Buying Cuban Cigars - The Most Important Information

What to look out for when buying Cuban cigars

Tobacco Specialty Shops

Cuban cigars are accustomed to climatic conditions with a humidity of about 68-72%. Therefore, the cigars must also be properly stored at the retailer – ideally in a climate-controlled room that ensures optimal storage and maturation of the Cuban cigars.

The 5TH AVENUE Products Trading GmbH in Waldshut-Tiengen is the official sole importer of Habanos in Germany, Austria, and Poland. They have established three different certifications for retailers, where customers can be assured that they are buying Cuban cigars of corresponding quality.

One of these is La Casa del Habano. The brand represents a global network of franchise stores for Habanos. The first international Casa was opened in Cancun, Mexico in 1990, and now there are more than 150 worldwide. In Germany, there are currently nine Casas del Habanos, including in Düsseldorf, in our lounge.

In the Casas, only Cuban cigars are offered. The Casas also typically have cigars that are specially made for Casa del Habano and may only be sold there.

Another feature for customers is the Habano Specialist.

The shops can easily be recognized by the logo and the corresponding certificate. This trademark has existed since 2004, and only specialist cigar stores that stand out due to their range of products as well as their competence and passion for Habanos are allowed to carry the title. Currently, there are about 700 specialized stores worldwide, with around 70 of them holding the title in Germany.

A third feature is the Habanos Point. This trademark was established in 2011 and is only for tobacco specialty shops in Germany. As with the other two certifications, only Habanos S.A.-authorized imports are offered with proper storage.

Habanos Boxes / Packaging

Cuban cigars are packaged not only in small packs of 1 to 5 cigars but also in bundles (mazos) with up to 25 cigars. The small packs can be in cartons (up to 5 pieces) or in aluminum tubes lined with cedar wood. The aluminum cans are not completely airtight, so this type of storage is not optimal, as the cigars may dry out if not stored in a climate-controlled room.

An alternative to the box are the bundles. These cigars wrapped in cellophane hold up well but mature less. For the quality of the cigar, this is irrelevant as long as it maintains the right humidity.

However, cigar boxes come in various sizes:

• Standard are the decorated boxes with 10, 20, or 25 cigars.
• Then there are the so-called Semi-Boite Nature boxes (SBN), which may contain only 12 or 24 cigars.
• The cabinet boxes have a sliding lid (Slide Lid Box – SLB) and can contain 10, 25, or 50 cigars.
• A special form is the "8-9-8" box. These are lacquered with rounded sides, and the cigars are stacked in three layers: 8 cigars at the bottom, 9 on top of them, and 8 more at the top. This type of packaging gave its name to the format where it was first applied: the Dalia.

An original box of hand-rolled Cuban cigars can generally be identified by four features:

• The Habanos brand logo, which must be on the top right of the box.
• The green government warranty seal (similar to a dollar note), which must be between the bottom and the lid of the box.
• The seal contains the text "Cuban Government’s Warranty for Cigars. Exported from Havanna Republic de Cuba. Para Tabacos torcido y picadura." Since 2009, the warranty seal also includes an individual EAN code on the left side and a hologram on the right side.
• Another burn stamp includes the manufacturing factory's key and the date.

Choosing an Individual Cigar

Depending on the taste of the aficionado, various cigar brands and formats may be considered. Besides personal taste, the format, as well as the length and circumference of the cigars, influence the choice.

In general, you should note that the larger the cigar, the more the flavor can develop, and the smoke won’t get as hot. Thicker cigars also burn slower and take more time.

Once you've decided on a cigar, you should check it carefully. Both tactile and sensory perceptions of the cigar will benefit the aficionado.

First, look at the wrapper. It should be of uniform color. The color, however, does not indicate the strength of the cigar. At the smoking end – the cut end – there should be a dense, compact circle visible.

Next, check for any small cracks or whether there is a so-called "stump" in the wrapper. This can cause uneven burning.

Finally, all that's left is to enjoy a good Cuban cigar in a pleasant atmosphere with good company.