AboutJames Yee Expertise My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".
Experience I currently have 15 dedicated years of cigar smoking (an average 4 cigars a day) and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.
hello james,
i was recently given two cohibas as a gift - one coronas especiales and one siglo II. no idea where they were bought, and my uncle has no knowledge about cigars whatsoever, so he doesnt know if he bought me authentic cohibas or not. hoping you can help me out. also, what could i look for specifically with cohibas to verify authenticity?
Answer Hi JP,
The cigar in that photo looks genuine. The band is evenly printed and cleanly cut. The gold foil embossing also appears centered and the colour appears consistent. Fake Cohibas usually have cigar bands that are crookedly printed or poorly cut. Also, the colours are usually either faded, spotty or too dark and the gold foil stamping is off-center. The triple cap also looks normal which is a good sign.
However, it's possible that that cigar bands are genuine but the cigars are not as counterfeiters have been known to steal or recycle genuine cigar bands and boxes to make their product look even more genuine. The best method to determine whether or not the cigars are genuine is by taste. You need to smoke them (or at least one of them) and decide whether or not it tastes like a genuine Cohiba. Remember, typical signs of a fake cigar is short filler tobacco and a bitter or harsh flavour. If the ash is loose and crumbly, it's short filler tobacco and a clear sign that the cigar is fake. If the cigars tastes extremely odd in any way, it's most likely fake.
Cohiba is a medium-bodied cigar but it uses triple-refined tobacco so the cigar is smooth and full in flavour. If the tobacco doesn't taste anything like a Cohiba or Cuban tobacco in general, it's most likely fake.
Hopes this helps. As always, if you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask.
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