You are here:

Cigars/new cohiba esplendido box

Advertisement

Expert: - 8/2/2009


Question

front of new box
I have a relative in spain and he usually sends me a box of cohiba esplendido once a year as a gift.  This years box which was produced in January 2009(RMS ENE 09), the box was different from the previous boxes.  The shade of the cigars was a lighter in color.  Do you know if they change the color of the cigar during different times of the year and if they have a new box.  

Thanks

Answer
Hi Yosuf,

You should ask your relative which store in Spain he purchased the cigars from.  If he purchased them from an authorized Habanos retailer (such as a La Casa de Habanos shop), the cigars will be genuine.  If the cigars are genuine, it's possible for them to be lighter in colour as long as all the cigars in box are consistent in colour.  If some cigars are noticeably lighter/darker than other cigars in the box, it would be suspicious.

You can also contact Habanos SA and confirm whether or not that box is genuine.  Be sure to include that photo of the box.  You can contact Habanos SA at www.habanos.com.

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

Regards,
James

James 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 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking 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.

Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)


Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.