What do you know about Costa Rica?

[Research-Colin-cl]

There is a Costa Rican company that makes some really nice cigars there. The cigars are called Brun del Re. They will soon (if not now) be available in the US. I am going down to CR to meet with the makers of the cigar and I was wondering what people thought/knew about Costa Rica and Costa Rican cigars.

Let me know if you have any experience with these Brun del Res or any others. Also, do you have any recommendations about what to do in my limited free-time there?

C

[hayward_tenney]

Lots of mineral rich, volcanic soil. Also lots of cloud-filtered sunlight, from what I understand. Tony Borhani used to make his cigars in Costa Rica. I believe his rationale was, even though labor is more expensive, there is less civil unrest.

Yeah, now he makes 'em in Nicaragua.

[DBCcigar]

I've been there! What an awesome place to be! You must experience Hotel Del Rey and the Blue Marlin Bar. http://www.1-costaricalink.com/hotel...costa_rica.htm

As far as cigars go, depending on the time you will be going, I can hook you up with a good friend of mine who owns Don Benigno Cigars USA. He travels back and forth every 5 weeks. Don Benigno is my favorite cigar. It's very exclusive/low-production cigar and only certain cigar shops can get it.

PM me if you have more questions....

[chinomalo]

great surf from what I understand.. also, the food is awesome alternative to most fare..

[DBCcigar]

It's the place to go especially if you want to go blue marlin fishing.... Or another type of fishin'!

[earnold25-cl]

there's so much to do there. depends on where you're staying though. so where are you staying?

[boomerd35]

I was gifted a Don Benigno and while it was very good, I understand they are very expensive. It seems like when you read about the construction origins of your favorite cigars, lots of time the components are from Costa Rica. Yet you don't hear about too many cigars that are produced there. I'd be interested to know is Costa Rica exporting most of its tobacco, or do we just not hear about the companies that are making cigars there?

[DBCcigar]

The Benigno is a puro. The prices depending on the vitola range from $10 - $22.

[tekhnu]

We carry the Don Benigno in our store and I agree it is very expensive. Good cigar in terms of things that aficionados care about. The construction, strong ash, perfect draw, excellent burn, complexity and the like are second to none. However the flavor if just alright or perhaps better than alright is you like mild to medium.

Benigno does not disclose the blend but I think the tobacco is imported from other regions.

[DBCcigar]

I'd say they are a straight up medium-bodied cigar. An awesome flavor with complexity!

[Research-Colin-cl]

Originally Posted by earnold25

there's so much to do there. depends on where you're staying though. so where are you staying?

I'll be staying right in downtown San Jose.

the food is awesome alternative to most fare..

What is the food like Chinomalo? got any recommendations?

I was gifted a Don Benigno and while it was very good, I understand they are very expensive. It seems like when you read about the construction origins of your favorite cigars, lots of time the components are from Costa Rica. Yet you don't hear about too many cigars that are produced there. I'd be interested to know is Costa Rica exporting most of its tobacco, or do we just not hear about the companies that are making cigars there?

I'll look into it.

[chinomalo]

the food is awesome alternative to most fare..

What is the food like Chinomalo? got any recommendations?

Check out the link below.. Lot of my surf buddies hang out in Tamarindo.. Hope the link works:

http://www.costa-rica-guide.com/trav...283&Itemid=490

[earnold25-cl]

i was only downtown for 2 days, so I can't tell you too much, but here's what I can recommend.

There's a bar / night life / restaurant / shop area near the Zoo. I forget what its called, but its very popular and any cabby should know what you mean. They have some nice restaurants there.

As far as food, i really liked the typical dishes. rice, beans, fried plantains and grilled chicken. the fish was also very good and fresh from just about anywhere. i'd stay away from the beef personally. didn't taste normal to me, i think its different type of cattle. maybe even a yak or something.

I didn't find any cigar shops there. A LCDH was said to be there, but when I called the number given, it didn't work.

As far as cigar farms, factories. I visited one, and there was another that sold cigars everywhere, although I didn't like them as much as the one I visited.

Vegas de Santiago (i visited this one. owners were very nice and its located about 30 minutes outside of san jose. they went so far as to pick me up at my hotel and take me out there. the bus also runs very close to the factory from san jose)

Tabacos de la Cordillera - claiming to have ancestral cuban seeds. you see lots of their brands being sold at random stores. I tried a few of them, some were good, some were just ok. They have a bigger factory and farm I was told.

And of course you were all talking about Don Benigno.

[koolhandk]

If you are anywhere near a coast you must surf!

[chinomalo]

Originally Posted by koolhandk

If you are anywhere near a coast you must surf!

Yes.. If you don't know how.. Try it, you'll like it..