In case you did not make it to this year's XXI Habanos Festival, which celebrated the 500th anniversary of San Cristobal de La Habana, as the city of Havana was initially called, or are about to embark for a different country where you can legally purchase Havana cigars (that will be practically anywhere else in the world except the United States, where it is forbidden to sell Cuban products), here are seven of the top brands from our embargoed neighbor we believe are well worth seeking out. It is now legal to return around 100 Cuban cigars--that's about four boxes--provided that they are for your private use and not for resale.

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But first, some caveats. Beware of counterfeits. They are more rampant than ever--even in Cuba--though now Costa Rica is providing Mexico a struggle for the title of Counterfeit Cuban Cigars Per Square Mile. So be careful. If anybody offers you a Cohiba Esplendido for $5, you are aware that it can not be real.

Some of the top places to purchase authentic Cuban cigars are the United Kingdom (in which they're rigidly inspected by exclusive Habanos importers Hunters & Frankau), Spain--which also gets some of the best Havanas--and some of the official La Casa del Habanos Cuban government-sanctioned retail stores; there are currently 90 of them globally. Duty-free shops are also a safe haven for authentic Cuban cigars, even though we recently bought a three-pack of our enviable Montecristo No. 2 pyramids at Dubai International Airport and discovered them to be careless so far as flavor was concerned (a result of inferior leaf choice and inadequate aging). Plus, one of those cigars was rolled much too tightly to permit an adequate draw. But all three Montecristos were real Habanos products. This brings up the continuing issue with Cuban cigars of quality control.

That is confirmed by Mitchell Orchant, managing director of C.Gars, Ltd, one of the largest purveyors of Cuban cigars in England, that also critiques the freshness of a cigars, in other words, if they were obsolete sufficiently before being published. So a good rule of thumb is, after you buy your Cuban cigars safely home, set them in your humidor for at least a month or two to give them a while to fully develop the flavors that created Havana famous.

Trinidad

As well as celebrating the 500th anniversary of San Cristobal de La Habana (which also appears to be the title of a rather mild-smoking Havana cigar which has been introduced in 1999 and showcased in the festival), the XXI Festival has been spotlighting the Trinidad brand, that originated in 1996 since Fidel Castro's VIP cigar to supplant the Cohiba, which started being publically marketed in 1982. This year, three new shapes are introduceda 4 1/2 x 50 press luna, a 5 7/10 x 53 Esmeralda, along with a 4 11/12 x 56 Topes, that initially was a 2016 limited edition.

Cohiba

Nevertheless among the very widely-counterfeited cigars in the world, only buy these from reliable sources. The full-powered, large-ringed Behike is a pricey smoke worth paying for, simply for bragging rights, with the 54 and 56 ring gauges especially desired. Another benefit is the newly-launched Cohiba Robusto Reserva, and while we usually do not quote prices because of the changing marketplace for Cuban cigars, it's safe to say these will normally run more than $100 a stick. Using the very best of 3 year old tobaccos, it's available in only 1 size: a 4 7/8 x 50 robusto. Only 500 individually numbered boxes were published. For something milder (and clearly less costly ) attempt the Siglo VI.

Montecristo

Regardless of our disappointing experience in Dubai, the No. 2 pirámide stays our all-time favorite. To get a smaller smoke, try out the No. 4--the best-selling cigar in the world.

Partagás

This is really a porterhouse steak and Napa Cabernet where to get cuban cigars smoke, in any dimension. However, in addition to the Series D No.4 Robusto, another favorite of ours is the newly-introduced 6 1/4 x47 Presidente, using its easy-to-light pinched foot and easy-to-clip Perfecto cap.

Romeo y Julieta

This is another cigar that never disappoints, especially for those in between times when you're not quite certain of what to smoke. Ideally suited for either a Plymouth Gin martini (additional dry, olive across the side) or a Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask, we have recently switched from the Short Churchill into the bigger-ringed 5 1/4 x 55 Wide Churchill Robusto. Besides offering a slightly fuller taste, it appears to be more physically fitting into the shapes' namesake.

Another great medium strength cigar, this gentle smoke retains just enough earthiness to make it appropriate for early to late evenings. Orchant of C.Gars feels it's the best from the H.Upmann range and we concur.

Hoyo de Monterrey

Don't fall in the preconception that Cuban cigars are powerful. This brand certainly isn't, although its potency will vary by shape. Thinking about having a Irish Whiskey and a cigar?

Punch

Subtly strong yet sleek, a Punch cigar has a rich, leathery finish. The Double Corona is a perfect game for a snifter of X.O. Cognac.

Medium-full in flavor; the Vegas Robaina is among the most complicated and spicy Havanas around and perfect for any time and well in the evening.

Cuaba

The shapes of Cuabas are figurados: a mild-mannered smoke perfect for the novice in addition to the connoisseur who feels just like throttling down a little flavor intensity.