Spotting a fake/counterfeit cigar

[Rod]

I'm going to write up a guide on how to spot a fake/counterfeit cigar. As you can see, we have some good images here:
http://www.cigarpass.com/forums/gallery/category/4-fake-cubans/
 
Your help is greatly appreciated in assisting to create this guide. I'm sure this will be beneficial to many.
 
Please post any info you can.  Examples would be:

• Cohiba does not make a glass top box.
• Sizes/shapes are sloppy.
• Cap sloppy/inconsistent. 
• Cigars are plugged.
• Open a cigar up and it's full of twigs.
• Vendor is selling it for far less than everyone else.
• Understand how Habanos SA packages their cigars. Habanos seal is top right, warranty seal bottom left. 

 
I will take all of the info and compile it into an easy to read article. If you have additional pictures, that's great too.

 

[MilesMingusMonk]

All Cuban cigars offered on Craigslist...

 

[grateful1]

• Cohiba does not make a glass top box.

 
LIES!
 

 
 
The barber pole 40th are gooda too!

 

[MilesMingusMonk]

Some basic links would be helpful, for example to Habanas S.A. official site, cubancigarwebsite , etc

 

[tone-ny]

 

• Cohiba does not make a glass top box.

 
LIES!
 

 
 
The barber pole 40th are gooda too!
 

Very true! Plus don't forget the Nilla Hiba that is very rare.

 

[grateful1]

Some basic links would be helpful, for example to Habanas S.A. official site, cubancigarwebsite , etc

 
 
Don't encourage him!
 
 
Rod - try these....LINKY and LINKY2
 
 
If you get 'page not displayed', try again!

 

[duglynukem]

Some basic links would be helpful, for example to Habanas S.A. official site, cubancigarwebsite , etc

 
 
Don't encourage him!
 
 
Rod - try these....LINKY and LINKY2
 
 
If you get 'page not displayed', try again!

I don't think I'll ever learn to just walk away from Gary's links. Sheesh!

 

[insight]

Rod- let me know if you need pics/writeups.  I have done a lot of work on this over the years (Moki too) for list related stuff, I probably still have samples of some 50+ different sourced fakes.
 
Here are some fun ones
 

 

[louich]

All those are fake Phil ? (the RE got me scratching my head for a while. Lol)

 

[Bsneed51]

Rod- let me know if you need pics/writeups.  I have done a lot of work on this over the years (Moki too) for list related stuff, I probably still have samples of some 50+ different sourced fakes.
 
Here are some fun ones
 

Hey, that looks like the cigar list from your last pass.   Hmmm....

 

[insight]

All those are fake Phil ? (the RE got me scratching my head for a while. Lol)

 
Yep, all are fake (1 is marginal - the PL 2nd from left).  Different sources too, and that is just a drop in the bucket.  I did see a cigar tonight I pegged as dubious from the gate,  however, that it turns out might just be super obscure and beyond my experience, so it can get weird out there.

 

[Rod]

Hey Phil,

That would be great. Feel free to send me whatever you like to rod@cigarpass.com.

Thanks!

 

[grateful1]

 

All those are fake Phil ? (the RE got me scratching my head for a while. Lol)

 
Yep, all are fake (1 is marginal - the PL 2nd from left).  Different sources too, and that is just a drop in the bucket.  I did see a cigar tonight I pegged as dubious from the gate,  however, that it turns out might just be super obscure and beyond my experience, so it can get weird out there.
 

 
For a guy that's super obscure and extremely experienced, you need to step up your game!

 

[Tall Paul]

 

 


All those are fake Phil ? (the RE got me scratching my head for a while. Lol)

 
Yep, all are fake (1 is marginal - the PL 2nd from left).  Different sources too, and that is just a drop in the bucket.  I did see a cigar tonight I pegged as dubious from the gate,  however, that it turns out might just be super obscure and beyond my experience, so it can get weird out there.
 

 
For a guy that's super obscure and extremely experienced, you need to step up your game!
 


 
After my close inspection I could clearly tell its 100% real... your welcome!  :laugh:

 

[louich]

And yet I had to click the link ... Lol


Good to know Phil. I am looking foward to this write up and your inputs. I tought the shady counter fit people would target the 'best sellers' like the Mknete , Cojibas and RyJ and leave the RE alone.

One more +1 for trusting your sources.

 

[Mrepp]

Well you guys pretty much covered everything, for me a good quick way although very subjective is the classic "barnyard smell" I haven't encountered any counterfeits that had that or even smelled remotely right. They usually smell like giant marlboro red.