When it comes to nabbing cigars while visiting the beautiful country of Cuba, ignore the street-level discounts.

Sure, it's tempting. But smoking dishrags is no way to spend a vacation.

Head to these four cigar shops in and around Havana for the real deal:

Casa del Habano

Cigar: Cohiba Esplendido
Flavour: Strong and woody, with hints of vanilla
Cost: US$18
Smoked by: Fidel Castro (until 1985, when he gave up smoking)

Cigar: Montecristo No. 2
Flavour: Full-flavoured and spicy
Cost: US$7
Smoked by: Che Guevara

Romeo y Julieta Factory Shop

Cigar: Romeo y Julieta Churchill
Flavour: Rich, creamy and woody, but not overwhelming 
Cost: US$9
Smoked by: Sir Winston Churchill (who had the size named in his honour)

H. Upmann Factory

Cigar: H. Upmann Super Coronas
Flavour: Smooth, pleasant and leathery
Cost: US$6
Smoked by: John F. Kennedy (who purportedly imported copious boxes the night before signing the U.S. embargo into law)

Partagás Factory

Cigar: Partagás Lusitanias
Flavour: Full-bodied and earthy, with a good balance of pepper and spice
Cost: US$9
Smoked by: Evelyn Waugh (who name-checked them in his novel, Brideshead Revisited)