Bruce just curious tho...
I don't know if the import duties would be the same from Hong Kong as they are from the U.S. but from the U.S. I pay 10% duty, 45% excise tax (whatever that is) 13% sales tax and a $10 handling fee from Customs. You may recall that Canada and the U.S. have a free trade agreement. Unfortunately tobacco products don't count.
The ONLY issue with CC for me is uneven burn on some CC
CC is different, and better. The aging just puts them light years ahead of NC. I agree CA, rates cigars based on advertising no doubt. It's a joke that some NC get ratings over 90, I have smoked some of them and are like this is 95? Example is CAO big block 770 is rated in the high 90s and the cigar is good but please, my honest opinion it's around an 87 at best. I smoke all NC and CC but probably do so at a 3 CC to 1 ratio. I just love tobacco and nicotine. I have been going through 3 cans of chew per day as well. I have noticed that Cuban cigars have a deep richness that has yet to be matched by any NC. This rich, earthy flavor is what the NC lacks and I personally guess it's due to the soil, weather, humidity of Cuba. It's analogous to marijuana from humbolt compared to other outdoor crap.CA is, by and large, a shill for their advertisers. I'm talking about articles and scoring, not the obvious layout ads.
As to CCs, I think to a large extent that these articles, if you're representing them properly, have it exactly backward.
Cuban quality is nowhere near that of your average boutique NC company -- Warped, CH, Roma, Illusione -- and if you want to try to compare CC quality to a big player like Fuente? I will literally laugh in your face.
Have you BEEN to Cuba? For all intents and purposes, it is 1950 there. I was in a tobacco field in Pinar del Rio 10 days ago, and a farmer was plowing with oxen. It's 20 goddamn 17! Oxen!
Again, I am not saying that Oxen produces a better or worse cigar -- it certainly produces cigars less efficiently -- but don't go touting the high-tech, 21st century Cuban tobacco machine as a reason for qualityThe articles you reference (if they're the ones I read) are very typical of propaganda: tell them it's all wonderful and uses the most modern methods, etc., and meanwhile you've got leaf arriving at the back in a hose-drawn cart.
Having said that.
Cuban cigars are different. If you've smoked a lot of CCs and NCs, they have a different profile. I didn't used to think so, but I also didn't used to smoke a lot of CCs. Now I enjoy them at a 4-1 rate compared to NCs. I still do my best to try most every NC I can get my hands on, but I no longer buy them by the box, and the only times I do are at IPCPR (and after) and when I go to my B&M, so I can help them stay in business. All other times, I've got a CC in my hand or mouth. I have a small closely held list of NCs that tend to deliver, for me. The rest? Meh.
CCs are not better. They're different. Until you put 4-5 years of age on them. Then, they're kind of just better...
Great point, NEVER met someone that started CC then converted to straight NC. Why would anyone do this unless paid to switch for a job or something
Ive had some Terrible NCs along with some Terrible CCs... theres a balance to be kept for sure
What's CBL?
Connecticut broad leaf I think . Isn't most of Tatuaje and Drew Estate wrapped in it?
And crowned heads, and umpteen other brands and/or new releases from the last year and a half or so.
Hey, I'm the GM of 16 stores across Alberta. You are correct, our effective tobacco taxes work out to about 372% these days. It has to do with the fact that our PTT (Provincial Tobacco Tax) is a multiplier of the Federal excise tax, and then 129% on top of that with a capped rate of $7.83. Which essentially means $7.83 on every cigar plus Federal excise.
What are we waiting for?!? Let’s get it started!
