Cigars/Dealer list
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Question
To avoid all the speculation about whether or not deasers such as Cuban Lous, Top Tubans or Puro Express are selling fake Cuban cigars, I would think S A Habanos could provide a list of their legitimate internet dealers. Do you know if such a list is available?
Hi Pasquale,
I'm not sure if Habanos SA has an official watchdog list... you may want to contact them directly (www.habanos.com) and inquire about it. Habanos' website does have a list of regional distributor and each distributor may have a list approved Internet retailers based in their country. If the distributors do not have a list on their website, they may still have a list available if you contact them via email.
One of the biggest problems to maintaining such a list is that fraudulent retailers are always opening websites under new names. When one website is known for being a fraud, the owners will shutdown that old website and open new websites under new names. More and more fraudulent companies are starting new websites every month.
As consumers, it's also important that we protect yourself by researching websites we are interested in buying from. Find out where they ship from, know who the regional distributor is for that country and contact them about the validity of that specific retailer. We can also visit various Internet cigar message boards and forums for input or even ask people at cigar stores and lounges for feedback. Word of mouth spreads quickly so if a certain retailer is selling fake Cuban cigars, you can be sure people will know about it quickly.
Hopes this helps.
Regards,
James
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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
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