Expert: James Yee - 2/22/2011

Question
QUESTION: I would just like to know if cohiba made a edition specilale of pyramids for 2010,
Seems like there are soo many counterfeit cohiba cigars how are you supposed to tell
What is real and what is fake.

ANSWER: Hi Rob,

Cohiba did not make a 2010 Edicion Limitada Piramides (or any other type of regional or special edition release of this particular cigar).  In fact, Cohiba didn't even release an Edicion Limitada cigar for 2010.  The last Edicion Limitada cigar that they released was in 2006.

The only Cohiba Edicion Limitada cigars released so far are:

2001 - Cohiba Piramides
2003 - Cohiba Double Corona
2004 - Cohiba Sublimes
2006 - Cohiba Piramides

I've received a lot of inquires about 2010-branded Edicion Limitada Cohiba Piramides and for the record, these cigars are fake.  If you contact them through their website (www.habanos.com), Habanos can also confirm this.  

Montecristo, Partagas and Trinidad are the only brands to have a 2010 Edicion Limitada cigar.  

I hope 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: Hi James thank you very much for the info .
I had feared that they were fake . Sometime a good deal is too good to be true . So my question to you is , where should i buy cigars in order to ensure that they are the real deal ?
Because if i can get scammed in Cuba this doesn't give me allot of faith anywhere else in the world .

Thank you

Answer
Hi Rob,

When buying Cuban cigars, the most important thing to remember is to research the retailers thoroughly and make sure that they're authorized Habanos retailers.  You're guaranteed 100% genuine Cuban cigars if you buy from an authorized retailer.  When you're buying from a retailer, always ask the store if they're an authorized retailer and ask them who their Cuban cigar distributor is.  There is only ONE (1) official distributor of genuine Cuban cigars for each country/region so if a retailer says they get their cigars from someone that is not the official distributor, don't buy from them.  Habanos' official website (www.Habanos.com) has a list of global distributors and their contact info so you can double-check a retailer's authenticity through the distributor.  For example, the authorized Habanos distributor in Canada is Havana House and Havana House is the ONLY Canadian distributor of Cuban cigars; officially appointed by Habanos SA.  If a Canadian retailer says they get their cigars from a distributor that is not Havana House, do not buy from them.  Authorized Habanos retailers cannot receive cigars from a Habanos distributor in another territory.  An authorized Habanos distributor also cannot ship cigars to a retailer that is not in the distributor's territory.  A list of authorized Canadian retailers is also printed on Havana House's website.  If a Canadian retailer claims to receive their cigars from Havana House but does not appear on the distributor website, you can then contact Havana House directly to confirm whether or not they're legitimate.

Another story fraudulent retailers use is that they get their cigars from another distributor in another country to "avoid high taxes and pass the savings on to you".  Do not believe this.  Authorized Habanos retailers cannot receive cigars from other Habanos distributors so these retailers are clearly receiving cigars from questionable sources and not from Habanos.

Yes, counterfeit Cuban cigars are plentiful in Cuba but if you shop at an authorized Habanos retailer in Cuba (such as a La Casa del Habanos shop; aka "LCDH"), you're guaranteed genuine cigars.  As I mentioned, the best way to protect yourself from fraudulent retailers is to research the shops.  Use google and search for the website or retailer name.  If the retailers have sold fake Cuban cigars before, you'll definitely find reviews and discussions about them on various Cuban cigar message boards.

I hope this helps!

Regards,
James