www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I can't give exact directions,but the factory is around the corner from the American Embassy in Pavas.I suggest doing a search.I don't know if they have a store in San Jose,I took a taxi from HDR and always went to Pavas.

Thanks, I'll check out a map.

I was at ZB yesterday to check out the chicas. I happen to notice the humidor w/ cuban cigars in it. I happen to have 2 w/ me that I brought down from my collection. I hand a Cohiba & a Monti No. 2 w/ me. Everyone has been telling me the Cuban's at ZB are real. What a joke, they are fake as can be. I only had to look at the wrappers to tell they were not real. Both boxes also looked fake. I know for sure the Cohiba & Monti's were fake that I looked at. Maybe he is holding back. Also, the talent at ZB has really gone down.

A few days ago I went to Don Benigno Cigars and bought 2 boxes of Piramides. When I got there they offered my a cigar to try and gave me a tour of their factory. Their tobacco is Cuban. I recommend this place if you want a good cigar. Don't buy Cubans in CR, they are either fake or overpriced. I had no problem going through customs in Miami.

Buy your damn Cubans from Canada.

If I am going to have to leave San Jose to get Cuban cigars I will go to Havana where I can get cigars and Cubanas

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I feel bad for you guys that have a difficult time finding a "real" cuban cigar. I am very lucky, as I take numerous trips to the Bahama's throughout the year, and I can always find good prices on authentic Monte Cristo's, Cohiba's, etc..... If I could bring them (in bulk) to CR with me for you guys, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But I'm not so sure that the customs agents would appreciate that.

Smoke 'em if ya got 'em!

Pura Fumar,
Mikey-B

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Gentlemen,

Is anyone else besides me disturbed by recent allegations that ZB's Cigar Bar is selling fake cuban cigars? If these allegations are true, then somebody has some explaining to do. If Eddie is selling fake puros cubanos, will he also start substituting rot gut for good booze?

Example on how to tell a real Cohiba from a fake: The band on the real cohibas have embossed stars, not just printed. If Bomber's (and others'?) allegations are true, some of us might have been cheated.

Feedback please. Blue Coyote, you reading this?

_________________
Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Seems like a reasonable request. Think ZB should certainly give us their version of this.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Maybe ZB got ripped off like the others. Who knows .

I used to get mine by the boxes in Varadero, Cuba. You could either get them from the street or even from the resorts you're staying. I have been smoking for almost 10 years , and let me tell you, it is extremely hard to tell the good fake ones from the authentic ones. I was always offered to try from the boxes, so that risk lowered somwhat.

The fake ones I saw in Cuba came with authentic boxes , seals, the little cert inside , the whole sheebang. phucking amazing ...

Usually, I'd bring a few R&J no. 2 from Canada to SJO for the trip, or buy the CR ones here.

In Toronto, if CRT US brothers ever visit there, I used to buy a lot at Yitz , or Thomas Hinds ( lots of US celebs buy there when in town )

Yitz's site is not working well, I'll include it for references anyway:

Yitz
http://www.cuban-cigars.com/

Thomas Hinds
http://www.thomashinds.ca

When you operate a cigar bar and sell "Cubans" you should be able to determine real from fakes.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

One would think so... If ZB is selling fakes then, there are two possibilities. Either Eddie can't tell a Romeo y Julieta from a Dutch Masters, or he's deliberately deceiving his customers. If I had to choose one, I'd prefer the former, but neither reason is acceptable. How do they feel about B.Y.O.? If I have to smoke a fake, I would just as soon smoke a fine Don Benigno or Pintor. In fact, I asked Eddie about the Don B.'s, and he said that ZB was trying to negotiate a price. That was last September.

_________________
Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

I am 100% sure the Cohiba & Monti #2 were fakes. The Cohiba should have raised gold letters on the band. His did not. The Monti's band had the wrong logo on it. The boxes also looked fake to me. Go to ww.CigarAficionado.com web site and check out the counterfit area. Also, on the forum under Cuban Cigars there are recent photos of real & fake Cohiba's being compared. I had real Cuban's in my pocket and it was easy to compare them. A real Cuban should cost 3 times the cost in CR than other countries in Habanos stores. I can buy a Monti #2 for $12.00 and in CR it's $30.00. Not worth buying any Cuban cigar in CR. I have been smoking Cuban's for a long time and know what to look for. The 2 brands I looked at were fake.

I have carried cubans into the US from other countries before. I remove the bands, throw them away, and put the unmarked cigars into a ziplock bag.
I carry them in my suitcase, do not declare them ( obviously ) and no one has ever noticed. And if they do find them, they are'nt obviously cuban.

Other than Cuban, there is this Cost rican one, Vegas De Santiago

http://www.vegassantiago.com/index.htm

to be considered.

I was given a box as a gift 3 weeks ago, didn't get to try it until this now. I must say it is rather smooth ( not as strong as Cuban Monte no.4, but stronger than , say H.upmann corona. )

Prices as per their site are quite reasonable, and should be a bit cheaper when bought in SJO.