Buying Cuban Cigars: Finding Value Amongst High Prices

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Today we go over some price comparisons and ways to find some good value among the high prices of Habanos. Age, lesser known brands, great flavor and some brands that have flown under the price increase radar that are still affordable for the everyday smoker and aficionado of Cuban cigars.
#Cuban cigar prices #buying Cuban cigars
#Cuban cigars

[@jeffherdz]

Even at $30.00 a stick would be equal to a Padron stick, which is still not all that bad. $100.00 sticks that the Cuban government get 90% of the cost. I think that I would rather go to the fields and buy them from the growers. Cheaper cigars but than would give the guy a tip. Hopefully, he wouldn't report it to the government. Great video as always.

[@KimoKapaku]

I agree there are still value cigars that are great. We just need to adjust our approach and search for the great flavor that normally in the past qe may have not considered.

[@ronschroeder585]

These high prices have some of the most “hardcore” Cuban cigar guys exploring the new world cigars!

[@KimoKapaku]

Power to them. Smoke what you e joy that's all that matters. For me personally, I like my cigars scotch whiskey and my Hawaiian coffee. 100% estate grown, not blended with pieces from all over. But I have friends who like blended scotches like Johnny walker. Nothing wrong with that but its not for me

[@KimoKapaku]

I don't know any cubam cigar guys who have deviated away from habanos. I have friends who smoke everything and friends who are cuban cigar guys who still only smoke habanos, just re-adjusted their approach to buying is all

[@ronschroeder585]

I’m not saying that the Cuban cigar guys have stopped I’m just saying I noticed some of my friends have started to include really good new world cigars because the prices of Habanos have skyrocketed…. By the way I love Cuban cigars it just sucks that it’s hard to smoke my favorites as much as I’d like to due to in some cases quadruple price hikes!!! Love the videos keep them rolling brother!!!

[@thisguy315]

Awesome info, thank you.

[@Electropedic]

Prices in Vietnam are double , but they have an amazing collection. Asia is getting all the cigars

[@manjaicke2446]

Love your videos. And here you are again with great content. There still are tons of great Cuban smokes with reasonable prices. I just have to stay away from Cohibas, Trinidads and some overpriced special productions. But you still get most Cubans for less, than a Padron standard stick. A Fuente Canones costs me here the same, like a P2, or a Montecristo 2 (both around 25$). One OpusX Double Robusto (around 60$) costs the same like 2 Partagas Salomones. In the last couple years i have smoked tons of New World cigars, but the really good ones are way more expensive than fantastic Cubans. I like some NW. But there is nothing, like a Cuban. And the other thing is, most NW cigars have not a good aging potential. After 2 years most of them getting weaker and loose aroma. If you keep Cubans right, you can age them for decades and all they are doing is, they are getting better and better. I don't hate on Noncubans, i still smoke a lot of them. But they ain't cheaper, at least in Europe.

[@bigox1220]

Another good video sir. Although the prices have gone up tremendously, my issue has been getting my hands on some of the sticks you talked about. A lot of companies that use to ship to the states no longer do, and if you find one that does, a lot of their cigars are fakes. Anyway, keep on posting bro. Great vid!

[@KimoKapaku]

Shoot me an email Bro

[@peiran31]

Thanks Kimo for the video 👍🏽 you have good points about the different price ranges, I will be heading to Cuba in a few weeks hopefully get lucky with current stocks

[@KimoKapaku]

I highly recommend going to the Escogida shop at the Comodoro hotel in Miramar. Tell the ladies you saw me from the channel and the manager will give you a discount on a bundle of their shop custom rolls. Ask for the Margarita

[@peiran31]

@@KimoKapaku I appreciate that Kimo! Hopefully will have a chance to go to Havana as we are going to a resort in Holguin I believe there is only one LCDH down there

[@KimoKapaku]

@peiran31 I have not been to Holquin but they have a reputation of some of the prettiest ladies in all of Cuba so be careful! Are you flying into Havana then going to Holquin?

[@peiran31]

@@KimoKapaku 😂 I will keep that in mind! I am flying directly to Holguin from Canada. Apparently there is an LCDH near the resort I am staying at but stock might be low fingers crossed, I can get my hands on something good!

[@ronaldirizarry1929]

Kimo great job as always 😊

[@KimoKapaku]

Thanks Ron. I'll be doing another price check video soon from LCDH

[@scottlucidi6476]

Vegueros for me

[@joejohnson8099]

Also I really appreciate your videos

[@KimoKapaku]

Thanks for watching and subscribing (hopefully)

[@joejohnson8099]

@@KimoKapaku oh yes sir I’ve been a subscriber!

[@jacobfriedland4182]

these are really good prices you

[@elchivito2879]

Hi Kimo glad you got another video out. What are the owners like at the casa de habanos in Cozumel? That’s the shop I’m going to prob going to in December

[@KimoKapaku]

They are cool. The owner of the LCDH in Cancun also owns the Cozumel shop. 1 bad thing is they don't allow smoking inside anymore due to the new Mexican law. Not they're fault, they lost good business bc of it. When you get off the cruise ship take a taxi to the main ferry terminal. The shop is on your right upstairs and you can miss it. Another thing to look for when you go in is they have a discount bin with damaged or flawed sticks priced at a discount. Check out the box bc sometimes there sre good sticks with maybe a cracked foot but still good.

[@elchivito2879]

Thank you so much for the heads up on discount bin! I will definitely check it out. Great informative video. I always look forward to these.

[@SippersSocialClub]

Living in Toronto, Canada, we have a few respected shops what offer Cuban tobacco House Blends which are pretty good for around $9 cad a stick. By far the cheapest Cuban cigar available here.

[@KimoKapaku]

And those custom rolls can be your everyday smokes while you search out other habanos that are value smokes! You're ahead of most others bc you have this luxury in your local shop!

[@avid2112]

There are a lot of under the radar sticks if you look. I don't want to mention my favorites for selfish reasons !

[@KimoKapaku]

Nice brah!!!

[@paulsingh9043]

Great selection but I'm now an avid fan of new world , I have Cubans but I got them way back . The prices now are eye watering 😂

[@KimoKapaku]

I completely understand and I am a proponent of smoking what you like regardless. For those like me who prefer Habanos I offer some info for alternatives than brand name habanos which offer quality amd value and those are custom rolls from shops in Havana and Pinar del Pinar

[@CigarAttache]

Very nice selection of sticks. Have you smoked them all already? 🤔

[@KimoKapaku]

I've smoked all of these mentioned and they are wonderful smokes

[@Aaron-ep9ne]

I was checking on some cubans I have in a separate humidor and noticed plume. Any thoughts on plume and if you noticed cubans more inclined to plume vs non cubans. I've only had plume on a handful of non cubans. All after a year plus in storage. These cubans have only been stored for about 4 months.

[@KimoKapaku]

First off "plume" is mold. Now that is not a bad thing unless it's white or greenish color. You may want to separate them and brush them off. Cubans are usually stored at 65-66%RH While rest of world cigars are kept at 68-70%RH. Check your humidity and make sure your hygrometer is calibrated. If you have a cabinet you may want or you may already have multiple hygrometers at the top, middle and bottom. Where you are storing your sticks makes a huge difference. Your habanos are fine but just take a small brush and light dust them off amd store separate from other cigars like in a zip lock bag to prevent any cross contamination

[@Aaron-ep9ne]

@KimoKapaku I was able to wipe the white stuff off. Wrappers seem more oily than when I bought them. I'll lower the humidity and hopefully that will keep em clean. Thanks.

[@uclajd]

Pretty brutal prices. Makes me feel less bad about not being able to bring any home to the USA (I smoked singles in Havana in August). I'm going back in January.

[@KimoKapaku]

Bring back customs rolls from the Comodoro shop!!! They have no bands and less likely to be confiscated

[@uclajd]

@@KimoKapaku I'm more concerned about losing my Global Entry. Bands or no, coming into the USA from Cuba with cigars, it's hard to claim they are Dominican. 🤷‍♂

[@huyh8401]

I'll be moving to Colombia next year. What's the amount I could purchase if I travel to Cuba from Colombia and then back to Colombia?

[@KimoKapaku]

You'll have to check Colombian customs laws on importation of tobacco

[@KimoKapaku]

One thing I recommend is to bring back as much as you can especially the shop custom rolls as these will be the most economical and value plays. Cigars in Colombia are expensive. The Cave is a nice lounge in Bogota but steep prices!!

[@Electropedic]

Cabinet of partages Lusitania 50 was 5k but where else could you find it besides Cuba

[@KimoKapaku]

You can find Partagas Lusitanias in pretty much every LCDH shop. There is an aged box here at the shop in Playa del Carmen. Michael Jordan's favorite stick!

[@KimoKapaku]

I don't know about paying $100/ for a lusitania but I'll check how much they are here. I know the box here is am aged box

[@Aaron-ep9ne]

Any way to tell an aged stick without smoking it?

[@KimoKapaku]

Aaron, usually you can check box codes for an accurate dating but the best way is to smoke a stick that is a newer production date and one that has been properly stored and aged at least a few years. That way you have a baseline to differentiate from for flavor, strength and smoothness

[@petrvodkin5824]

What is your favorite ever?

[@KimoKapaku]

Tough question. I really like the Montecristo Supremos. The Cohiba Talisman is better than the behike for me. Bolivar Soberanos are very nice. Again can't narrow it to 1.

[@petrvodkin5824]

@@KimoKapaku What do you think about those Cohibas Red Dot, Black, Connecticut and Blue from US Duty Free? Looks like they are made in Nicaragua.

[@maze1914]

Only in Cuba can u buy a custom roll for pennies but a habanos that's another story 😂😂😂

[@KimoKapaku]

Not exactly "Pennies" but much more of an economical way to enjoy habanos every day without breaking your pocketbook

[@dionisioiacobelli6689]

I think the Partagas series D No 4 at $25 a stick is a bargain .

[@KimoKapaku]

Unfortunately that price has gone up but the custom d4 is still a great value at about ~$15

[@joejohnson8099]

Anyway of getting a few real Cubans in USA bro??

[@KimoKapaku]

You have a few options: #1 use online ordering from the 3 sites mentioned in my earlier videos on ordering from reputable online sites; #2: If you have a TRUSTED AND VERIFIED PERSON IN THE U.S. I don't recommend sending money to anyone who advertises on fb. If I were back in Cali I could help you put but I'm at my place in Mexico until Feb 24' #3: If you are traveling check to see if there is a La Casa Del Habano or certified habanos retailer in the city/country you are visiting amd do some background research on them. #4 (recommended) Plan a trip to Havana. This is the best and most recommended option bc you will see everyrhing first hand and meet some incredible people in the shops as well as discover custom rolls!

[@joejohnson8099]

@@KimoKapaku. I sure do appreciate it. But if I have any problems can I get in touch with you when you get back to the states?

[@user-bi3hj5em5h]

Kimo smokes fake Cuban cigars lol

[@KimoKapaku]

Not if I have to!🤣

[@frederickmooney2581]

You don’t have to understand why someone wouldn’t want you to film, it’s a moot point. Take a hint. 42 seconds in an I feel like I’ve wasted my time already! 😂

[@KimoKapaku]

Well thats your choice but certain shop owners whom I won't mention here have a reputation of selling fakes along with the real stuff. As for prices go, don't shoot the messenger, I'm only reporting the news

[@Avankaurparmar]

Kimo im coming out to cancun in january perhaps we can meet up then and go to some shops find some deals if there is such a thing now lol!!! I will email u then ok??

[@KimoKapaku]

Sounds good Paul!

[@suddha1]

At the end of the day we're burning good aged leaves, and when your average family is now struggling to feed their kids in this economy, I'm happy to give up these insane prices to the ones who can still keep this lifestyle up. I'm enjoying a $3 Dominican smoke that smokes like a Por Larranaga without breaking my bank, no thanks Habanos enjoy your new Asian market 🫡

[@KimoKapaku]

I understand your sentiments and at the end of the day each person should smoke what they like without the stress of day to day problems everyone deals with.

[@jonasf4065]

Wish I could find a $3 smoke that compares to any Cuban. I've tried. I've tried $10, $20, $30 dollar smokes from Dominican Rep, Honduras, etc and nothing compares. There's just nothing else like the Cuban experience. I tried everything. Even pretending that I'm smoking a cuban while actually Honduran or other. No other cigars have the flavor and smoothness throughout without any harshness or off notes.

[@suddha1]

​@@jonasf4065Which ones have you found that come close to it? As of course because of the composition it's impossible to have a 1:1 replica of a Cuban but there are so many that come close like: kzbin.info/www/bejne/amq7d4Z-fNVmrtk

[@letsgotoe2toe]

i went to a farm in viñales and bought montecristos without the sticker for less than 10 bucks a piece

[@KimoKapaku]

The custom blends that are made in the flavor of the name brands can be just as good and sometimes even better!

[@letsgotoe2toe]

@@KimoKapaku that's great to hear. I was on holiday in Cuba and knew nothing about cigars so just bought some for the novelty thinking they are just tourist trap rubbish that are nothing like the real thing. had I know what you told me back then, I wouldve bought loads aha. cigars aren't cheap where I'm from in England.