I'm going to the Bahamas in June and was wondering if anyone can tell me if there is anyplace you can get authentic Habanos. Or should I not even bother?

Be careful. A business associate of mine bought Cuban cigars from there and U.S. Customs confiscated them on his way home.

i suppose it's just as risky to fed-ex them home?

Thanks, was hoping to smoke them while in the Bahamas. I've read that most of the cigars banded as cubans there are counterfeit, was hoping to find a reputable place to smoke a few on the island and a few on the ship on the way back. Bought several last time I was there and alas, they turned out to be fakes. I went to the Habanos S.A. site to see if they had any dealers in the Bahamas but could not find any. I was hoping someone out there may know of a reputable dealer in Nassau

It's the same no matter what country you are going to visit ...

... La Casa Del Habano ...

An authorized Habanos dealer has to display the Habanos certificate signed by the president of Habanos to assure it's customers what they are purchasing is 100% authentic.

For those who may think I am breaking the rules here, and giving out a retailer on our hosts site ... La Casa Del Habano is an international mesh of stores, granted under the franchise of Habanos S.A., that currently holds down 88 outlets in roughly 50 countries.

Excellent conditions for preservation, a customized service and the most exquisite desire to guarantee its customers' satisfaction ... are just the name of the game of these stores all around the world.

So ... it's up to you to find one.

... and if I am not mistaken, the only island in the Bahamas that has a La Casa Del Habanos is in Nassau.

Slim's right. I am going to the Grand Bahama Island next month. I asked the same question and through help here, and my own investigations I found that the only reputable place in in Nassau (sp?) The GreyCliff factory is there, and that is where you would go to get your smoke. Good luck, and I hope you get there!
MK

There is no La Casa Del Habanos in the Bahamas. You will find a plentitude of counterfeit Cuban cigars; many are Cuban puros of mixed fill with bands of well known brands. Most are Cuban tobacco rolled elsewhere. If you insist on buying cigars in the Bahamas, go to the Graycliff Hotel, and buy the house brand "Crystals."

I beg to differ with you Steve*R ...

Borrowed for Cigar Aficionado
Published January/February 2001
By Dave Savona

High atop a hill that affords a view of massive cruise ships as they lazily pull in and out of the port of Nassau is a stately building known as Graycliff, home of the finest restaurant in the city. Just behind it, however, is a small factory where two men are engaged in an enterprise that has nothing to do with tourism: crafting handmade cigars.

This Wine Spectator Grand Award perennial -- some 175,000 bottles fill the restaurant's wine cellar -- has long been a haven for cigar smokers, ***having for a time housed one of the Caribbean's best-stocked Casa del Habano cigar stores***.

Today, Graycliff-brand cigars are rolled in-house. When visitors enter the Graycliff restaurant, they can't help but notice the cigarmaker seated at the dark wood rolling station directly in front of them. On most nights, it's Avelino Lara who sits at the table. On others, his 20-year-old son, Avelino Jr., takes his place

I checked with the Graycliff Hotel. I asked about touring the factory, they said any day but Sunday. They have two restaurants, one called the Humidor where they sell cigars, Graycliffs and according to several articles, including the one from Cigar Afficionado, they have cubans (singles and boxes). Even if they don't have cubans, I hope to take home some Graycliff for the humi!

Slim: La Casa Del Habanos is an official site of the Cuban cigar industry. Feel free to go to their website, and check to see where they have official outlets. There is none in the Bahamas. There are several cigar shops, one even calling itself Casa de Habanos, but according to the Cuban government, it is not an official site of La Casa Del Habanos.
Here's the place to look:
http://www.lacasadelhabano.cu/mundo_i.asp 

Incidently, I've been to the Bahamas many times. I've seen the shop in the Wine Spectator story; a great place to buy fakes.

... interesting.

I went to the Bahamas 2 years ago and it was a terrible disappointment. There were no cigars to be found. And the few that I did find were so ridiculously priced, or were fakes, that I was forced to smoke the Fuentes I had brought from home.

Going to the Bahamas was dissapointing? I would kill for it right now as I look outside at the piles and piles of snow everywhere 😉

So did any of you go to the Graycliff? According to what I've read they have authentic stuff. I was going to try to buy some ISOM's there and of course, probably a box of the Graycliffs. CA's articles (I've seen two so far), didn't mention anything about fakes. They said the hotel has a very well stocked humi.

Read Steve*R's post above... ^^

Dear Friend:
If you go to the Graycliff Hotel, and can afford to buy them, purchase the Graycliff Crystals. While they do not have the taste profile of Cuban tobacco, you will find the cigars to be absolutely delightful. If you are an expert at detecting fakes, irrespective of the box you see them sitting in, then gamble on a Habano. Keep in mind that most good fakes outside the U.S. are rolled of Cuban tobacco. Bands are not an indication in some locations, because genuine bands are salvaged and recycled.

Thanks again for the advice. I will indeed try the Crystals. I'm saving up now so that when the time comes I can buy a box and bring them back with me. As far as the Habanos, I'll get a hold of some eventually. I was planning on perhaps buying several but based on your experience, I think I'll probably stick to the domestics. I think I've had several real ones but with all the fakes out there, who knows?

i've been to the cigar store in the shopping area of the casino. anyone know if that is a reputable store for isom's? the prices sure seem like it was...so i hope so...lol.

... La Casa Del Habano ...

If not ... then they are fakes ...