Chieftain's has combined with Isthmus cigars to create a line each for their Islay, Highland, and Lowland whiskys.
(Yes, I sell them and yes I am biased, but these cigars have been created for the taste of each whisky).

Interesting site. For those who haven't figured it out, the URL is http://www.costaricacigarstore.com/

the Information page was helpful, though I am still curious how the shipments are packaged. Given how long they would be in transit, are any precautions taken to ensure the cigars (particularly the samplers) don't get crushed and that the RH remains stable?

I have not seen most of these cigars anywhere else. Some of the samplers are tempting.

Quotekola - 10/27/2010  8:26 PM

Interesting site. For those who haven't figured it out, the URL is http://www.costaricacigarstore.com/

the Information page was helpful, though I am still curious how the shipments are packaged. Given how long they would be in transit, are any precautions taken to ensure the cigars (particularly the samplers) don't get crushed and that the RH remains stable?

I have not seen most of these cigars anywhere else. Some of the samplers are tempting.

Yeah, Armin, I took some time to peruse the site after dinner tonight, but didn't see any brands that I know.  I thought I recognized Bahias, but then I realized that I was mistaking it for Bahia (no 's').  All the cigars appear to be from Costa Rica.

The descriptions aren't too explicit.  Some do look tasty, but a bit expensive for venturing into the unknown.   Even the samplers (for the most part) are north of $165.

Yeah, they are pretty pricey. It would be nice to see some samplers south of $100.  Maybe they're trying to maximize the shipping dollar   I searched and found favorable reviews on a couple of the sticks.

I don't know enough about such things, and I'm pretty sure I have not smoked a Costa Rican cigar before. The prices are in the same range as ISOMs ... something tells me they might not be *that* good.  

Looks a little to expensive for me.  I guess I'll need to stick to "Old Crow and White Owls".  

Quotekola - 10/27/2010  10:40 PM

Yeah, they are pretty pricey. It would be nice to see some samplers south of $100.  Maybe they're trying to maximize the shipping dollar   I searched and found favorable reviews on a couple of the sticks.

I don't know enough about such things, and I'm pretty sure I have not smoked a Costa Rican cigar before. The prices are in the same range as ISOMs ... something tells me they might not be *that* good.  

I'm sure you've smoked cigars that have Costa Rican tobacco in them, and I usually like those but have never had a CR puro or any with so much CR tobacco.  Problem is that at those prices, I'm never likely to find out.

QuoteBrlesq - 10/28/2010  7:37 AM
I'm sure you've smoked cigars that have Costa Rican tobacco in them, and I usually like those but have never had a CR puro or any with so much CR tobacco.  Problem is that at those prices, I'm never likely to find out.

I was thinking the same thing.  The blends I've smoked that include CR tobacco were good, but how would a CR puro taste?

Mike - would you be interested in sponsoring a Geek Critique?  Basically, you send 5-8 cigars to some of our members and they review them.  Your cigars are then featured on the CigarGeek homepage for a month.  If you are interested, you can post here or send a PM to junglepete.

Thank you all,

I will try to address all the questions here.

I did not include the website address for spam reasons.  I am new on the board, and a retailer and I am not sure what is allowed.  I was attempting to be obvious and devious at the same time (possible?).  I thank you for posting the link.

My sampler packs are in 25 cigar quantities (some are 50 or more).  I try to include multiple lines and manufactures so it truly is a sampler (at least in the premium sampler packs).  I do this for shipping reasons.  It does cost more to send the cigars from Costa Rica.  My shipping and handling price is currently $8 per item.  (I will lose a couple dollars sending a box and I am hoping to encourage larger orders instead of boxes of 10.)  Shipping will take longer to receive the cigars from Costa Rica then it would if I was US based.  They can show up in a week, but so far 1 1/2 weeks is the norm. (I have been sending them to the NY area).

The are sent through The Costa Rica Postal System with a signature required that can be seen online through the US postal service.  I will consider opening an account wit fedex/dhl/etc. if customers seem to want the extra cost for the speed and convenience.  The Costa Rica Post Office can be slow and US customs has a right to open and inspect the package.  This can also slow it down.

The cigars are taken from the proper humidity and temperate and sealed in ziplocks, and wrapped in bubble wrap and placed in plain cardboard boxes.  They will be sent without a Costa Rica Cigar store label and with just a person name as the sender.  I would recommend that you keep the cigars in the ziplock and freeze all cigars that you receive (everyone's not just mine) for 2 days, then adjust them slowly to the humidors temperature.

Some of the cigars are CR puros, most are a mixture.

Most of the manufacturers I sell do not have a US distribution network.  
Isthmus is German owned (Kurt resides in Costa Rica) and sells mostly in Germany and Russia.  Isthmus cigars have been reviewed highly by the European Cigar Cult Journal and called a best buy.
Don Ursulo is originally Swiss his cigars currently are popular in Switzerland and Germany.
Don Horacio del Monte has French ownership, and they are selling in France and Germany.
Vegas de Santiago you should know.
Adrian's is owned by Micahel Rosales, an American who has lived in Costa Rica.  He sells mostly in Texas and Oklahoma but without a distribution network.  Cigar Inspector, CigaRobbie, and others have given his cigars good reviews.
Dignity is new but was highly reviewed in the cigarencyclopedia.
Tabacos de la Cordillera is owned by John Vogel.  Nobody I have ever met knows more about cigars.

Basically if you are Costa Rica based, The US distribution network will not pick you up.  They prefer the large companies out of Nicaragua, etc.

I will send jungle pete an im offering tasters for review.

Pura Vida!!

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your input.

In the hopes of starting off on the right foot I have created a 10 cigar sampler pack for $39.95.  This morning I picked 10 cigars from 7 manufacturers and created a more inexpensive option for those who may want to try the Costa Rica cigar.  In the near future I will create more.

I feel it was not obvious that my sampler packs all contained 25-50 cigars and I have changed the wording on the samplers page to reflect that.

I do have a sampler pack of 25 cigars for $89.95.  I will consider quantity and pricing changes for the sampler packs as my business gets off the ground.  I tried to put the page in price order instead of alphabetical order but that would upset the apple cart of my shopping cart.

My specials page currently has great options for the budget minded and some of the lines I carry are acceptible pricing for any cigar smokers budget.  Before I went online I double checked available pricing for every line I carry and I am under every advertised price.

I have sent the pm to jungle pete for the review.  As soon as I hear back from him, I will send the cigars.

Pura Vida.

This all sounds good, Mike!  Thanks for responding to our questions so directly and clarifying things.  I, for one, am looking forward to trying your cigars.  

Best of luck on breaking into more sales here in the U.S.!

A 10-pack sampler is great - I'll keep you in mind next time I place an order.