Thanks for the kind words Mat.
It's good to have this dedicated cigar section in this excellent forum.
I've been dealing with the brothers down at Atlantic Cigar. They are wonderful guys. If you have not yet signed up for their mailers do so. Great prices and excellent specials.
They have got a bit more aggressive in the past year or so, in an effort to compete with the other big online sellers. Being in Canada they are a godsend as they send me stuff "under the radar" and I avoid the 250% duty. It's sick! A Pardon Exclusivo costs me about $12 (inc. shipping) a stick and they are over $30 here. We get taxed to death on smokes and booze here.
It is nice being able to bring back Cubans but they are getting out of hand. I bought all 3 Behikes and 2 boxes of the 1966 last year and a bunch of other top brand stuff and the visa bill almost gave me a stroke!
Behikes cost around $30 per in Cuba and $65 here. Monte A's are almost $70 here. Taxes are killing the retail trade here.
I brought back 275 this year but went with some lesser known brands that were much cheaper than the top Cubans and if u are patient and age them they are awesome. Sancho Panza, Ramon Allones, el Rey del Mundo, St. Luis rey, San Cristobol etc. Partagas are also one of my faves and the price is creeping uo but they are still great value. Gonna crack a 2 year old box of Lusitanias this weekend!
Conversely, a bundle of 25 J. (Nic) Fuego Deliriums in Belicosa can be had for under $90 with free shipping to lucky you in the US and they are dynamite smokes. Give them a year and they as good as Monte 2's. I think they are one of the best values in NC smokes.
I've been buying from Atlantic for about 5 years now and they have allowed me to try probably close to 200 sticks I never see here. I love doing their samplers and putting together orders of onesies and 3-5 packs.
Smoke in Peace!
W