If the box is bought outside Cuba, we can also find the importer seal. Please verify your age to enter. A burning Cuban cigar typically produces a gray ash. The hologram is an important thing to check for because they are hard and expensive to copy. Cuos Start typing to see products you are looking for. This check is performed simultaneously the touch analysis (next chapter). Since youre more likely to purchase fake Cuban cigars in places such as the Caribbean, the hustle goes something like this: Some bad actor buys a bundle of cheapo cigars made in the Dominican Republic or elsewhere, sticks phony Cuban cigar bands on them, places them in a most likely counterfeited Cuban box, and sells them to a sucker for as much as he can bleed him. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. These, obviously fake, Cubans are hardly the main problem, as some fake Cubans come with counterfeit bands and even in counterfeit boxes. So what can you do? For the American cigar smoker, Cuban cigars are the holy grail. People are going to spoil everything about it, then when they get tired and leave it like everywhere else; or they get tired of them, doors will once again close. The lack of Cuo or if it features wrong codes, are in fact a very valid method to understand if the box is counterfeit. This is the familiar seal you see on all boxes of handmade cigars from Central America. . The Cuban boxes also have a date stamp on the bottom of the box. The Cohiba Behike is distinguished by the use of medio tiempo tobacco leaves in its blend. Are counterfeiters able to fool the Habanos Authenticity feature on their website? Cuba has always been very proud of its famous 'Habano' cigars. So, start saving up. Cuban cigars should come in an all-wood box. Collection of more than 35 Cuban & Non-Cuban Brands. Send any questionable Cuban band(s), along with a brief description of how/where you obtained the cigar(s), to our office address below. Many stogie hustlers will try to tell you that they have a relative working in the factory, sneaking cigars out the back door. If your Cuban doesnt have a band on it, odds are, its a fake. 2) even the color of the box can give us precious informations. On the bottom, you want to make sure you find a stamp of approval. parejos) are finished with mounted heads, also known as three-seam caps. And since at least then, the Cohiba has been counterfeited. So, its also the biggest target for counterfeiters. If the hustlers are going through the trouble of counterfeiting the seals, you can bet the bands have also been faked. The Esplndido, in particular, became hugely popular and immediately became a prime target for counterfeiters. Internal seals The veins should be very fine or barely visible. Real Cuban cigars are packed in boxes marked with the Habanos seal in the upper-right corner. 1997-2015 JRCigars.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved - 2589 Eric Lane, Burlington NC 27215. If the cigar has holes or in any case insufficient filling, this can be another alarm. Smell When smoked, the ashes tend to be entirely grey and devoid of any black fragments. You may not be allowed in to the US, MRCU planes down as mosquito population rises, SteppingStones launches Professional Contract Solutions, Miss Universe Cayman Islands Chloe A. Powery-Doxey officially crowned, Childrens Parks and Playgrounds in Cayman, Subscribe to the Cayman Real Estate Newsletter. In 1999, the Cubans added a serial code to the seal. . For instance one customer has a Cohiba - my first note was that . Starting in the 60s, another change was made to distinguish real Habano Cuban cigars from imitators. Visual analysis consists of 2 parts. . Many of the Cuban brands have very distinct labels. The Habanos sticker and Cuban seal of guarantee are on the box. Copyright 2023 Holt's Cigar Company. As can be seen from the picture above, it is made up of codes. In fact, many boxes have Cuos with too many codes, or they do not have the Cuo at all. Pricing can also be a tip-off to spotting fake Cuban cigars. It is a good starting point to quickly understand how the counterfeit cigar boxes look like. 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. It had a sliding glass top. It only features the HABANOS written. Fakes are often made with substandard quality control. Finally, it bears repeating, dont buy a box on the beach or on the sidewalk. Let us be the judge. This is not a holograph. 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 a seal that is usually affixed by the company importing cigars in a country. It was introduced in 1994 and has been changed 3 times. M2, Mezzanine Floor, Plot # 41-C, Street 27, Tauheed Commercial In the past we came across counterfeit Montecristo No.2 and, although the aromatic bouquet was very different from that of the genuine No.2, cigars were not bad at all! Cuban wrappers tend to be naturally oily with a smooth, buttery appearance and entirely even in color. As of 2010 all of these stamps include a hologram. Unless youve actually smoked a good number ofgenuineCuban cigars its easy to be fooled, especially if the counterfeiter got everything rightbutthe cigars. Some fake Cohibas are presented this way, too. So it is good to go deeper into checking the box and the cigars, to make sure you dont buy fakes. If a vendor offers you an Esplendido for 10 CUC, it's not the real deal. Think of it as a kind of secret code. Results for {phrase} ({results_count} of {results_count_total}), Displaying {results_count} results of {results_count_total}. They are shrink wrapped for easier transport .If the bands are ok should I go for it? By the type of leaves present we mean if the filler (or tripa) of the cigar is made from tobacco leaves. So, unless you are dealing with a legitimate vendor, odds are, the person if not selling you a legit Edicin Limitada. I paid twenty dollars for a box of five just couldnt get the price lower but couldnt resist the souvenir. No box of Cuban cigars leaves the country without it. The Fleur-de-lis. Due to the high volume of mail we receive, a response isn't guaranteed. It is therefore difficult to find yourself in front of a box that doesnt feature it. Reading Time: 2 minutes Fresh cigar questions have arrived! Well, it might have been good, but it was a fake. Un-banded cigars are often sold on street corners in Cuba to unsuspecting tourists. EXTERNAL SEALSCuban cigars boxes come with two seals: the DOP seals and the Cuban state seal. If someone tries to sell you a $300 box of Cubans for $50 or even $100, odds are theyre not the genuine article. Finally, as with every real Cuban cigar, if youre offered a cigar that is inside a cellophane sleeve, its not an authentic Cuban cigar. Then, in 1994, another stamp made its way to the cigar boxes. New York, NY 10019, Save your money (and your palates) by following these eight key tips to avoid getting burned by a . In both of the aforementioned cases, the mark doesnt realize hes been ripped-off until he lights-up one of his prized purchases, or tries to share one with a cigar smoker who knows the difference. 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. 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. When it comes to Cuban cigarsespecially Cohibasthere are no discounts. More attention should be made on the CIGAR in this aticle How it feels, how the cap looks, the colors, etc. Sometimes unknown sellers can sell perfectly real, great Cuban cigars. Also, inside the box, the Cubans should all be the same length and color. Otherwise this analysis will be useful only to get a feedback on the quality of the tobacco used, long story short, if the cigar is good or not. Buy your real Cuban cigars at a real Cuban cigar store. So how do you spot the fakes . What none of us recall as humorous is the experience of buying counterfeit Cuban cigars. We are available via email, phone, or chat. If you have already smoked the same type of cigar, you will be able to understand if the aromas and strength developed during the smoke are typical of the brand and in particular of that type of cigar. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. * Offers valid while supplies last. Proper packaging doesnt guarantee a genuine Cuban cigar, but bad packaging is a quick and easy way to spot a fake. A real Cuban cigar tends to burn with a gray ash, or one that takes on a salt-and-pepper look. If the squares are not full, even on the edges, then youre likely looking at a fake. The Cohiba brand was offered to the general market in 1982 in the form of a Panatela, 4.5 x 26. The brand is known for its canary yellow coloring and famous white-and-black checkboard band. and BOTTOM LINE, besides taste, is HOW long the flavor LASTS. 4) Repeating Logos To avoid falling victim to a fake Cuban cigar, there are a number of steps to take. 3. Your email address will not be published. The thing you need to do to spot a fake is to become familiar with Cuban cigar packaging. One is a secret code that tells the industry which factory made the cigars. That requires a little work on your part. Phase 5 DHA, Karachi | 12 PM to 8 PM. Lets see how to distinguish genuine Cuban cigars from counterfeit ones. In 1989, the Cohiba Esplndido, 7 x 47, and Cohiba Robusto, 4.875 x 50, were added to the classic line. Generally, cigars can remain fresh in their cellophane wrapper for roughly 30 days. There are certain attributes about Cuban cigars that differentiate them from non-Cubans. Cuos. Send any questionable Cuban band(s), along with a brief description of how/where you obtained the cigar(s), to our office address below. In counterfeit boxes, this usually has an incorrect print of this logo. The Behike became its own line in the Cohiba stable in 2010 and is considered the most successful Cuban cigar launch ever. Finally, the stamp on the bottom of the cigar box should also include two ink marks. Produced by Vrijdag Premium Printing in the Netherlands, the Cohiba band shown here combines a beautiful, modern design with the latest in security measures that make it significantly more difficult to counterfeit. Each had the name Cohiba, the vitola, or size of the cigar, and often the number of cigars packed in each box. Since 2009, there has been a further change to ensure greater security. For example, the popular Cuban brands like Cohiba, Partagas, Punch, Hoyo de Monterrey, Romeo y Julieta, Montecristo, et al., all feature the "Habanos S.A." seal on the top right-hand corner of the box. 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. If the cigar burns white ash, thats a bad sign. If we are facing some Cohiba, the head must have the triple cap finish. 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. If the ash is white, you're likely smoking a fake. Any Cohiba you are being offered for $10 is fake. At Cigar Aficionado, weve seen lazy counterfeiters sell boxes with labels in the box, not attached to the packaging. In both of the aforementioned cases, the mark doesnt realize hes been ripped-off until he lights-up one of his prized purchases, or tries to share one with a cigar smoker who knows the difference. Its important to note that the squares are full and do not get cut off either on the top or bottom row. The dots soon became squares, and the words La Habana, Cuba appeared under the logo. Even if you buy them in Cuba (where you pay about 35-40% less than retail price), nobody will ever be able to offer them at a bargain price. Ive bought 25 Romeo Y Julieta Romeo No.1 from the hotel cigar bar on the last might of my holiday, The Sales person was keen to show me hologram/ barcode, Having since got home and checked what they are worth, Upon closer inspection (with good light) the Habanos dop seal is split and the tape at the back of the hinge is torn. The foot should be a perfectly straight, clean cut. Just dont buy it. That said, a box of 25 Esplendidos has a retails price of around $ 750 (in Cuba $ 500). The first seal of this type was introduced in 1902. If the packaging looks suspicious, the contents probably are, too. Check out Cigar Aficionado's newsletters, bringing you our latest ratings & reviews, cigar news and our guide to the good life. These cigars retail, on average, between $30-$50, higher than that for the really limited ones. Now, Ive heard from some that the cuo is not necessarily on all boxes, but Id play it safe and stay away if its not present along with the Habanos, S.A., Hecho en Cuba, and Totalmente a mano on the bottom. If this is not the situation in front of you, you are facing cigars stored in a really bad way or fakes. 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). The exquisite collection of Premium cigars with well-maintained high-quality standards at cigar.pk. In this video I'll take you through a few essential tips about knowing the diffe. Rounded or sloppy heads are a quick way to spot a cigar rolled elsewhere. There are certain attributes about Cuban cigars that differentiate them from non-Cubans. This is a common-sense tip that says your cigar box should look and feel sturdy and official. Not all fake cigars deliver a bad smoke indeed! People can easily get duped as, on the outside, many of these Cubans look quite convincing. This might be a little tough for a beginner, but for anyone who has smoked a real Cuba, the bands are a dead giveaway. Numerous complex impressions and an intricate trim were accompanied by holographic images that carried codes. Look for the Cuban seal of authenticity with a hologram and bar code to help you avoid fake Cuban cigars. The veins should be very fine or barely visible. Many cigar boxes are real, with all the stamps and watermarks and holograms, but the cigars inside are bogus. Find out if your Cuban Cohiba Behike BHK is real or fake. I just got two boxes straight from Cuba was there on vacation and I think they are fake. The name cohba derives from the Tano word for "tobacco". The streets are filled with hustlers looking for a mark to whom they can sell a box of Cubans for way below retail. Before you even need to look at a box or band, you should enquire about the price of the cigar. Its easily the most coveted of the Cohiba cigars, if not all Cuban cigars. Think you may have purchased or smoked a fake Cuban cigar? You should know what a real Cuban cigar looks like. The same goes for that vendor on a Caribbean beach. The Cohibas have the stickers in the opposite corners than described but the R & Js have tehm in the correct corners. No box of Cuban cigars leaves the country without it. Dont assume simply because a vendor has a nice shop or looks the part the Cubans he is selling you are authentic. Its reputation and high prices have led it to be illegally copied over and over again, but the cigar remains an object of envy and desire, one that every cigar lover dreams about smoking. Presuming the mark is an experienced cigar smoker, hell be even more livid that he allowed himself to be suckered. Behikes cost even more, around 30 to 40 CUC eachwhen they are in stock. If you find someone offering them to you for under that, walk away. Your fugazi alarm should be ringing loudly. The cigars will be the same size (or very, very close), the colors will be similar cigar to cigar and the bands will be aligned from one cigar to the next. Ironically, even in Havana there are almost as many counterfeit Cuban cigars as the legit smokes. The heart and soul of Cohibas packaging, though, is the famous Taino Indian head logo, a graphic depiction of Cubas native tribe. (The Habanos website features a handy tool to search for Casa del Habanos around the world.). The second type was used from 2005 until 2008/2009, and in addition to the HABANOS written it also has the words DENOMINACION DE ORIGINE PROTEGIDA. When Can I Buy Cuban Cigars in America? The bands have several minor marks that you can identify. Unless youve actually smoked a good number ofgenuineCuban cigars its easy to be fooled, especially if the counterfeiter got everything right but the cigars. yadda-yadda-yadda. In some very rare cases, the cigars are the genuine article, having been snuck out of the factory, but the sucker who thinks hes getting Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, or Cohiba cigars is more likely getting cigars rolled with cheap tobacco that didnt even come from said factory; they may even be machine-made cigars. 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. How can it be a fake?. First, the feel and look of the cigar. One of the questions Im often asked by other cigar smokers is,How do I know if I bought a box of fake Cuban cigars?Its a good question because, even though on October 14, 2016, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that they hadremoved the limitson bringing Cuban cigars and rum into the United States from Cuba and other countries, there are still plenty of counterfeit Cuban cigars to be had or to put it another way to beduped.
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