Cigar Friendly Articles

Buying Cigars In Cuba By Bill Gallagher October 1, 1998 Before going to Cuba on a business trip, I inquired at several cigar sites if anyone could offer advice on purchasing cigars there. I received a number of thoughtful responses, for which I am grateful. Having just returned, I offer to those who may be interested some of my impressions. I had a free weekend to spend in Havana, and a very specific list of cigars I wished to purchase. Here are some things that I learned: Some of the most sought-after shapes - figurados such as torpedoes and belicosos - are difficult to locate. The Montecristo "A". was also nowhere to be found (but see below). Some of the sales outlets in Havana recommended on the web were disappointing. The much-lauded cigar shop at the Melia Cohiba Hotel, for example, is small and has a extremely limited selection, as does the Museo del Tabaco store in Havana Vieja. The latter had indifferent service. Unfortunately, the highly-recommended cigar bar at the Melia Cohiba was closed when I was there Saturday morning (it opens at 2pm). For last-minute cigar buying, the store in the new Havana airport terminal has a decent selection and a nice humidor. They were out of Montecristos, though. There is a refurbished, art-deco style, very well-stocked Casa del Habano on the corner of 5th Avenue and 16th Street in the Marina district, a residential area in Havana. Very friendly, knowledgable service, and you can wander about the large walk-in humidor. The store at the Partagas factory in Centro Havana sells a number of different single cigars as well as boxes, and has a room where you can sit and relax in a comfortable atmosphere, have an expresso or other drink (the Cubita brand coffee is fantastic) and chat with fellow Habano lovers. I tried a Cuaba and talked with a Cuban couple. She had perfect New Jersey English; he is a good friend of the manager of the Casa del Habano in São Paulo - the only such establishment in Brazil (180 million people and one store). Asked me to say hello when I go there. I will. Prices among state stores are quite uniform; the difference between them is in the quantity and variety of their stock. It is good to have a list of what you are looking for. Besides differentiating you from the casual buyer for the salesperson, a list helps to keep you focused so you won’t slip into a "kid in the candy store" mode. The combination of economic crisis, the influx of tourists, and the fact that it is now legal for Cubans to possess dollars has created what you might expect. People are hungry for dollars, and one way to get them is to sell illegal cigars to tourists. Many try to do so. They even hang out in front of legitimate stores in Havana, to tell you they can sell to you for much cheaper than what you will pay inside. It’s not only on the street; you can’t sit in an outdoor café, or even at a hotel bar without being approached. They are extremely persistent, and almost always begin by you offering Cohibas. I was firmly determined to follow the advice of those who had warned me to only buy from legal sources. But a curt "no" seemed rude, so I finally resolved to tell these entrepreneurs that I was only interested in Montecristo "A"s. That worked until, on a crowded, narrow street in Havana Vieja, a guy who approached me claimed he had some. Curious, I followed him a few blocks to the entrance of a building where he introduced me to his "sister" who "works in the factory". They wanted me to "go upstairs" to see the merchandise. It didn’t feel right, and I refused. So she went up, and after a long delay, came down with a box which I examined while standing in the building alcove. A large varnished box, and inside, those incredibly long cigars. Ninety bucks for the box, she said. Two boxes for $150. Now, this is the moment you have to control your impulse to score a bargain. I tried to examine them carefully. The light wasn’t very good, and the seller was edgy, looking over his shoulder, trying to hurry me. I ran through the check list in my mind: "nivel acuso" on the bottom of the box? No. Green and white state seal? Yes, but the one on the box was the small one I had seen on five- cigar packs, not the larger one on boxes. The cigars did not appear to be all exactly the same length, nor were they of uniform color. Curved finger lift cut in the corner of the cedar layer divider? No. Well, no, way, José. I told the guy I would think about it. "What do you mean?", he said menacingly, "I’ve already opened the box!" Great. Now what? All I wanted to do was get out of there. I noticed that by that point, we had been joined by a couple of his friends. So talking all the time, I got out of the alcove, into the street, and kept moving. They were right next to me. I saw the dealer make a negative gesture to his friends, who backed off. I went into a public building where he didn’t dare follow, and left it from another exit. "Go up and examine the merchandise". Yeah, right. It is incomprehensible to me why anyone who is fortunate enough to go to Cuba and to have a chance to buy what are undoubtedly the best cigars in the world, would take the chance of being either swindled or rolled there. Compared to what one has to pay anywhere else, Habanos in Cuba are an incredible bargain at the legitimate stores. In my opinion, it is scandalous how much they are marked up by, for example, vendors on the web, whose advertised Habanos prices appear to be at least 5 times what the cigars costs at authorized stores in Havana. Here are the cigars I bought, and the prices I paid per box (in US dollars) Hoyo Double Coronas ($154) Punch Churchill ($143) Hoyo Epicure Nº1 (SLB) ($109) Cohiba Siglo III ($167) Bolivar Royal Corona ($105) R y J Exhibición Nº4 ($90) Montecristo Especial Nº2 ($120) Juan Lopez Selectos Nº2 ($118) As luck had it, business took me to Pinar del Rio - the westernmost province of the island - which includes the Vuelta Abajo. The scenary is spectacular. Rustic tobacco barns with thatched roofs dot the landscape. Fields are cultivated using oxen-drawn plows. Cool morning mist covers the green mountain slopes. During lunch time I visited the Francisco Donatien factory, which that day was rolling Vegueros and boxing Montecristos Nos. 3 and 4. The tour gives you a walk-through, providing the opportunity to see leaf selection and classification, rolling, quality control, and packaging, and to talk with worker-artisans at each of these stages in the production process. It was fascinating to handle, to feel the beautifully thin silk-like texture and elasticity of the wrapper produced in the Vuelta Abajo. At leaf selection, after talking to her and admiring her work, a charming lady gave me some central veins from leaves. The most fragrant part, she said, and instructed me to put small pieces of them in cologne. The factory store humidor is quite well-stocked. The store was crowded, though, since just before I went in, two buses had arrived filled with German tourists. I noticed there and elsewhere that many tourists buy only cigarillos. Of course, these are the least expensive product in the shops, but it is a pity that they don’t take advantage of the real treasures that are there in front of them. Also in Pinar del Rio, I visited a manufacturer of a drink called "Guayabita de Pinar", a spirit made from a dwarf guava which is native to that area. A quick tour and a tasting. They make sweet (30 proof) and dry (40-proof) versions; I much preferred the latter, which is aged in old (pre-Castro) American bourbon barrels. Although production is very limited, I did see it in the duty-free shop at José Martí Airport (at $3 a 5th). One more observation: it is not only in Cuba that you have to be careful buying Cuban cigars. My travels have taught me that the problem of bogus Habanos is chronic. I have seen them at airport stores in Panama, in cigar stores and hotel shops in Santo Domingo and in Rio, and being hawked by street vendors in Cartagena. At the only legitimate Habanos store in Cartagena (at the airport) the owner told me that for every real Habano on the world market, there are probably 10 fake ones. This makes me loath to buy anywhere in Latin America or in the Caribbean except at one of the (too few) Casas del Habano in the region. Within the U.S., the chances of buying fakes is probably even higher. Personally, I wouldn’t risk it. Once again, thanks to those of you who answered my pre-Cuba trip query. I hope the information I have offered may be of some interest and use to anyone who is fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit Cuba. Bill Gallagher billinchile@mi-mail.cl billinrio@uol.com.br

An Article by Greg George Smoke Connections American Air Technologies TURN-KEY SOLUTIONS: Today when one gets involved in the cigar business , he or she has a number things to consider. You must have a business plan and have a lot of information on a lot of different products and services. Firms such as Smoke Connections have put together a program that allows the customer to deal with one firm to fullfill all of the store and bar's needs. Being able to have a store fixture package, a complete store stocking of all cigar accessories and personal humidors, and a full line of premium cigars will cut out the hassles of dealing with 30-40 different vendors. Turn key solutions works better because it will reduce the stress of delivery of all of the different items and the nightmare bookkeeping problems that exist with multiple vendor programs. Being able to get a cash register with a custom software package that is pre loaded for easy installation will save a lot of headaches. If a person has a concept, Smoke Connections can make it happen. If you want sound advise you must consult with someone who has a lot of different experience of putting the total package together and then delivering on it. BUILDING A CIGAR SHOP OR LOUNGE FROM SCRATCH When one considers building a cigar shop or lounge they must put together a plan that outlines who they are and what they want to accomplish. The business person must find a location with good traffic and visiblity in the community. The sizes range anywhere from 700 sq. ft. to 3000 sq. ft. for a cigar lounge. Being in a mall or next to a high traffic coffee shop or liquor store would be most appealing. One must have a plan of how they want the store layed out; this may be completed with the help of an architect or design consultant. Once the location has been chosen a budget must be put together. One must include all store fixtures, construction cost, signage, six months cash flow and many other store or bar needs. Choosing a consultant is a good way to accomplish this challenge. After the budget is agreed on the parties must order the major store fixtures and start up cigar and cigar accessory products. Putting together a marketing program is also very important. If a facility has private lockers or just private memberships, the clients must receive some special privileges. Letting the community become aware that you are in business is important, a detailed ad campaign is a good way to generate immediate profits. Once all of the items start arriving and all of the cabinetry is in place all of the items must be carefully displayed throughout the store or bar display case. The chore of putting it all together is quite a challenge but if you are associated with knowledgeable people you can make it all happen. CHOOSING A PROPER SMOKE AND ODOR REMOVAL SYSTEM Trying to figure out how the air is supposed to be clean , but don't have a clue? Don't feel alone! Many people across the world have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on clean air equipment that does not work. The reason is that for fifty years American companies have been marketing equipment that is inferior. Most of the systems have been over promised and under delivered! The technology that has been available has been of the electronic type that used the wrong filters and not enough airflow. The proper way to clean the air happens only one way, the proper amount of air changes, proper air movement, and the correct filtration. When you size a project whether it be residential or a sizeable cigar lounge it is all sized the same. You must first measure the square footage of all of the areas that will be smoked in and multiply that amount by the ceiling height. Once this measurement is made you have the total cubic footage. You then take the cubic footage and divide it by how often you need an airchange. After almost 10 years experience we have developed a system of different air changes for different type applications. In a cigar smoke application one needs an air change every 4-6 minutes; if it is a cigar lounge more like 2-4 minutes. The equipment used should have a filtration package that includes a HEPA filter , carbon filter , and a pre-filter to catch the big stuff. There are 3 basic styles that work efficiently. There is an above ceiling system that is hung above the ceiling and has 4 runs of duct work running from it. Two of the duct runs are hooked up to vents that pull the dirty air out of the space and two that take the air that has been pulled out of the room and cleaned, back into the room. This particular unit is the most preferred because it is unseen and very quiet. Sometimes though these units cannot work because of ceiling restrictions. The next choice is a ceiling flush mounted unit that is usually installed in a drop ceiling style setting. This unit fits in a 2 x 4 ceiling tile area and it normally hung from some bars in the ceiling. This style unit uses no duct work and is very easy to maintain. The drawbacks are is they don't cover as large of an area; the positives are that they are more cost efficient and easier to install. The last choice in a commercial application is a free hanging unit. This is normally the last option and is used when there is a difficult ceiling to work with like a concrete ceiling. These units tend to be a bit noisier but are very cost effective. The main problem with these units is that they can be an eyesore. They can, however, be painted the same color of the ceiling. Clean air in a residential setting can be very difficult. One must choose the space to be smoked in without infringing on the family (like our wives)! Generally speaking a portable HEPA/charcoal system that will blend in and make as little noise as possible is most preferred. Normally a unit that moves 500 cfm is appropriate for most residential applications. A good portable unit can be purchased for under $500.00 delivered. Clean air is one of the most important issues of today. So before you go out and blow your hard earned money on a piece of junk, do your homework and choose a system that gives you the appropriate requirements at the right price.

Enjoying Your Humidor by Trapp's Classic Humidor owner, Tom Trapp Here are a few quick tips to begin enjoying your humidor. First, get a good container from the kitchen that will allow the humidifier to lie flat in it. I use a Rubbermaid plastic container with a lid. You can save the leftover water in it. Next, buy a gallon of DISTILLED WATER. Most important. It reduces the chances of mold growing on your cigars in the summer. Pour the water in the container so that the humidifier will float. Cover and wait 10/15 minutes. Take the humidifier out, wipe dry, and replace on the metal strip on the lid. It should feel noticably heavier. Put it in your humidor. Now that wasn't hard. It may take 2 or 3 days for your humidor to come up to temperature. Try to keep it in a constant temperature enviroment, it will control the humidity easily. Don't put the humidor in your trunk or the back of your hatchback where the temp goes way up. It will ruin your cigars and attitude. If you travel with your humidor, try to keep it in the back seat with a towel over it to keep the sun off and the temp fairly constant. Depending on your local and humidity, you should need to refill the humidifier every 25 to 35 days. A gallon of distilled water will last a good year at that rate. Don't wait until its dry, refill when the humidity gets down to 67 or 66%. In very humid times, you may have to remove the humidifier completely from the humidor for a couple of days. This is particularly true with our big 500 cigar humidor. You may only use 1 humidifier all summer. If your humidifier fails to absorb water (it gets noticeably heavier) take the same container of water and put 4 or 5 drops of unsented kitchen dish soap. Set the humidifier in it for 5 minutes and its good as new. If you notice sap forming on the spanish cedar interior, don't panic. It's no big deal. Remove your cigars, gently wipe the sap with lacquer thinner, sand with 150 grit sandpaper, let the box air out, and presto-good as new. That sap usually appears when the humidity gets way up there, so again, try to keep the temp constant. If, God forbid, you run out of cigars and are not going to keep your humidor up and running, REMOVE THE HUMIDIFIER. Otherwise the hygrometer and humidifier will cover with sap. A pain to clean. Now for the digital hygrometer and temperature gauge. On the back there is a removable plastic piece with a arrow on it. Remove that panel. Take a toothpick (or similar object) and pop out the battery. Use the toothpick to remove the opaque plastic strip. Replace the battery with the writing up. Replace the plastic cover. Turn on to it's face and peel back the cover over the screen. The battery should last a year or so, and replacements are available at most hardware stores. Hope some of these suggestions help you enjoy your humidor, and get the best performance out of it. If you have any questions call us and we'll do our best to solve the problem.