8.2 Cigar Analysis: the wrapper must be a quality one; it doesnt have to be shriveled or ugly. I can usually spot the fake cigars from 30 feet away when the walk in the store. However, if this is not an option, there are a few other tricks you can use. Hi Gary. A reader of mine once sent me a box of counterfeit Arturo Fuente cigars and it was obvious the bands had been cheaply printed, most likely on a laser printer. Numerous complex impressions and an intricate trim were accompanied by holographic images that carried codes. This head-within-head effect is a telling sign that the band is authentic. . Your email address will not be published. Not all fake cigars deliver a bad smoke indeed! I dont care if you bought them from Mother Teresa; youre probably sitting on imitations. If you see that the cigars in a box are not the same length and of the same ring gauge, youve likely got a box of frauds or some very badly made cigars. Question. Naturally, when he began selling cigars under his own name, he had them made in Cuba. With overpriced Cuban cigars, potential buyers will basically sell themselves on the fake cigars by thinking that well, its so expensive. If someone is trying to sell this box in your country for $ 100-200, or you fnid people selling it for $ 50 in Cuba (sellers on the street), the situation is quite clear: in both cases, an alarm must sound in your mind. You can do online research or talk to an expert to find out roughly what the different real Cuban cigars should cost. 4 only to be disappointed when you lit up, you weren't in a laughing mood. Squeeze the cigar to feel if it's firm all the way through. This is the last analysis that can be performed and it is also an invasive type of analysis. Here is an example to better understand the thing. The cigars might be Cuban, or at least made from Cuban tobacco, but theyre unlikely to be real H. Upmanns and the tobacco will likely be scraps that end up on the floor of a factory. Furthermore, the seals are missing. Learn how to tell whether theHoyo De Monterrey you're smoking is authentic or fake. So it is good to go deeper into checking the box and the cigars, to make sure you dont buy fakes. Currently, this cigar is sold for more than $ 30. The band is a good place to start, especially in the case of the iconic Cuban Romeo y Julieta cigar Cohiba, the word for tobacco in the language of the indigenous Taino people of Cuba, as we all know today, has become the most sought-after brand among Cuban cigars. Image 1: the color of the box is different from the standard color of Cohiba. This new stamp read: Habanos s. a. It is a common tourist trap on cruises and resorts around the world. Here are the keys: Real Cuban cigars are packed in boxes marked with the Habanos seal in the upper-right corner. The heart and soul of Cohibas packaging, though, is the famous Taino Indian head logo, a graphic depiction of Cubas native tribe. If, for example, you see a Montecristo No. Some fake Cohibas are presented this way, too. If the box looks flimsy or the cigars inside are different sizes or colors, you are probably dealing with a fake Cuban cigar. Its one of the most common questions we receive here at Cigar Aficionado: Is this Cuban cigar fake or real? With a rich counterfeit market hawking fake Cubans throughout the Caribbean and other tourist destinations, its easy for any cigar enthusiast to get duped into buying a bogus Cuban. 12. It had a sliding glass top. The first and most important is to visit an authentic Cuban cigar shop like the Casa del Habanos. Although many fake Cuban cigar bands maylookauthentic and in some rare cases are its not unusual to find bands with spelling errors, poor alignment, the wrong color and/or typeface, missing embossing, and in the case of fake Cohiba cigars, the wrong size or number of white squares on the band. This verification is one of the most accurate, and in many cases we will realize that the box is counterfeit precisely from this. In counterfeit Cohiba boxes, this error is almost always made. CIGAR CUT (CUT OPEN THE CIGAR AND LEAVES CHECK). G.K.), [] you getting ripped off are pretty damn high. 4. Beginning in 2010, that stamp has a hologram on the far right of the stamp and a bar code on . Many stogie hustlers will try to tell you that they have a relative working in the factory, sneaking cigars out the back door. Beginning in 2010, that stamp has a hologram on the far right of the stamp and a bar code on the left. The Cuba and Taino Indian head logos repeat along the gilded, holographic bottom and top edges. The box is cool all the markings, labels and seals (if a bit off-center and crooked), theres a non-authentic glass top and the cigar bands sport a blobby fleur de lis. The Habanos Seal should always be present on the upper left-hand side of your cigar box, approximately 3 to 6 mm from the edge. They are sure fakes. So, youve studied and you think youre ready to spot the fakes. If the cigar burns white ash, thats a bad sign. The line these hustlers use to close the sale is usually something like, My brother works at the El Rey Del Mundo factory. Similar to US currency, Cuban cigar boxes come with a lot of extra makers to help distinguish them from fakes. The first two things that are noticed when opening the cigar are: EXTERNAL SEALSCuban cigars boxes come with two seals: the DOP seals and the Cuban state seal. A genuine box of Cuban cigars should have all of the following five attributes: Not unlike counterfeit cigar bands, the bottom of the box may be missing some of this key information; it could have typos, and may even be printed with different fonts. Watch now and see. (See pictures at the bottom of the page). The ash on Cuban cigars is almost always gray or salt-and-pepper in color. The band is often the first place your eyes will go, so the more familiar you are with the genuine bands and their specific attributes, the sooner youll know how to spot fake Cuban cigars. Originally this green and white stamp came in three sizes: Large (~ 2 1/2 wide), Small (~1 1/4 wide), and Miniature (~ 13/16 wide). Felt also envelops the box, and a black cardboard box covers all that. Shorter leaves will always be present, since during construction the leaves are also broken and the shorter parts are used to ensure that the cigar has a homogeneous filling. A password reset link will be sent to you by email. Start typing to see products you are looking for. If given the opportunity, take a cigar out of its box and put it to the test of your senses. I think I just got duped by Cigars of Cuba seal on box looked real at first, they placed store barcode over barcode section of Cuban seal, when removed no barcode on seal. Smokes great. Send any questionable Cuban band(s), along with a brief description of how/where you obtained the cigar(s), to our office address below. Symmetry is very important in a box of Cuban cigars. The white squares should be in nine rows with no square being cut off. However, the ideal duration will depend on factors such as the cigar's quality, storage conditions, and the thickness of the . Your email address will not be published. 8. To the casual observer, they may look real, but if you take a few minutes to examine, youll start to see some blatant flows, especially with the more well-known and popular brands. Discover the world of exquisite smoking with Pakistan's largest collection of cigars, tobacco products and accessories from the greatest Cuban and non-Cuban cigar brands. The Habanos sticker and Cuban seal of guarantee are on the box. While recently inspecting a box of Cohibas Piramides Extra both the labels on the box and the bands themselves I observed two anomolies I have not heard much mention of. I purchased two boxes of Cuban cigars from a street guy in Costa Rica while staying at The Hotel Del Rey. #themoderndaydrifter #havanacubavlog #howtospotafakecigarFor demonstration purposes only, we purchase a FAKE box of Cohiba Siglo VI and compare it to a REAL . The ash on Cuban cigars is almost always gray or salt-and-pepper in color. Complicating things further, Cohiba gained a new family member in 2006, the Cohiba Behike. You'll only be walking into a large den of discount fakes. This seal is placed either directly on the box or on the packaging that covers the box. The Canadian market, which allows the sale of Cubans, is almost as bad as the U.S. market, sitting []. Created in 1966, Cohiba was not commercially released until 1982. As for the size of the leaves, we are referring to the dimensions that the tobacco leaves have. That requires a little work on your part. Smell If you see Cuban cigars sold in a partial glass or plastic box, they are probably fake. A graduate of the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, prior to his career in the cigar business, Gary worked in the music and video industry as a marketer and a publicist. The Behikes band has the holographic Indian head logos and the boxes with the words Behike and Cohiba repeat in the gold foil box to form a checkerboard grid. And Havanas have never been all that cheap, either. Then, in 1994, another stamp made its way to the cigar boxes. So what can you do? Look closer and you will see that there isa smaller head within the larger. Cohiba's bands have changed considerably. If id have seen this at the hotel i would of requested a refund. Holograms are hard and expensive to copy, so if its not there, dont buy the box. The foot should be a perfectly straight, clean cut. A great example of how Cuba has dealt with preventing the counterfeiting of bands can be found on the Cohiba Behike cigars. The bands have several minor marks that you can identify. It is unlikely that someone will decide to sell off cigars at their own expense. This check is performed simultaneously the touch analysis (next chapter). Does the box of cigars youre buying have a glass, Lucite or otherwise clear lid? To the left, you should see a green label that is the Cuban guarantee, along with a holographic image on the side of the label. Familiarize yourself on how Cuban cigars are packaged, and you greatly reduce the chances of being ripped-off. We are Cayman Islands' most trusted news source. Furthermore, since the end of 2010, the seal has undergone a slight change: the ends of the seal are no longer rounded, but have a sharp oblique cut. 3) Nine White Squares A true Cuban cigar should have grey or salt-and-pepper ash. Are counterfeiters able to fool the Habanos Authenticity feature on their website? It often look like it has been badly printed. Each box of legit sticks contains the hot-stamped words: Hecho en Cuba. It had a sliding glass top. The second is an analysis of the head and the foot of the cigar. If your Cuban doesnt have a band on it, odds are, its a fake. I paid twenty dollars for a box of five just couldnt get the price lower but couldnt resist the souvenir. Instead, check out our primer below for some simple, straightforward tips on what to look for to avoid imitation Cuban cigars. If the squares are not full, even on the edges, then youre likely looking at a fake. By cutting the cigar open and unrolling the leaves, it will be fairly simple to see if the leaves used are whole or not. Copyright 2023 Holt's Cigar Company. Defects can be a band that appears to be ruined or worn: used bands are always controlled. They are shrink wrapped for easier transport .If the bands are ok should I go for it? Nation-wide Free Delivery on all Orders above Rs. Find out if your Cuban Romeo y Julieta is real or fake. So, its also the biggest target for counterfeiters. So get to know the relative prices on the top Cuban brands, especially the ones that are most often counterfeited like Cohiba Edicin Limitadas, Cohiba Behikes, Montecristo No.2s, and Partagas Serie D No.4s, among others. You also want to make sure the box has the Cuban warranty seal of authenticity on the left side of the box. How to Spot a Fake vs. A Real Cuban Montecristo, How to Spot a Fake vs. Real Cuban Romeo y Julieta Cigar. . Know Your Cigar Boxes. . In Cuba, the biggest and most obvious sign of fakes is some guy on the street who has cigars and tells you his buddy, who works at the H. Upmann factory, snuck out the box. 2. The experience of buying a Cuban cigar in Cuba may be overwhelming for some. Reading Time: 2 minutes Fresh cigar questions have arrived! The 'made in Cuba' stamp is on the left. This Cuban tax seal/stamp has been applied to every box of Cuban cigars since 1912 to ensure the provenance of the cigars enclosed. For decades, there has been a market for counterfeitCuban cigars. Cohiba is a brand for two kinds of premium cigar, one produced in Cuba for Habanos S.A., the Cuban state-owned tobacco company, and the other produced in the Dominican Republic for US-based General Cigar Company. The Cuban government only allows three of them to be made and issued every year. In some cases, in fact, counterfeiters use diffent leaves. In this video I'll take you through a few essential tips about knowing the diffe. Cuban wrappers tend to be naturally oily with a smooth, buttery appearance and entirely even in color. Cohiba has been using a security hologram band featuring the head of an Indian since 2010, but in 2014 they added additional data that allows consumers to identify the original brand from any country in the world, while also providing information on the distributor and bill number, among other details. Look to see if the color of the wrapper leaf is a rich, uniform light brown. Furthermore, the serial code is no longer placed in the lower and central part of the seal, but it is now on the left, parallel to and opposite to the hologram. Online is still restricted, but restrictions or not, the desire to smoke Cuban cigars continues to tug at the heartstrings of American cigar smokers. . At Cigar Aficionado, we've seen lazy counterfeiters sell . Ironically, even in Havana there are almost as many counterfeit Cuban cigars as the legit smokes. Its easily the most coveted of the Cohiba cigars, if not all Cuban cigars. To help prevent this, in 2010 Habanos S.A. designed a new seal using watermarks, a super-strong adhesive, a hologram on the right side of the seal, and a bar code on the left. You just have to know what a real Cuban cigar looks and tastes like in order to tell. What none of us recall as humorous is the experience of buying counterfeit Cuban cigars. Nine rows of white squares in a checkerboard pattern run from the gilded holographic top edge to the solid gold line that spans the bottom third of the band. Follows an example of them. But enough about the hustle; lets get to the heart of how to spot fake Cuban cigars. Thats a little more work and expense than most counterfeiters want to do. It was introduced in 1994 and has been changed 3 times. A great example of how Cuba has dealt with preventing the counterfeiting of bands can be found on the Cohiba Behike cigars. Is it because theyre still considered forbidden fruit, or is it that many cigar smokers believe Cuban cigars are the best? The final difficulty with fake Cuban cigars is that some of the better counterfeits come in authentic boxes but are not actual Cuban cigars. 6. Buying Cuban cigars online is still restricted, but restrictions or not, the desire to smoke Cuban cigars continues to tug at the heartstrings of American cigar smokers. Reply. There are two ink-stamps on the bottom of Habanos boxes. The exquisite collection of Premium cigars with well-maintained high-quality standards at cigar.pk. In 1999, the Cubans added a serial code to the seal. The Cohibas bands are made by a company in the Netherlands and now all Cohiba cigars carry a larger, upgraded band like the one on the Behike. Generally, cigars can remain fresh in their cellophane wrapper for roughly 30 days. The Habanos seal, on the top right as the box lays flat, had a DOP designation added in 2012. So get to know the relative prices on the top Cuban brands, especially the ones that are most often counterfeited like Cohiba Edicin Limitadas, Cohiba Behikes, Montecristo No.2s, and Partagas Serie D No.4s, among others. This steps below can be followed to understand if you are dealing with a counterfeit product: 1. You dont even need to study and memorize tomes of information (though that helps) to be able to spot a fake Cuban cigar. On the Behikes distinctive band, the nine rows of white squares run in a checkered pattern from the gilded top edge to the top of the word Behike. Again, if the squares are not full, even on the edges, then youre likely looking at a fake. If youre going to abandon common sense and buy from an unreliable source, make sure you are intimately familiar (you know what I mean!) 825 8th Avenue, 33rd Floor Fake cigars are often sold for unrealistically low prices, and a savvy cigar aficionado should know to beware when a cigar is too great a bargain. Find out if your Cuban Bolivaris real or fake. Take Cohiba, for example. He says he got them from the factory but they arent boxed. The upgraded and much larger band features a Behike-style hologram and golden Taino Indian head, placed center stage in the field of black-and-white squares that sit above the word Cohiba. Sign up for JRCigars.com emails and get updates about weekly specials, events, & more! Apart from the issues we've discussed about packaging, one way to determine if this is an authentic Esplndido is to smoke it. Dupont Collection Pays Homage To Paris, 2022 Big Smoke Las Vegas Seminars: Blend Ambitions With Dewars And . Cohibas are the most counterfeited of all the Cuban brands, but if you know what you are looking for, they are the easiest to spot. Period. True, a lot of cigars made outside of Cuba many of these same attributes, but if your Cuban cigars are missing all or most of these attributes, theyre most likelynotof Cuban origin. Each of the three Behike sizes comes in an elaborate package: boxes of 10 cigars that are bathed in a thick, glossy lacquer. Genuine Cuban Cohiba Esplendidos, when you can find them, sell for about 23 CUC. 2s cost 8.50 CUCs (about $9.68 when factoring in the 13 percent you lose trading U.S. dollars into CUCs). Of course, just about anything printed on paper can be reproduced, and with todays technology, it takes a really well-trained eye to tell the difference. This is not a holograph. I just got two boxes straight from Cuba was there on vacation and I think they are fake. As Gordon Mott explains in his article 50 Years of Cohiba how the brands aesthetics have changed: Cohiba's labels and bands have evolved, but in one form or another that same Indian head has remained part of the design, even if it has become less prominent over time. If you're looking for real cuban cigars, you've got to have all the details. These days, the best counterfeiters make facsimiles of Cuban cigar bands and put them in facsimile Cuban cigar boxes and sell them to an unsuspecting tourist outside the hotel. There are enough proven stores there and you know what you get for still a fair price. Required fields are marked *. The fake logo looks like it has been made in a very rudimentary and not detailed way. J.A. You don't need to take a chance. This is especially true if you decide to buy from an unknown seller. (The Habanos website features a handy tool to search for Casa del Habanos around the world.). I have boxes from LCDH Knokke, who has sterling rep. All my box hologram labels match Habanos authenticity check. You also want to make sure the box has the Cuban warranty seal of authenticity on the left side of the box. The only time the seal won't bend up like this and go over the Cote d'Arms is on very large cigar boxes. Great article. parejos) are finished with mounted heads, also known as three-seam caps. Let us be the judge. Sometimes you can tell a fake Cuban vs. a real Cuban just by the box. Read the full story here. Therefore, its always better to smoke at least one cigar before you buy. Proper packaging doesn't guarantee a genuine Cuban cigar, but bad packaging is a quick and easy way to spot a counterfeit. Thats the easiest way to avoid fakes. If we are facing one of these boxes, we are facing a 100% counterfeit product. If youre offered a barber-pole cigar a cigar with two wrappers of different colors its not real because there is no real Cuban cigar made this way. Your first step in spotting a fake Cuban cigar is to examine the box that I came in. So is the 10 CUC Cohiba. I believe its a combination of the two. Presuming the mark is an experienced cigar smoker, hell be even more livid that he allowed himself to be suckered. Barber pole cigarscigars made with two wrappers of different color, intertwined in a fashion similar to a barber poleare intriguing to the eye, but theyre not part of Cubas cigar portfolio. The other is the month and year when they were boxed. Some Cuban cigars come in various packagesothers dont. If you want to take a chance, get one cigar and test it. Cigar test The band includes heightened security aspects that make it more difficult to counterfeit. Holographic Elements: Holograms of the word Cuba and the Taino Indian head repeat on the gilded top edge. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. What do you do? If you dont have that kind of experience, then you are far better off staying away from the back alleys and buying from a main-street seller who you know, and can prove, is legit. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is frustrated with Twitter. It is often called the "Red Dot Cohiba" because of the red dot on the band. Cigar Aficionado With the exception of figurados like Pyramids and Torpedoes, the caps are often more flat than round, and always tripled seamed. See our video answers to why cigars have bands, whether resting them outside the humidor is ideal before smoking, and whether infused cigars lose their flavors over time. However, note also that the months are Spanish abbreviations, not English. Copyright 2023 Holt's Cigar Company. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. When smoked, the ashes tend to be entirely grey and devoid of any black fragments. So, unless you are dealing with a legitimate vendor, odds are, the person if not selling you a legit Edicin Limitada. Many cigar boxes are real, with all the stamps and watermarks and holograms, but the cigars inside are bogus. And its really, really hard to find an authentic Cohiba Behike in any of its three vitolas (sizes). 11. Although the cigar community realizes that Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic make cigars equal to if not superior to Cubans, they still have an air of mystery about them. http://www.habanos.com/en/verificacion-de-autenticidad/, http://www.habanos.com/en/el-mundo-del-habano/signos-de-distincion/. Lastly, no Cuban cigar box comes with a glass top, so if you see one, just turn around. If a vendor offers you an Esplendido for 10 CUC, its not the real deal. To help prevent this, in 2010 Habanos S.A. designed a new seal using watermarks, a super-strong adhesive, a hologram on the right side of the seal, and a bar code on the left. An avid cigar smoker for over 30 years, he has worked on the marketing side of the premium cigar business as a Sr. Copywriter, blogger, and Executive Editor of Cigar Advisor. Visual analysis Submit A Fake. Starting in the 60s, another change was made to distinguish real Habano Cuban cigars from imitators. The Cuban boxes also have a date stamp on the bottom of the box. When it comes to Cuban cigarsespecially Cohibasthere are no discounts. It would be very helpful for everyone if you posted clear, front on pictures of the band and cap, as well as a comment advising where the cigar was obtained from. The word Cohiba later became gilded, the black letters becoming gold, and the La was dropped from Habana, Cuba. . - Cigar Advisor. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Also the cigar foot can be checked and it can give us very important information as well. 2) Holographic Elements Taking in several factors, a Montecristo No.2 costs around $10 in Cuba, where it is obviously the cheapest. Think you may have purchased or smoked a fake Cuban cigar? If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Among the more commonly seen efforts are boxes with glass tops. In 2009, a hologram was added on the right side and the placement of the serial code was moved. Find out if your Cuban Cohiba Behike BHK is real or fake. Knowing the average price for these cigars, especially limited editions, will aid you in avoiding getting hosed. The purchase will also further expand STGs portfolio of top-rated premium cigars worldwide. Your email address will not be published. Pricing can also be a tip-off to spotting fake Cuban cigars. This is a strong sign of counterfeiting. However, enjoy while it lasts, because anyone who thinks they are going to change the Communist Rule I am sorry for them. In these cases, the seal indicating the type of special edition is placed immediately under the HABANOS S.A. seal. For more on Cohiba and counterfeits, check out these links and videos: [Video] Counterfeit Cuban Cigars Part I: How To Tell A Fake From The Real Deal[Video] Counterfeit Cuban Cigars Part II: Cutting Open Counterfeits. The thing you need to do to spot a fake is to become familiar with Cuban cigar packaging. When Can I Buy Cuban Cigars in America? Bright, white ashes are good signs of cigars made with non-Cuban tobacco. Most real bands are embossed, meaning they are textured, not smooth. The white squares should be in nine rows with no square being cut off. Childrens Parks and Playgrounds in the Cayman Islands, Run down to Harquail Theatre for comedy revue, Cuban in Cayman: A prisoner in a free land, The great escape: Cubans fight waves as big as mountains to reach Cayman, Special report: Inside the Cuban migration crisis, Cuban migration costs nears $3 million for 2022, Broken-down Cuban vessel sparks rescue in waters off Cayman Brac, Travelled to Cuba recently? This is due to the minerals in the tobacco grown in Cuba. As can be seen from the picture above, it is made up of codes. If youre lucky. The inside hinges are branded with the word Cohiba. The box bottoms are covered in felt, unlike most other brands that are exposed wood. Save your money (and your palates) by following these eight key tips to avoid getting burned by a . Today Cuba still produces some of the worlds best cigars, but countries like the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras, where many Cuban tobacco-growers relocated after the Castro regime nationalized the tobacco industry in 1959, have leveled the playing field by making Cuban cigars just another option. I suspect that of the dozens of Esplndidos that Ive smoked, most of which were given to me, a good third of them have been fakes. Box type There are no cuban boxes with glass or plexiglass covers. Some fake Cohibas are presented this way, too. Twitter Blue is a premium subscription service that allows Twitter users to become verified and offers access to other select features. To help prevent this, in 2010 Habanos S.A. designed a new seal using watermarks, a super-strong adhesive, a hologram on the right side of the seal, and a bar code on the left. They have about six different brands claiming to be Cuban but they have no bands. 3. Aside from the specific Edicin Limitada cigar, you should be wary of any kind of special edition cigar that is not sold to be a legitimate vendor. Straight-sided Cuban cigars (i.e. 2 or Partags Serie D No. If you find someone offering them to you for under that, walk away. . Below you can find the real box and authentic cigars. So how do you spot the fakes . Cuba has always been very proud of its famous 'Habano' cigars. Box type. The third type, used from 2008/2009 to nowadays, it features both of the two writings previously seen, with the addition of the 3 letters D.O.P., w. hich means Denominacion de Origina Protegida. . The scent coming from a cigar box must be intense and rich. 2) even the color of the box can give us precious informations. A proper box of real Cubans will have a certain amount of symmetry. Other box and cigars are fake. Looking at the foot of the cigar, you can immediately notice how it has been filled. It should also usually bend up to the front right over the center of the Cote dArms. A lot of the so called 'fakes' are actually stolen and smuggled out of the factories. ?More on that later. This is a seal that is usually affixed by the company importing cigars in a country. In fact, many boxes have Cuos with too many codes, or they do not have the Cuo at all. Learn how to tell whether thePartags you're smoking is authentic or fake. This helps you checking their filling. Even in very old boxes we can find seals, but they are called Union Seal. I believe its a combination of the two. 4. The fleur-de-lis should be perfectly centered. All real Cuban cigars are packed in boxes with what is called the Habanos Seal. So is the 10 CUC Cohiba. Dont assume simply because a vendor has a nice shop or looks the part the Cubans he is selling you are authentic.
Is West Ealing A Nice Place To Live,
Ashley Morales Princeton,
Did Laroyce Hawkins Play On The Cosby Show,
8 Role Of Physical Activity In Managing Stress,
First Responder Discount American Airlines,
Articles H
