Every cigar aficionado knows that the very best cigars come from Cuba. Once upon a time buying the best cigars was a risky proposition. But many cigar enthusiasts are willing to take the risk to get a taste of the very best when they purchase Cuban cigars.
If you’re wondering just how one would get their hands on a box of Cubans, read on. Because of the relationship between the United States and Cuba, know that there are a lot of people looking to take advantage of cigar aficionados. Purchasing Cuban cigars should be done with great caution in order to avoid getting duped.
How to purchase Cuban Cigars
Once upon a time, it was considered illegal to import cigars from Cuba. The United States originally placed economic sanctions on the Cuban government in 1963. Ever since then, Cuban cigars have become the holy grail of cigar enthusiasts.
There is, however, one loophole: visitors to Cuba who return from a sanctioned and licensed visit are allowed to bring back cigars. However, visitors are not able to bring back more than 50 cigars, and they must be intended for personal use, and not for resale. Read more about it on the US Customs and Border Protection website.
Any other ways of obtaining Cuban cigars are considered illegal. It is, in fact, illegal to buy, sell or trade Cuban cigars in the United States. Fines for illegal trading, buying or selling of Cuban cigars may face up to $55,000 in civil fines.
This type of fine, however, is quite rare. The more likely scenario is that you’ll have your cigars confiscated.
When purchasing a box of Cuban cigars, be prepared to fork over quite a bit of your cash. Prices can range from about $150 to $500 or more. If you’re offered a box below these prices, chances are it may not be the real thing.
Most Internet businesses that sell purportedly genuine Cuban cigars tend to be imitations. Always avoid shops or retailers that offer “discounted” Cuban cigars.
How to get your hands on the real thing?
The easiest way to get a box of authentic Cuban cigars is to head north to Canada. Buy them in Canada and repackage them so that they are not in their original Cuba packaging. Remove the rings and place the cigars in a different box.
Customs agents tend to not inspect cigars carefully, and it is generally not considered a serious offence to bring Cuban cigars into the United States. In fact, many clerks at tobacco shops will even offer to repackage Cuban cigars for you.
No matter how you purchase Cuban cigars, take the time to enjoy them. Best suited with a fine whiskey or glass of red wine.
