All About Cuban Cigars
Our Experts Answer Your Top Questions
Cuban cigars. The forbidden fruit. From Romeo y Julieta to Cohiba, from Partagas to Montecristo, Cuban cigar brands make up some of the most famous brands on the market. If you’re a cigar fan, chances are you’ve wondered about Cubans or had friends ask you if you can get some.
Cuban cigars make up some of the most misunderstood and questioned topics in the world of premium cigars. Today, we’re going to run through your top questions and make you an expert on the world of Cubans.
Are Cuban cigars legal in the U.S.?
The simple answer is no.
The longer answer requires some diving into US history. Let’s go back to 1959 – at the end of the ‘50s, Fidel Castro’s communist regime was coming into power in Cuba and taking control of the island. They began to confiscate private property and companies (including cigar factories) and placed them under the control of the government.
In response, President John F. Kennedy signed a trade embargo against Cuba in February of 1962. That embargo stops Americans from purchasing any Cuban-made goods or products, including Cuban cigars, and that embargo is still in place today.
Can you bring Cuban cigars into the U.S.?
Okay, so buying Cuban cigars in America is illegal, but what if you’re traveling? Can you go on vacation to a country where Cuban cigars are legal and bring some home with you?
Unfortunately, it is illegal to bring Cuban cigars or rum back into the United States when you’re traveling abroad. Formerly, U.S. citizens could bring up to $100 worth of cigars back with them. Under the Obama administration, this restriction was loosened even further, with travelers allowed to bring back Cuban cigars without declaring them if they were worth less than $2,500. In 2020, the Trump administration tightened the restrictions back to complete prohibition.
You can bring back certain items from Cuba, but they cannot be tobacco or alcohol, they must be for personal use, and cannot be sold.
Can you buy Cuban cigars in other countries?
Yes. American citizens are legally allowed to purchase Cuban cigars when outside of the United States – you just won’t be able to bring them home with you.
Can Americans visit Cuba?
Yes, you can. However, it is a little more difficult to do than traveling to most countries. To legally go to Cuba from America, you’ll need to obtain a visa (or “general license”) in advance. This is an approved travel license from the United States government allowing you to visit Cuba for a predetermined period of time.
Currently, there are eleven reasons you can use to obtain a general license: Family visits, official business of the U.S. government, journalistic activity, professional research, educational activities, religious activities, public performances, support for the Cuban people, humanitarian projects, activities of private foundations or research institutes, and the transmission of information or information materials.
There are a few private companies out there that specialize in organizing trips to Cuba if you’re interested. These travel companies will put together an itinerary with the Cuban people, help you get a general license, and will oftentimes book flights and accommodations as well.
Are Cuban cigars better?
Now we’re getting into the tough questions. To continue the trend of giving simple answers, I’m going to say no. Cuban cigars are not better than non-Cuban cigars. I’m sure there are folks out there who swear the opposite is true — and I’m not here to tell you they’re wrong. Cigars are personal, and you like what you like — but I can talk to you about why I don’t think Cubans are better than non-Cubans.
First, I’ll point to the numbers. If you look at bloggers and cigar reviewers that score both Cuban and non-Cuban cigars, the Cuban blends tend to come up short. In the major publication Cigar Aficionado, this is not true – Cuba remains their highest-rated country, but it does so with a relatively low number of cigars scored compared to a country like Nicaragua.
For top scores in Cigar Aficionado, Cuba is outperformed. CA introduced their “Cigar of the Year” awards in 2004, nearly twenty years ago. In that time, a Cuban blend has taken home the #1 spot only three times.
But let’s forget the reviewers and bloggers and consider how a Cuban cigar is made. All Cuban cigars are puros – made with 100% Cuban tobacco. There’s no blending of multiple countries. You won’t find a Cuban cigar with a Nicaraguan wrapper, or a Brazilian binder. Instead, the blends are differentiated by grading, primings, and aging – theoretically, the only difference between a cheap Cuban and an expensive one is that the cheap one uses the worst tobacco from the plant, and the expensive one uses the best. You won’t find the diversity of flavors that Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, or Honduras can bring to the table.
Additionally, I’ve found that when I have had the chance to smoke Cuban blends in the past, they’re very inconsistent. The demand for the cigars is much higher than the supply, so the quality control at the factory is not tight. You can smoke two cigars from the same box of Cubans and have two completely different experiences.
This is not to say Cuban cigars aren’t good – there are plenty of blends out there that I’ve tried and enjoyed. I just don’t think they’re superior to non-Cubans as a blanket statement.
What do Cuban cigars taste like?
This is a tough question, as I believe people taste cigars differently. What you’ve eaten or drank that day, what your experience level with cigars is, how it was stored – all these things will affect your experience of a cigar. For the most, part, though, Cuban cigars have a unique taste that fans describe as “twang.” It’s an earthy, sweet flavor that tastes very rustic and natural.
More Information
That should cover all the basic questions about Cuban cigars. We’ve talked about why Cuban cigars are illegal, how to purchase Cuban cigars, traveling to Cuba, and whether you can bring Cuban cigars back into the United States.
If there’s anything else you’d like to know about Cuban cigars, let us know! And the next time you’re buddy asks you whether or not you can get your hands on some Cubans, direct them here.
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