What happens when you smoke a fake, a charlatan, a bogus stick, a counterfeit at the same time as you smoke the genuine article? Here's the story of what happened when I did just that.
This is a record of my recent smoking session with a genuine Bolivar Petit Corona (as the Bolivar Tubos No.2) and a Bolivar Coronas of questionable authenticity. The Bolivar Coronas in this review was provided by ckeller52 and prior discussion about these cigars can be found in this thread. The Tubos No.2 came from a source of unimpeachable reputation. I won't be reporting just the experience of smoking these cigars, rather, I will also be reporting on the physical and forensic analysis I carried out to determine the nature of the Coronas.
The following photographs will detail some of the physical and cosmetic differences. But first let me comment on the sensory characteristics from smoking. I smoked these two sticks in parallel. That means I lit them both up at the same time and smoked them together, puffing on one for a little while and then switching to the other. This is but one way to do a head-to-head comparison. Another would be to smoke one right after the other.
The Coronas lit up fine but from the very first puffs, was harsh and thin. I have never smoked a Cuban cigar that burned my throat, but this one did. In addition to the nasty bite, there was a strange metallic taste and a distinct off-flavor that was like something burnt but I could not say what. It just wasn't pleasant. The draw was easy as was expected from seeing the loose bunching at the foot. When I pushed smoke up through my nose, I found it a bit acrid and again, harsh. There was a distinct lack of earthiness or leatheriness. Tobacco was there of course, but with a serious lack of complexity, depth or body. In fact, it tasted quite raw, or underfermented. Throughout its length, the flavor profile did not change at all, remaining tobacco-like but not getting any more intense or deeper. Toward the last inch, it did get stronger and a little fuller. At this point, it was almost a decent cheap smoke. Overall, this was a poor cigar with a flavor profile that was distinctly un-Cuban.
The Petit Corona lit up fine as well and from the first puffs, was rich and earthy. There was a distinct creaminess to the smoke and there was no harshness. Instead, there were dashes of black and white pepper spicing things up. The draw was noticeably tighter than that of the Coronas but still quite acceptable. The cigar delivered nice deep tobacco flavor and gradually got richer and stronger as time passed. I noticed some nuttiness but also plenty of earthy and leathery notes that made it delicious and satisfying. The cigar stayed full and a little creamy to the end. It started to get a bit harsh near the nub but I was also having to puff a little harder to keep it lit. Overall, this PC was reminiscent of Boli PC, CJ and to a lesser degree the CE that I have smoked in recent times. Overall, a comforting and satisfying cigar.
Now, onto the pictures.
1. Here are the two cigars side by side. The Corona is on the right, the Petit Corona (authentic) on the left. This one was taken in sunlight. You can see that the wrapper on the Corona does not seem smooth and silky like the one on the PC. The PC's wrapper was resilient and fine unlike the Corona's which felt hard and coarse.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...kes/Bolis01.jpg)
2. Here are the two cigars side by side again. This time, the Corona is on the left. The light is shining down on the cigars at a grazing angle to accentuate surface texture. As you can see, the PC looks leathery but the Corona looks ashen and the word that comes to mind is "sickly." Just a note, the Corona did not have the rich, tobacco pre-light aroma of the PC.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins.../Wrappers01.jpg)
3. I normally like to lick the cap a bit before cutting to make the leaf a little softer for cutting. And I like to taste the wrapper leaf. Call me weird. But after you take a look at the cap on the Coronas (on the right), you'll understand why there was no way I was going to put my tongue on this tumorous-looking thing.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...apCompare02.jpg)
4. Here is a shot of the heads after clipping. I used a double-bladed guillotine but I was careful to only remove the cap and not cut the bunch underneath. As you can see, the PC on the left has a bunch that is flush cut, a fact that in a large part accounts for the "flat head" seen on many authentic Habanos. Heads that seem more or less flat are the result of variations in the closing up of the wrapper at the head under the cap. The bunch under the cap of the Corona is ragged and uneven with the filler leaves protruding to different degrees. BTW, I remove as much of the cap as I can, the reason is to make use of all the air channels in the bunch and to avoid tar build-up.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...BoliHeads01.jpg)
5. As the smoking began, I immediately noticed a dramatic difference in the ash. The Corona had a snow white ash that was tight and had large "pimples" on the surface. It was completely uniform without striations or patches of grey. In my experience, this is quite uncommon in Cuban cigars. I have, however, seen it exemplified in cigars using Honduran binder/wrapper. In contrast, the PC had a fluffy medium gray ash with plentiful patches of darker gray. This was an appearance that I have seen with many different Cuban brands. There were fine white "pimples" on this ash, much resembling that seen on OpusX ash.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...kes/Ashes01.jpg)
6. Here is the first of two forensic shots. This first one is of the large filler leaf I found upon unwrapping the Corona. What's noteworthy here is the presence of a massive stem. I suspect this had something to do with the reoccurring razor-thin run I had on one side. In fact, if you look at the picture of the cut head, you can actually see it sticking out prominently at the 12-o'clock position. This stick was almost the girth of a chopstick and, IMO, highly unlikely that it would have made it into genuine Cuban production.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...illerStem01.jpg)
7. This second forensic shot shows the difference in binder leaves. The PC had a binder that was very similar to that found in other Cuban cigars (heck, even good cigars of NC type) I've taken apart. Thick, resilient and leathery. The Corona, however, had a binder that was fragile and thin.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...es/Binder01.jpg)
8. The final photo in this exposé involves the "Cuban Triple-Cap," a characteristic of the style of finishing up the head which, when it is missing, is often touted as suggestive of fakery. This sequence of snapshots taken from the Front, Right, Back and Left show the famous triple cap in all its glory. The triple-cap technique of finishing is described here and does not, in fact, use three pieces of wrapper. Also, the triple-cap is only visible from certain directions. In other words, if your cigar does not show a triple-cap from at least two of the four directions, then perhaps you have reason to worry. This does not hold true for figurados such as the Piramides. The Corona, on the left, never shows a triple-cap and instead of the tight wrapping you see on the PC on the right, a large flap of the wrapper is simply flung around the head twice.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...apCompare01.jpg)
In total, I employed three modes of analysis. First, visual inspection of external features of the cigar, band and packaging. Second, forensic analysis of the internal materials and construction of the cigar. Third and most conclusively, the taste test. This particular fugazy actually failed at the very first level. But other, better counterfeits (such as a recent bunch that found its way into Zeebra's possession) did not conclusively flunk until the third level.
It is my hope that this exercise will be of use to all who love the Cuban leaf, especially those new to the art. Truly, a trusted supplier is a valuable asset, but your own knowledge and understanding of the aspects of Habanos is also a worthy a protection against fraud and fakery. If you are truly earnest about this hobby, you'll take the time and apply the effort to understand these seemingly simple and disposable little bundles of leaves. And if you do, then worlds of sublime pleasure await you.
Wilkey
This post has been edited by Ginseng: May 25 2006, 05:53 PM
This is a record of my recent smoking session with a genuine Bolivar Petit Corona (as the Bolivar Tubos No.2) and a Bolivar Coronas of questionable authenticity. The Bolivar Coronas in this review was provided by ckeller52 and prior discussion about these cigars can be found in this thread. The Tubos No.2 came from a source of unimpeachable reputation. I won't be reporting just the experience of smoking these cigars, rather, I will also be reporting on the physical and forensic analysis I carried out to determine the nature of the Coronas.
The following photographs will detail some of the physical and cosmetic differences. But first let me comment on the sensory characteristics from smoking. I smoked these two sticks in parallel. That means I lit them both up at the same time and smoked them together, puffing on one for a little while and then switching to the other. This is but one way to do a head-to-head comparison. Another would be to smoke one right after the other.
The Coronas lit up fine but from the very first puffs, was harsh and thin. I have never smoked a Cuban cigar that burned my throat, but this one did. In addition to the nasty bite, there was a strange metallic taste and a distinct off-flavor that was like something burnt but I could not say what. It just wasn't pleasant. The draw was easy as was expected from seeing the loose bunching at the foot. When I pushed smoke up through my nose, I found it a bit acrid and again, harsh. There was a distinct lack of earthiness or leatheriness. Tobacco was there of course, but with a serious lack of complexity, depth or body. In fact, it tasted quite raw, or underfermented. Throughout its length, the flavor profile did not change at all, remaining tobacco-like but not getting any more intense or deeper. Toward the last inch, it did get stronger and a little fuller. At this point, it was almost a decent cheap smoke. Overall, this was a poor cigar with a flavor profile that was distinctly un-Cuban.
The Petit Corona lit up fine as well and from the first puffs, was rich and earthy. There was a distinct creaminess to the smoke and there was no harshness. Instead, there were dashes of black and white pepper spicing things up. The draw was noticeably tighter than that of the Coronas but still quite acceptable. The cigar delivered nice deep tobacco flavor and gradually got richer and stronger as time passed. I noticed some nuttiness but also plenty of earthy and leathery notes that made it delicious and satisfying. The cigar stayed full and a little creamy to the end. It started to get a bit harsh near the nub but I was also having to puff a little harder to keep it lit. Overall, this PC was reminiscent of Boli PC, CJ and to a lesser degree the CE that I have smoked in recent times. Overall, a comforting and satisfying cigar.
Now, onto the pictures.
1. Here are the two cigars side by side. The Corona is on the right, the Petit Corona (authentic) on the left. This one was taken in sunlight. You can see that the wrapper on the Corona does not seem smooth and silky like the one on the PC. The PC's wrapper was resilient and fine unlike the Corona's which felt hard and coarse.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...kes/Bolis01.jpg)
2. Here are the two cigars side by side again. This time, the Corona is on the left. The light is shining down on the cigars at a grazing angle to accentuate surface texture. As you can see, the PC looks leathery but the Corona looks ashen and the word that comes to mind is "sickly." Just a note, the Corona did not have the rich, tobacco pre-light aroma of the PC.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins.../Wrappers01.jpg)
3. I normally like to lick the cap a bit before cutting to make the leaf a little softer for cutting. And I like to taste the wrapper leaf. Call me weird. But after you take a look at the cap on the Coronas (on the right), you'll understand why there was no way I was going to put my tongue on this tumorous-looking thing.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...apCompare02.jpg)
4. Here is a shot of the heads after clipping. I used a double-bladed guillotine but I was careful to only remove the cap and not cut the bunch underneath. As you can see, the PC on the left has a bunch that is flush cut, a fact that in a large part accounts for the "flat head" seen on many authentic Habanos. Heads that seem more or less flat are the result of variations in the closing up of the wrapper at the head under the cap. The bunch under the cap of the Corona is ragged and uneven with the filler leaves protruding to different degrees. BTW, I remove as much of the cap as I can, the reason is to make use of all the air channels in the bunch and to avoid tar build-up.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...BoliHeads01.jpg)
5. As the smoking began, I immediately noticed a dramatic difference in the ash. The Corona had a snow white ash that was tight and had large "pimples" on the surface. It was completely uniform without striations or patches of grey. In my experience, this is quite uncommon in Cuban cigars. I have, however, seen it exemplified in cigars using Honduran binder/wrapper. In contrast, the PC had a fluffy medium gray ash with plentiful patches of darker gray. This was an appearance that I have seen with many different Cuban brands. There were fine white "pimples" on this ash, much resembling that seen on OpusX ash.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...kes/Ashes01.jpg)
6. Here is the first of two forensic shots. This first one is of the large filler leaf I found upon unwrapping the Corona. What's noteworthy here is the presence of a massive stem. I suspect this had something to do with the reoccurring razor-thin run I had on one side. In fact, if you look at the picture of the cut head, you can actually see it sticking out prominently at the 12-o'clock position. This stick was almost the girth of a chopstick and, IMO, highly unlikely that it would have made it into genuine Cuban production.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...illerStem01.jpg)
7. This second forensic shot shows the difference in binder leaves. The PC had a binder that was very similar to that found in other Cuban cigars (heck, even good cigars of NC type) I've taken apart. Thick, resilient and leathery. The Corona, however, had a binder that was fragile and thin.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...es/Binder01.jpg)
8. The final photo in this exposé involves the "Cuban Triple-Cap," a characteristic of the style of finishing up the head which, when it is missing, is often touted as suggestive of fakery. This sequence of snapshots taken from the Front, Right, Back and Left show the famous triple cap in all its glory. The triple-cap technique of finishing is described here and does not, in fact, use three pieces of wrapper. Also, the triple-cap is only visible from certain directions. In other words, if your cigar does not show a triple-cap from at least two of the four directions, then perhaps you have reason to worry. This does not hold true for figurados such as the Piramides. The Corona, on the left, never shows a triple-cap and instead of the tight wrapping you see on the PC on the right, a large flap of the wrapper is simply flung around the head twice.
(IMG:http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h73/Gins...apCompare01.jpg)
In total, I employed three modes of analysis. First, visual inspection of external features of the cigar, band and packaging. Second, forensic analysis of the internal materials and construction of the cigar. Third and most conclusively, the taste test. This particular fugazy actually failed at the very first level. But other, better counterfeits (such as a recent bunch that found its way into Zeebra's possession) did not conclusively flunk until the third level.
It is my hope that this exercise will be of use to all who love the Cuban leaf, especially those new to the art. Truly, a trusted supplier is a valuable asset, but your own knowledge and understanding of the aspects of Habanos is also a worthy a protection against fraud and fakery. If you are truly earnest about this hobby, you'll take the time and apply the effort to understand these seemingly simple and disposable little bundles of leaves. And if you do, then worlds of sublime pleasure await you.
Wilkey
This post has been edited by Ginseng: May 25 2006, 05:53 PM
Very informative!
