The Ultimate Counterfit Cuban Cigar Primer
Posted by: Chief in Articles, Fakes, tags: cigar, cigar club, cigar rating, cigar tasting, cigar video, Cigar Watch, cuban cigars, dominican republic, herf, herfing, honduras, how to smoke a cigar, smoke rings, stogie, tobacco
by Steve Saka - Updated March 22, 2002 
  uban cigars are regarded as one of life’s most indulgent luxuries. Each year their production falls far short of the worldwide demand for these premium vitolas. They are highly sought after by both the aficionado and the novice, and as a result, they routinely cost in excess of $20 US dollars for a single double corona. Add to that equation that the importation of Havanas is illegal in the wealthiest country in the world, the United States, and you have a scenario ripe for counterfeiters. The potential profit from selling fake Cuban cigars is immense, particularly in the US, and don’t think for a second that the less honorable in our society don’t take advantage of this fact.
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lthough the money is not quite as excessive as in the drug trade, there are many advantages to being a cigar counterfeiter. The penalties for being caught by the law are much lower, and in many cases, almost non-existent. Secondly, the clientele is significantly better, with most consumers of premium Cuban cigars being professionals. The possibility of an angry gun wielding doctor coming to exact his revenge is highly unlikely and when was the last time you heard of a "drive-by" over a counterfeit cigar dispute? Also, in today’s world of graphic computers and color laser printers it is pretty easy to convert an inexpensive bundled Honduran into a Cohiba Esplendido. Probably the biggest factor working in the counterfeiter favor is consumer ignorance. Most folks do not know enough about Cuban cigars to be able to tell the difference between a real one and a fake one. This lack of education has helped many unscrupulous lowlifes prey on our lack of knowledge as the means to lining their pockets with our hard-earned money.
ver the years there have been many articles written on how to ID Cuban cigars, but personally, I have always felt they lacked the needed detail to help the average consumer. I have tried my best to compile the insights I have developed over the last decade into a primer than will immediately help the uneducated to quickly identify suspicious cigars from the real deal. Although I consider this to be the ultimate article ever written on the subject, however it is not a foolproof system. Only years of close attention to detail and experience will afford you the ability to easily and definitively determine fake Havanas from real.
he number one rule of identifying counterfeit Cuban cigars is the age-old saying "caveat emptor" - buyer beware. Always keep this in mind whenever you are purchasing Havanas, even when you are purchasing them overseas in what appears to be a reputable tobacconist’s establishment. Many fake Cuban cigars are sold from storefronts in countries where they are completely legal and sometimes without the knowledge of the store owner. Remember counterfeiters are driven by profit potential and no matter where you are in the world the profit on Cuban cigars is always a tempting target for criminals.
| Inspecting the Exterior of the Box: |
| 1) | Check for the Warranty Seal. This Cuban tax seal/stamp has been applied to every box of Cuban cigars since 1912 to ensure the provenance of the cigars enclosed.
Typically the seal is applied to the front left edge of dress boxes wrapping top to bottom with the first fold over the top edge of the box falling within "oval coat of arms crest." On cabinets, the seal is placed over the sliding lids’ edge on the upper right corner. The Miniature seals are self-stick and only applied to small 3/5 paks of cigars typically over the top flap of the cardboard box. Closely examine all seals for good registration of print. For in depth information about the new seal and super close-up pictures of the details, check out out Cigar Counsel article called "New Cuban Warranty Seal: The Inside & Invisible Scoop." All new boxes should have the newly updated seal. |
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| 3) | On the bottom of the box look for the Hallmarks. Currently there are three branded hallmarks/logos and are in this order:
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| 4) |  Also on the bottom look for the factory and date stamp. These stamps use to be an excellent tool in helping to verify the authenticity of boxes of cigars, but in 1999 Habanos SA decided to change the entire NIVELACUSO coding to a new "top secret" format.
We here at CigarNexus.com cracked the new NETAGIDOCU code inside of a few months which threw Habanos S.A. into a frenzy to modify the codes yet again. In May of 1999, Habanos countered by shipping cigars with an even newer factory/date coding. However many of the factories did not implement these newer codes or started coding boxes with a hybrid code that was comprised of the old codes, the new codes we cracked, and the even newer codes. Needless to say, many of the Cuban box codes from 1999 still remain a mystery to most. Thankfully, Habanos S.A. seems to have adopted yet another, but easier to read format for all the date codes beginning in the Year 2000. For all the Codes and far more detail on this subject we suggest you read our all encompassing Cigar Counsel article, "Year 2000 Habanos Box Codes." |
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| 5) | Depending on where the box was distributed will determine some other common box labels and stamps that should be present. These seals and stamps are constantly changing and it is best to speak with a knowledgeable importer of Habanas in each individual country for the current information.
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| 6) | Also of some help are the various "health warning stickers" that some countries apply to their cigar boxes. Once again, these laws and their stickers vary, however knowing this info can prove to be helpful. |
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| 7) | Familiarize yourself with the different types of packaging in which Cuban cigars are enclosed. Various brands and sizes are packaged in certain styles of boxes including: Dress boxes, polished boxes, varnished and unvarnished cabinets, semi boite natural boxes, sliding lid boxes (SLBs - commonly referred to as cabinets), transit paks, and small pak Petacas. Sadly, it is impossible for me to generate a complete list of which cigars come in what packaging or even suggest a quality reference on this topic. Currently, my best advice is that you spend as much time as possible in a reputable tobacconist’s humidor examining the packaging he has on his shelves. |
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The box should show little or no signs of wear and tear. Overly faded, knicked, and scratched boxes should be regarded as suspect since many counterfeiters utilize legit recycled boxes to help sell their inferior product. |
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| 9) | Here are some various boxes for you to examine more closely:
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| Inspecting the Interior of the Box: |
| 1) | Inside the box will be a ~4 1/4" x 2 3/4" rectangular piece of parchment-like paper bearing the Habanos logo in brown. It will read "These Havanas have been made with the finest tobacco in the world. For fullest enjoyment, these cigars should be stored in a humidor, away from products with strong odour and under correct conditions of temperature (16º C-18 ºC) and humidity (65% - 70%)." in four languages: Spanish, English, French, and German.
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| 2) | There should be no cellophane on handmade cigars except in the 3/5 pak Petacas style packaging. Machine made cigars are typically packed in cellophane sleeves. |
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| 4) | Dress boxes, except those containing tubos, will have a paper flap attached to the front edge of the box that flips up and toward the front to expose the cigars. It will typically feature a secondary brand vista. Rafael Gonzalez boxes have a unique four sided plain paper interior protection flap in lieu of the normal front flap. Boxes with tubed cigars have no such flap. |
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| 5) | A glassine strip of paper will be placed over the rings to protect them in dress boxes. |
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| 6) | All of the bands should be in a near perfect line on the best facing (side) of each cigar. The color and registration of each ring should be consistent with all those in the box. Slight die cutting imperfections do occur, however if in doubt, assume the cigars to be suspect and scrutinize all other aspects closely.
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| 7) | Cabinets with sliding lids will have the cigars tied in a small wheel or round with a yellow ribbon. The ribbon will be imprinted with brand and vitola names. It is important to ensure that the ribbon is made of a silky material and that it is tightly tied around the cigars. Look to ensure it has not been untied and retied.
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Nothing more than the slightest hint of ammonia should be present in their bouquet. If you notice a definite ammonia smell upon opening the box, odds are they are fakes. |
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| Inspecting the Cigars Themselves: |
| 1) | The cigars will be of uniformed color and if there is any variation at all the cigars will be organized within the box with the darkest onesbeing placed on the left to the lightest one situated at the far right. |
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| 2) | The cigars will be of the exact length as specified for the vitola. There is rarely greater than 1/16th of an inch of deviation from the published lengths of Cuban cigars. This is probably the easiest counterfeit check to perform and it is seldom done.
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| 3) | The ring gauges of the cigar should be as specified also. However, you will commonly witness slight deviations plus or minus a ring size. This is particularly true of cigars that are box pressed - remember the ring gauge is determined prior to the cigars being box pressed. |
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| 4) | Cuban cigars destined for export are typically very well made with solid bunching and close attention to detail. The tobacco should never be "booked." |
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| 5) | Cuban Corojo wrappers are typically very finely veined, if at all. |
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| 6) | All ringed Cuban cigars should have tight clean bands with good color and embossing, if applicable, and should have the word "Habana" on it. They should show no signs of wear, creases, or glue stains as these are common indicators of rings that have been rebanded onto other cigars. With that said however, it is important that you not be overly critical of the rings as misregistrations and imperfect embossings are not all that uncommon. In fact many of the mistakes are so common, they in themselves are proof the bands are legit.
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| 7) | The foot of each cigar should be cut cleanly and evenly with no chipping. |
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| Additional Helpful Tips: |
| 1) | Learn which cigars each Cuban factory manufactures and all of the correct names and sizes within their given lines. An excellent resource for this information is the Perelman’s Pocket Cyclopedia of Havana Cigars (ISBN 0-9649258-6-9). This is a must have resource for any Cuban cigar consumer. |
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| 2) | Learn the true market value of Cuban cigars - you will find that many counterfeiters sell them at far too low a cost to ever be legit. The maximum discount below list prices ever extended on Cuban cigars is 25% and this is very rare. Typically such discounts are afforded to the very best customers at the close of season. There is no such thing as a "bargain" when it comes to Cuban cigars. |
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| 3) | Do not buy Havanas from anyone that solicits you. There is a shortage of fine Habanas in the world market, they simply sell themselves and do not need to be pushed. |
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| 4) | Avoid purchasing Cuban cigars from unknown parties particularly on the Internet. Always avoid buying Cuban cigars on Auction sites as there are many unscrupulous counterfeiters using this means to peddle their wares. Only deal with well-known and respected Havana cigar merchants as there are plenty to choose from worldwide. Ask for references from other cigar smokers before buying. |
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| 5) | Never buy any cigars that are billed as a "special edition," "anniversary issue," or some other specialty. Many counterfeiters will use this as a lead-on to explain away why the box is different or the cigar is a unique size. True special issue Habanas are exceedingly rare and are solely distributed between reputable dealers and serious collectors only, and for very big dollar amounts, literally thousands and sometimes tens of thousands per unit. |
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| 6) | Be wary of any store that will not sell you an entire box or allow you to have a box you just emptied with your purchase. Many less than reputable dealers will restock a legit box with fake cigars over and over again. This is a common practice amongst small market type stores and street side shops particularly in tourist towns. |
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| 7) | Be aware that some cigars are regularly counterfeited because they are more recognizable by the potential marks. For example, Cohibas Esplendidos, Romeo y Julieta Churchills, Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas, and Montecristo No. 2s are commonly counterfeited because of their legendary status and their ability to fetch big money. Whereas lesser know cigars such as the Saint Luis Rey Serie A, Rafael Gonzalez Lonsdale, and the Quai D’Orsay Churchill are rarely counterfeited because many cigar smokers would never recognize them as Havanas making them difficult for counterfeiters to unload. |
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It is commonly estimated that greater than 95% of the cigars in the US reputed to be Cuban are actually fakes. In my experience this is probably close to accurate, as I see fake after fake. Also, keep in mind that there are far more on average counterfeit Cuban cigars circulating in Florida, New York, and California. |
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| 9) | Always avoid purchasing cigars from anyone with a story that goes like, "I have a Cuban friend who goes from Miami to Havana weekly and buy cigars right in Cuba. He has a connection in the Cuban government, and he gets them real cheap then sells them up here for only $275 a box." These type of lame stories are typical of the cover these counterfeiters use. Trust me every counterfeiter is either Cuban, is married to a Cuban, has a cousin who is Cuban, etc. |
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| 10) | Just because the cigars are from Cuba does not make them authentic premium Habanas. In fact, a good portion of the fakes on the market actually come from tourists who buy "Cuban" cigars from the throngs of street vendors. Most of these cigars are absolute crap. The only safe place to buy legit Havanas in Cuba is in a government state store. |
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| 11) |  Take a close look at this picture. These cigars are FAKE. Period. I don’t care what anyone has told you, where they came from, how legit the seals and bands look, how well made the cigars are, or how great they taste. There is no such thing as authentic Cohiba Esplendidos in a "glass top" box. This is one of the biggest scams going and the tourists from Florida, through the Caribbean, and right to downtown Havana buy these boxes of "Fauxhibas" like crazy. This is by far the most notorious counterfeit Cuban cigar scam going - please don’t become another mark by purchasing a box of these cigars. |
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| 12) | I have supplied you with a wide array of things to be critical of in your assessment of Havanas, however I want you to know that the Cubans are not often noted for the precision. It is not uncommon to find some small discrepancy such as a blurred factory stamp, a mis-embossed band, or poorly applied dress box labels. Therefore, it is important for you to look at every box in its totality when trying to determine whether it is authentic or not. If you are in doubt, it is best to simply not purchase the cigars. |
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| 13) | Know that it is NOT necessary to ever buy cigars on the black market. Almost all reputable and authorized Habanos dealers sell cigars with worldwide shipping, even if you live in the US. Remember, it is not illegal for them to sell them to you, rather it is illegal for you to buy them with American funds and to have them imported into the US. If you are willing to assume the legal and financial risks many will gladly take your order. |
inally, the most critical and trustworthy factor in being able to rightfully determine counterfeits cigars from true Havanas is personal experience. After you have seen, held, and opened hundreds of boxes of fine Cuban cigars all the above will become second nature. With the experience of having smoked thousands of these vitolas, you will be able to readily identify the look, feel, texture, taste, and aroma of legitimate Havanas. Cuban cigars have a certain bouquet and flavor that is uniquely their own. Some people simplify it by espousing that "if it looks good and tastes good - it is real." This conventional wisdom is a blatant falsehood as there are plenty of Havana vitolas that lack aesthetically and taste less than ideal, yet are authentic Cuban cigars. With experience your nose and palate will not only begin to learn to identify fake from real Cuban cigars, but also good vs. bad, young vs. old, and even the specific vitolas themselves from their aroma and flavor alone. Granted this will take many cigars and many years, but I assure you the effort of acquiring this noteworthy skill is an absolute pleasure.
Cigar Watch provides cigar ratings, information on how to smoke a cigar and enjoy the experience and tips on how to identify fake cigars. We are a cigar club whose members contribute reviews of their favorite stogies and rant or rave about their experiences with smokes.
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