Are you talking about the cigars that are made with a blend of 50% Pre-Embargo Cuban Tobacco and 50% Honduran Tobacco (Pinar B), or the Habanitos are made with 100% Pre-Embargo Cuban Tobacco?
A short history:
Approximately 4200 lbs. (4 bails) of "Rosado Pinar" wrapper leaf cigar tobacco was consigned by Mendoza y cia (Pinar Del Rio Cuba), to Red Dot Cigar Co. (Trenton, NJ, USA) on September 29,1957.
The tobacco was shipped from Havana, Cuba to San Juan, Puerto Rico to Port Newark, March 1,1958. The shipment cleared US customs on March 26,1958 and was ground transfered to Red Dot Cigar Co. on March 27,1958. The cigars were rolled in 1997 and REUBEN'S purchased them in the spring of 1998.
I bought into this when they first came out ... but have since come to the conclusion that this was one of the biggest 'scams' that ever hit the cigar world in recent times. It was pretty a brilliant marketing tactic on the part of Paul Magier ... I'll have to admit.
Here is an article on it, if you care to read it:
http://www.cigar-cult.at/englisch/bc101b.htm
I also found this:
Introducing the PINAR P2000. This cigar enjoys the distinction of being rolled with PRE-EMBARGO CUBAN TOBACCO imported legally into the country in 1957-58. This rare tobacco was discovered in a warehouse in Trenton, N.J in 1997 complete with several stamps, stickers, shipping labels and PINAR DEL RIO/CUBA stenciled on the bales.This was later authenticated by independent appraisers and traced back to U.S.Customs in Port Newark.
The “PINAR P2000 – LEGAL CUBAN CIGARS”, made by Puros de Armando Ramos, have got a lot of coverage on the morning TV shows and the national print media. Due to the rarity of the tobacco, these cigars are available in limited quantities. We are one of the select few stores to be appointed Authorized Retailers. We have all 6 sizes available right now. Come and find out what everyone is raving about. You won’t be disappointed.
... but have never tired them.
This may not be what you were looking for, and you may have already seen these reports, but I thought it would be good reading for those who haven't seen it yet.
