To my knowledge there are only 3 places in TJ that sell real habanos.
Rudys Cigar Shop sells real Habanos, but I hear that Rudy likes to change habanos once in a while since he is was born in Cuba so he still has contacts.
LCDH in Revolucion Street, well last time I said anything bad about this shop or it's owners I recieved an email with a threat to start a lawsuit against me, so I will keep my comments to my own, specially since the owner post here and promotes his shop here, and has Taboada roll cigars that cost him 3 dlls and he sells for 35 dlls, but hey, nothing wrong with making money right.
Last is probably the only place that really only buys from Importadora Y Exportadora de Tabacos, this is Habanos SA, and is the only authotized seller of real Habanos in Mexico, each box should say this on the bottom with offices in Polanco Mexico City. The name is Sanborn's this is a department store, ive never seen a fake habano in any of their over 100 stores, but the downside is that they keep their habanos on a glass cabinet and are quite dry and the selection is not the best.
I would never buy anything from anywere else, since they are not even Cubans, they are cigars rolled in Guadalajara and with labels made in Tijuana, taste like crap, since ive had some given to me by friends that were tricked into buying this horse manuer of cigars.
I can say that once I went to Rosarito, Puerto Nuevo and Ensenada, and did not see 1 real habano, well I did see some machine made dry habanos, in a shop in Ensenada, but the rest were all fake.
Also be carefull with the limitadas, since some of the shops have a big supply of Cohiba Sublimes that looked quite fake, even do they say they sell only real, once again I won't say any names, since I still have not erased the last email with a threat of a lawsuit.
"A woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a Smoke." Rudyard Kipling.
Last is probably the only place that really only buys from Importadora Y Exportadora de Tabacos, this is Habanos SA, and is the only authotized seller of real Habanos in Mexico, each box should say this on the bottom with offices in Polanco Mexico City. The name is Sanborn's this is a department store, ive never seen a fake habano in any of their over 100 stores, but the downside is that they keep their habanos on a glass cabinet and are quite dry and the selection is not the best.
Thanks Roberto I was arrased by two experts in this forum because I said Sanborns have real Habanos!!!
thanks for making that clear. Altough their selection is not that good, but the one near my home has a real cabinet humidor where they store their boxes.
Posts: 49 | Location: Mexico city | Registered: May 08, 2006
". . . Last is . . . Sanborn's . . department store"
ROBERTO'S HABANOS, LvCigarz & I were invited to LCdH-TJ last May when Manuel Garcia, Commercial VP of Habanos s.a., was touring LCdH stores and other authorized dealers in Mexico. We assisted Mr. Garcia in reviewing several authorized dealers in TJ with Sanborns being one of them. I can not speak for other Sanborn outlets, but I can say (to put it mildly) that on that day last May a number of items were deemed highly suspect.
But the most annoying issue to me was the deplorable lack of proper storage and display. Puros tightly wrapped in cling wrap being twisted & bowed via the heat from the bright lights inside the glass display cases. Some cases had no humidification while one in particular had its glass covered with condensation obscuring the cigars. Many cigars were discolored and cracked. I still cringe a little when thinking of any cigar, cuban or not, being mistreated so badly!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On a sad note: for those who may not have heard, Rudy passed away last week. I heard the sad tidings at the RTDA show in Vegas.
Long ashes, Cecil
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cecil Jones,
Also, not that I would actually do this but what would be the best way for me to bring them back into the U.S.? A "friend" of mine once just took the label off and put them in his pocket does anyone else have any suggestions?
". . . Last is . . . Sanborn's . . department store"
ROBERTO'S HABANOS, LvCigarz & I were invited to LCdH-TJ last May when Manuel Garcia, Commercial VP of Habanos s.a., was touring LCdH stores and other authorized dealers in Mexico. We assisted Mr. Garcia in reviewing several authorized dealers in TJ with Sanborns being one of them. I can not speak for other Sanborn outlets, but I can say (to put it mildly) that on that day last May a number of items were deemed highly suspect.
But the most annoying issue to me was the deplorable lack of proper storage and display. Puros tightly wrapped in cling wrap being twisted & bowed via the heat from the bright lights inside the glass display cases. Some cases had no humidification while one in particular had its glass covered with condensation obscuring the cigars. Many cigars were discolored and cracked. I still cringe a little when thinking of any cigar, cuban or not, being mistreated so badly!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On a sad note: for those who may not have heard, Rudy passed away last week. I heard the sad tidings at the RTDA show in Vegas.
Long ashes, Cecil
Cecil, About Sanborns: I don´t know about the store in TJ but all the stores that I have seen sell legit. And yes, the problem of Sanborns is sometimes how the keep the cigars. Some stores keep them Ok and others not. The selection is an issue too. For other hand, we all know that you will defense LCDH in TJ at not price, but as same you said that Sanborns of TJ have "highly suspect" habanos the same issue was told in the past about LCDH in TJ. When this happen you claim to give the shop a try and blah blah... why not you said the same about others?
There are some people how said LCDH TJ is Ok, others said that "highly suspect" issues happen there.
Best regards,
Xavier
Posts: 660 | Location: Mexico City | Registered: March 11, 2004
I was relating a single experience where LVCigarz and I were asked by Mr. Garcia to visit Sanborns and other authorized Habanos dealers in TJ, to review their product, and give our impressions. LVCigarz actually purchased items that were taken to Mr. Garcia for verification. Mr. Garcia then went to personally review the store. The conclusion of "highly suspect" was the result of several inputs including those of Mr. Garcia and Carmen Almaguer, importer/exporter for Cuban cigars for Mexico.
As for the defense of LCdH-TJ, it is simple, I and many other regular patrons have never seen evidence of that which the shop has been accused. Pricing aside we have consistently seen a shop that has gone out of its way to provide excellent product and service. The stellar quality of that service has been reflected numerous times on this & other BBs by not only regular patrons but by infrequent & 1st time visitors as well.
Moises, George, & Luiz make their Customers feel like family.
Perhaps we can meet someday at LCdH-TJ for a Mojito & a puro.
Let me know when you will be in San Diego as well....as for LCDH TJ, never had a problem here...in fact, Habanos SA granted the owner of the one in TJ rights to the LCDH in Cancun, which recently reopened in a brand new, much larger location and is a slice of heaven (huge humidor, lounge area with TV and internet access, full bar, outdoor deck with pool overlooking a lagoon with boat dock).
Posts: 675 | Location: Miramar, La Habana, Cuba | Registered: May 07, 2002
Let me know when you will be in San Diego as well....as for LCDH TJ, never had a problem here...in fact, Habanos SA granted the owner of the one in TJ rights to the LCDH in Cancun, which recently reopened in a brand new, much larger location and is a slice of heaven (huge humidor, lounge area with TV and internet access, full bar, outdoor deck with pool overlooking a lagoon with boat dock).
Roy,
I have digital images of the new LCdH-Cancun if you or others are interested.
Let me know when you will be in San Diego as well....as for LCDH TJ, never had a problem here...in fact, Habanos SA granted the owner of the one in TJ rights to the LCDH in Cancun, which recently reopened in a brand new, much larger location and is a slice of heaven (huge humidor, lounge area with TV and internet access, full bar, outdoor deck with pool overlooking a lagoon with boat dock).
Wow, now you have me sitting here in my cubicle dreaming of this heaven on earth.
Originally posted by JaRubin: Also, not that I would actually do this but what would be the best way for me to bring them back into the U.S.? A "friend" of mine once just took the label off and put them in his pocket does anyone else have any suggestions?
Funny stuff.
Posts: 1346 | Location: Back in Cigar City | Registered: April 30, 2004
Let me know when you will be in San Diego as well....as for LCDH TJ, never had a problem here...in fact, Habanos SA granted the owner of the one in TJ rights to the LCDH in Cancun, which recently reopened in a brand new, much larger location and is a slice of heaven (huge humidor, lounge area with TV and internet access, full bar, outdoor deck with pool overlooking a lagoon with boat dock).
Roy,
I have digital images of the new LCdH-Cancun if you or others are interested.
Long ashes, Cecil
Please... my email on profile!
Xavier
Posts: 660 | Location: Mexico City | Registered: March 11, 2004
