The Dominican Republic: Cigar Country

Cuba may seem like the country to which the cigarknown as "Cigar Country" and leaving stogie lovers
industry belongs, with citizens stopping just short ofeverywhere to search for their passports, book their
saluting a Havana Sun Grown instead of a flag.flights, and come to a place that captures the true
However, Cuba is not the only country with thisculture and essence of tobacco.
distinction; it's not the sole place on an atlas known
for putting cigars on the map. Lying east of Cuba isBent on a history of instable organization, ruled by
another nation known to be smoking hot when itmilitary government and dictators, the Dominican
comes to the world of cigars: The DominicanRepublic is a nation possessing the burdens of
Republic.economic hardships. From recessions, to inflation,
from trade deficits to fraud, the citizens of the
The Dominican Republic, fittingly discovered by Mr.Dominican Republic have seen more economic turmoil
Cigar himself, Christopher Columbus, is the largestthan most.
producer of cigars in the entire world, making it