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Puerto Rico

jarublajarubla Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭✭
in General Discussion
i have a friend going in about a week, and I'd really love to steer him to some local cigar shops.

He and I were chatting today and I only had two requests of him for some PR stogies: the purchase has to be from a local small shop, and I'd like the sticks to be the kind the locals would purchase as I can't just get those at any corner store.

For any BOTL who has been to PR, can you recommend any PR brands which might offer a unique/very good experience?

-Jay
“There’ll be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read ’em but all that’s gonna matter is that little dash between ’em.” -Kevin Welch

Comments

  • Amos_UmwhatAmos_Umwhat Posts: 8,795 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I was wondering the other day, are there Puerto Rican cigars?  Seems there would be, but I can't recall ever hearing about them.
    WARNING:  The above post may contain thoughts or ideas known to the State of Caliphornia to cause seething rage, confusion, distemper, nausea, perspiration, sphincter release, or cranial implosion to persons who implicitly trust only one news source, or find themselves at either the left or right political extreme.  Proceed at your own risk.  

    "If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed.  If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." --  Mark Twain
  • jarublajarubla Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2015
    I have seen a video by the Travel Channel, also a couple articles talking about their industry. 

    http://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Puerto-Ricos-hand-rolled-cigars-are-underrated-smokes#.VZqcYW56NvA.mailto

    It also seems San Juan street has a bunch of storefronts

    Looks like an opportunity to pick up a few unique cigars
    “There’ll be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read ’em but all that’s gonna matter is that little dash between ’em.” -Kevin Welch
  • ExpendableYouthExpendableYouth Posts: 2,106 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Huh, after you mention it I can think of a PR brand either.
  • Lee.mcglynnLee.mcglynn Posts: 5,960 ✭✭✭✭
    The pr has some great normal cigars...almost every bar/cigar bar has every single opus x you could think of and for good money. One of my buddies has family there and always bosts how good the selection is compared to the U.S. 
    Money can't buy taste
  • jarublajarubla Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thank you Lee, good to know 

    -Jay
    “There’ll be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read ’em but all that’s gonna matter is that little dash between ’em.” -Kevin Welch
  • papadogg01papadogg01 Posts: 5 ✭
    edited July 2015
    Was in PR end of January into February. Check out Don Collins. Good PR cigars. They have a small shop in Old San Juan. When you go in they give you a free cigar to smoke there, then you can buy whatever you want. They also have a small makeshift bar and will make you a drink. Actually was one of the best mojitos I have had. Great place. Friendly people. Good cigars. 

    http://www.don-collins.com
  • jarublajarubla Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thank you papadogg01!
    “There’ll be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read ’em but all that’s gonna matter is that little dash between ’em.” -Kevin Welch
  • papadogg01papadogg01 Posts: 5 ✭
    There are a bunch of othe B&M type shops in Old San. Really nice places with good selection, but prices were not cheap. Most have bars in the back. I just stuck with Don Collins because I was just looking for PR cigars I could not get in the states.  

    First part of my trip was for work and at our finale dinner/party we hired a cigar roler that rolled us some great cigars. Bernardo Ramos is his name. They were great fresh, but took some home and with some time rested they are amazing.  You can contact him, I believe business goes through his wife, and he will roll for you and drop off boxes to you at your hotel. Bernardo does not speak English.  Definitely worth looking up. These are great sticks and you cannot get anywhere else. I'll try to post a pic of his card. 
  • papadogg01papadogg01 Posts: 5 ✭

  • papadogg01papadogg01 Posts: 5 ✭
    Bernardo himself

  • jarublajarubla Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭✭
    ^ that is so darn cool!

    i honestly love stuff like this. Thank you for sharing!

    -Jay
    “There’ll be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read ’em but all that’s gonna matter is that little dash between ’em.” -Kevin Welch
  • papadogg01papadogg01 Posts: 5 ✭
    I only have 4 cigars left from Bernardo and I don't want to smoke them because I cannot get more. Trying to get my buddy to call (he speaks Spanish) and see if they will ship. 
  • ExpendableYouthExpendableYouth Posts: 2,106 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The art of letter writing is dead  :'(
  • peter4jcpeter4jc Posts: 16,465 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm still wondering why we don't hear of cigars from PR...  maybe they don't grow tobacco there?  Or not enough to export on a bigger scale?
    "I could've had a Mi Querida!"   Nick Bardis
  • HaysHays Posts: 2,337 ✭✭✭
    papadogg01 said:
    I only have 4 cigars left from Bernardo and I don't want to smoke them because I cannot get more. Trying to get my buddy to call (he speaks Spanish) and see if they will ship. 
    He may not be up for that buddy, as that would be technically due to import duties. If your buddy doesn't come through, though, let me know and I could probably call.
    ¨The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea¨ - Isak Dinesen

    ¨Only two people walk around in this world beardless - boys and women - and I am neither one.¨
  • jarublajarubla Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 2015
    @Hays, quick question -- PR is still considered US soil, yes? Would we still need to pay import duties?

    (inquiring minds wish to know...)

    -Jay
    “There’ll be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read ’em but all that’s gonna matter is that little dash between ’em.” -Kevin Welch
  • RhamlinRhamlin Posts: 9,021 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I've not heard of any puros or any major factories there but I know a lot of brands are using more and more PR tobaccos now. 
  • jarublajarubla Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Circling back on this one.

    My buddy just brought me the sticks. My criteria was a local smoke, and nothing more than 20 bux (cheep!). 

    I wanted PR tobacco (he picked up a Cameroon wrapper, PR binder/filler stick)

    I received a 5'er of don bieneve limited reserve cazador. 

    Gonna let these guys rest for a while. Should be a fun smoke!

    Here's a review of their churchill:

    http://cigarforums.com/cigars/29621-my-super-bowl-cigar-don-bienve-limited-reserve.html

    -Jay
    “There’ll be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read ’em but all that’s gonna matter is that little dash between ’em.” -Kevin Welch
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