TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Cuban cigar & rum embargo lifted

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world...igars/92042662/
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Thank you for this info.

As a long time cigar smoker I will be interested in the results we see from this action.
For one, the diplomatic pouches that Washington politicians get their Cuban cigars won't be necessary anymore.
Long term I should think that some prices will drop now that they are legal in the US.

Never a fan of cigars, but next time I'm down, may have to check out some Cuban rums, just for the sake of research! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I don't think the cigars you will buy in Cuba will be the best. They send those overseas for big bucks. Maybe seconds. That's what I heard anyway. Sounds plausible.
Good Luck!
irina

I think most people here are more interested in buying stuff in SXM and taking home, which we couldn't do before.

Oh yeah. Doh.
LOL
i

Not sure if you know, but what is a normal price of a Cuban cigar in SXM?

Depends on the type of cigar, ie: Monte Cristo, Julietta, etc. Maya Gift Shop and Sunrise Gift Shop, both in Maho are reputable cigar dealers.

A corona size RJ will be around 5-6. A robusto Montecristo or Cohiba around 10-12 depending on the store. I usually but mine the same time I buy my liquor supply and prices are negotiated.

Which store do yo find the best to get a robusto Montecristo or Cohiba? Last year I purchased some Cohibas in Grand Case on the strip. They seemed a little expensive (can't remember the exact amount) but it was more then I had paid before. He kept telling me you have to be very careful of having the seal on them when you buy to make sure they are real? What are your thoughts. Very much a newbie here on purchasing these. Thanks in advance.

Maya Gift shop in Marigot next to market and new place in Maho. Also Sunrise in Maho. Both have walkin humidors and large selection. Both will ship to your home.

Cigar emporium on front street has a great selection but they won't deal. I get most of mine from a liquor store on front street before you get to and on the same side as Guavaberry. Name escapes me but they are certified for Cuban cigars.
The Montecristo torpedo's they have are a fine smoke.

The Cuban Rum brand which you're most likely to run across is Havana Club. It's a relatively new brand (1990's), but has a huge international market. Others, which may be harder to find, are the Nave Don Pancho distillery's Varadero brand and Technoazucur's Ron Mulata brand. They all make a clear rum, as well as various aged rums.

The Nave Don Pancho distillery is the oldest, started by Don Fecundo Bacardi.

A little history from an old cigar smoking person.
30+ years going to SXM as a cigar smoker. Only a couple places (Cigar Emporium/Casa de Cubana/Le Cigare/are guaranteed to be authentic). Others may or may not be so. Most cigars sold in the Caribbean are bogus. Huge discount? Normally are counterfeits. Most casual cigar smokers won't know the difference since counterfeits are still good cigars.
First few years when I could buy Montecristo #2 or #3 for $100/box, I learned that diplomatic pouches were going to Washington every day from Sint Maarten. Unfair but truth.
Embargo reversal will turn things upside down with the cigar sales in SXM. I expect prices to remain ($10 to $20 per Premium Cuban cigar for now but next year? Competition from Dominican Republic/ Nicaragua/Honduras will force prices for Cubans down. Truth be known, many cigar smokers already think other cigar countries produce a better quality and certainly better value cigar than Cuba. Making them legal here will prove my point.
Good news is that I won't have to haul my Dominican Fuentes to SXM anymore because their emphasis on Cubans will be reduced and their offering will be more diversified.
Thus, endith the gospel for today.

Prices might not come down. As more visitors can now take home 100 cuban cigars every 31 days without any fear going through customs, Cuba will not be able to keep up with the production. Laws of supply and demand will drive prices up for a year or two until the production picks up.

Does anyone know if the cigar shop next to Le Select on St. Barth's has authentic Cohiba's? I got some there several years ago and they were fantastic but I am far from a cigar connoisseur. I totally fit into Tom's "casual cigar smoker" category! Thanks!

The shop next to Le Select, Le Comptoir du Cigare, is now an art gallery, but there's another place that sells cigars across the street from that location. I knew the owners of Le Comptoire, and their cigars were legit. I don't know the people across the street.

They were the best I've ever had, but that may not be saying a lot as I don't smoke cigars very often. Thanks for the head's up!

If you like Cohiba try a Montecristo while you are there. Great mild smoke. You'll be hooked.

I thought I have had a Montecristo and thought that the Cohiba was much smoother. Maybe I had a garbage can Montecristo, you never know.
Thanks Scubby

Longtime cigar smoker myself. Cuba can't keep up with the demand as it is. Quality will be even worse, and they have had bad growing seasons the last 3 years, which is the tobacco that will start to be released now. All bad news for fans of habanos.

We will have to wait to see how this plays out. The impact of now having access to what was taboo will initially cause a surge but after that settles, we will see. Personally, I generally prefer Dominican cigars over Cubans. As I have said to many people that have asked if Cubans were the "best" cigar, personal taste determines what is best.

Thanks everyone for the info. I even have a couple new types to try now. Maybe even a new adventure to find a good store. Thanks again.

I'm not a Cohiba fan either, but I've enjoyed Partagas, Macanudo, and other top brands over the years. I've purchased Cuban-produced versions of these brands while traveling and have found a few to be excellent. But the cigars I smoke that are from the Dominican and Central America are also quite good and a much better value.
I see the normal duty and tax exemptions will still apply to the Cuban products.

I have always enjoyed smoking a Romeo y Juliet from Emporium on Front Street in Phillipsburg. The staff there is always willing to please, and happy to find someone who enjoys the pleasure of a quality smoke. I am looking forward to trying some of the brands suggested by the other posters here. Also, I would like to find a good store in Marigot. Is the store in Marina Royale a good source?

I have not been there in years but always enjoyed talking to the owner who once told me he was the 1st to import Cuban cigars in SXM. Small but good quality cigar selection.

Maya Gift Shop across st from open air market has walkin humidor and large selection. I bought there for several years. They ship to US also.

We should see some interesting offers from JR, Thompson, and Famous. They have been waiting for this a long time.

Don't think that will happen. Retailers can't import for resale. Only for personal use.

For now, you may be correct but the next step is natural. Most of what I have read predicts this will be a short boom for Cuban cigar business but any product that requires aging gets hurt when someone tries to shortcut.