Counterfeit Cohiba Piramide

[highdudgeon]

Hi,

I'm just back from a few lovely days with my family at a fabulous 5 star resort in Tuscany:
http://www.adler-thermae.com

It was everything one could hope for and more. Wonderful excursions into the Tuscan countryside, daily massages, hours in steam rooms, mineral baths, and saunas, and fantastic food.

Also, a very nice cigar and cognac hour!

This being the kind of place that it is, they featured Hennesey Louis XIII (look it up) on the Cognac bar. No one took them up on it (look it up). But, there were beverages for mortals. In the humidor there were four cigars: Cohiba Esplendidos (from examining up close and smelling -- I have some at home -- I'm convinced they were real; Cohiba Piramides (aha!); Monte #4 (what a great little cigar) and some Italian smoke. Didn't bother to check it out.

Anyway, I was really curious because, as far as I know, Cohiba has come out with Piramides twice and, both times, they were dual banded. This cigar was single banded -- but it looked absolutely real -- and it smelled great. The tip was a bit uneven in the mix...but I smoked one anyway. Had to. Just in case. Conclusion:

1. It has got to be a fake, right? It didn't have the 1999 or 2006 LE band. Right, right? Am I missing something?

2. It cost what a Cohiba costs and it was sitting next to authentic Esplendidos. Hmm.

3. It was great! I mean, I really enjoyed the smoke. For thirty bucks? Heck, no. For ten? Any day. It was creamy, smooth, rich, had all the Cohiba traits tending toward the Maduros (wrapper darker than a Siglo), burned well, perfectly even, wouldn't go out no matter how long I sat it down and gazed at the stars, etc. Basically, it was a fine cigar. Probably not the real deal but a fine cigar nonetheless.

So, what's the deal? Could this have been legit? This is from the humidor of a well-known and respected 5 star resort -- not Holiday Inn. It was a great smoke. It looked in all ways real except for the band thing.

To my knowledge, I have never smoked a fake Cohiba. That's because I only had a Cohiba twice, with trusted friends of the family, before moving to Europe, and because I only buy from reputable dealers that I shake hands with and even spend time smoking with. So, all real, as far as I'm concerned.

Again, the cigar was not a disappointment and, at a certain price, I would easily buy a box. I mean, I enjoyed it, right, and that's what matters. On the price, sure, I got hosed, because it was a resort and, well, I think it was a fake.

 

[moki]

This being the kind of place that it is, they featured Hennesey Louis XIII (look it up)

Okay, I did... you spelled it wrong. "Hennessy"

 

[cigar smoke]

It is possible the piramid came from the selection box which contains 5 different brands including cohiba. How many cohiba piramids were there? If there were a bunch it is not likely they were from the selection boxes unless they had many selection boxes

Bob

 

[Wurm]

It is possible the pyramid came from the selection box which contains 5 different brands including cohiba. How many cohiba pyramids were there? If there were a bunch it is not likely they were from the selection boxes unless they had many selection boxes

Bob

There was also a very expensive cohiba only box sampler with 10 of the pyramids in it along with a lot of other sizes of cohiba (600 euros on sale, no longer sold)

 

[cigar smoke]

It is possible the pyramid came from the selection box which contains 5 different brands including cohiba. How many cohiba pyramids were there? If there were a bunch it is not likely they were from the selection boxes unless they had many selection boxes

Bob

There was also a very expensive cohiba only box sampler with 10 of the pyramids in it along with a lot of other sizes of cohiba (600 euros on sale, no longer sold)

That was the Reserva selection box. Those were double banded with the reserva label. There were 8 piramids in that box.

Bob

 

[grateful1]

It is possible the pyramid came from the selection box which contains 5 different brands including cohiba. How many cohiba pyramids were there? If there were a bunch it is not likely they were from the selection boxes unless they had many selection boxes

Bob

There was also a very expensive cohiba only box sampler with 10 of the pyramids in it along with a lot of other sizes of cohiba (600 euros on sale, no longer sold)

That was the Reserva selection box. Those were double banded with the reserva label. There were 8 piramids in that box.

Bob

Mmmm...they are smoking well!

:thumbs:

-----------------------------------

Maybe the store took off the second band? Who knows?

 

[Wurm]

It is possible the pyramid came from the selection box which contains 5 different brands including cohiba. How many cohiba pyramids were there? If there were a bunch it is not likely they were from the selection boxes unless they had many selection boxes

Bob

There was also a very expensive cohiba only box sampler with 10 of the pyramids in it along with a lot of other sizes of cohiba (600 euros on sale, no longer sold)

That was the Reserva selection box. Those were double banded with the reserva label. There were 8 piramids in that box.

Bob

No it wasn't. It was a large collection of a mixture of Esplendidos, CoRo, Torpedoes (Pyramids) and Exquisitos. No Siglos or Reserva in the box. It might have been a 5th Avenue only release, I'm not sure. But I am sure about which cigars were included.

 

[highdudgeon]

I honestly don't know about the box. The humidor was a "display case" type, with a slanted glass top and lock, and there were maybe ten or so torpedoes in there. I smoked one and, after a couple of drinks, bought two and brought them home.

It's weird because I can't imagine these people being dishonest. However, it would be easy for a non-cigar person seeking to stock a "top shelf" collection to be duped.

Hmm. I'll take a picture and let you guys decide.

Sorry about the spelling! I'm a single malt man, myself, and don't much care for cognac. And I can't imagine paying $1,700 for a bottle of anything!

 

[cigar smoke]

It is possible the pyramid came from the selection box which contains 5 different brands including cohiba. How many cohiba pyramids were there? If there were a bunch it is not likely they were from the selection boxes unless they had many selection boxes

Bob

There was also a very expensive cohiba only box sampler with 10 of the pyramids in it along with a lot of other sizes of cohiba (600 euros on sale, no longer sold)

That was the Reserva selection box. Those were double banded with the reserva label. There were 8 piramids in that box.

Bob

No it wasn't. It was a large collection of a mixture of Esplendidos, CoRo, Torpedoes (Pyramids) and Exquisitos. No Siglos or Reserva in the box. It might have been a 5th Avenue only release, I'm not sure. But I am sure about which cigars were included.

The reserva box that I am refering to had 4 esplendidos, 6 corona especiales, 6 corona Medias, 8 piramids, and 6 robustos

Bob

 

[highdudgeon]

Okay,

Again, I'm really not upset about this -- these were nice cigars. I'm just really curious. It should be noted that the humidor was less than optimal, to put it mildly, and that these things had been in there for a very long time. Note bene: this is a well-known resort for "well-being" and health treatments -- mud baths, massages, special diets, etc., etc. Not a lot of cigar smokers. Okay, here are the pics -- and bear in mind the comment about lax storage:

Whoops, can't do that -- it wants a link to an image. Oh, well. PM me and I'll send pictures, if interested.

 

[Mike33]

The EL Piramides were only made in 2001 (released in 2002) and 2006; both had dark EL wrappers. Other Cohiba Piramides were released with special bands for the Millennium jar, 35th Ann. Humidor, and Reserva. There was, as already mentioned, the Selection Piramides cases that contained one.

Also, there were some made in 2001 without the dark wrappers and not part of an official release. So, it is possible that these were commisioned directly from the island as it does happen. All that matters was that you smoked it and liked it :thumbs:

Hi,

I'm just back from a few lovely days with my family at a fabulous 5 star resort in Tuscany:
http://www.adler-thermae.com

It was everything one could hope for and more. Wonderful excursions into the Tuscan countryside, daily massages, hours in steam rooms, mineral baths, and saunas, and fantastic food.

Also, a very nice cigar and cognac hour!

This being the kind of place that it is, they featured Hennesey Louis XIII (look it up) on the Cognac bar. No one took them up on it (look it up). But, there were beverages for mortals. In the humidor there were four cigars: Cohiba Esplendidos (from examining up close and smelling -- I have some at home -- I'm convinced they were real; Cohiba Piramides (aha!); Monte #4 (what a great little cigar) and some Italian smoke. Didn't bother to check it out.

Anyway, I was really curious because, as far as I know, Cohiba has come out with Piramides twice and, both times, they were dual banded. This cigar was single banded -- but it looked absolutely real -- and it smelled great. The tip was a bit uneven in the mix...but I smoked one anyway. Had to. Just in case. Conclusion:

1. It has got to be a fake, right? It didn't have the 1999 or 2006 LE band. Right, right? Am I missing something?

2. It cost what a Cohiba costs and it was sitting next to authentic Esplendidos. Hmm.

3. It was great! I mean, I really enjoyed the smoke. For thirty bucks? Heck, no. For ten? Any day. It was creamy, smooth, rich, had all the Cohiba traits tending toward the Maduros (wrapper darker than a Siglo), burned well, perfectly even, wouldn't go out no matter how long I sat it down and gazed at the stars, etc. Basically, it was a fine cigar. Probably not the real deal but a fine cigar nonetheless.

So, what's the deal? Could this have been legit? This is from the humidor of a well-known and respected 5 star resort -- not Holiday Inn. It was a great smoke. It looked in all ways real except for the band thing.

To my knowledge, I have never smoked a fake Cohiba. That's because I only had a Cohiba twice, with trusted friends of the family, before moving to Europe, and because I only buy from reputable dealers that I shake hands with and even spend time smoking with. So, all real, as far as I'm concerned.

Again, the cigar was not a disappointment and, at a certain price, I would easily buy a box. I mean, I enjoyed it, right, and that's what matters. On the price, sure, I got hosed, because it was a resort and, well, I think it was a fake.

 

[highdudgeon]

Okay, pictures! And, no, nothing for sale...I am a cigar pack rat. So far, three coolidors and five 100+ desktops. I know, meager, by some standards, but ya gotta start somewhere!

 

[highdudgeon]

The EL Piramides were only made in 2001 (released in 2002) and 2006; both had dark EL wrappers. Other Cohiba Piramides were released with special bands for the Millennium jar, 35th Ann. Humidor, and Reserva. There was, as already mentioned, the Selection Piramides cases that contained one.

Also, there were some made in 2001 without the dark wrappers and not part of an official release. So, it is possible that these were commisioned directly from the island as it does happen. All that matters was that you smoked it and liked it :thumbs:

Right on! Just took those pictures -- and, man, they smell wonderful. Someone should make a Cohiba cologne (not that it would be a big hit with the ladies)

 

[grateful1]

I'd say fake.

 

[Wurm]

I'd say fake.

After seeing the pics, I'll have to agree. too funky looking to be legit. But who cares, as long as you like them highdudgeon.



cigar smoke, not the same box. No second bands and 10 CoRos. I checked, it was a 5th Avenue only release, brought out at the same time as the siglo sampler like I posted about here. I was looking for a picture but none of the stores carry them anymore, they are probably all sold out.

 

[Mike33]

Yea, by looking at the pics, that cigar looks pretty bad. But hey, if it smokes good, then oh well.....

 

[cigar smoke]

Thanks for the info Wurm.

I also say they look fake but like you said as long as it was enjoyed thats all that really matters. It's not as if a box of these were bought.

Bob

 

[mrtapes]

Look like fakes to me.
Can you please post a close up of the band so we can see that a little better.
Not that that will help make a better determination of authenticity.
Just by looking at the rough roll and cap you can pretty much see these are not legit Cohibas.

 

[highdudgeon]

The band is a pretty good replica -- I held it up against a real Cohiba and couldn't really tell them apart.

The dead give-away for me was that, in the humidor, they were all just slightly different at the cap. The esplendidos were fine, capped like the real thing, etc. Just to make sure, I fired it up half an hour ago (I'm currently stinking up my office) -- exactly like the few I have at home.

 

[moki]

Looks fake to me -- the construction/wrapper is pretty fugly, but that can happen, even with Cohibas. The reason I say it is fake is the curvature of the head of the cigar -- it is not the logarithmic curve that is used for Cuban torpedos.