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How to identify authentic cuban cigars. - Page 4

post #46 of 59
8/30/07 at 11:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shikar View Post
If you bought a cuban cigar in Mexico from ANY store but a La Casa del Habano, they are 99.99% likely fake. Please take a look over at www.lacasadelhabano.cu A
There is your answer. http://www.cigarnexus.com/counsel/counterfeit/ is a good reference. Lots of places sell "cubans", but only La Casa Del Habano shops are safe bets. Even then they are more expensive than over the net.
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post #47 of 59
8/31/07 at 12:01am
Also, just to give you an idea of how easy it is to obtain fake labels for cigars...

http://www.justfakes.com/

Amazing that a site like that can still stay open! Very frustrating.

Regards, Azam.
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post #48 of 59
8/31/07 at 12:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by larryr View Post
There is your answer.

http://www.cigarnexus.com/counsel/counterfeit/ is a good reference.

Lots of places sell "cubans", but only La Casa Del Habano shops are safe bets. Even then they are more expensive than over the net.

Larry, I see you like Steve Saka old work....i edited my post while you were posting.

Regards, Azam.
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post #49 of 59
9/4/07 at 11:14am
Bruce, chances are high that you bought fake Cubans, unless you bought them directly from La Casa del Habano in Mexico City. Still, a couple of things to look for: (a) did the original box come sealed in plastic? (if yes, then they're likely fakes, as no Cuban boxes containing real hand made cigars come plastic-sealed); (b) look at the cap, it has to be well-constructed; (c) look at the label, the color and the overall visual appeal of the cigar; (d) when you smoke it, if it is not the best smoke you ever had, it is not a real Cuban. I know this is a bit superficial (there are other ways to distinguish a real from a fake by looking at the seal on the box, etc...) but I hope this helps, -M-.
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post #50 of 59
9/4/07 at 6:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce9241 View Post
Hello, I recently brought back some cigars from a trip to Mexico. Cuban cigars are legal to sell over there since they do not have an embargo with Cuba. I didn't bring back a lot, only a few cigars for my own enjoyment. Is there any way to identify if these cigars are authentic? I do enjoy these cigars and would like to purchase more. I just need to be able to trust the store I purchased these from before I can go back and purchase more on my next trip. One box I purchased is a Montecristo Edicion Limitada 5Robusto package. The little tag on the cigar says Montecristo Habana 2004. It comes in a yellow package that is sealed with this green sticker that says Republica de Cuba. On this sticker it also says No. 3 along with other writing. The other cigar comes in a silver aluminum tube and on it says Romeo Y Julieta Havana, Cuba. Churchill. On the side of the aluminum tube says "The rich aromatic flavor of this fine Havana cigar will be protected by the aluminum container until opened, Romeo y Julieta, S.A.". The others are just machine wrapped Cohibas. Not really worth mentioning. Any cigar experts want to chim in? thank you, Bruce
I'm no expert, but the box should be stamped with Habanos SA in addition to the Republica de Cuba stamp. To help you ensure your purchase is authentic, check the Cigar Aficionado's counterfeit bands gallery. I love Habana Romeo y Julietas, an excellent choice. Good smoking!
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post #51 of 59
9/4/07 at 7:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkNWorn View Post
Is it that apparent that Cuban cigars are superior to others? From what I gather, it only fetches a higher price because it's prohibited. Why would a top Dominican producer not be on par with a top Cuban producer?

I feel that a good Dominican is as good as any good Cuban. The premium one pays for Cuban's aren't worth it in my book. The Dominicans are Cuban seed anyway and I just don't feel its cost justified. Now don't get me wrong, I'll occasionally buy a Romeo & Julietta at the tobacconist in the Peninsula Hotel in HKG, but for a regular smoke, it Dominicans for me!

I sometime frequent Downing Street when I'm home. I'd be the old jet-lagged looking gentleman smoking a Churchill and drinking a Cognac......
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post #52 of 59
9/4/07 at 8:42pm
Thread Starter 
Alright after reading everything on this thread and browsing through some of the recommended links, I do think the cigars I purchased are counterfeit. The label on the box of Montecristo is green. The links provided suggested that the label on these boxes should be grey in color if they are to be real.

Oh well. I do enjoy these cigars though, whatever they may be.

Bruce
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post #53 of 59
9/5/07 at 4:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mishon View Post
(d) when you smoke it, if it is not the best smoke you ever had, it is not a real Cuban.
The Cuban mystique is a bit of hype, mixed with some reality, although I make a point to pick up Cuban cigars whenever I can. FWIW, I was talking with the proprietor of Draper's here in Washington, DC and he mentioned that much of the tobacco used in Cuban cigars these days is actually from the DR. Doesn't change the craftsmanship, but . . . .
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post #54 of 59
9/7/07 at 1:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by life_interrupts View Post
The Cuban mystique is a bit of hype, mixed with some reality, although I make a point to pick up Cuban cigars whenever I can. FWIW, I was talking with the proprietor of Draper's here in Washington, DC and he mentioned that much of the tobacco used in Cuban cigars these days is actually from the DR. Doesn't change the craftsmanship, but . . . .

A lot of people in the US cigar buisness seem to say that Cuban leaves are from DR/Nic. etc......I wonder why....
On the other hand a lot of people seem to think there is nothing special about Lobb or any high quality shoe...."Hell, its just another shoe!"
At the end, whatever makes us happy is good.

Regards.
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post #55 of 59
7/28/09 at 7:02pm
I didnt read through the whole thread because I wanted to write this before I forgot but...

I have a "cohiba" that my wife got from some guy that just got back from from island. So naturally I put it into my humidor. All my other cohibas are fine, but the mystery Cohiba's wrap is slowly tearing so I can see the inside of the cigar and the filler is terribly wrapped. As well, the label is a bit different than the ones that I have. I bought mine in Cuba in a legit store so I know mine are real. I cant say the same for the mystery cigar though.
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post #56 of 59
7/31/09 at 6:20pm
Get rid of the cigar now!!!! A counterfeit usually has tobacco that has not been properly fumigated. Hence, you will get an outbreak of tobacco beetles, especially this time of year. They'll ruin the good cigars next to the fake.

On the original topic, I've been to Mexico and if not bought from a LCDH, they are most surely fake.

I learned the hard way by buying many boxes of fakes and smoking them (and real ones) and learning the difference. Now I can usually tell a fake just by the capping, construction and color of the wrapper. The counterfeiters are usually off by measurements as well. A true cuban robusto is 4 7/8 in., never 5 inches which is what a fake is. A Double Corona and/or Lancero is always 7 5/8 in., not 7 1/2 like the counterfeiters make it.
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post #57 of 59
7/31/09 at 10:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by flylot74 View Post
I feel that a good Dominican is as good as any good Cuban. The premium one pays for Cuban's aren't worth it in my book. The Dominicans are Cuban seed anyway and I just don't feel its cost justified. Now don't get me wrong, I'll occasionally buy a Romeo & Julietta at the tobacconist in the Peninsula Hotel in HKG, but for a regular smoke, it Dominicans for me!

I sometime frequent Downing Street when I'm home. I'd be the old jet-lagged looking gentleman smoking a Churchill and drinking a Cognac......

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post #58 of 59
7/31/09 at 11:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dpatsil View Post
Get rid of the cigar now!!!! A counterfeit usually has tobacco that has not been properly fumigated. Hence, you will get an outbreak of tobacco beetles, especially this time of year. They'll ruin the good cigars next to the fake.


Thank you. Im going to go take it out now.
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post #59 of 59
8/1/09 at 7:19am
true, and interesting story:

a friend of mine recently gave me a box of cohiba lanceros to put in his locker at our regular lounge.. fun stuff about this box was that it was the old one, like the boxes they used around '00, and what made it more interesting was that it was stamped mar '07. The owner of the ounge, who is a good friend, noticed I was carrying this box and wanted to see it.

After looking at it he told me that he was certain it was a fake, mostly because the box didnt correlate with the box date, but remarked that judging by the smell and looks of them they were really good fakes..
I really didnt care at the moment, as they werent my cigars..

But I did relay the respons back to my friend. It turned out that it would be very strange if not impossible that the cigars are fake. He got them from a client of his, who is probably one of the very few people in the world that is allowed to trade aluminium with cuba.. as such he got the cigars in question from one of their diplomats, they could not be fake.. fiw, the bands were the proper ones.

moral of the story, allthough looks and smell are the easiest way to identify fakes, checking the source might make for an interesting story..
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