- Thread starter bob saunders
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How do you tell a real cigar from a fake?
Unless your a cigar connoisseur it is difficult.
Here is something I found ...Just insert DR for Cuba
So how does one detect fakes cigars? One of the first giveaways is the cost. If someone is offering to sell you a box of top quality Cubans or even some of the non-Cubans like the Fuente Opus X, Ashton VSG, Padron Anniversario, or Davidoffs for a very low price, they are probably fake. Like the old saying, if something is too good to be true, it generally is. Take a box of Cohibas, for example, probably the most-counterfeited cigar there is. In Havana, they sell for $200 to $400 per box. In Europe, they sell anywhere from $250 to $600 a box. The price is even higher in the U.S. because Cuban cigars are not legally available.
The next giveaways are the construction of the cigars and the appearance of the packaging. Often the cigars will not be uniform in the color of their wrappers: Some will be light, and some will be dark. The wrapper leaf can also be very veiny and rough in appearance. Many of the fake cigars I have seen are also very tightly rolled and are very firm when you slightly squeeze them.
The packaging offers more clues - particularly, the flaws that can be found when looking at the band and the boxes. I have seen many cigars cellophane-wrapped that are not supposed to be, and Cohibas, which come in plain varnished boxes, being sold with glass tops or in tubes. One of the most difficult counterfeits to make has to be the Fuente Opus X with the very detailed artwork on the band of the cigar. I think cigarAficionado's web page under the special features section has an excellent counterfeit gallery. There are nearly a hundred examples of the 18 most counterfeited brands.
Here is something I found ...Just insert DR for Cuba
So how does one detect fakes cigars? One of the first giveaways is the cost. If someone is offering to sell you a box of top quality Cubans or even some of the non-Cubans like the Fuente Opus X, Ashton VSG, Padron Anniversario, or Davidoffs for a very low price, they are probably fake. Like the old saying, if something is too good to be true, it generally is. Take a box of Cohibas, for example, probably the most-counterfeited cigar there is. In Havana, they sell for $200 to $400 per box. In Europe, they sell anywhere from $250 to $600 a box. The price is even higher in the U.S. because Cuban cigars are not legally available.
The next giveaways are the construction of the cigars and the appearance of the packaging. Often the cigars will not be uniform in the color of their wrappers: Some will be light, and some will be dark. The wrapper leaf can also be very veiny and rough in appearance. Many of the fake cigars I have seen are also very tightly rolled and are very firm when you slightly squeeze them.
The packaging offers more clues - particularly, the flaws that can be found when looking at the band and the boxes. I have seen many cigars cellophane-wrapped that are not supposed to be, and Cohibas, which come in plain varnished boxes, being sold with glass tops or in tubes. One of the most difficult counterfeits to make has to be the Fuente Opus X with the very detailed artwork on the band of the cigar. I think cigarAficionado's web page under the special features section has an excellent counterfeit gallery. There are nearly a hundred examples of the 18 most counterfeited brands.
These are a few of the ways to recognise fake cigars:
1. Draw - you should be able to blow through the top cigars even with the cap still on. You gently blow and hold your hand at the other end to detect a slight breeze
2. Color - top cigars are not only top to smoke, they look top too. No thick veins, uneven coloring or marks are allowed
3. Packaging - the packaging is usually no up to the lastest tests. Look at the cigaraffecionado counterfeit gallery. No real cigars are ever boxed with a glass top
4. Weight - all cigars in the box should have the same weight.
5. Price - no originals are ever sold at a deep discount, when fully completed.
6. Have an original handy. This might be the single best way. If you have a true original then just compare the two.
A few words on so-called fakes.
It is very much possible to buy perfectly good cigars that didn't make the grade because of coloration are offered as a secondary brand or sold as fakes. They smoke as well as the perfect originals so if you're not bothered you can still buy those.
1. Draw - you should be able to blow through the top cigars even with the cap still on. You gently blow and hold your hand at the other end to detect a slight breeze
2. Color - top cigars are not only top to smoke, they look top too. No thick veins, uneven coloring or marks are allowed
3. Packaging - the packaging is usually no up to the lastest tests. Look at the cigaraffecionado counterfeit gallery. No real cigars are ever boxed with a glass top
4. Weight - all cigars in the box should have the same weight.
5. Price - no originals are ever sold at a deep discount, when fully completed.
6. Have an original handy. This might be the single best way. If you have a true original then just compare the two.
A few words on so-called fakes.
It is very much possible to buy perfectly good cigars that didn't make the grade because of coloration are offered as a secondary brand or sold as fakes. They smoke as well as the perfect originals so if you're not bothered you can still buy those.
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Are Cuban cigars still considered to be the "best" cigars in the world? Has the status of Dominican cigars improved?
Check Cigar Aficionado's "top 25" lists
Cigar Aficionado | Your Home for Cigars On the Web
Year after year half of the best rated cigars contain Dominican filler and as a matter of fact, last years top 5 were all Dominican or Nicaraguan. Dominican cigar tobacco has always been sought after and will continue to produce many of the World's finest cigars.
Although Cuban cigar are very good, I find them overrated. I think because they have been around for so long, people just relate to them better and think that all cuban cigars are of good quality. Cuba has marketed their cigars very well around the world to the point that non-smokers recognize Cohiba's and Monte Cristos. Personally, I've prefered Dominican cigars for many years now.
Where to start.....
Yes. Soil and climate are very important as are weather patterns during the growing season (1 bad wind or flood or drought and Nic may not be in the top 25 at all), the curing process, the manufacturing process, the packaging process, delivery times for wrapper and binder, transportation, etc....
Check out the Rocky Patel (flash version) website and you'll find an in depth explanation of the trials and tribulations he went through in the ten years since he decided to quit the legal profession in Hollywood, move to Honduras and start making cigars. He equates dealing with cigar industry suppliers with dealing with the mafia.
:: Rocky Patel Premium Cigars ::
There's a whole lot of hustle and flow to the cigar business and getting and staying on top requires a lot of effort. Nicaragua has always had great tobacco but they shipped most of it out of the country for use in manufacturing elsewhere. The political climate there is more stable than it's been since pre-colonial times and this industry is picking up steam. Now they're importing wrappers from Ecuador and manufacturing their own cigars and getting really competitive with it.
Yes. Soil and climate are very important as are weather patterns during the growing season (1 bad wind or flood or drought and Nic may not be in the top 25 at all), the curing process, the manufacturing process, the packaging process, delivery times for wrapper and binder, transportation, etc....
Check out the Rocky Patel (flash version) website and you'll find an in depth explanation of the trials and tribulations he went through in the ten years since he decided to quit the legal profession in Hollywood, move to Honduras and start making cigars. He equates dealing with cigar industry suppliers with dealing with the mafia.
:: Rocky Patel Premium Cigars ::
There's a whole lot of hustle and flow to the cigar business and getting and staying on top requires a lot of effort. Nicaragua has always had great tobacco but they shipped most of it out of the country for use in manufacturing elsewhere. The political climate there is more stable than it's been since pre-colonial times and this industry is picking up steam. Now they're importing wrappers from Ecuador and manufacturing their own cigars and getting really competitive with it.
Another question!
I don't smoke, so I can't talk about the taste of cigars. However, one thing that I did notice while looking through the top 25 cigars list was the (how do I express this) the physical beauty of some of the cigars: the shapes, the wrapping, the labels, and the color of the leaves. Quite interesting.
I have been interesting in the physical beauty of objects(book bindings, labels, the quality of stitching, etc.) Is the physical attractiveness of a cigar considered important? Just curious..
I don't smoke, so I can't talk about the taste of cigars. However, one thing that I did notice while looking through the top 25 cigars list was the (how do I express this) the physical beauty of some of the cigars: the shapes, the wrapping, the labels, and the color of the leaves. Quite interesting.
I have been interesting in the physical beauty of objects(book bindings, labels, the quality of stitching, etc.) Is the physical attractiveness of a cigar considered important? Just curious..
The same publications that advertise fine cigars advertise fast cars, expensive clothing and jewelry, top shelf liquors and beautiful women.
Not for nothing.
Does the average cigar smoker care about the physical appearence of a cigar? Any opinions on that?
I know I don't. A really good cigar will make me close my eyes in a vain attempt to redirect all my energy to senses of taste and smell. A really, really good cigar is better than really, really good sex. To me.
Re the appearence:
It depends. I've come to the conclusion there are two kinds of cigar people:
1. Show-offs that let everybody know what kind of cigar they have, how expensive it is and will show them to each and anybody.
2. Smokers who enjoy the taste of a good cigar and aren't really interested in showing off.
I'm of the 2nd variety.
Re: the quality of Cuban, Nicaraguan and Dominican cigars. The top cigars are all well made but have distinct tastes.
Most Dominican cigars are made for the US market where the taste is towards a lighter product. So over the years the product has changed towards a lighter taste.
Most Cuban cigars find their way to Europe (US embargo) where a heavier cigar is also appreciated (and also to distinguish themselves from the majority of Dominicans).
Nicaraguan and Honduran cigars are also good and can be of either variety.
Imo the cigar list posted by greydread is leaning towards the US market.
If you're a serious smoker you'll develop your own taste and find cigars to suit them.
Now the Cubans have had a very dissapointing harvest around 2004 when they replaced the roofs of the drying sheds with aluminium instead of traditional plam leaves. This caused the tabacco to rott, thus leaving them with less crop of godd quality. The wise thing would be to restrict production. They didn't and that crop was less then well received in the market. As a result their image has suffered.
Current crop Cubans are again up to standard.
It depends. I've come to the conclusion there are two kinds of cigar people:
1. Show-offs that let everybody know what kind of cigar they have, how expensive it is and will show them to each and anybody.
2. Smokers who enjoy the taste of a good cigar and aren't really interested in showing off.
I'm of the 2nd variety.
Re: the quality of Cuban, Nicaraguan and Dominican cigars. The top cigars are all well made but have distinct tastes.
Most Dominican cigars are made for the US market where the taste is towards a lighter product. So over the years the product has changed towards a lighter taste.
Most Cuban cigars find their way to Europe (US embargo) where a heavier cigar is also appreciated (and also to distinguish themselves from the majority of Dominicans).
Nicaraguan and Honduran cigars are also good and can be of either variety.
Imo the cigar list posted by greydread is leaning towards the US market.
If you're a serious smoker you'll develop your own taste and find cigars to suit them.
Now the Cubans have had a very dissapointing harvest around 2004 when they replaced the roofs of the drying sheds with aluminium instead of traditional plam leaves. This caused the tabacco to rott, thus leaving them with less crop of godd quality. The wise thing would be to restrict production. They didn't and that crop was less then well received in the market. As a result their image has suffered.
Current crop Cubans are again up to standard.
The best looking cigar of the bunch is the Chisel Puro by Litto Gomez Diez. I'll have to pick a couple boxes up the next time I visit the Dominican Republic.
I learned something today...
I learned something today...
Another way to fool the buyer, is to first let them taste a original cigar, but when you buy the box of cigars has they switched the boxed and give you box of false cigars in stead .
In Cuba will you often be offered cigars from the factory on the street, everybody says they have a family member that work in the cigar factory. But it is very diffult to steal from the factory, very tight control
Every worker that leave the factory will be search, they can only have two cigars with them every day, one unlighted in their mouth and one in their shirt pocket.
If they offer you Cohiba splenididor , is it very sure it is a fake, the mark that is most copied
Some of the false cigars could be very close to the original, so some of the fake cigars could be very good, despite it is not a original .
The only way to today to buy original cigars for a low price, is to talk with the Cuban tourist guide that company you into the cigar fabric, often can the workers find a box and fill it fast up with cigars and put in the guides or tourist bag, for it is seldom security check guides and tourist bag when they leave a cigar factory, but this cigar cost more than the fake cigars in the street that sells for 25 cuc,(28 us dollar), more like 90 us dollar,since the tourist guide also want a share of this theft.
I have visited the farms in Vinalez , Cuba where they grow the cigar leaves and there can you order cigars from the farmer and next day can you pick up your own handmade cigar for a very low price, of course you will not get a cigar band or box, but good cigars, so good as them you buy in the store.
Another scam in Cuba is of you visit the rum factory in Santiago de Cuba, and they offer you 25 year Havana club rum for 28 dollar, and it cost over 80 dollar in the store, must you understand that the 25 years old bottle is not filled with 25 years rum,but with 7 years rum that cost 13 dollar in the store.
In Cuba will you often be offered cigars from the factory on the street, everybody says they have a family member that work in the cigar factory. But it is very diffult to steal from the factory, very tight control
Every worker that leave the factory will be search, they can only have two cigars with them every day, one unlighted in their mouth and one in their shirt pocket.
If they offer you Cohiba splenididor , is it very sure it is a fake, the mark that is most copied
Some of the false cigars could be very close to the original, so some of the fake cigars could be very good, despite it is not a original .
The only way to today to buy original cigars for a low price, is to talk with the Cuban tourist guide that company you into the cigar fabric, often can the workers find a box and fill it fast up with cigars and put in the guides or tourist bag, for it is seldom security check guides and tourist bag when they leave a cigar factory, but this cigar cost more than the fake cigars in the street that sells for 25 cuc,(28 us dollar), more like 90 us dollar,since the tourist guide also want a share of this theft.
I have visited the farms in Vinalez , Cuba where they grow the cigar leaves and there can you order cigars from the farmer and next day can you pick up your own handmade cigar for a very low price, of course you will not get a cigar band or box, but good cigars, so good as them you buy in the store.
Another scam in Cuba is of you visit the rum factory in Santiago de Cuba, and they offer you 25 year Havana club rum for 28 dollar, and it cost over 80 dollar in the store, must you understand that the 25 years old bottle is not filled with 25 years rum,but with 7 years rum that cost 13 dollar in the store.
Excellent points. I have found my taste changing toward a more robust flavor over the years and am smoking more of the Cuban and Nicaraguan cigars because of it.
I don't think cigar aficionado really rates the sticks by flavor but by how true the stick is to it's intended nature. That's probably why their top 25 contain many stick that a lot of die hard robusto guys wouldn't bother smoking after breakfast.
Ay mi Cuba...
Those scams and more are all part of the life
I did have luck a few times:
Once in Pinar del Rio, where I bought a plastic bag with two banderolles of Vacqueros straight from the factory... for US$ 50 (so at US$ 1 a piece)... they were great.
Once we went out with a group of Cuban friends and one of the girls was a taster at the factory... we struck up a friendship and she brought home a few unmarked cigars a week and we used to smoke them together..
Those scams and more are all part of the life
I did have luck a few times:
Once in Pinar del Rio, where I bought a plastic bag with two banderolles of Vacqueros straight from the factory... for US$ 50 (so at US$ 1 a piece)... they were great.
Once we went out with a group of Cuban friends and one of the girls was a taster at the factory... we struck up a friendship and she brought home a few unmarked cigars a week and we used to smoke them together..
I'd mostly agree with you. I just notice there seems more activity in new products on the lighter side of the spectrum. There must be a bigger market for it. Hence all other things being equal, if there is more product then there is a bigger chance of those products being represented in the list.
Robusto (also my preference) isn't really for the casual smoker or starter and CA apart from being the best cigar magazine, is also a promotion tool to attract new customers.
Therefore I do find them more geared towards the light end of the market, with sound business reason.
Makes sense. Draw in the new money with a lighter product. It's all about the $$$