Expert: James Yee - 7/19/2007

Question
QUESTION: James:

I recently read an article in cigar encyclopedia about the ranking of cuban cigar vendors and one of the sections identified a vendor as one who sold cigars marked for sale w/i the country of cuba. Do you know what marking to look for to determine and confirm a box is produced for sale w/i Cuba?

Regards,
Alan

ANSWER: Hi Alan,

Cuban cigars produced for sale within Cuba will have a transparent, Cuba-exclusive hologram on the boxes.  This hologram will show customers that it is a genuine Habanos SA product and only Habanos SA-approved retailers in Cuba will stock Cuban cigar boxes with this hologram.  For extra security, each transparent hologram sticker also has a serial code printed on it.

Genuine Cuban cigars commercially shipped and sold outside of Cuba will not have this sticker on their boxes but may have another type of sticker (such as a Habanos SA-approved, distributor sticker) to prevent counterfeiting.

Hopes this answers your question.

Regards,
James


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

QUESTION: James:

I have bought from one such merchant who states that there is a stamp on the bottom of the box that indicates, among other words, "intur". Is this a correct marking for these cigars?

Answer
Hi Alan,

I’m not familiar with this sticker (but I haven’t purchased cigars in Cuba in a few years now so I can’t remember seeing this sticker or not.  The “INTUR” sticker would probably mean the box of cigars is designated for sale within the immediate tourism market such as in hotels and resorts in Cuba.  I know “INTUR” is the “National Institute of Tourism” and I would guess that this sticker was used by INTUR for identification purposes but I don’t think Habanos SA issues it.  The only definite marking that I'm aware of is the transparent hologram.

Regards,
James