Cuban Cigars: Questions and Answers

As a cigar retailer, some of the most common questions that we get involve Cuban cigars. From novice smokers to enthusiasts who suddenly find themselves curious, the world of Cuban cigars (or Habanos) is cloaked in mystique and intrigue. That being said, there are still a lot of misconceptions out there. Let us help you separate fact from fiction. We even have some cigar recommendations for the Cuban-curious out there.

What Is a Cuban Cigar?

The best place to start is right at the beginning. What criteria have to be met to qualify a cigar as “Cuban?” While some may use the term more loosely than others, the “Cuban” designation is generally reserved for cigars that are manufactured in Cuba using only Cuban tobacco.

What Is the Legality of Cuban Cigars in the U.S.?

During and after the Cuban Revolution, the U.S. imposed a series of increasingly expansive embargoes on the island nation. What started as an embargo on the sale of firearms in 1958 grew to an embargo on virtually all exports in 1962. Of course, this included Cuba’s famous cigars.

After the 1962 embargo, it was common knowledge that if you wanted Cuban cigars, you’d have to purchase them abroad and bring them back with you. That is, of course, if you didn’t smoke them all while on your vacation. Unfortunately, that all changed relatively recently. As of September 24, 2020, U.S. residents can no longer return from abroad with alcohol or tobacco products from Cuba. So, if you plan to travel somewhere that sells Cubans, it would be wise to only buy as many as you can smoke while abroad.

Why Are Cuban Cigars So Popular?

While some may disagree, it seems that the biggest reason why Cuban cigars are sought after is the mystery surrounding them. “The grass is always greener on the other side.” “The forbidden fruit tastes sweetest.” There are plenty of adages to explain the phenomenon, but the idea of true Cuban superiority among cigars is becoming increasingly antiquated.

Let’s not forget that many of the best in the business fled Cuba during the revolution, and they took their skills with them. At this point, these masterful blenders (and those who learned from them) have been making cigars for the American market for over half a century. It’s pretty safe to say the playing field has been leveled.

Not Quite Cubans – the best Cuban cigar alternatives

While there’s no denying that Cubans are still some of the world’s most sought-after cigars, they no longer hold the monopoly on true smoky greatness that they once did. As tobacco cultivation and cigar-making techniques around the world have advanced, many have followed suit in Cuban tradition to produce cigars from Nicaragua, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and beyond that rival the storied Habanos. Here are some non-Cuban cigars that closely echo (and, in some cases, surpass) the character and flavor of classic Cubans.

San Cristobal Elegancia

Originally a Cuban-made brand from the early 1900s, San Cristobal cigars are produced at My Father Cigars, S.A. under the supervision of Don Pepin Garcia, a Cuban-born tobacco master whose legendary tenure in the Cuban cigar industry spans over 40 years. Garcia compares the tobaccos from Nicaraguan valleys that he uses in San Cristobal cigars to those cultivated in famous Cuban growing regions. According to Don Pepin, “Estelí is like the Vuelta Arriba, and Jalapa is like Pinar del Río.” The similarities are especially apparent in the ultra-smooth Elegancia’s incredible balance of flavors. Toasty and creamy with a fantastic streak of pepper throughout, these mellow smokes conjure up vivid memories of old Havana in every tasty puff.

HVC Havana City Seleccion No. 1 Connecticut

Founded in 2011 by Cuban native Reiner Lorenzo, the entire boutique HVC cigar brand is an unabashed love letter to Cuba, and the cool creaminess of the Seleccion No. 1 strongly evokes the essence of smokes from the forbidden island. With a mellow-medium body backing its smooth and woody character, this excellent blend carries a mouthwatering natural sweetness that brings its deliciously rounded profile full circle.

Tatuaje 20th Anniversary

Since the brand’s inception, Tatuaje founder Pete Johnson has been transparent about his mission to match the signature richness of Cuban cigars, with the lush and flavorful blends he produces standing as tasty evidence. One of the best examples of this is the Tatuaje 20th Anniversary. Gushing with earthy charms, this full-bodied entry decorates its bold push of palate-coating flavor with nuances of leather, salted pretzel, and more for an awesome touch of Cuban-style complexity.

La Aroma de Cuba Noblesse

What’s in a name? When it comes to La Aroma de Cuba cigars, the answer is a good indication of what you can expect from the smoke, especially when we’re talking about the mighty Noblesse. Made at the famed My Father Cigars in Estelí using a Mexican San Andrés oscuro wrapper around triple-fermented tobaccos from Nicaragua’s verdant Estelí, Jalapa, and Namanji regions, the profusely pleasing Noblesse offers an opulent spread of tasting tones with impressions of dark chocolate, bold black pepper, espresso, Turkish fig, and more.