Punta Cana Cigars

[The Hawk]

I have searched through the history of this forum but am still full of questions about Dominican cigars and enjoying them in the D.R.
I'm off in February to Punta Cana (Gran Bahia Principe) for two weeks. We've gone to Cuba before (Cayo Coco and Varadero) and I enjoy the occasional cigar, preferring R & Js, and especially the limited edition hermosas, a Churchill and a #1 en cedros.
I am aware of the danger of fakes but in Cuba you are fairly safe in the Government store buying boxes in a good walk in humidor. I went to the CSDH in Varadero but wasn't completely impressed. In Cuban official stores the customer service is not all it might be.
Does anyone have a cigar recommendation for me (I would consider a $5 cigar a deal and anything at $10 better be superb,... good cigars cost $10 in Canada and superb ones go for $30) and cany anyone suggest a safe place to buy cigars in Punta Cana?
I was interested by a couple of local factories that I found on the web and would love to "try" them. I have read that many of the popuar and famous brands are only available in S.D. and that the best bets for tourists are Jimmenes and Aurora . Are they available in the tourist areas or at the airport duty free? Thanks for any help.
The Hawk
BTW: The Cuban vs. Dominican cigar argument is infantile and reminds me of the time when Noveau Riche North Americans thought that only France produced good wine. Earlier comments about the inconsistent quality of a box of Cubans are certainly true. It can be disappointing to find that %20 of the cigars in a $200 box don't draw well.

[Hlywud]

Domenico cigars in Plaza Brisas, they are made right there, very decent quality and prices. Karl has 26 in his boxes, they average about $4 US per cigar. I think you will enjoy them, I certainly do.
In fact I will be visitng him on Wednesday next.

http://www.domenicocigars.com/

Duty free shops are a rip off.

[Hillbilly]

While I do not know domenico's place, I know Wud (and he knows me!), so what he says is probably accurate.

In that area there are a couple or three options.

Look for a FUMO store. They carry a solid line of authentic Cuban cigars at decent prices.

Next you can go over to the Cigar Museum near Higuey. It is run by a family member of the people that run the Davidoff factory here in Santiago, their prices are fair and their selection is pretty good.

Lastly, you could take a day trip to La Romana. A bit of an adventure but there is a place there called Plaza Caribe that stocks the most massive selection of top of the line Dominican cigars---including all of the Fuente line--at fair prices. There are also two FUMO shops there, one in Altos de Chavon and one in the Marina.

Pleasse note that L. León Jiménes and La Aurora are one in the same. the L. León Jiménes are Conn shade wrapped and the Aurora are Cameroon or other darker shaded wrappered. Also know that the Preferidos, the Aniversarios are outstanding cigars. But I prefer the normal Aurora line...

Hope this helps you a wee bit.

HB

[The Hawk]

Wow! What amazing and helpful responses. I did know about the two lines (Jimenes and Aurora) but was interested to read that you prefer the standard Aurora line. I hope to be able to come to my own conclusion...I don't mind a 1/2 day road trip for ciagrs but a whole day, e.g. to S.D. defeats the prupose of relaixing and doing nothing, enjoying a cigar and beer on the beach in the afternoon and a great cigar and a good rum at night. I'll look into the time and distances for trips to Higuey and La Romana.
Thanks to both of you!

[Hillbilly]

FYI: The trip to La Romana can be done in a morning.

HB

[DonaldVogel]

Originally Posted by Hillbilly

While I do not know domenico's place, I know Wud (and he knows me!), so what he says is probably accurate.

In that area there are a couple or three options.

Look for a FUMO store. They carry a solid line of authentic Cuban cigars at decent prices.

Next you can go over to the Cigar Museum near Higuey. It is run by a family member of the people that run the Davidoff factory here in Santiago, their prices are fair and their selection is pretty good.

Lastly, you could take a day trip to La Romana. A bit of an adventure but there is a place there called Plaza Caribe that stocks the most massive selection of top of the line Dominican cigars---including all of the Fuente line--at fair prices. There are also two FUMO shops there, one in Altos de Chavon and one in the Marina.

Pleasse note that L. León Jiménes and La Aurora are one in the same. the L. León Jiménes are Conn shade wrapped and the Aurora are Cameroon or other darker shaded wrappered. Also know that the Preferidos, the Aniversarios are outstanding cigars. But I prefer the normal Aurora line...

Hope this helps you a wee bit.

HB

Does anyone know if there are any FUMO shops located in Santo Domingo and if so the/their addresses.

Thanks - Don V

[J D Sauser]

I am not a conaiseur by all means.... and I don't like to spend big buck on something that will be put on fire anyway.
Anyway, I have ocasionally somked cigars here and there. In the DR, I found most cigars too expensive, especially for not knowing what it was. One can find "cigar factories" all over... no-name and/or fantasy name. They may be great and then they might not, unless you buy and smoke it, you won't know.

So, the last day in Santo Domingo I walk into a souvenir shop to buy me a little Dominican falg pin and I see that box of 20 or 25 "Cohiba" Esplendidos... "Made in Cuba" and some "Made in the DR"... obviously they are fakes... at 800RDS a box (about USD 26.-). But what exactly is a fake cigar for about 1 buck a pop??. After all it is a cigar(?). I smile, think "what the hell" and buy.
Back in Europe I take them to a cigar smoking friend of mine and we light one up each. It may have been fake or what ever... but this was the nicest cigar I ever smoke! No bad taste left, no burning feeling and no stupid head afterwards! So, well, the name is fake, the box is fake and we'll likely ever know where it came from, but the cigar was real.
Fakes are great! ... J-D.

[The Hawk]

We're off in ten. While I would love the S.D. tour, the wife might kill me for running after cigars for a whole day and leaving her alone with the kids. I will check out Domenico's. the prices seem to indicate that they are at least a good cigar. I cannot imagine two weeks in the sun without ending the day with the silky smoke of a good cigar. I have to admit that I miss my cubans (R&J Churchill, #1 Cedros and Limitad Hermosas) which are all smoked and given away by now but look forward to trying some Dominicans.
Thanks for all the help
Hawk
"I know some people don't careabout fake/real or the quality of a cigar but the counterfeit business drives me crazy and nothing frustrates me more than having my enjoyment of a cigar interrupted by a hustler or hustlee with tales of real $10 ciagrs for one or two bucks. The momnet you light up someone wants to tell you how they got/have a better deal. In my mind nothing says don't talk to me better than a cigar smoker surrounded by a delicious cloud."

[sven440]

I picked up a box of "Cohiba Esplendidos" at the resort in Playa Dorado where I stayed but am now convinced they are fakes.
Did real Cohibas ever come in a glass front wooden box that did not have the boxes corners fingerjointed??
Sven440

[The Hawk]

We enjoyed two weeks last Feb at the Bahia Principe and I purchased some decent torpedos from Donb Lucas. Their website is down at the moment. We just booked a return in Feb. of 2007. I would happliyt buy another 50 at don Lucas, they were a very acceptable $5 cigar. Has anyone had any of the Domenico product? Any comparisons or recommendations...I assume the purchase of higher calibre dominican cigars is still not possible/advisable in Punta Cana. I bought a couple at the large store at the Resort but they were very poorly stored.
Thanks
MH