JohnnyO

This article is a bit misleading. Criollo, Titanes, Popular, HUpmann are unfiltered cigarettes not cigars. The prices mentioned are subsidized by the government for the purpose of the ration cards or Carta de Abastecimiento. They are only sold to Cubans over the age of 50 and they might get 3-4 packs a month. They don't always get it every month. When this article was written the USD was 340:1. These are also sold in parallel markets. The HUp and Popular are available in the MLC stores in unfiltered and filtered versions. It's a hard core smoker that can handle these on a regular basis. John

No one does a video like AJ Patel. The last one I remember was the La Reina at EL, with cameo appearances by Simon Chase and others. Could have been the place, the moment, the cast but the dude emits a genuine energy/passion. Somebody post the video for everyone to remember. John

Odessa is AI

Johnny Mac was the greatest entertainer on the courts. Classic matches when he played Lendl and went on and on about Communists. Plus he did it with a wooden racket half the size of today's rackets. John

Yale did a study and they are finding that Juan Q Publico does not trust and does not use it in El Salvador. Cash is king. The MLC is failing miserably in Cuba as locals prefer USD or Euros. Also the digital CUP market is non-existent as vendors can transfer funds but cant withdraw it physically from the banks. Cubans are quite paranoid as to the government monitoring their financial transactions, so that is another reason why the digital CUP has failed. Bags of cash is the order of the day. You were saying how it will work in Cuba...

The trend now is that MYPIMES are popping up with "El Cangrejo's" (Raul Gillermo) name attached to it. That is Raul's nephew. Car rental agencies, bars and stores at the airport to grab some of those tourist dollars. John

Please develop that statement a bit further on how that would work in Cuba as it hasn't in El Salvador. John

Years ago a neighbor showed me some pics of his wedding in the late 30's in Cuba. He said everybody got married in Cuba back in the day, it was a bigger party. He was an American as were most of the guests in the pics. Long tables with white linen, white dresses, and suits and a very dark drink in the pics. Beautiful nostalgic pics. I asked if that was wine that everybody was drinking (the pics were black and white)? He said no, Guinness!

South Beach has changed a lot since 2017. You will be there at the height of Spring Break. Last year the drug dealers and gang bangers rolled in and had a shoot-out. Police will be there heavy duty this year with road blocks and DUI checkpoints. Public parking I hear will be $100. See the cigars being rolled on Calle Ocho and at Cuban Crafters (3604 NW 7th St) near the airport. John

I hope MRN and Nino are herfing with a massive cigar in the big cigar sky. John

From what I understand EL has not banded or boxed cigars for a few years. That is done at another factory. In Giz's interview with Danilo from EL, they discussed the use of whiskey barrels for an additional "fermentation" process. Although I think the wording is incorrect (should have been aging/curing process) I am wondering if this is done at the other factories. Danilo also noted that the rollers in EL go through a stricter test to get in (70% get rejected) and that many of them have been there for a very long time. These factors might contribute to a different outcome in the cigars being rolled at EL. John

You forgot to mention how much in taxes they pay every year. John

Kingantz did a review of these at Cigarpass a few years ago. These are still available in the bodegas for locals that are 50+ years old. They get 4 cigars a month. The rest are found in smaller neighborhood markets (bodegas). With some age, I find that the darker wrappers are the best of the bunch. John

Go to Cuba to regroup your thoughts. The stress is less, the hangovers more peaceful. John

Its being rolled at EL for La Feria del Habano and maybe other factories. Looks like a 6 1/8 X 50 standard RE with a pigtail. I think it will have 2 bands, one at the foot. From what I hear it will be a short lived Feria cigar. John