Cuban cigars, home-made humidor, java?

bacon.jay

I'm not really sure that this is a good question for a first post, but i'll ask anyways...

Later this year i'm going on a carribean cruise with Royal Carribean and I was wondering if it's possible to get real cuban cigars while i'm down there, and if i'd be able to bring any back with me on the boat?  It'd be a nice conversation starter if I had some...

Also, i'm thinking about building a humidor, i'm a fairly competent woodworker with all the necessary tools, sooo... how big should i make it, what sort of design should i start with, and for shiggles.... what is the most and least favorite feature of your humidor and why?  besides the inevitable response that it's not big enough of course...

i really like the java line from drew estate as far as infused sticks is concerned, but not a lot of people i've met have smoked them.  how about everyone else?

gmill880

bacon.jay:

I'm not really sure that this is a good question for a first post, but i'll ask anyways...

Later this year i'm going on a carribean cruise with Royal Carribean and I was wondering if it's possible to get real cuban cigars while i'm down there, and if i'd be able to bring any back with me on the boat?  It'd be a nice conversation starter if I had some...

Also, i'm thinking about building a humidor, i'm a fairly competent woodworker with all the necessary tools, sooo... how big should i make it, what sort of design should i start with, and for shiggles.... what is the most and least favorite feature of your humidor and why?  besides the inevitable response that it's not big enough of course...

i really like the java line from drew estate as far as infused sticks is concerned, but not a lot of people i've met have smoked them.  how about everyone else?

Speaking of the Java ....I love 'em and the Tabak Especial as well ....they also have unbelieveable customer service as well ....( No I don't work for them but I wish I did)

Luko

To be safe, just mail me any and all boxes of Cuban cigars while on your cruise. I'll hold onto em for ya, till you're back in the States, of course.

bacon.jay

Luko:

To be safe, just mail me any and all boxes of Cuban cigars while on your cruise. I'll hold onto em for ya, till you're back in the States, of course.

So it is possible to get them down there, you just can't bring them back in?

Luko

bacon.jay:

Luko:

To be safe, just mail me any and all boxes of Cuban cigars while on your cruise. I'll hold onto em for ya, till you're back in the States, of course.

So it is possible to get them down there, you just can't bring them back in?

I don't know from direct experience, but from what I've heard, you about a 20 percent chance of getting real Cubans. If you do, may be difficult to to get em back.

bacon.jay

gmill880:

bacon.jay:

I'm not really sure that this is a good question for a first post, but i'll ask anyways...

Later this year i'm going on a carribean cruise with Royal Carribean and I was wondering if it's possible to get real cuban cigars while i'm down there, and if i'd be able to bring any back with me on the boat?  It'd be a nice conversation starter if I had some...

Also, i'm thinking about building a humidor, i'm a fairly competent woodworker with all the necessary tools, sooo... how big should i make it, what sort of design should i start with, and for shiggles.... what is the most and least favorite feature of your humidor and why?  besides the inevitable response that it's not big enough of course...

i really like the java line from drew estate as far as infused sticks is concerned, but not a lot of people i've met have smoked them.  how about everyone else?

Speaking of the Java ....I love 'em and the Tabak Especial as well ....they also have unbelieveable customer service as well ....( No I don't work for them but I wish I did)

Is the Tabak another Drew Estate concoction? i've never heard of them, i'll have to check them out. what are they like?

gmill880

bacon.jay:

gmill880:

bacon.jay:

I'm not really sure that this is a good question for a first post, but i'll ask anyways...

Later this year i'm going on a carribean cruise with Royal Carribean and I was wondering if it's possible to get real cuban cigars while i'm down there, and if i'd be able to bring any back with me on the boat?  It'd be a nice conversation starter if I had some...

Also, i'm thinking about building a humidor, i'm a fairly competent woodworker with all the necessary tools, sooo... how big should i make it, what sort of design should i start with, and for shiggles.... what is the most and least favorite feature of your humidor and why?  besides the inevitable response that it's not big enough of course...

i really like the java line from drew estate as far as infused sticks is concerned, but not a lot of people i've met have smoked them.  how about everyone else?

Speaking of the Java ....I love 'em and the Tabak Especial as well ....they also have unbelieveable customer service as well ....( No I don't work for them but I wish I did)

Is the Tabak another Drew Estate concoction? i've never heard of them, i'll have to check them out. what are they like?

Yeah its by Drew Estate as well..... my opinion is the Tabak Especial tastes almost like a cross between a infused cigar and a good tobaccoey flavor...rich deep tobacco with hints of cocoa and mocha-a great smoke I had one today about lunch time

j0z3r

I'd imagine there is a better chance of getting authentic Cubans in the Caribbean than a place like Mexico. Do an internet search for a la Casa del Habano in the Caribbean and see if there is one close to where you're going, that is a Cuban cigars store run/licensed by the Cuban govt. and a guaranteed authentic source, probably the only guaranteed authentic source actually. And if you find some Cubans, buy a Bolivar if nothing else, that's one of the finest cigars, Cuban or otherwise, that I've had...look for the petit corona, royal corona or belicosos finos. If you can hide them away pretty good, you can probably get them back on the ship with you, they're not the ones who would scrutinize you, it'd be Customs who would do that.

Tumbler

j0z3r

I wasn't very impressed with the Monte #2 either. I've read that this cigar in particular is wildly inconsistent due to the demand for it. Apparently they are rolled in several different factories so any quality assurance goes out the window. I guess that's the price you pay with such an iconic cigar.

Tumbler

I read the same thing... I guess the moral of this story is to stay away from the iconic Cuban cigars.

j0z3r

That'd be my advice.

alienmisprint

kuzi16

dafeesh

Hey there, I'm also planning on making a humidor. I brainstormed in a 3-d program and I think I got a model that I'm happy with. It will have two rows of three storage drawers in the middle, a long shallow drawer on the bottom with humidifiers and fans for circulation, and a larger lidded bin on the top that should be able to hold a couple boxes, or a whole bunch of singles. Not a huge humidor but should be able to hold at a minimum 150 fat sticks. If I can can figure out how to upload a pic then Ill get a render of the design. Also when I start building it I will most likely keep a build log in either general discussion or non cigar related forum. Here is a link for about the cheapest place that I have found Spainish Cedar for humidor lining: http://internetlumber.com/lumber-products/SPANISH-CEDAR-HUMIDOR-LINING

PuroFreak

kuzi16

thats not breaking a law... thats change we can believe in. yes we can.

PuroFreak

kuzi16:

thats not breaking a law... thats change we can believe in. yes we can.

At least I came up with a solution! All you did was use scare tactics about the law coming down on the entire forum... More of the same old fear mongering... hahaha J/K Ooooooook.... Thats enough of the political catch phrases.

phobicsquirrel

PuroFreak:

kuzi16:

thats not breaking a law... thats change we can believe in. yes we can.

At least I came up with a solution! All you did was use scare tactics about the law coming down on the entire forum... More of the same old fear mongering... hahaha J/K Ooooooook.... Thats enough of the political catch phrases.

lol

bacon.jay

right now i'm trying to find out exactly what the ports-of-call are. when i find out i'll post them here and we can go from there... also, anyone besides kuzi got anything specific they like/dislike about their humi?? type of hardware, (latches, locks, etc.), exterior hardwood shell vs. complete spanish cedar w/ veneer/finish, type of finish, anything? be picky!!

gmill880

alienmisprint

gmill880

havanaal

Ports of call are irrelevant, except of course for U.S. territory like PR and VI. Otherwise, you can expect signs as you get off the boat "We have Cuban cigars" usually hand written in crayon. My most enlightening experience was in a little hole in the wall shop in St Martin. The guy says "If you want to take them back to your country, we can switch the bands", and then he showed me a box of loose bands with a Te Amo label. Immediately on to the scam I asked "If you're switching bands, how do I even know the Cubans are real?" To make a long story short, I didn't buy any. Best cigar deals in the Caribbean are in the DR. (outside of Cuba, obviously)

Rob1110

bacon.jay

kuzi16

bacon.jay

Rob1110

dafeesh

Thanks for the link for the coupon. The wifey and I just made reservations for a cruise that hits Georgetown in mid May.

mmaggi

I've probably smoked more Cuban cigars than non-Cubans in my lifetime. A few notes: 1) Depending on where you come into, customs can be a pain or it can be a breeze. The few times I've brought them in I always go through JFK-NYC and I never, ever had a problem. Maybe it's because of the very high volume of passengers. Just remember that if you get caught bringing cigars in, they will be confiscated and you will be forever scrutinized whenever crossing into the US. 2) The majority of Cuban cigars I have purchased were authentic because I purchase them from credible sources and not some shady shop in tourist/port cities. On my last cruise I purchased smokes from some swanky cigar shop in the Grand Caymon Islands. They were real. 3) I have also had some "fake" Cuban cigars that were actually made from Cuban leaf, that is tobacco leaves from Cuba. In other words they were Monte #2, #3 & #4 in their boxes but they were not made in a Cuban cigar factory. Believe me when I tell you that the cigars were still good. How do I know they were made from Cuban leaf? Well a good buddy of mine has a father that grew and rolled the stuff until he left Cuba back in 1971 and he serves as our blood hound whenever we purchase smokes from shady characters. 4) I can't say I agree with the statement by some poster that 90% of Cuban smokes are fake. Again, don't buy from shady characters and in high turnover tourist/port cities. Buy from authentic Cuban government smoke shops and you will be fine. 5) It has been my experience that the chance of finding fake Cuban smokes in Europe is slim to none. If you're ever in Italy or Switzerland chances are you can walk into any smoke shop and find reasonably priced Cuban cigars. The airport isn't too bad a either.