Down with the Cuban Embargo?

[icehog3]

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.

Those rumors have been around a long while.

 

[StogieNinja]

Personally, I think lifting the embargo would be the worst thing possible for CCs. The demand from the US market would overwhelm availability. They'd be in such a rush to put out product that inevitably the process would be rushed, and the quality of the rolling, as well as the leaves used would diminish. You'd see quality drop at the same time that prices skyrocketed, as US cigar smokers scrambled to get their hands on them.

 

[Otaku]

Personally I haven't had a CC that made me wish the embargo would be lifted. Granted I have had very few and did enjoy most of them, I don't actively purchase CCs. In fact I have had some that down right sucked. Having said that, I did enjoy the few "staples" like the Monte #2 and Cohiba Siglo. But even if the embargo was lifted, this smoker wouldn't change his rotation.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Tastes are so subjective and some tastes are acquired just like cigars, wine, coffee, etc. I have absolutely no problem with people saying they like Nica's better than CC's... I used to be that way as I liked the full-bodied flavor over the CC's any day. I kept trying different brands of CC's and over time, my preference shifted to them. Now I smoke 99% CC's and wouldn't go back. If you haven't had that many CC's, I totally understand if someone might not like them that much. I personally like variety so I kept trying new ones and I ended up preferring those after smoking enough. I still enjoy an occasional Tat, Liga, Illusione etc, but I mainly stick to CC's.

Now, back to the soil???

 

[icehog3]

I don't actively purchase CCs. In fact I have had some that down right sucked.

Understood, I have too. But I also have had lots of non-Cuban cigars that have downright sucked, and I'll bet you have too.

Smoke what you like, like what you smoke.

 

[Knickerbocker]

the "it's political suicide argument" to lift the embargo does not really hold any weight because the presidency is limited to two terms.

 

[Tobacco Giant]

the "it's political suicide argument" to lift the embargo does not really hold any weight because the presidency is limited to two terms.

Pretty sure the lift would need to be voted on by both houses of congress, as well. It could be political suicide for these lifetime politicians.

 

[Reelman]

Personally, I think lifting the embargo would be the worst thing possible for CCs. The demand from the US market would overwhelm availability. They'd be in such a rush to put out product that inevitably the process would be rushed, and the quality of the rolling, as well as the leaves used would diminish. You'd see quality drop at the same time that prices skyrocketed, as US cigar smokers scrambled to get their hands on them.

The reality of economics is that the Cubans won't overwhelm the market with increased availability of CC. Why would they? From a physical standpoint, they will reap an exponentially larger gain by maintaining or slightly exceeding the production numbers that they have now. The addition of the U.S. market would drive prices higher, resulting in a windfall for the Cuban government. The Cubans learned during the boom that pushing product out the door when it was not ready hurt them, and gave the Nica's and others a larger market share because of it. They won't make that mistake again.

This is a great discussion, but for most of the reasons listed above (all centering on politics) the embargo will only be lifted when both Castro's pass on. At that point, the Florida contingent of Cubans won't mind, as the face of the problem will be pushing up Cuban seed.

 

[Skitalets]

The reality of economics is that the Cubans won't overwhelm the market with increased availability of CC. Why would they? From a physical standpoint, they will reap an exponentially larger gain by maintaining or slightly exceeding the production numbers that they have now. The addition of the U.S. market would drive prices higher, resulting in a windfall for the Cuban government. The Cubans learned during the boom that pushing product out the door when it was not ready hurt them, and gave the Nica's and others a larger market share because of it. They won't make that mistake again.

If demand is relatively inelastic with respect to price, they can both increase prices and increase production. History bears this out--before the recession, my understanding is that quality suffered and that was attributed by many Habanos fans to increased production due to increasing global demand. Quality has been much better since the recession, in part because Cuba has not been producing as much volume.

I definitely expect quality to suffer and prices to increase if the embargo ends.

 

[Nacho Daddy]

There is a side to this discussion noone has mentioned. Think about the counterfeit market in cuban cigars. When the embargo is lifted there will be a flood of fakes,and you can bet there will be lots of merchants taking advantage of the consumer.
Also there will be a lot of trading and selling going on,so that within a year or two of the lifting, the market will be so diluted by fakes that the demand will plummet,and the aura of a fine Cuban cigar will be destroyed for a lot of people.


Mark my words...........

 

[CasualStogie]

Wtf is a cubano? I

LOL!

Probably this:

Once you go cubano, you never go...

 

[bugbear]

Wtf is a cubano? I

LOL!

Probably this:

Once you go cubano, you never go...

Tasty! I bet the finish is long.

 

[Dr Dangus Khan]

... the aura of a fine Cuban cigar will be destroyed for a lot of people.


Mark my words...........

I haven't thought of this, great insight, thanks.