Down with the Cuban Embargo?

[Dr Dangus Khan]

So I constantly hear over conversations with fellow smokers something along the lines of "Man Cubanos are the greatest smokes ever, they need to stop fighting the Cold War and lift the Embargo."

Just make a profile here today, haven't read through all the threads to see if this is a repeat and this is my first post ever so be nice..

My thoughts are as such: the demand for Cubanos is already high. Now I'm not sure what the level of output is for the Cuban tobacco crop, but if the ban is lifted, the demand will grow exponentially, thus increasing the output/supply. Based solely on speculation, NOT education, my opinion is that the nutrients in the soil would be depleted, or newer/stronger fertilizers will be used to meet the demands, etc., and eventually degrading the quality of the once prestigious Cuban Cigar.

All speculation, however.

What do you guys think about the impact on Cuban soil a lift on the Embargo will have?

 

[KPP]

Never had a cubanos...

But I too am interested to see what the forum vets have to say on this ground breaking subject.

Oh...

Welcome to the forum Doc!

 

[AussieMitch]

I personally don't think the embargo will be lifted in our lifetimes. I don't have to worry about it (obviously), but I feel for the American brothers who are missing out. That said, I don't think it would be a life wasted if you only ever smoked NC's. There are so many damn good cigars that aren't from the ISOM. $.02

 

[Dr Dangus Khan]

I've never seen/heard/read anything on this subject so I too, am stoked to hear what they have to say.

 

[Dr Dangus Khan]

Well enjoy them for us less fortunate Yanks! While some NC's may pretty freakin' awesome, I'm a believer of the placebo effect the allure something from ISOM would have on one's brain.. but I'll save that for a later thread.

 

[KcJason1]

Wtf is a cubano? I

 

[Mr.V]

I have a few thoughts on this; :scratchhe

first, I've tried many Cubans and find them a bit harsh, my taste I guess, everyone is different

second, if they do lift the embargo maybe the quality will diminsh to meet the demand, the US is a huge market especially if they can get their hands on them, which would prob drop the price on both Cubans and non-Cubans

third, alot on NC are made with Cuban seed, so the only difference I can think of is the soil

fourth, I live in Canada so getting real Cubans isnt all that difficult :tonguerol

:dunno: my 2 cents worth, but I'm verily new and learning

 

[AlohaStyle]

Good topic and good thinking.

First of all, poster #2 hasn't had a habanos just like he hasn't been drunk before...

My personal opinion... you are absolutely correct that demand will skyrocket. But from what I have read and understand of Cuba, it's possible quality could suffer because of Cuba trying to get out more cigars, but definitely don't have to worry about soil being hurt. Cuba has grown cigars for a very long time and there are generations upon generations growing the tobacco. There isn't some magical chemical out there that they will use to grow tobacco faster. There is a specific time period during the year to grow tobacco and they have exact amount of days that the plant needs to grow before harvest. Sure Cuba is constantly doing research and chemical/seed testing, but I don't believe it's possible for them to increase growth rate and plant enough crops in a year to damage the soil. Nicaragua is the same way... you have to plan for 46 days or so for the plant being in the ground before harvest... no way they can bump that up with what people know now.

Take the Robaina family... they do things the way they've done for years and years. The grandson Hirochi still reads his grandpa's diary on how to do things. That will never change IMO.

With that said, if/when the embargo lifts, prices sure will skyrocket because of the demand and it will be hard to get cigars because places will be out of stock. And I personally believe the embargo will lift when both Castro brothers pass away... should be in the next 10 years and then probably 3-5 years to actually get the embargo lifted. No way a US President will lift the embargo with a living Fidel or Raul because of the political suicide waiting in Florida if they tried to.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Wtf is a cubano? I

LOL!

Probably this:

 

[AlohaStyle]

third, alot on NC are made with Cuban seed, so the only difference I can think of is the soil

Bro, the soil IS the difference. Just like wine... you can use the same vines and the wine would totally taste different from one place to the next. You can take the same tobacco seeds in one hand, plant those in Cuba, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Central Park NYC and they would all taste different...

 

[KPP]

Wtf is a cubano? I

LOL!

Probably this:

Can't be that.


Why you ask?


Cuz I've had one of those!:dance:

 

[icehog3]

With that said, if/when the embargo lifts, prices sure will skyrocket because of the demand and it will be hard to get cigars because places will be out of stock.

Yuppers.

 

[Dr Dangus Khan]

AlohaStyle: That was very good insight thanks for sharing. Also, I can't help but agree. I apparently have a LOT to learn...
Where you from? I'm in Mililani, O'ahu.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Where you from? I'm in Mililani, O'ahu.

I live in the Seattle area now... lived on the edge of Waikiki for a few years and miss Hawaii very much! I had friends living in Mililani and Wahiawa so I definitely know your area. You local, or military?

 

[BigNubDC]

Good stuff in here, always a good topic for cigar discussion.

 

[Alwayslit]

Great topic

 

[mjohop]

If the embargo is lifted I don't think Habanos SA has the leaf to keep up with the demand of an American market that would have access to legal Cubans for the first time in 50 years. Even now there are rumors Cuba is starting to use Nica and DR tobacco because the international demand is so high and the soil quality has been on the decline for quite some time.

The idea that Habanos are the best is a legacy thing I believe. My father, for example, is 53. While not a cigar smoker, his father, my grandfather, drilled into him that Cubans are the best. So when I finally had a Cuban, growing up with the mentality that Cubans are the best, I was sort of let down. While I liked the Cohiba Siglo II I smoked it didn't quite match what I looked for in a cigar. Right now I'm smoking a Tatuaje Black Petite Lancero and to me it is better than any Habano I've ever had. That being said, I've become accustomed to non-Cuban tobacco so its only natural that I enjoy the notes that I get from a Nicaraguan, Dominican, or Honduran blend over a Cuban blend.

I'm not out to knock anyone's palate so from purely a quality standpoint, the Cubans I've had recently have been inconsistent at best. While the distinct, Cuban tobacco taste is there, I've experienced bad draws, muddled flavors, and overall poor construction in many of the Cubans I've smoked recently. The only brands I'd really like to be able to walk in a store and buy are Trinidad, Ramon Allones, and maybe RyJ and Partagas.

 

[SDShark]

Wtf is a cubano? I

LOL!

Probably this:

AGREED! haha

 

[AlohaStyle]

the soil quality has been on the decline for quite some time.

Where do you get that idea? The last couple crops of tobacco have been really good with farmers saying the same. I read a lot and I can't remember anywhere seeing/hearing that the soil quality is in decline. Sure the quality of tobacco/cigars suffered after the cigar boom but that was because Cuba tried to pump out too many cigars losing all quality control during the manufacturing process. That has nothing to do with soil quality.

One can also argue the tobacco seed Cuba is using has diminished the cuban cigar, but that doesn't have anything to do with soil quality either.

 

[Fox]

I personally don't think the embargo will be lifted in our lifetimes. I don't have to worry about it (obviously), but I feel for the American brothers who are missing out. That said, I don't think it would be a life wasted if you only ever smoked NC's. There are so many damn good cigars that aren't from the ISOM. $.02

I tend to agree with you, Mitch. I remember my step-father saying he thought the embargo would be short lived. . .in 1963! He has long since taken a dirt nap and the embargo remains. IMHO, as long as the vote in this country remains fairly evenly divided and Florida remains in play, the embargo will not be lifted. The Cuban expatriate vote can swing that state either way and neither party is going to take the risk, no matter what happens with internal Cuban politics. I would also argue that in congress, there is still some misguided loyalty to Camelot and an assassinated president, as irrational as that may seem.

On the economic side, were the embargo to be lifted the Cubans would have a tough choice to make. The pent up demand in the U.S. would cause prices to skyrocket and the readily available American buyers could instantly poor incredible amounts of cash into the Cuban economy. Shipping and distribution costs to such a huge, wealthy and physically proximate market would be cheap, dramatically increasing profits. The other side of the coin would be the damaged relationships with the rest of the world.

Interestingly enough, it would seem the Latin American producers win either way. . .Cigars are highly elastic and human nature would dictate that consumers would seek less expensive alternatives to Cuban cigars. The NC market could become much larger.