Cigars/Cubans from Cuba
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Question
I recently had someone bring me back some cigars from Cuba. This guy has been there before and brings back cigars for his son. I have had other people that were going pick up some for me too. Both times they brought back Cohiba cigars. The cigars they brought back were 5-packs but the guy that has been there before brought back boxes with no seals on the 5-pack. I am wondering if you can tell me if they are what they say they are? They are exactly the same box,band, etc.
Hi Grant,
Cigars purchased in Cuba without any seals on the packaging could mean that the cigars were not purchased at a reputable retailer/factory. The seals placed on cigar boxes are used as a counterfeit deterrent so any boxes that do not have seals may indicate that the box was produced illegally because the counterfeiter does not have access to genuine factory seals to apply to the boxes.
If you have two identical Cohiba 5-pack boxes and one of them does not have any seals, it's very likely that it's counterfeit.
Hope this answers your question. If you have any more questions, feel free to just ask.
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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