Expert: James Yee - 8/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I recently visited Punta Cana Dominican republic and bought 4 Cohiba Epliendidos boxes of 10 and 1 box of Cohiba robusto also 10 in box. I spent $125 U.S. Total.  I want to give these as gifts but don't know if there fake or crap or any good. I could use some help to find out the value and more about the cigar. I have a gut feeling that they are probably worthless

Thanks,
Seth

ANSWER: Hi Seth,

Are the Cohiba cigars labelled as being made in the Dominican Republic or Cuba?  There are actually two different Cohiba brands currently in the market.  One is the genuine Cuban version which is made entirely from Cuban tobacco and the other is a non-Cuban version made in the Dominican Republic.  The packaging and cigar band on the non-Cuban version will look different from the Cuban version but it should still say on the box where they are made.  (Also, non-Cuban Cohibas are often called "red dot" Cohibas because the logo has a red dot in the "o" of the name "Cohiba".  The cigar band motif is also black and white and designed differently from the Cuban Cohiba orange, black and white band.)

Regardless, if these are Cuban Cohibas, I would say they are 100% fake as the price is too low.  $125 for 5 boxes of Cohiba cigars is not possible because genuine Cuban Cohibas are very expensive and very popular (it's Cuba's flagship cigar brand).  In Cuba, $125 USD is not enough to buy even one box of genuine Cohiba cigars from an authorized Habanos retailer. :(  In Cuba, Cohiba can range in price between $150-$600 USD per box; depending on the size of the cigars. A box of 25 Esplendidos is approximately $485 USD and $280 for a box of 25 robustos.  To my knowledge, Cuban Cohiba robusto and esplendidos are also not sold in boxes of 10.

$125 USD for 50 Cuban Cohiba cigars is not possible unless the cigars are counterfeit.  Even with the non-Cuban version, the price is too low for them to be authentic.

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

Regards,
James

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The brands does not have a red dot and were made in the Dominican republic so they are the Dominican republic cohiba. The logo is orange white and black with a girls head and ponytail. the size is Churchill. Are the cigars of any quality? Would they pass a a decent cigar to a non cigar enthusiast.

Thanks,

Seth  

Answer
Hi Seth,

OK, I know exactly which Cohibas these are.  These are indeed Dominican Republic Cohibas but they are not made by the same company that makes "red dot" Cohibas.  About 10 years ago, there were two non-Cuban Cohiba cigars available; "red dot" Cohibas and your yellow band, "Indian head" Cohibas.  Red dot Cohibas are produced by General Cigar Co./Swedish Match while the Dominican "Indian head" Cohibas were produced by Monti Cristi, a cigar company based in the Dominican Republic.  At one point, both cigars were being sold in US cigar stores so General Cigar Co. sued Monti Cristi and won the trademark rights for the name "Cohiba" outside of Cuba.  As a result, the "Indian head" Cohibas are no longer for sale in the United States and can only be found in the Dominican Republic.

The quality of these cigars is below-average to average but $125 for 50 Dominican "Indian Head" Cohibas is actually a good deal.  These cigars usually sell for $5 USD per cigar but the price you paid works out to be $2.50 per cigar which is a good deal.  A non-cigar enthusiast may enjoy these but these cigars are considered to be very "low end" in quality.  For cigar enthusiasts, it would be better to gift a more "premium" cigar such as the red dot Cohibas or another premium cigar brand.

Hopes this helps.  As always, if you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James