Expert: James Yee - 12/31/2009

Question
  Hi James,
I'm very interested about Cuban cigars and I'm wanting to know how to tell a artificial from a authentic Cuban cigar! And also how much do you think a nice 17x15 walk in humidor would run me??

                                   Thank you for your time

Answer
Hi Taylor,

The majority of counterfeit Cuban cigars can easily be spotted by the poor cigar construction, incorrect printing/trimming of the cigar bands or improper placement of labels on the cigar box itself.  Counterfeit cigars generally have a poor quality appearance to them: the bands are crudely cut and do not match genuine Cuban cigar bands (in terms of colour and printing) and the cigars usually do not match the genuine cigar's official dimensions.  The cigars can also look poorly rolled and contain short filler tobacco which causes the ash to be loose and crumbly. This is a clear sign that the cigar is fake.  For premium cigar sizes, genuine Cuban cigars contain only long filler tobacco which causes the ash to be firm and solid.  Genuine cigar ash can be as long as 1-3 inches before they fall off by themselves.

However, because some counterfeit Cuban cigars can be extremely convincing and even have genuine packaging such as boxes and bands (counterfeiters will recycle or steal from genuine Cuban cigars), the only true method of determining whether or a not a Cuban cigar is authentic is by taste and this requires years of experience smoking Cuban cigars and learning the distinct flavour profile of each Cuban cigar brand.

If you're interested in Cuban cigars, my advice is that you only buy them from authorized retailers (either through mailorder or buying in person when you travel) and smoke as many different brands as possible... and often.  This will refine your cigar palate and allow you to recognize the different flavour profiles.

In regards to a walk-in humidor, the price can vary depending on the features that you want.  If you're building the room yourself, a bare-bones price for a 17x15 room would be around $3,500 for materials but will obviously be more expensive if you want more features or have a contractor build the room for you.  If you're looking for a professional looking walk-in humidor with floor-to-ceiling windows, shelving, cabinets, troffer lighting and a commercial-grade humidifier, the price will be more expensive.

Hopes this answers your questions.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James