Very nice article. I assume Cuba is still number 1?

Ben, because true Cuban tobacco has embargo's that prevents it from hitting the fertile U.S. market, it normally sits in a category all by itself. Production numbers for Cuba would entail the rest of the free and communist world, so yes...it's still #1 overall, but frankly the cigars coming out of Cuba today are overrated, in my opinion. The Dominican Republic sits at #1 outside of Cuba, with a close race between Honduras and Nicaragua now. Most believe that Nicaragua will exceed production of Honduras in 2008.

Cuba will always be numero uno. It has the best farms and still the most skilled torcedores anywhere in the world. Yes many have fleed to Honduras and Dominica, but Cuba still makes the best.

Pepin, I hope I am not overreaching when I tell you that I suspect you are Cuban or of Cuban heritage and that you have pride in your homeland. There certainly is nothing wrong with that. But you may have been misled about Cuban cigar quality in the last decade or so, or you have been fortunate to get your hands on some of the few quality cigars being exported from your country.

Cuba had a rich cigar history, but its government, desperate for revenue, pushed production of cigars beyond the point of manageable quality control and so lost what was once a treasure to enjoy. I am told that they have seen the error in their ways and scaled back production while adopting better quality control. I hope they are successful.

In the U.S., we have some difficulty buying authentic Cuban cigars and so many are fooled by clever counterfeits. When they are disappointed in the smoke, they believe that Cuban cigars no longer represent quality. And while some are still coming out of Cuba that are quite extraordinary, most exports have yet to measure up to their earlier reputation. I hope they do before they allow their reputation to be sullied beyond repair. For a really good Cuban cigar is truly a pleasure to smoke.

The CAO Criollo Mancha seems to have a good reputation. Anyone have any experience or recommendations they can share with me?

Interesting story about the CAO Mancha. It's slightly smaller than a robusto coming in at 5.5 X 46, but a great cigar. Criollo is a very old tobacco. One of the oldest from Cuba, but the Mancha actually hails from a hybrid developed in 2001 from the Jalapa valley in Nicaragua. Criollo 98 is blue mold resistant and after losing a lot of ground as a wrapper tobacco to the more resilient and usable Corojo tobacco, it's making a comeback as a hybrid. It's a full bodied cigar, but I personally get a little bit of "dampness" from the taste. The thing is Dillon, cigars are like wine. Different tastes for different people. CAO makes MANY fine cigars and very few of them will steer you wrong. The Mancha tobaccos have a great heritage. Try a CAO Italia if you want something a little more unique. Italian climate and soil make an interesting and complex cigar that appeals to a variety of palates. Herf' away, brother! Long ashes to you!

You are right, I am Cubano but I live now on the Little Cayman. I am sorry to hear that Cuba has become lazy in quality of its fine cigars. I do not smoke the cigars but my family in Cuba smoke. To speak badly about the government is not allowed, but I will ask what has happened with the cigar factory. I still love my country and hope to return one day.

Very informative article about the cigar industry and a good tip on the CAOs. I will give them a try.