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Wondering where you all order cigars, on-line. I haven't smoked in some years but have a hankering to give some a try. A Camacho specifically. There isn't anywhere local that sells them - closest being 105 miles away. Ain't driving that far for 1 stick.

Anyone have some place they use, reputable?

I get mine from Thompson's, but YMMV

Teal...consider checking out the link below for ideas, reviews and, in general, some good cigar 411. You might be able to find the cigars you'd like for a cheaper price someplace else but this is not a bad site to begin with.

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/

I never bought any through the mail, I would assume that NY state would put a tax on them also?

Over the counter cigars have gone up with new taxes recently. Only place to buy is on the Indian reservation.

I see a single pack of cigarettes is $7.00 in gas/convenience stores.

I've gone thru their magazine, low on cigar content, high on Franklin Mint watches, Viagra, and Vegas. I want CIGAR content. If I may suggest - Cigar Magazine.

I've found it much more on task with cigars and the like - not so much "lifestyle of the pseudo-affluent".

We do have a good tobacconist here in town, they don't carry the Camacho brand and at the price a Camacho commands, I don't want to risk ordering one without some referrals from the campfire brethren.

I usually go through cigarsintl.com. Check tampahumidor.com . If they sell camachos, they ship singles for free.

http://www.cigarsinternational.com/
http://www.jrcigars.com/
http://www.famous-smoke.com/
My preferred internet suppliers. Hurry, as of May 1 new higher taxes are coming.

Soon you'll be able to get the good stuff, i.e., Cubans.

Check out JR's. And their store brands are pretty doggone good particularly the La Gloria takeoffs. Several stores here in NC and I'll probably run by one tomorrow on my way home.

http://www.jrcigars.com/

I've had Cubans. To be honest, I feel to my very non-expert cigar palate, that a good Dominican or Honduran is every bit as good, if not better than the Cubans I had in Jamaica. YMMV...

There is absolutely no reason to say that a Cuban is better than a cigar produced in the DR, Hond., or Nicarauga, without smoking it. Obviously, there are some quality control issues associated with cubans, and there are some fantastic blends being developed outside the ISOM.

Maybe Bill Klintone will come on line here a share what his source for good cigars is.

The Cubans day has come and gone. They got left behind...funny with no money how that happens.

I've never ordered them I buy them at a local shop but I really don't do much quantity.

The best smokes in the world still come from the Vueltabajo.

A few things I've noted:

1] A WHOLE lot more inferior-grade smokes seem to be coming off the island. The QC is still generally there for factory stuff, it's just that low-end stuff that would have never seen the light of day is now banded and boxed and sold by "entrepeneurs". A cash-poor country/populace will monetize it's premium crop.

But the premium stuff is still being produced in the legit factories, and it's still as good as it's ever been ... when you can get it (the real stuff, I mean)!

In a similar vein:

2] A WHOLE lotta sticks that are legitimately "Cuban" are NOT bought from factory stores, and have not gone through the still-rigourous factory QC process. Which is to say, just because somebody's uncle went to Cuba and paid a taxi driver $50 for a box of Lanceros doesn't mean he's got the goods. Yeah, I know, the guy works at the factory, and steals the raw materials and packaging, and makes it at home during his spare time, yada, yada.

It ain't the same! If a traveler to Cuba did not source the box at a factory store and pay retail there (like $300 a box for some of the better vitolas), he's got moonshine. That's not to say there's not good 'shine, but it's still 'shine, and Macallan 18 it will never be.

In Cuba, factory or bust! FAKE HABANOS IN HAVANA

3] A WHOLE lotta guys who think they've smoked Habanos have smoked nothing but counterfeits, often made in Central America. I've seen wildly divergent claims as to the ratio of legit/counterfeit sticks on the US black market, and even the most conservative estimates usually consider the lion's share of "inventory" to be bogus. If I see one more box of "Esplendidos" with a glass top, or "Habanos" in cellophane sleeves, or Cuban maduros ...

Some counterfeits are damned hard to distinguish (until you light one, usually), but an awful lot are obvious fakes to anyone with half a clue.

Here's one clue, if they smell like ammonia, welp, there's your sign. Sometimes, you don't even need to look at foot cuts, or labels, or color-sort, or stamps, or boxes. Just check the waft and a young box (most counterfeits are young/still sick) will readily give itself away.

4] Here's where I think the comments about QC are well placed: Even legit, factory Habanos, same brand/vitola, you can often note a distinct difference in quality depending on what country/establishment outside of Cuba you buy them (and that NEVER used to happen). Which is to say, a box of Lusitanias sourced from Harrods in London, or Switzerland, is often noticeably better than a box sourced from Canada or Mexico. I'm not the first to notice that countries with strong currencies seem to have better "luck" scoring the Class A chit from Fidel.

HABANOS SWITZERLAND

There are a lot of good non-ISOM cigars. I'm a fan of Honduran stuff, especially Villazon. And I've tried a lot of the top-tier non-ISOM stuff, some of which cost more than a genuine trophy Habano.

None can hold a candle to the true, genuine, premium stuff that still comes from the Vueltabajo. OK, not the garbage hurricane leftovers that would have never made it of the island prior to, oh, say the Soviet collapse. I'm talking the genuine article.

Find me a better Churchill than a R&J.
A better double corona than a HdeM or a Lucy.
A better robusto than a Epicure #2 (not such a big fan of the Cohiba).
A better petite corona or torpedo than a Monte.

And the best corona gorda in the world continues to be a Punch Punch.

Not that I'd ever indulge in contraband or anything. I'm just speculating here.

rb

BTW: Gotta agree with shootem on jrcigars, AND on the LGC seconds (El Credito, right?). Be warned, Carrillo's stuff will knock you on your a$$ if you're not careful.

Even with the price increase, for bang-for-your-buck, it's hard to beat Connies (Consuegra -- Villazon seconds) too.

Travel to countries where they are legal and they are good cigars...but even the people who have a choice will tell you it's not clear cut that just because they come from Cuba they are the top dog like they once were just for "being" from Cuba.

Gotcha, Nathan.

I can accept that we disagree.

I don't know if we disagree. Used to be a "cuban" was the best no questions asked. Now just because it's "cuban" I don't think it means that anymore. A lor of other areas now produce great cigars. Doesn't mean certain cubans can't be the best.

That's some pretty good info, thanks Rick!

I've just started to look into better sticks than the cheap ass Muriels and Swishers that are so abundant and over priced here in Wis, so this content is quite limited in contrast to the above.

Teal, I am in Miami alot and have been buying from http://www.cubancrafters.com/index.php I've never bought via mail order, as I just purchase in store, but I know they do mail orders. I'm not sure what flavored stick you desire, but a good valued sampler pack of 12 sticks can be had for about $25 (plus shipping) http://www.cubancrafters.com/products.php/item_id/289

I bought this sampler pack and am about half way through it. Personaly I like the Cuban crafters cabinet cigar the best. It has a creamy buttery taste. Stout but good and smooth. Outta those 12, a guy should be able to find a cigar to his liking. I am gonna try the CUPIDO TUXEDO stick (which is not included in the sampler pack). They run about $175 per 25 sticks (dependanding on the size).

I'm hoping Barak will weigh in on this thread. I saw him post some good info about 4 years ago, but have forgoten most everything he wrote.

Cuban crafters cigar shop Miami Fla

Seems I remember the El Camino Kid depended more on the marinade than on the tobacco.