Hi All,

I would ike to bring a cigar-smoking friend a gift.

Can you get Cuban cigars at the FCO airport duty free shop?

Better places to find them?

You probably can but! If you are getting a expensive box of cigars, I would buy them at a tobacconist outside of the tourist areas. Where the locals go.
I made that mistake once and bought a box at a gift shop near the Piazza Navona and had it gift wrapped.
After clearing Customs at Boston, where I was stopped and questioned. I was waiting outside for my bus, feeling good that I got away with it as I've always loved the forbidden fruit. I went into my luggage and pulled one out to light-up.
They were all very dry, very stale and unsmokeable.
I was scammed no doubt but a local tobacconist would pride themselves on quality, climate control, etc. And an airport duty free I assume would just be like a 7-11, stock shelves and run the cash register.
Regards, Walter

Thank you, Walter. I shall take your advice.

I do not agree. Cigars (Cuban or not) are sold without taxes at airports. Italian smokers usually buy several boxes of cigars of cigarettes at airports when they happen to hit an international flight because they are somewhat cheaper. As an extra, you may want to also buy a small box of the rather harsh Italian cigars (they are not very costly), the toscano cigars. Not as nice as a good Cohiba, but a touch of Italy might be also welcome ^_^

Thank you both.

As usual with this forum, we have an immediate concensus.

A friend of mine says he always removes the labels on the cigars so the origin of Cuba is not known. Customs agents can confiscate them as they are illegal here the last I knew.

Ira, I would recommend you have some idea of which Cuban cigars you would like. I bought a couple when I was in Italy but couldn't tell you which were the best ones to get or offered the best value. I was surprised at the number of choices and the prices varied from a couple of bucks to well over $20 each, at the same tobac shop. Good luck.

it is always less expensive to buy cigars at the duty free shop at the airport. moreover, the rapid turnover due to the volume of traffic virtually assures freshness.

and furthermore, the likelihood of your being scammed by counterfeits (an international problem particularly with cubans) is significantly reduced. airports deal with large distributors who don't have time for a nickle and dime con.

beware the tabacchi who offers you a box of cohiba or montecristo for say the equivalent of $150. you are being taken.

i generally buy a selection of five packs which can be easily ferreted away.

by the by, i am in no way encouraging you to break the law.

I really wish you good ole boys would call up your friend "W" and tell him to get rid of this ridiculous embargo on Cuban goods, and if they don't like it down in Miami well that's really too bad.
This way you wouldn't have to "ferret" them away, lie to the Customs folks, pretend you aren't "really" breaking the law and all those other hypocritical excuses.