European editor James Suckling, far right, discusses Cuban cigars with Edward Sahakian, far left, and Rafik Aboulian.

Cigar Aficionado's resident Cuba expert, European editor James Suckling, led the session on Cuban cigars, beginning with a tale of a recent close call with U.S. Customs. He admitted to having been in Cuba, and, when asked if he had any cigars in his possession, said he did, in fact, have several Habanos in his luggage. "They let me go through," said a relieved Suckling, "so there is a God after all."

(Suckling puffed on a Havana Trinidad while speaking -- at a later seminar, Altadis U.S.A.'s Theo Folz joked that he should put Suckling in handcuffs for the offense of smoking a Cuban cigar on U.S. soil.)

Joining Suckling on the dais were two well-known Cuban cigar retailers, Edward Sahakian of the Davidoff store in London and Rafik Aboulian of Raffi's in Geneva.

Suckling spoke of the damage to Pinar del Río caused by two hurricanes. The damage can be seen in this Reuters photo.

Suckling began with a status report on the horrible damage inflicted on Cuba's tobacco regions by the back-to-back hurricanes that recently struck Pinar del Río. "They lost about 5,000 curing barns," said Suckling, a problem considering the harvest is set to begin in about two months. "There's no way they're going to make that deadline." He regaled the audience with details of his frequent trips to Cuba, relating the news of a recent price drop in Cuban cigar shops and a status report on best-selling sizes and improving quality.

Sakahian said Cuban cigar sales had slowed in his region. Aboulian, on a positive note, spoke of improved quality in Cuban cigars.

Suckling offered some buying advice to the aficionados who enjoy Cubans. "I would keep away from anything from last year, or a few years back," he said, suggesting that 2002 smokes were of finer quality.

Edward Sahakian at work in London, from the pages of Cigar Aficionado magazine.

Suckling asked the retailers to share buying advice with the audience. Sahakian recommended people try a Cohiba Corona Especial, "a cigar that not many people talk about," as well as another personal favorite, the Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona in cabinet. Aboulian, who also enjoyed the Corona Especial, professed a fondness for Partagas Presidentes and Shorts, especially those packed in cabinets of 50, as well as Montecristo Especiale No. 2s.

Sahakian concluded by imploring the audience to remember that cigars are special, to be savored. "When you're buying a box of cigars, you're buying a box of pleasure." he said.