buying has tapered off since a year ago but I blew my nuts this last trip to Havana and I couldn't pass up buying a few boxes of the new Bolivar gold medal since they were selling boxes at the Bolivar event for the 1st time in history!
Aged Cubans for me personally, have been a let down because it turns out 'muted' for my palette. A more 'cubanesque' experience is Atabey and has 12 vitolas. BTW, if you have other stops while in Amsterdam... Club Leopard in Geneva is a must stop to indulge in R&J Linea de Oros. Cheers CC&A.
Yes I know tht S.A. hbanos sold 49% of their retail rm to a holding company in Taiwan in 2021. The prices you see now in case you weren't aware of where they came up with this pricing structure, were aligned with the prices from the HONG KONG LCDH
The rule with traveling to DR and Nicaragua is bring your own sticks. The prices are high there. I was in Santo Domingo at the Fiente lounge. Those prices were just as crazy as the habanos prices. Now depending on the state you're in, taxes have a big influence on price. If you're in Pennsylvania your cigar prices are much lower than say NY or California
To each his own, I try to provide info that I learn along the way and convey this info to whomever wants to listen. The decision is to each their own. I hope that people don't pay much attention to brands more than the flavor and smoke itself. For example, I gave up on Fuentes bc of the price and overall marketing ploy for the forbidden x and opusx lines. I have so called rare Fuentes and I don't buy into the marketing hype anymore. Personally there is not a Fuente cigar that's worth more than $25 but that's just this average jabronis opinion. I have the pussy juice, 911 gods whisper, and all of the other "rare" opus x series and frankly I'm not into it anymore
Hi there! Great video and even better information about cuba. Any chance you know or you have price list of all Cuban cigars in Cuba? If not no big deal. Thank you, Spasa Naples Florida
Let’s say you buy a box of 25 or a cabinet box, what’s the best method for bringing them home in your luggage? Do you bring a large humidor with you for transport? A large Tupperware bin with a boveda pack? Thanks!
I bring large ziplock bags (3 gallon) from Walmart. You can put a small square 65% boveda but this past trip I didn't use anything but the humibags given by the shop
Great video! Where would you say the best countries to purchase Cuban cigars right now besides Cuba? Is Mexico considered one of those countries that's considered on the "cheaper end"?
That's a tough question since I have not been to a lot of countries to have a definitive answer but the LCDH shop in the Dubai Airport inside the duty free shop has a lot of stuff amd sometimes you can find aged boxes there! Now it's about finding the closest prices to the Havana shops I look at prices based on price per stick. When you start xreeping above $30/ you're getting into aged limitado country!
I ado agree with your analysis. The million dollar question is. Is it worth the luxury price they are setting it up to. I am sure there are Dominican and Nicaraguan out there that competes head to head. If so which brand. Thank you for your time
If you're in Dubai or flying thru Dubai leaving make sure to stop at the LCDH room in the duty free store in Terminal B. Check boxes for age as you can find some nice older boxes there!
Also, see if they have The Meluha brand and see if they have the short torpedoes that are a ring gauge of 56-60(?l those are straight up awesome and EXTREMELY difficult to come by
Thanks for the info, unfortunately I won't be goin there, too much work. But in 6 months I go home, hopefully the world doesn't end and I can go to Havana to get my cabinets, I'm just starting to collect, keep the vids coming
I’m curious as to how coming home with goods was dealing with customs. Any tips . Last time I went to cuba we took a cruise and loaded up. Thinking about flying down for next festival but don’t want my stuff taken coming back.
I have tossed this idea of doing a video but since cuban products are ILLEGAL, I don't want to be responsible or held responsible by anyone who happens to get confiscated following my procedure. I'm sure you understand. However, I may do a video that "discusses" some options
The nice thing about the festival is that you can buy individual tickets to each day or night event. They are not cheap as in years past. Check www.habanos.com/en/habano-festivals/
Awesome video man. Definitely a special occasion stick for me. I let mine sit a minimum of 5 years. If knew they all came with 5 years aged then I might open that wallet. Great informative video. Keep them rolling.
Agreed. Prices of upper tier Cubans have now gone the reasonable capability of most of us. Lower tier Cubans haven't been affected as much by the price hikes. In all honesty though, I enjoy a Macanudo Maduro as much, if not more, than a Cohiba Robusto so I'll stick to buying the former as opposed to the latter.
I don't have direct information about St. Martens so I cannot comment. I don't give information or give advisement about matters I do not have DIRECT EXPERIENCE with or knowledge that I have not VERIFIED myself. Sorry I can't be more help
I don't care what anyone tells me; Cubans have the superior flavor profile vs. new world cigars. The prices are getting crazy, but I look at them like expensive wines. If you plan to smoke Cubans daily, you're crazy, times are different. If you plan to smoke them once or twice a month, you can justify the new prices. I'm aging and collecting Cubans meanwhile attempting to find non-Cubans to smoke daily that are similar in flavor profile. Very difficult to find and maybe doesn't exist; only Bandolero cigars I have found to be very similar.
I would suggest you look into some of the custom rolls found in the shops in Havana that are rolled in the shop by shop rollers. $10-$15/ stick and of exceptional quality. The custom Margarita roll from the comodoro shop is like smoking a nice siglo 6!
Bummed I just missed the festival. I'm going to Havana next week. You may have answered this question a hundred times, but I haven't seen the answer. I'm just doing a day trip from Miami. Can I bring in Cuban cigars thru US Customs? I heard it was shut down. If yes, how many sticks or boxes or how much price wise?
Thanks for your viewership and support. Ibwill continue to bring information as I gather more. I have never liked this "secret" society of information sharing amongst people who have traveled to Cuba for cigar runs.
Those people hate me now bc I've dropped a dime on their secret spots. After searching youtube I found the information about Havana cigars and the buying experience was lame as balls so I said I'm gonna show everyone what I see
Totally agree. Over priced. The worst thing about Cuban cigars is the quality issues. Still a high rate of plugged cigars and uneven burning compared to new world cigars.
Yes and No. I have found some issues but honestly and this is my opinion and my experience only, I have had MAYBE 1 out of 20 sticks that have a problem but I use a perfecdraw and problem solved. Don't think rest of world cigars have no problems bc I find stems, in fact many stems in rest of world sticks more so than habanos. Not trying to start any arguments, smoke what you like amd that's it
Vegueros Centrofinos at Cayo Santa Maria Airport a year ago, about $US6 & change. Age them a year. Wow. Nuances, finesse, excellent construction. Smoked Havanas for decades, now almost NC exclusively. Way better value alternatives from Nicaragua, Dominican, Etc even Costa Rica.
@@KimoKapaku Not true, in the USA u can bring Cuban cigars with you for personal use . Just not for resale . 2 boxes I think . I usually just bring in 1 box
It's absolutely terrible, brother. I've only been a collector since 2020.... it honestly makes me feel horribly for folks that have enjoyed and loved habanos for several decades and now can't afford them. Awful, awful situation.....
In a way it resembles the daily lives of Cubans who struggle day to day for simple things that we all take for granted. So people are pissed off bc they can't smoke their favorite $15-$20 cigar bc the price has gone up 3X. I'm sure a lot of Cubans feel so bad for us that we can't smoke something that coats half of their monthly salary. I encourage people to go to Cuba to learn what Habanos are all about. It's not the cigars, it's the people amd their attitude towards life, the passion of the cuban people is what I derrive from their cigars
Just stumbled across your channel. Hong Kong, China, has become involved in the Cuban cigar market. The issue with supply chain, Covid related issues, Are a bit difficult to swallow given the relative percentage of the price increase. A Cohiba Esplendido‘s now selling at $100 a stick? There’s more to it than that. My conspiracy theory holds that China through its belt and Road initiative is trying to snuff out the Cuban market, making it completely dependent on China. Same as it does in Africa. Perhaps one day “trading” Taiwan for Cuba. Just a thought. Hopefully I am wrong.
Interesting rake as I never considered that angle. Regardless I do think China will step in and support Cuba like the soviet union did before it fell. We will see. Right now I'm trying to stock up on habanos and look for value buys. Esplendidos were 1 of my favorite sticks buy the price has forced me to look at different brands like hoyo de Monterey and RA as go to everyday smokes as well as shop custom rolls
Still for the price and quality I don't know what can beat that. How did you like the smoke? How was the service you received in the comodoro shop vs other shops?
@@KimoKapaku service blows any store away in cuba. i mentioned you're name they appreciated it. I didn't smoke as I'm aging the 2 I got against the farm rolls and other cigars I picked up to compare to see what I should get when I go back
THe prices are a laughable for over rated Cubans. You are paying for the name Cuba, the rest of the cigars in the world are just as good or better. They are catering to the yacht crowd, even regular millionaires wont pay the outlandish prices.
Apparently not bc all of the people at the festival this year were poor bums who paid €700 per ticket to go. I guess the millionaires you know didn't attend the Habanos Festival and went to the procigar event the week before instead
Prices are ridiculous. I'll savour the last boxes of Cubans I have but will be buying exclusively non Cubans going forward.
I resonate with your thoughts. I have been/started smoking Habanos since June 1980 when I worked in Saudi Arabia. It was the only available brand at the time and I continued to smoke 'em after I left in '83. I'm now in Los Angeles since '84 and have been going on an annual pilgrimage to Cuba since mid 90's only stopping after my Jan '2015 trip when Barrack opened travel in Dec 2014. Never went back after that with no intention in the future. I've visited the entire island staying 2 weeks on average. Seeing prices increase thru the years border obnoxious.
I have a 3000ct humidor stocked with upper tier Habanos brands with limited editions, regionals, reservas etc., however, these are now my 'celebratory' cigars. Recently, I have opened my collection to New World options for dailies. Even my 18yr old son enjoys his Royal Release, Spectre, Atabey, Opus & Unicorn options just as much.
We were at the LCDH in Amsterdam last year. No specials there, only over priced gars. It is at a very nice hotel which has a wonderful and peaceful outdoor smoking area. You may want to light up there...we did. No good finds to be had in our month stay in Europe. We will be in Spain & Portugal this Summer. Hopefully, we find 'bargains'. Cigar Havane' in Geneva had 300 euro Behikes each...ouch.
I've had a few custom rolls and lower tier Habanos however, it will not replace aTrinidad and would opt for a 1926 maduro.
I enjoy your channel.
Wow thanks for sharing your experiences. I have nothing against other cigars from other countries and I do smoke some from time to time. One thing I have not been able to find with rest of world cigars is the creaminess and consistency that some of the habanos have. That being said, with the price increases for regular production I cannot justify the prices unless 1) I find aged boxes of at least >4yrs 2) certain regional 3) limited editions. My cigar buying has tapered off since a year ago but I blew my nuts this last trip to Havana and I couldn't pass up buying a few boxes of the new Bolivar gold medal since they were selling boxes at the Bolivar event for the 1st time in history!
Aged Cubans for me personally, have been a let down because it turns out 'muted' for my palette.
A more 'cubanesque' experience is Atabey and has 12 vitolas. BTW, if you have other stops while in Amsterdam... Club Leopard in Geneva is a must stop to indulge in R&J Linea de Oros. Cheers CC&A.
Habanos is not a brand. So what brand did u smoke when u were in Saudi?
@@seminky5341 He means brands from Habanos SA (aka Cubans) doesn't matter which brands as we all understand and share his sentiments.
If you are not aware and I'm assuming you aren't, the Chinese bought 49% of Habanos and they are the ones artificially inflating the prices...
Yes I know tht S.A. hbanos sold 49% of their retail rm to a holding company in Taiwan in 2021. The prices you see now in case you weren't aware of where they came up with this pricing structure, were aligned with the prices from the HONG KONG LCDH
On our trip last Christmas in DR, a regular stick that would cost us around $15-20 a few years back is now $40-50. Insane cigars market everywhere.
The rule with traveling to DR and Nicaragua is bring your own sticks. The prices are high there. I was in Santo Domingo at the Fiente lounge. Those prices were just as crazy as the habanos prices. Now depending on the state you're in, taxes have a big influence on price. If you're in Pennsylvania your cigar prices are much lower than say NY or California
Thanks for making these videos. I am definitely veering more strongly to non-Cuban cigars.
To each his own, I try to provide info that I learn along the way and convey this info to whomever wants to listen. The decision is to each their own. I hope that people don't pay much attention to brands more than the flavor and smoke itself. For example, I gave up on Fuentes bc of the price and overall marketing ploy for the forbidden x and opusx lines. I have so called rare Fuentes and I don't buy into the marketing hype anymore. Personally there is not a Fuente cigar that's worth more than $25 but that's just this average jabronis opinion. I have the pussy juice, 911 gods whisper, and all of the other "rare" opus x series and frankly I'm not into it anymore
Hi there! Great video and even better information about cuba. Any chance you know or you have price list of all Cuban cigars in Cuba? If not no big deal.
Thank you,
Spasa Naples Florida
I don't have a price list of all cigars in Havana but rest assured the prices do not change from shop to shop as the govt sets all prices
@@KimoKapaku
Thank you .
I’m not upset at all. RIP Cuba. Long live Padron and Pepin and AJ!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I agree - three great brands of cigars. They never disappoint.
LA Flor Dominicana Air Bender, Avo Syncro Nicaragua, Warped, et al. All excellent alternatives
@@paulh9800 , oh yeah I like Cubans. But do I think their the endall? No I don’t.just different. Different soil so different flavor. That’s all.
Let’s say you buy a box of 25 or a cabinet box, what’s the best method for bringing them home in your luggage? Do you bring a large humidor with you for transport? A large Tupperware bin with a boveda pack? Thanks!
I bring large ziplock bags (3 gallon) from Walmart. You can put a small square 65% boveda but this past trip I didn't use anything but the humibags given by the shop
Great video! Where would you say the best countries to purchase Cuban cigars right now besides Cuba? Is Mexico considered one of those countries that's considered on the "cheaper end"?
That's a tough question since I have not been to a lot of countries to have a definitive answer but the LCDH shop in the Dubai Airport inside the duty free shop has a lot of stuff amd sometimes you can find aged boxes there! Now it's about finding the closest prices to the Havana shops
I look at prices based on price per stick. When you start xreeping above $30/ you're getting into aged limitado country!
Great video, it was great to meet you
Pleasure was mine man! Hope to see you in Havana again!
Hi. Awesome video. Agree with your thoughts. Awaiting custom cigars video.
I ado agree with your analysis. The million dollar question is. Is it worth the luxury price they are setting it up to. I am sure there are Dominican and Nicaraguan out there that competes head to head. If so which brand. Thank you for your time
I have found that the attabeys to be nice and Byron but they are not cheap either
Awesome videos. I'm in Saudi right now working. But very interested in getting details on meet ups at Cuba to get yur insight, 6 months from now
If you're in Dubai or flying thru Dubai leaving make sure to stop at the LCDH room in the duty free store in Terminal B. Check boxes for age as you can find some nice older boxes there!
Also, see if they have The Meluha brand and see if they have the short torpedoes that are a ring gauge of 56-60(?l those are straight up awesome and EXTREMELY difficult to come by
Thanks for the info, unfortunately I won't be goin there, too much work. But in 6 months I go home, hopefully the world doesn't end and I can go to Havana to get my cabinets, I'm just starting to collect, keep the vids coming
I’m curious as to how coming home with goods was dealing with customs. Any tips . Last time I went to cuba we took a cruise and loaded up. Thinking about flying down for next festival but don’t want my stuff taken coming back.
I have tossed this idea of doing a video but since cuban products are ILLEGAL, I don't want to be responsible or held responsible by anyone who happens to get confiscated following my procedure. I'm sure you understand. However, I may do a video that "discusses" some options
How much was the total cost for the festival as well as how do you get a ticket
The nice thing about the festival is that you can buy individual tickets to each day or night event. They are not cheap as in years past. Check www.habanos.com/en/habano-festivals/
Awesome video man. Definitely a special occasion stick for me. I let mine sit a minimum of 5 years. If knew they all came with 5 years aged then I might open that wallet. Great informative video. Keep them rolling.
Thanks for your comments and viewership! Subscribe so you know when new videos come out!
Superb videos and such great details. I will be in Havana at the end of August. Can I email you with some questions? Thanks 🙏
Thanks for your comments Carlito. Last name isn't "Brigante" I hope! 😅
Feel free to shoot me an email at
Konablacksand@yahoo.com
Potential group trip to Havana? Count me in!😄
Agreed. Prices of upper tier Cubans have now gone the reasonable capability of most of us. Lower tier Cubans haven't been affected as much by the price hikes. In all honesty though, I enjoy a Macanudo Maduro as much, if not more, than a Cohiba Robusto so I'll stick to buying the former as opposed to the latter.
You have to try custom rolls like that of the shops in Havana. These are now becoming well known and developing big followings
I just have a quick question. Is there a legitimate dealer of Cuban cigars on the island of St Maarten?
I don't have direct information about St. Martens so I cannot comment. I don't give information or give advisement about matters I do not have DIRECT EXPERIENCE with or knowledge that I have not VERIFIED myself. Sorry I can't be more help
I don't care what anyone tells me; Cubans have the superior flavor profile vs. new world cigars. The prices are getting crazy, but I look at them like expensive wines. If you plan to smoke Cubans daily, you're crazy, times are different. If you plan to smoke them once or twice a month, you can justify the new prices. I'm aging and collecting Cubans meanwhile attempting to find non-Cubans to smoke daily that are similar in flavor profile. Very difficult to find and maybe doesn't exist; only Bandolero cigars I have found to be very similar.
I would suggest you look into some of the custom rolls found in the shops in Havana that are rolled in the shop by shop rollers. $10-$15/ stick and of exceptional quality. The custom Margarita roll from the comodoro shop is like smoking a nice siglo 6!
which Bandolero vitola is closest to cuban?
@@heradio1000 5 1/2 x 50 which are the Soberbios
Bummed I just missed the festival. I'm going to Havana next week. You may have answered this question a hundred times, but I haven't seen the answer. I'm just doing a day trip from Miami. Can I bring in Cuban cigars thru US Customs? I heard it was shut down. If yes, how many sticks or boxes or how much price wise?
Brannen, email me at konablacksand@yahoo.com
its true, even parta and julieta mille fleur rose to 23.99 per stick
love the channel
keep it up
Thanks for your viewership and support. Ibwill continue to bring information as I gather more. I have never liked this "secret" society of information sharing amongst people who have traveled to Cuba for cigar runs.
Those people hate me now bc I've dropped a dime on their secret spots. After searching youtube I found the information about Havana cigars and the buying experience was lame as balls so I said I'm gonna show everyone what I see
Totally agree. Over priced. The worst thing about Cuban cigars is the quality issues. Still a high rate of plugged cigars and uneven burning compared to new world cigars.
Yes and No. I have found some issues but honestly and this is my opinion and my experience only, I have had MAYBE 1 out of 20 sticks that have a problem but I use a perfecdraw and problem solved. Don't think rest of world cigars have no problems bc I find stems, in fact many stems in rest of world sticks more so than habanos. Not trying to start any arguments, smoke what you like amd that's it
I find Vagueros to be still reasonably priced on Ihavanas
Vegueros Centrofinos at Cayo Santa Maria Airport a year ago, about $US6 & change. Age them a year. Wow. Nuances, finesse, excellent construction. Smoked Havanas for decades, now almost NC exclusively. Way better value alternatives from Nicaragua, Dominican, Etc even Costa Rica.
Let us know when you are in Amsterdam, I life in Haarlem that's next to Amsterdam.
I will be in Amsterdam May 4th but I have a work trip in Belen on 8th-9th. I was told there's nothing in Belen😅
You will not find much in LCDH Amsterdam, very limited stock unfortunately
Thank you for the info. Are there any other shops you recommend visiting?
@@KimoKapaku Hartman cigars and more, and LCDH are the ones I know. Both were amazing before stock problems. Enjoy
Same problems here in Italy. Scarsaty of cigars and prices are too high
Mike, I am visiting Rome in October and was hoping to find some Italian regional or Exclusivo Italias so I would love to hear what shops you go to.
Can you travel with custom cigars from Cuba?
Bringing cuban products into the U.S.from Cuba is illegal
That being g said, not coming to a full amd complete stop at a stop sign or uncontrolled intersection is also illegal
I forgot to mention that I live in Europe
@@KimoKapaku Not true, in the USA u can bring Cuban cigars with you for personal use . Just not for resale . 2 boxes I think . I usually just bring in 1 box
In Sweden they are 20 dollars a stick… just saying… prices are relative. 😉
It's absolutely terrible, brother. I've only been a collector since 2020.... it honestly makes me feel horribly for folks that have enjoyed and loved habanos for several decades and now can't afford them. Awful, awful situation.....
In a way it resembles the daily lives of Cubans who struggle day to day for simple things that we all take for granted. So people are pissed off bc they can't smoke their favorite $15-$20 cigar bc the price has gone up 3X. I'm sure a lot of Cubans feel so bad for us that we can't smoke something that coats half of their monthly salary. I encourage people to go to Cuba to learn what Habanos are all about. It's not the cigars, it's the people amd their attitude towards life, the passion of the cuban people is what I derrive from their cigars
Mahalo brah 🤙
Just stumbled across your channel. Hong Kong, China, has become involved in the Cuban cigar market. The issue with supply chain, Covid related issues, Are a bit difficult to swallow given the relative percentage of the price increase. A Cohiba Esplendido‘s now selling at $100 a stick? There’s more to it than that. My conspiracy theory holds that China through its belt and Road initiative is trying to snuff out the Cuban market, making it completely dependent on China. Same as it does in Africa. Perhaps one day “trading” Taiwan for Cuba. Just a thought. Hopefully I am wrong.
Interesting rake as I never considered that angle. Regardless I do think China will step in and support Cuba like the soviet union did before it fell. We will see. Right now I'm trying to stock up on habanos and look for value buys. Esplendidos were 1 of my favorite sticks buy the price has forced me to look at different brands like hoyo de Monterey and RA as go to everyday smokes as well as shop custom rolls
Also make sure to subscribe and leave a comment on the recent video about the giveaway this coming July 20th. Good luck!
Thank you
Margheritas are 12 now a piece
Still for the price and quality I don't know what can beat that. How did you like the smoke? How was the service you received in the comodoro shop vs other shops?
@@KimoKapaku service blows any store away in cuba. i mentioned you're name they appreciated it. I didn't smoke as I'm aging the 2 I got against the farm rolls and other cigars I picked up to compare to see what I should get when I go back
THe prices are a laughable for over rated Cubans. You are paying for the name Cuba, the rest of the cigars in the world are just as good or better. They are catering to the yacht crowd, even regular millionaires wont pay the outlandish prices.
Apparently not bc all of the people at the festival this year were poor bums who paid €700 per ticket to go. I guess the millionaires you know didn't attend the Habanos Festival and went to the procigar event the week before instead