Interesting article from the US about cubans...

[larrysson]

This article was written by Greg Pease of GLP pipe tobacco fame. I have met Greg at the Chicagoland International Pipe Show, and have sampled most of his blends. Indeed he is an expert in his field. Anyway, I read an article he wrote, and I wanted to share it here...thinking it might induce good conversation, maybe even heated debate! The just of the article is that "cubans" made outside of cuba are just as good, if not better, than the real thing. I cannot comment really, being new to cubans and having had so little experience. Have a read and let's hear some comments!

http://cigarchronicles.com/up-in-smoke/havana-fantasy/

[Bad-Yeti]

Grapes are out of focus and Greg wears really awful glasses

[monkey66]

Terrior is Terrior.

[Agricola]

I'm sure if there were an embargo vs Scotland you'd have a similar article proclaiming that scotch isn't all that and there are much better American alternatives.

Besides half of the "Cuban cigars" sold in the U.S.A have that unique taste of .... wait what is that ... just a hint of ... erm let me see ... Ah yes tobacco bettle, that unique Cuban twang when the larvae pop during the second third!

The only people he's kidding are those without access to sample a range of Cuban cigars. I agree Cuban doesn't mean powerfull but honestly you think there are better cigars being made in the U.S than made by Cohiba and Partagas? Like who exactly? Why not name some of these stellar NC manufacturers and say who they out class?

He's about as vague as the owner of a U.S B&M when questioned on his source of beetle ridden "Cubans".

[Smallclub]

I have the upmost respect for Greg Pease as a blender, but this article is full of blah-blah…

(btw, he writes about "cuban manufacturers" when there is only ONE manufacturer in Cuba.)

In my opinion this article is aimed to US tobacco shop owners/managers, who are his main customers… and can't sell habanos…

[tippexx]

In my opinion this article is aimed to US tobacco shop owners/managers, who are his main customers… and can't sell habanos…

Of course. An equally, blah, blah, blah is paid by word count. Not quite sure where the beetles occurred in the article, but I assume Agri meant 'fakes' which are endemic in the US and are unfortunately the first opinion formers for Cuban Cigars for a lot of US BOTL.

However, preference aside there are people who can blend and produce exceedingly good cigars outside of Cuba. Not every Cohiba or Partagas can be described as exceptional, nor can every Fuente, Padron or Don Pepin Garcia, but where it does, the quality will out and I see no logic in not recognising quality wherever it's found nor in not enjoying it.

[Reaver2145]

l but honestly you think there are better cigars being made in the U.S than made by Cohiba and Partagas? Like who exactly? Why not name some of these stellar NC manufacturers and say who they out class?

If your comparing the flavours of a cuban and a non cuban your a fool simple as its like comparing haggis to a plate of fish they are two completely different things and you wont be finding your cuban flavours in a NC but that isnt saying that they dont come up with smokes that are on par to your precious cohibas and partagas most of the AF lineup are flavourful,well priced (unlike cohiba ?18 for a robusto) and well constructed (unlike cohiba lanceros being the worst) same goes for most of the Don Pepin Garcia line-up the cuban classic range while nothing at all like a cuban are quality smokes in there own rights.

So yeah quite a few of those NC cigars you so openly shun are far better than the over priced crap Havana can come up with ?40 montie 2 GR gimme a brake if its anything like a standard montie 2 half the box will be plugged.

[Zigatoh]

"cuban classic range" and therein lies the rub... That was the one good thread to that article, why keep trying to say an NC cigar or range is Cuban like, why not just let it stand on it's own merits - in that way it would probably fare better in that people wouldn't smoke it and say "that's not like a cuban", they might just smoke it and go, "blimey, that's a good (insert type/brand/country here) cigar!"

Can't remember ever seeing a marlborough reisling with = "just like french plonk" on the side...

[larrysson]

I like these replies so far...very good!

[Gordonbcb]

"cuban classic range" and therein lies the rub... That was the one good thread to that article, why keep trying to say an NC cigar or range is Cuban like, why not just let it stand on it's own merits - in that way it would probably fare better in that people wouldn't smoke it and say "that's not like a cuban", they might just smoke it and go, "blimey, that's a good (insert type/brand/country here) cigar!"

Can't remember ever seeing a marlborough reisling with = "just like french plonk" on the side...

Couldn't agree more. Seems to me that Zigatoh read the article and took the same out of it as I did.

Well said mate

[Eddie]

I didn't see the article as too bad. Just that people naively use the term "Cuban-like" and its undefinable like so much marketing bullshit is these days.

[cbob]

"cuban classic range" and therein lies the rub... That was the one good thread to that article, why keep trying to say an NC cigar or range is Cuban like, why not just let it stand on it's own merits - in that way it would probably fare better in that people wouldn't smoke it and say "that's not like a cuban", they might just smoke it and go, "blimey, that's a good (insert type/brand/country here) cigar!"

Can't remember ever seeing a marlborough reisling with = "just like french plonk" on the side...

I'm of a similar mind.
Why do so many producers of cigars outside of Cuba put the word "Cuba" or "Cuban" or "Havana" or "Habano" in their brand or cigar names?
"Cuban Crafters" does not craft Cuban cigars. Who do they wish to fool? And Why? Could it be that they are still trying to claim "Cuban-like" characteristics for their cigars?

When I traveled a lot in the USA, where non-Cuban cigars are "value-priced" (unlike at home where they are the same price as Cuban smokes) I was able to buy and sample a wide range of product, NONE of it having ANY similarity to any of the relatively sparse exports from Cuba.
Some cigars were very good but ... not Cuban in any way. Indeed, many non-Cuban cigars burned far better than the Cuban ones, chiefly due to the "mass production" techniques of machine bunching or having dedicated bunchers.
These cigars could and do stand on their own merits and I would encourage anyone to give them a try. The only way you can honestly judge and decide or your preferences is by smoking.
Everyone has their own taste and while mine runs to the flavours of Cuban tobacco, others may prefer a fine Honduran smoke or one from Nicaragua.
"Better" is a value judgement, not a scientific measure of any kind.
I wish the producers of non-Cuban smokes would stop using Cuban references.
At the same time, I wish the Cuban producers would stop hyping "new! super premium" cigars that, in effect, are just smokes made with the kind of aged tobaccos they USED to use back before the "cigar boom" when superb leaf was aged and properly fermented before being used, and for which they expect us to pay truly ridiculous prices.

[tippexx]

I'm of a similar mind.
Why do so many producers of cigars outside of Cuba put the word "Cuba" or "Cuban" or "Havana" or "Habano" in their brand or cigar names?
"Cuban Crafters" does not craft Cuban cigars. Who do they wish to fool? And Why? Could it be that they are still trying to claim "Cuban-like" characteristics for their cigars?

For exactly the same reason that a lot of UK ice cream manufacturers and ice cream biscuit use the word Italian, Italiano or such. They are of Italian heritage and are proud of their roots, culture and history.

Many of the NC manufacturers can trace their ancestry and craft skill back to Cuba and likewise are proud of the fact. With regard to tobacco I don't think they claim Cuban characteristic, they claim Cuban seed which is correct, and which were brought out of Cuba by manufacturers, planters and blenders escaping the current regime.

[larrysson]

Great replies, cbob's post really struck a cord for this newbie. Thanks.

[snooky]

I enjoyed reading the article and the topic brings about a healthy debate. But here in the UK we do have choice and in the main we choose Cuban over any other cigar , and for those who defend NC's is often driven by costs .
Im no expert and with blind tasting may not tell which wine comes from which region same with cheese, but with cigars i think as soon as we put our nose to the box we know.