Expert: M J Robbins - 3/26/2009

Question
I recently bought 3 boxes of Cohiba Siglo 6 Cigars and 3 boxes Cohiba Robustos from Lebanon Cigar Airport Duty Free CASA Shop (through a person) i found the 6 boxes do not have in the bottom a authenticity seal hologram it had BAS JUL 08 on the Siglo and MAL Jul08 on Robustos,even though i bought cigars before from lebanon it had the hologram when i called the shop (they have 24 hour phone service) they said they do not have the hologram seal in their LA CASA products !!
the Paper seemed the same the color of the ring is slightly more to the yellow than orange compared to my original Siglo6 Collection i som0ked two Siglo Side by Side I found them totaly differnet ,even people around me told me the new one smelled not nice !!
Anyway How would you know that it is not fake
1- does it have to have the hollogram
2-is it possible that lebanese LA casa Shop is faking it i know a lot of people who buy a fake siglo6 in lebanon and i saw the cigar it looks exactly the same
3-is it possible difference in taste cause it is producted 2008 and mine was 2006
4-when you buy a cigar from la casa do you buy the old production date or the new (if they had 2008 and 2007 and 2006 what box woul you pick?)
thanks

Answer
Cigars bought in Cuba have holograms.
The cigars I have seen from Europe have no hologram.

1. It does not have to have a hologram.

2. Some of the best cigar shops in my area of Southern California sell fake Dominican cigars like the Partagas 150 right next to all the real branded cigars.
And so some of the best cigar shops anywhere in the world could sell fake Cubans right next to the real thing. There is just a TON more money in the fakes. So cigars in a Lebanon La Casa shop might be fake. If it is a La Casa Del Habana shop and they were caught they would lose their license (unless they bribe the agent).

3. Absolutely there will be a difference in taste from 2006 and 2008.
Crops are affected by weather and soil conditions, so they will be different each year, just like wine.

4. I would always go with the older box because Castro rushes the product to market. The best stores will open the boxes for you to check. The ultimate would be to buy one box try a cigar then make the larger purchase. Sending an agent to buy the cigars takes this option away unless he is an expert. I have done this for clients purchasing rare Cuban cigars and Dominican. Checking ratings by the experts on each year could pay off also. A Bad rating in 2006 could lead you away from that year.

My own #
5. Cuban cigars are made by slaves of the revolution working for 7 cents an hour. The product they make is not consistent and this could affect your purchase also - you got bad boxes, or, they might be too young and will improve in a few years. Get away from Cohiba and sample the other top rated cigars like Ramon Allones special selected, Fonseca, Sancho Panza belicoso, Bolivar and more. Certain factories manned by children of the revolution that revere Castro, excel in their cigar making ability, even at 7 cents an hour. Find those and enjoy the best Cuba has to offer.

Look for the older boxes although they cost more.
Open them and examine the cigars.
Smoke one if you can before purchasing.
Buy lesser known top rated Cuban cigars.

MJR