Interesting little read on the embargo.

[MarkLondon]

Guantanameras are Habanos top seller?
According to this article they sell so many in Asia it is the top seller.

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2015/02/as_cuban_embargo_fizzles_the_battle_for_the_cigar_industry_smolders.php?page=6

[PeeJay]

Perhaps they travel well! Unknown-2.jpeg

[Wigan]

Interesting thought which I hadn't considered before though. Where I had previously figured it to be Americans buying up Cuban cigars and therefore some NC brands going out of business and the rest of us not being able to get our hands on Cuban cigars, they suggest NC manufactures getting their hands on the raw materials, Cuban tobacco, and making something completely new. Ok we still might not be able to get Cuban brands because there is no tobacco left for them to be made from. But imagine the blend of the best of both worlds, Cuban cigars made with NC quality controls? This could be a very interesting development...

[Robert747]

A good article! It has always been my understanding that many New World producers will include Cuban tobacco in their existing brands once the embargo has gone. The U.S. Market will not be dominated by Havana cigars, any more than it was before the Revolution. Truth is that nobody really knows what is going to happen - but things are about to change forever (maybe).

[Bob123]

And what do you think about NC brands that use Cuban names ie Montecristo, Cohiba, Hoyo de Monterrey ....
I think that they live from name of Cuban famous brands long enough and should be renamed. It is same story like Budweiser in states, they sue our (Czech) Budweiser for the name, but our company is making beer longer (almost) than America was discovered by Columbus :-)

[PeeJay]

And what do you think about NC brands that use Cuban names ie Montecristo, Cohiba, Hoyo de Monterrey ....
I think that they live from name of Cuban famous brands long enough and should be renamed. It is same story like Budweiser in states, they sue our (Czech) Budweiser for the name, but our company is making beer longer (almost) than America was discovered by Columbus :-)

I disagree Bob, Romeo Y Julietas for example moved to the Dominican Republic after the revolution taking their name with them. Cohiba however is another matter.

[Bob123]

You are right, IF the new brands are run by former owners there is a serious law problem on the way. :-)

[Wigan]

There isn't a serious law problem. The yanks being as they are will say there way is right and to hell with everyone else. It will be the same as the budwiser story you recounted.

[tippexx]

Cuban cigars made with NC quality controls? This could be a very interesting development...

Doubt it. Cuban cigars are every bit as blend consistent as NC, in fact possibly more so as they're puro and don't drag in tobacco from here there and everywhere. If you are complaining about draw issues, it's worth remembering that Cuban cigars are deliberately rolled to slow the draw and that the margin between perfect and tight is very small.

Cuban cigars are meant to be savoured from a lesser amount of smoke delivered. NC's just fill your face with smoke. IMO, allowing NC torcedors to make cigars from Cuban tobacco would be a waste of perfectly good tobacco, unless they rolled in the Cuban way and which beggers the question, why not just leave it to the Cubans.

As for the Brand Names, International Law is quite clear, they belong to Cuba .... and who cares, the NC versions are so bloody awful that when the Cuban versions become legally available the NC versions will dead in the market.

[captain duff]

There isn't a serious law problem. The yanks being as they are will say there way is right and to hell with everyone else. It will be the same as the budwiser story you recounted.

Yes, although disgraceful as the US attempts to bully the Czechs were and are it's also worth noting that they have lost most of the hundred and something copyright trade disputes worldwide in the 'beer wars', and not only in Europe. I think the main fight over brand names will be in the US only myself.


Incidentally, just spotted this report on the BBC website regarding cigar sales to US tourists, and is it just me or are the ones shown in the still picture at the start and end of the video not actually Cubans at all? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-31596978

[tippexx]

are the ones shown in the still picture at the start and end of the video not actually Cubans at all? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-31596978

A Stock shot. Obviously the Editor and Researchers know nothing about cigars. They're NC.