Hello everyone, new to posting, but have been reading for quite some time now. I have enjoyed many a Cuban cigar before, I always make sure to find the local Hanabanos SA authorized shop in town whenever on vacation out of the country. I always smoke there and do not bring back, I guess walking through customs always worried me a little too much.
I would like to share a story with everyone, and see what everyone thinks about this. Im sitting on a box of Cohiba Siglo V's that Im about 95% sure are fakers. There are a lot of things that look right, but too many that don't look right. The fact that I have some misgivings, and Im even posting asking about it shows how much faith I have, but I need to get it out there.
My dad was in Brazil for business and like usual, brought a box of Cubans back with him. However, this time they were for me. In the past he has gone to one shop in Sao Paulo Brazil that is a licensed Habanos SA storefront. Unfortunately, he was not in Sao Paulo this time, and called that shop to ask where he should go based on his location. The owner told him to give this place a try. So he gets the cigars there, brings them back, he gets back July 3rd, same day I get into town to visit my parents for the 4th. I get the cigars out, and Im presented with a nice varnished SLB that really looks pretty slick.
http://yfrog.com/12dsc01527wj
Seals in place, nice etched Cobiha on top, side. On the bottom of the box, has the heat stamped Habanos SA. Box and date code: JAS Jun 09
http://yfrog.com/badsc01536gj
I open the box, and I see a nice cedar plank covering, with the finger cut out like it should be.
http://yfrog.com/badsc01538j
I remove the cedar plank and there is a wax paper wrapped bundle of cigars held together with a yellow ribbon with "Linea 1492" "Cohiba" on it. Also a nice parchment paper with instructions on it, just like in every box of Cuabns I have ever seen.
http://yfrog.com/7hdsc01539zj
All of this adds up to first glance. It seems weird that Jun 09 date code would have already been in circulation, but okay, I can believe that. Where I first started having some misgivings was from the warranty seal is the old version. I know there are boxes out there that will have the old version seal on them, but shouldn't a date code Jun 09 have the new seal?
Moving onto the cigars themselves, they look okay.
http://yfrog.com/ehdsc01573j
Notice I say "okay" and not "great" or "gorgeous" just "okay". I have never had a Cohiba before, like I said lots of Cubans, Romeo y Julieta, Partagas, Monte's, but for some reason I just expected more from Cohibas. But okay, maybe Im just expecting too much. Looking at the overall construction, it looks alright. The feet are all nicely cut without any fraying ends.
Another area that arouses suspicion is the caps. The caps look okay, but just not "great" like I have seen before. Im sorry but I dont have a great picture, my camera really struggles with close ups of detailed things.
http://yfrog.com/e1dsc01585pj
http://yfrog.com/77dsc01564ij
The wrap looks okay. Bunching not too shabby, definately not the worst Ive seen on a suspected fake. (really wish I had better pictures).
But I guess there we have it. A box of cigars that I dont feel too confident in saying are real, mainly because of the date code and warranty seal being the way they are. I brought this up to my dad, and he doesnt seem too surprised by it. He has been burned a few times on his journeys, but understands thats the price of doing business, unfortunately. As for me, Im going to throw these in the Humidor and see what happens. Its worth a shot, right?
Any how, Im looking forward to having more legit dealings in the future and really enjoying Cuban cigars.
Any comments questions are welcome
John
If you are interested in seeing any more photos, http://yfrog.com/7hdsc01539zjx
PS Sorry some of the photos are on their side. I thought I formatted them before uploading.
I would like to share a story with everyone, and see what everyone thinks about this. Im sitting on a box of Cohiba Siglo V's that Im about 95% sure are fakers. There are a lot of things that look right, but too many that don't look right. The fact that I have some misgivings, and Im even posting asking about it shows how much faith I have, but I need to get it out there.
My dad was in Brazil for business and like usual, brought a box of Cubans back with him. However, this time they were for me. In the past he has gone to one shop in Sao Paulo Brazil that is a licensed Habanos SA storefront. Unfortunately, he was not in Sao Paulo this time, and called that shop to ask where he should go based on his location. The owner told him to give this place a try. So he gets the cigars there, brings them back, he gets back July 3rd, same day I get into town to visit my parents for the 4th. I get the cigars out, and Im presented with a nice varnished SLB that really looks pretty slick.
http://yfrog.com/12dsc01527wj
Seals in place, nice etched Cobiha on top, side. On the bottom of the box, has the heat stamped Habanos SA. Box and date code: JAS Jun 09
http://yfrog.com/badsc01536gj
I open the box, and I see a nice cedar plank covering, with the finger cut out like it should be.
http://yfrog.com/badsc01538j
I remove the cedar plank and there is a wax paper wrapped bundle of cigars held together with a yellow ribbon with "Linea 1492" "Cohiba" on it. Also a nice parchment paper with instructions on it, just like in every box of Cuabns I have ever seen.
http://yfrog.com/7hdsc01539zj
All of this adds up to first glance. It seems weird that Jun 09 date code would have already been in circulation, but okay, I can believe that. Where I first started having some misgivings was from the warranty seal is the old version. I know there are boxes out there that will have the old version seal on them, but shouldn't a date code Jun 09 have the new seal?
Moving onto the cigars themselves, they look okay.
http://yfrog.com/ehdsc01573j
Notice I say "okay" and not "great" or "gorgeous" just "okay". I have never had a Cohiba before, like I said lots of Cubans, Romeo y Julieta, Partagas, Monte's, but for some reason I just expected more from Cohibas. But okay, maybe Im just expecting too much. Looking at the overall construction, it looks alright. The feet are all nicely cut without any fraying ends.
Another area that arouses suspicion is the caps. The caps look okay, but just not "great" like I have seen before. Im sorry but I dont have a great picture, my camera really struggles with close ups of detailed things.
http://yfrog.com/e1dsc01585pj
http://yfrog.com/77dsc01564ij
The wrap looks okay. Bunching not too shabby, definately not the worst Ive seen on a suspected fake. (really wish I had better pictures).
But I guess there we have it. A box of cigars that I dont feel too confident in saying are real, mainly because of the date code and warranty seal being the way they are. I brought this up to my dad, and he doesnt seem too surprised by it. He has been burned a few times on his journeys, but understands thats the price of doing business, unfortunately. As for me, Im going to throw these in the Humidor and see what happens. Its worth a shot, right?
Any how, Im looking forward to having more legit dealings in the future and really enjoying Cuban cigars.
Any comments questions are welcome
John
If you are interested in seeing any more photos, http://yfrog.com/7hdsc01539zjx
PS Sorry some of the photos are on their side. I thought I formatted them before uploading.
