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I want to take the time to answer a very frequent email question from all across the spectrum. The question generally is, “What online Cuban cigar shops have you used and can you recommend a few?” The short answer to that question is simply that I have very seldom purchased Cuban cigars online. The main reason for this is that I just walk to the town tobacconist, walk into the humidor and pick my Habanos one by one. If I want an entire box of a particular cigar, I just order it in advance from my local shop.

That said, I have on a couple of occasions bought Cuban cigars from a German shop called ZigarrenBugge, my usual non-Cuban cigar dealer. As you can imagine, quality non-Cuban cigars are very, very hard to find in the E.U.; so when i make an online purchase of some of my favorite Nicaraguans, Hondurans, or Dominicans, I may throw in a few Cuban cigars as well, if the price is right. I can definitely recommend them.

Another reputable online shop is CigarOne. These guys have been around for a while, sell genuine Habanos, and offer good deals on occasions. Take for instance their current advertised deals—I like their Punch-Punch box of 25 for $219; expensive? Well, Cuban cigars are expensive. Don’t expect to find cheap or even affordable Cubans anywhere on the net, if you find them, they are 100% fakes. The online counterfeit Cuban cigar operation is huge; and the fact is that no one in their right mind will sell a box of Cuban cigars at 1/2 price!

I expect that Cuban cigar prices will skyrocket yet, when the “beloved leader” of the Cuban people finally assumes room temperature. Take my word for it.

In my Smoking Cigars Indoors article, I stated that the key to smoking a cigar indoors—without getting kicked out by your spouse—is simply to have adequate room ventilation. Cigar smoke that is not allowed to linger in a confined indoor space will just dissipate and, in time, leave no trace of odor. When this is done properly, even those picky non-smoker noses will never suspect that there have been billowing clouds of premium cigar smoke in the house. In fact, I have a great number of acquaintances that visit my office on regular basis and would never even imagine that it also doubles as a smoking lounge for me and my buddies.

Until now, my solution had been quite simple: use a regular window fan to expel smoky air out of the room. Usually left on overnight after a smoking evening, the fan does a good job of removing stale air with no detectable odors in just about 48 hours.

But I just discovered a new gadget that is bound to change the dynamics of my cigar lounge ventilation to make my system even more efficient—the Fresh Air Machine by a company called Bionaire. The device would eliminate a rather eminent conundrum: How to maintain a comfortable temperature in winter, while still allowing fresh outside air into the room?

Instead of sucking smoky air out of the lounge and allowing wintery air in through a separate window or vent, the Fresh Air Machine pumps outside air into the room after it has warmed it up to room temperature, while the separate window or vent would then serve to circulate the smoky air out of the room. The result is brilliant; all the freshness of outside air with the winter taken out of it.

To make this work ideally, I will have to change my current scheme. Since warm air rises, I would install the Fresh Air Machine closer to the floor and place a vent near the ceiling. The rising fresh, warm, air would then also serve to push the smoky layer up and out the vent, instead of relying on pure air pressure to drive it out. I could also place the device and the vent on diagonal corners of the room to maximize the effect, with the lounge chairs just adjacent to the fresh air intake.

Well, the gadget does cost around $200.00, as opposed to the $30.00 that a regular window far goes for; but what’s money when you can have that fine OpusX in a comfortable lounge instead of out freezing your behind? I’ll have to update you on this once I get it all up and running.

Alright, this post has nothing to do with cigars… well, almost nothing. It’s really more like an inside joke about a recent YouTube video that drew in almost a million views in just a couple of days when some chick posted a still image of herself for a whole one and a half minutes.

It was pretty hilarious to watch how YouTubers kept leaving frustrated comments about how they were having trouble watching the video, not realizing that they had just been had. After over 900,000 views, I finally got inspired to do a video in response, which I entitled: Cigar Smoking as an Art.

I guess I’ll have to wait a few days to see how it is received by the YouTubers, though the poster of the original prank thought it was pretty funny. Well, here it is:

I should mention that I’m going to screen out the comments section of this entry very, very carefully folks; we don’t want anything inappropriate in there!!

Wow, it was so long ago that I wrote the First Part of “A Cigar Before Dinner”, that I almost forgot the write the second installment. What I had in mind with the first article was to suggest eight Cuban cigars that would be a perfect choice for a short 30 minute smoke to start off a great a fine cigar dinner. Why Cuban cigars? Well, partly because I do live in Europe, and so, have had much more experience with Cuban cigars, and two, I guess to dispel the myth that Cuban cigars are powerhouses reserved only for the seasoned smoker on a full stomach.

Well, we can’t have a part one article hanging around all lonely without a part two, so here are four great Habanos that make a great starter course:

El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme (Cuba)
Yes, you have read correctly! In my opinion, this cigar is not the powerhouse that is popularly believed to be. It’s almost a Robusto in size, but with slightly off dimensions that make it unique. The charm of this cigar is its light body and fine aromas. It will not overpower the senses before a fine starter.

Saint Luis Rey Corona (Cuba)
This not so popular corona has an exceptional balance of strength and aromas. If you can, get the tubos format, which tends to preserve its original “roundness”. This cigar does not lack body, but remains an easy and enjoyable smoke before dinner. It will last 40 to 45 minutes.

San Cristobal de la Habana Principe (Cuba)
Ahh… this cigar is very similar in format and body to a Ramon Allones Small Club Corona, but it remains even lighter bodied. Still, its aromas will delight even the even the beginners.

Trinidad Reyes (Cuba)
This is a well known short Habano with a very small ring gauge. Though it constitutes a very brief pleasure, it is sure to impress with its rather gourmet attitude. It is thus perfect for fine dining.

Oh man, I love eating out!

Ahh… isn’t that what we all would love to find. Well, folks you are probably aware that the quest for cheaper Habanos is never ending. With increased demands it seems that Cuban tobacco prices have really pushed their limits in the last few years. Even so called discount websites sell these prized smokes at prices that would bankrupt most people.

As I search and find different options, I continually move from one preferred dealer to another, though I almost exclusively buy my cigars at the local tobacconist to avoid paying top dollar for counterfeit cigars. The offer below caught my eye though, and chances are would tempt many newcomers. The problem is that unless it can be proven by word of mouth or by a careful examination by experienced smokers, the odds are that this, though it’s the cheapest offer of Cuban leaf I’ve ever seen, is not a genuine Cuban cigar dealer.

Their operation is based in Costa Rica and ships worldwide. Their prices are just amazing: A cabinet of 50 Partagas Shorts for less than $200 dollars; Cohiba Double Coronas Edición Limitada 2003 for just over $200 dollars; and how about the Montecristo Robustos Edicion Limitada 2001 and the Cohiba Esplendido for just over $150.00 a box.

Tempting as it may be to buy “Cuban” cigars at these prices, the fact is that without firm confirmation that an online cigar shop is real, it is simply not worth it to buy from a new and unknown shop. Tempting? Yes… but buyer beware!