Um, I guess something changed - I was at my local cigar store picking out a few sticks, and the owner shows me 2 or 3 different types of Habanas. (Gurkha, Partagas, Cohiba)

Before, it was all a hush-hush-type of thing, but now he had them in the front case (albeit for $20 per).

Damn. Nice.

I would get Cubans every now and then, but they would usually arrive in such poor condition due to them having to go up to Canada or somewhere else first, that, even when re-humidified they had a foul taste that would not be characteristic of a fresh one.

Now, fresh!

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I like thinking big. . . If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.
-Donald J. Trump, BPE

Of course we can now get Cubans, about 10 years after the quality of them started going to shit.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Thanks, Obama!

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

The soil is why you appreciate the rich taste of a Cuban.

Its the one thing that cannot be replicated.

You can take the seeds and the rollers on the road, but you cannot duplicate the chemical composition of the soil and its effect on the flavor.

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I like thinking big. . . If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.
-Donald J. Trump, BPE

Where do the virgin thighs factor in?

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You know me like that.

well, that's why you gotta get real Cubans.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

If you are a cigar guy you shouldn't be excited. Very unlikely that it is the same quality. Very unlikely that it is authentic.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

They are real. No doubt about it.

Triple-cap/mounted head, oily feel, earthy smell and taste, and gray ash.

The gray ash is really the key. Fakes will have a much more pale ash.

That, and I inspected the box - lacquered and had all the right anti-counterfeit stamps in place.

I know fakes. My uncle used to get them all of the time. They were still very good cigars, just not authentic.

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I like thinking big. . . If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.
-Donald J. Trump, BPE

The Sox haven't had trouble getting great Cubans for at almost 15 years

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

the only real cuban cigars I had were terrible. i suspect they were for export to north korea or something.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Father in law used to get them often. He had people whatever that means. He brought boxes to his daughter's wedding and rehearsal dinner. They were very good. Took home a box.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Forgive me as I'm not a Cigar Aficionado. But there is an old cigar Factory right across the street from the rear side of the Cuban Capitol building. They have moved the Factory elsewhere due to construction or humidity or something like that. This store is still open and it's really quite impressive. I was just there in February since I don't know anyone who actually smokes the only thing I brought back was a bag of coffee from the store.

Patargas... I believe that is the factory and Cigar Company name

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Was dictating. Sorry.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

I do not smoke but really heard Cuban Cigars are one of a kind.

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Happy Halloween!