Are cuban cigars really better?

Some people think cigars from Honduras and Nicaragua are better . I think they are considered a myth since the Cubans are consistent!  Cigars are made by hand, therefore different people will make different cigars and even the same person will make different cigars after a couple of hours working. In addition, all tobacco leaves are somewhat unique, even those coming from the same farm (and even from the same plant). The answer is not clear on this but one thing is for sure they have the best rollers worldwide!

I'm no expert, but in my limited experience, yes, Cuban cigars are far superior to others.  They taste milder, they have a more mellow feel in your mouth, and are generally more satisfying to smoke.  In the US, where I am, we can't get them legally (as you know) but they are easy to order from Canada and elsewhere, at prices starting at about $25.00 US each. and yet I would gladly pay the surcharge to buy Cuban, if I still smoked.  (I'm basing this on experience from my tour in the US Navy, and smoking them over in Europe, back in 1977.  For what that's worth.)

A cigar is like a bottle of wine. Just because it's on the top shelf and cost over $100 a bottle does not nescessarly mean it's any more pleasing to your palate than a $30 bottle. I had what was claimed to be a cuban and I found it to smell like dirty socks, had a hard draw and little smoke. In comparison, I could buy a Dominican "Puro" ( filler, binder, wrapper, all from Dom. Rep.)  locally, with a dark rich maduro wrapper, for $3 a stick and get alot of enjoyment out of it. I have found that when a cigar has different tobaccos from different countries. (a 3-blend filler) made with for an example long leaf hondoran, mexican, coasta rica, a dominican binder, and cameroon (African) wrapper, You are going to have complexity in flavors. It may start out a little spicy, have coco, nutty, hints of earthy undertones  that changes halfway through the cigar to a almost sweet creamy finish. So try a varity sampler, and don't beleive the hype about cubans.  RC 

Cuban cigars were superior than any other cigar in the world at one time. Since 1960 they have been deteriorating in quality to the point where many are actually inferior than cheap cigars from certain countries. This is due to the fact that tobacco suitable for cigars needs the right soil, properly fertilized and occassionally allowed to rest (no planting for several seasons). Caring for the soil is no longer a priority in Cuba. Mass production and getting dollars or Euros into the country trumps quality. In addition, the blackmarket economy ends up with most of the fertilizers meant for the fields. Since everyone works for the government and no one owns any property then they do not care about quality.  The fertilizer that was supposed to feed the soil is diverted by all those that handle it and is eventually sold in the black market. This is historically a common problem in communist countries. As a result, the tobacco is of poor quality and the taste and texture is substandard. Once upon a time you can look at a cigar and immediately know if it was a Cuban by the beauty of the wrapper and the flawless construction. Now you can probably do the same but in reverse. Bottom line is that Cuban cigars currently are expensive due to the demand caused by the myth, and not because of the taste and quality. There are much better tasting and looking cigars coming out of the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, and at about 1/4 the price.