What If/Should it be done?

[Koujo]

Everyone knows that if the embargo was lifted on Cuba that America would count for a ton of business for Cuba. Hell they already do. But would you want to do this and should this be done?

Should if the embargo be lifted, Padron, Tatuaje, or (insert your favorite cigar maker here) use some Cuban tobaccos like wrapper leaf in a mix with other countries fillers/binder. Everyone knows that the Liga Privada is an awesome cigar and it has over 7 different countries tobaccos in it. So would you like to see a Cuban hybrid cigar with all the best tobaccos that the world has to offer?

 

[astripp]

I can't see Cuba exporting the leaf, they make too much money rolling it into cigars as is.

 

[vivalanation734]

I love the embargo. I dont want it to change.

 

[Jwrussell]

The embargo needs to end. There are no good reasons for it remaining, and the absolute worst is to keep the price of certain cigars down.

 

[mk05]

This quote comes to mind...

“The wrapper would be Cuban. The binder would come from Nicaragua, as would two leaves of ligero filler. The seco and viso filler would come from Cuba. That cigar,” he says with confidence, talking about his dream smoke, “would score perfectly in anyone’s rating system.”

- Don Pepin Garcia

 

[Koujo]

This quote comes to mind...
- Don Pepin Garcia

I agree with that, I would love to smoke a cigar like that!

 

[Thecatch83]

I think (at least some) of the appeal and buzz surrounding CC's, is the fact that they are illegal in the states. IMO, if the embargo was lifted, Cuban cigars would lose some of their luster. Don't get me wrong, they would still be considered great cigars......

 

[cmhicksusmc]

Aside from Cuban cigars it boils down to business in general. Cuba is gorgeous and I personally would love to go back and not have to fly through Mexico to get there. That being said isolating someone isnt going to change their form of governing we should encourage as many freedon loving ideals as possible and lifting the embargo would be a giant step forward. Much Love, Cheers!

Oh and the cigars and women (not necessarily in that order) are definately a big reason as well.

 

[Robban]

Most parts of the world do not have an embargo against Cuba so what is stopping them from already making a Cuba/Nicaragua hybrid today? Is it the Cuban government and Altadis who want to keep it traditional or are contries scared of the wrath of USA I the do accual business with Cuba?

 

[blind2reason]

I can't see Cuba exporting the leaf, they make too much money rolling it into cigars as is.

If I'm not mistaken Cuba is not objective to exporting it's leaf and in fact they do export to some companies. The main issue is that distributors don't want to have to divide the sales markets for smokes sold to the US and smokes sold to everyone else. Cuba isn't short on leaf by any means, they are short on time and don't want to wait for their tobacco/cigars to age fully before pushing them out to market.

I'm all for free trade, I don't want to see the blends/brands I like change but I would like to see new ones in addition to them.

If I have mispoken with above information please feel free to correct me.

-Blind:cbig:

 

[daniyal]

People tend to forget that Cuba exported a boat load of tobacco to the US before the embargo and probably grew a lot more tobacco than it does today. There were several more local (Cuban) manufacturers than today and even more rolling that tobacco in Miami.. People who talk about lifting the embargo talk about it as if a vaccum would be created in the world of Habanos, by the demand in the US, while that may happen in the short run in the long run we'll see America, DR, Nica and other producers move to Cuba to get in on the action much like Robaina has invested in Nica.

 

[Lorax429]

People sometimes forget that the Embargo isn't about cigars... It is about an impoverished and oppressed nation of people. Now whether you believe the Embargo effective or ineffective in its political objective to pressure Cuba's government to be less oppressive towards its citizens, there is nothing more short-sited and selfish than to want the Embargo to continue simply because some people might "think" it may somehow protect the quality or availability of some cigars they happen to enjoy smoking.

Because we are cigar smokers and we sometimes get wrapped up into our hobby, we sometimes end up with blinders on and only think of Cuba in terms of the cigars and how things there effect us and the cigars. Fact is, it is a country with so much more than cigars to offer the world. Regardless of what may or may not happen to the cigar industry in Cuba, the lifting of the embargo and a switch from communism to democracy, in my opinion, what would be best for Cuba, its people, and the rest of the world.


I'll get off my soap box now... Sorry for getting a little preachy and for the threadjack.

To the original question, would love to see what might come of Cuban tobacco being available to all the various cigar makers around the world, and I would also love to see what the Cubans could do by incorporating Nicaraguan or other tobacco into new blends made by their master blenders as well.

 

[Jwrussell]

:thumbsup: to the first part of your post. Well put.

As to the second part...so long as they don't stop producing puros as they do now. I think I would cry for a year!

 

[UberHuberMan]

I'll get off my soap box now... Sorry for getting a little preachy and for the threadjack.

I for one appreciate having your opinion voiced. Thanks for the reality check! I would love to be able to go to my local B&M to pick up a Cuban, but if doing so would require me to participate in the economy of an oppressed nation, I'd just as soon leave the embargo in place.

That being said, let's all hope that the Cuban government changes its ways to actually serving its people so we can get our hands on those tasty tasty smokes!

To speak to the original intent of the thread, I think it'd be incredible to get a blend going which included a combination of Cuban and Nicaraguan tobacco. Don Pepin's recipe sounds pretty darn good to me!

 

[BrooksW]

Cuba can hardly keep up with demand now (in terms of aged tobacco)...I don't even want to think about what would happen to QC if the embargo was lifted...

~brooks

 

[Jwrussell]

I for one appreciate having your opinion voiced. Thanks for the reality check! I would love to be able to go to my local B&M to pick up a Cuban, but if doing so would require me to participate in the economy of an oppressed nation, I'd just as soon leave the embargo in place.

Coming really close to pulling thread off the rails here, but just a random thought for you to mull over: I guarantee you purchase products made in China. Secondly, the embargo has done squat to change the status quo as far as that goes, so why leave it in place? It isn't helping to change anything.

 

[UberHuberMan]

Coming really close to pulling thread off the rails here, but just a random thought for you to mull over: I guarantee you purchase products made in China. Secondly, the embargo has done squat to change the status quo as far as that goes, so why leave it in place? It isn't helping to change anything.

When I saw your post, I went around my apartment trying to find items that were made in China in the hopes that I could come back here and say, "Ahah! I actually don't own anything made in China!" However, the fact of the matter is that I do and I didn't even check when I purchased them.

Thank you for making this point. In the future, I'll be checking where something is made before I buy it.

Sorry for the departure here, fellas.

 

[Fourtotheflush]

When I saw your post, I went around my apartment trying to find items that were made in China in the hopes that I could come back here and say, "Ahah! I actually don't own anything made in China!" However, the fact of the matter is that I do and I didn't even check when I purchased them.

Thank you for making this point. In the future, I'll be checking where something is made before I buy it.

Sorry for the departure here, fellas.

Your not going to be able to buy much.

Check out the grocery store -- its frightening how much comes from china!

 

[wilfredsimpson]

As far as doing business with an oppressive government in Cuba, I think that it should be noted that Cuba is the only "oppressive government" that the US doesn't do business with. Hell, there isn't even an embargo on North Korea! Although I am personally happy with the embargo (it gives me something unique to bomb you Americans with!), it should not be looked at as a statement towards an oppressive government.

The question at hand though, I would like to see a few one offs with cuban tobacco blend. But I have some huge concerns about QC. They will just be trying to roll that many more cigars, and I see the quality suffering.