I guess we'll make this the unofficial cigar thread since there are a few of us who enjoy a pipe or cigar from time to time.
I received a package from a friend in Europe who purchased a few Christmas items on my behalf. Two wonderful Cuban brands -- La Flor De Cano and Romeo y Julieta. These brands exist outside of Cuba, but the original Havana factories were nationalized by Castro and have been producing the original product under the original names for consumption outside of the US since the revolution.
![](http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Cigars/PICT0875%20Medium.jpg)
The La Flor De Cano Petit Corona is the Cuban everyday smoke. A smaller light cigar and modestly priced for the average guy -- even in Cuba.
![](http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Cigars/PICT0879%20Medium.jpg)
![](http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Cigars/PICT0876%20Medium.jpg)
![](http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Cigars/PICT0878%20Medium.jpg)
THIS on the other hand is considered the strongest Cuban cigar manufactured at the present time. The Rome Y Julieta Cazadores ("Hunter" in Spanish). It packs a wallop of strength and flavor. It's a Lonsdale cigar size/shape and takes a good 1-1/2 -2 hours to smoke.
![](http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Cigars/PICT0880%20Medium.jpg)
Wrapped in foil no less -- the smell will be overpowering.
![](http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Cigars/PICT0881%20Medium.jpg)
![](http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Cigars/PICT0882%20Medium.jpg)
You can't smoke these Cubans right away. They were produced in 2018 and would taste like crap. They need to age for at least five years for the Cazadores, and at least one year for the Petit Coronas. The stronger the tobacco mix, the longer the cigar needs to age. If you look online for premium aged Cuban cigars you'd be amazed at the prices. In some cases you could buy a new car for the price of a single box of finely aged Cubans -- no kidding!!
Cuban tobacco is so scarce due to world demand, that they don't age it very much. For the American market, cigars are rolled from tobacco that originated in the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, or Nicaragua (among others). These tobaccos are very well aged and are used exclusively to roll premium cigars. On the other hand, the Cubans use fairly young tobacco, and sell and roll it right away. That's why most people who smoke a real (not fake) Cuban cigar often complain about the harsh taste -- it tastes that way because it hasn't been aged, or in many cases -- properly aged.
I will store these Cazadores for at least five years and smoke the first one in maybe three years. The Petit Coronas will be smoked starting next summer.