Okay, now what the heck do I do?

[Citizen_Carrier]

I started pushing the local Kuwaiti vendor here on the naval base to start carrying some larger Cubans. The biggest he currently sells is the Romeo y Julieta No. 1 tubo, which he tells me is his best seller. It is small ring and about 5 inches long (I estimate).

I told him it is probably because it is the largest cigar he offers. If he displayed yet still another larger cigar, it would become his best seller.

"Americans like to buy the biggest stuff," I said while pointing over to the small food court. "Notice how not one American has a medium or small sized drink?"

Another soldier and I asked him to bring in something in Churchill size. Either a Montecristo or Romeo y Julieta. I have a few plans on how to get these home if the customs inspectors try to be unreasonable.

Well, I went back today to see what he'd brought in for me. Miscommunication, apparently, because he brought me these:



With reservations, I forked over the cash for these questionable things. Imagine, the Cubans having the gall to copy a Dominican cigar brand name and market it as if they thought it up to begin with?

The arrogance. Maybe I can trade these counterfeits for a box of Dutch Masters or something? Maybe something with cherry flavoring?

Okay, just kidding.

Here's the serious part. I suppose I should just put these in the humidor and forget I have them until sometime after I get back home for good in December. This would be better than leaving them in the tubos, right?

Just want to be sure. Just want to be extra careful with these. Hell, I don't even want raised voices around these things.

We talked more about what I really wanted, and he said he couldn't lay on some Montecristos (which I researched and learned there is no Churchill size). Tonight he might have a three pack of Romeo y Julieta Churchill tubos for me to try. If I like them, we can go on to a 15 pack.

[stanthetaxman]

The Siglo VI is a big honker! Kinda pricey, no?

[Citizen_Carrier]

Yes, a tad bit.

Although they weren't what I asked for, I knew I was going to buy them even before he put them in my hand to inspect. They are Cuba's flagship brand, right?

Basically, those three cost me $50 a piece. I've looked various places on the internet and some places have them cheaper around $43 a piece and some places...quite a bit cheaper than that. Some of those lower prices I saw might have been in Canadian dollars though...

The price I paid is partly a function of inflation here in Kuwait. It is estimated that by the end of summer Kuwaiti inflation will top just over 10%. The government here is already considering subsidizing food costs and other essentials to ease the burden of inflation. I don't think they've extended that to cigars.

The price is also a function of me finding "haggling" for prices a distasteful, undignified process.

[KevinG]

You poor bastard. The horror of having to deal with such a dilemma!

LOL

I usually remove tubos from the tubes for storage and save the tubes for travel.

What does everyone else do?

[Citizen_Carrier]

Now I have to figure out when to smoke them.

The wildcard time would be something of the magnitude of having Osama bin Laden's remains identified through dental records or DNA testing.

That happens, I'm going to ask permission to light up right here in the Joint Operations Center. Smoking regulations be damned.

Might light one up after I complete the national matches at Camp Perry.

Perhaps the third after I complete this current deployment.

[Acesfull]

I just smoked a CC Cohiba on sat gifted to me by cycleman... it was very good. If he can get monte's get the monte #2.

As far as tube storage here is a newsletter the guy that runs cheaphumidors.com said about the matter

Cigars that come in glass or plastic/metal tubes are in a world oftheir own. So many people think that these are mini-humidors anddon't need to be removed from their container before storage. The problem with plastic and metal tubes is that you never know ifthe seal is broken. Anybody could go into the cigar store, open the tube, take a sniff, and then place back on the shelf. Now you have a seal that has been compromised, and if you don't remove the cigar and place it in your humidor, then you're going to have a dry cigar. Glass tubes, however, are usually okay to store in a humidor as is. The glass usually has a wax or other seal that's quite visible and can be safely stored.

[thehat101]

With tubos I either take them out or..... In special cases like these I just screw off the lid so that humidity can get in the tube and place it in the humi. The tubes are good protection for your finer stogies. Just make sure to rotate them so that they get the proper attention they deserve.

[HeavyMetal-cr]

Originally Posted by Citizen_Carrier

I have a few plans on how to get these home if the customs inspectors try to be unreasonable.

You could reband them, hide them etc. But why waste your time and take chances? Just buy them here. Heck, if you get the right source prices are just as cheap anyway.

Originally Posted by HeavyMetal

You could reband them, hide them etc. But why waste your time and take chances? Just buy them here. Heck, if you get the right source prices are just as cheap anyway.

I know a good source as some of you know.

[buzkirk]

Originally Posted by HeavyMetal

You could reband them, hide them etc. But why waste your time and take chances? Just buy them here. Heck, if you get the right source prices are just as cheap anyway.

You couldn't share that source could you?

Buzkirk-at-hotmail-dot-com

Tom