Reason to believe I have a fake Cuban...

brainfrz

So a buddy of mine asked if he could "rent" some space in my humidor of the weekend but would not tell me what he got. So he stopped by later in the evening with a big 'ol Cohiba and said his buddy bought a box but neglected them- let them sit in his garage for a long time... So the 'gar is dried out pretty bad and I'm working on getting it back up to snuff however I was thinking to myself about an article I read about there being more fake's than real ones out there... Long story short I pull up http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Counterfeits/Counterfeit_Page/0,3391,93,00.html which is identical to the band he has (lower one obviously) however, the COHIBA lettering is in glossy gold. The difference to me though is there are only 2 dots above COHIBA where as the "real" one as 3. Have they switched bands? Is this a fake? If so, should I bother telling him?

KCW

brainfrz:

So a buddy of mine asked if he could "rent" some space in my humidor of the weekend but would not tell me what he got. So he stopped by later in the evening with a big 'ol Cohiba and said his buddy bought a box but neglected them- let them sit in his garage for a long time... So the 'gar is dried out pretty bad and I'm working on getting it back up to snuff however I was thinking to myself about an article I read about there being more fake's than real ones out there... Long story short I pull up http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Counterfeits/Counterfeit_Page/0,3391,93,00.html which is identical to the band he has (lower one obviously) however, the COHIBA lettering is in glossy gold. The difference to me though is there are only 2 dots above COHIBA where as the "real" one as 3. Have they switched bands? Is this a fake? If so, should I bother telling him?

Yes. Some of the lettering on some of the counterfiets have the glossy gold. On that band, if it were a legit. Cuban Cohiba, it would have the three rows of dots and the spacing verticle & horizontal should all be even (no dots should have any more or less white under, over or between them). If it were me, I would want to know its a fake.

Dustin1981

One other thing to check for is if there is a thin white line that separates the bottom solid from the dots on top. The real ones dont have any white in the line.

brainfrz

KCW:

brainfrz:

So a buddy of mine asked if he could "rent" some space in my humidor of the weekend but would not tell me what he got. So he stopped by later in the evening with a big 'ol Cohiba and said his buddy bought a box but neglected them- let them sit in his garage for a long time... So the 'gar is dried out pretty bad and I'm working on getting it back up to snuff however I was thinking to myself about an article I read about there being more fake's than real ones out there... Long story short I pull up http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Counterfeits/Counterfeit_Page/0,3391,93,00.html which is identical to the band he has (lower one obviously) however, the COHIBA lettering is in glossy gold. The difference to me though is there are only 2 dots above COHIBA where as the "real" one as 3. Have they switched bands? Is this a fake? If so, should I bother telling him?

Yes. Some of the lettering on some of the counterfiets have the glossy gold. On that band, if it were a legit. Cuban Cohiba, it would have the three rows of dots and the spacing verticle & horizontal should all be even (no dots should have any more or less white under, over or between them). If it were me, I would want to know its a fake.

Well, I let him know- he doesn't really care since his friend gave it to him however he said "on the box it had a Cuban Stamp." I told him I'd let it rest in my humi until he's ready to smoke it but I think he's just going to let his buddy keep on believing. Wah wah wah......

KCW

Diamondog

brainfrz:

So a buddy of mine asked if he could "rent" some space in my humidor of the weekend but would not tell me what he got. So he stopped by later in the evening with a big 'ol Cohiba and said his buddy bought a box but neglected them- let them sit in his garage for a long time... So the 'gar is dried out pretty bad and I'm working on getting it back up to snuff however I was thinking to myself about an article I read about there being more fake's than real ones out there... Long story short I pull up http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Counterfeits/Counterfeit_Page/0,3391,93,00.html which is identical to the band he has (lower one obviously) however, the COHIBA lettering is in glossy gold. The difference to me though is there are only 2 dots above COHIBA where as the "real" one as 3. Have they switched bands? Is this a fake? If so, should I bother telling him?

ABSOLUTELY NOT CHANGED BANDS YOU HAVE FAKE, all Cohiba ISOM have 3 rows of dots without deviation...throw it out because of that as well because its ruined anyways

fla-gypsy

As others have pointed out, without the 3 rows of dots it is a fake.

bacon.jay

Diamondog

Thewelder

zeebra

Sorry to hear that bro!, but can I post a picture and tell me if its real or not?

JZ

Sometimes ignorance is bliss. I'm not sure what I would do if in your shoes.

brainfrz

Not to thread jack my own thread........but...... I've never had a Cuban before- closest I could say I've had is the Cuban CCom label which I did not enjoy nearly as much as the Corojo or Brazilian. Mind you I managed to hype this up to myself thinking this could posibly be one of the better tasting cigars I would smoke- I was kinda dissapointed. Is it worth trying to get an authentic one or is my money spent better on other sticks? Edit- I bought a churchill and robusto of the Cuban label today with my order jsut to give it another try. There must be something I'm missing.

Diamondog

brainfrz:

Not to thread jack my own thread........but...... I've never had a Cuban before- closest I could say I've had is the Cuban CCom label which I did not enjoy nearly as much as the Corojo or Brazilian. Mind you I managed to hype this up to myself thinking this could posibly be one of the better tasting cigars I would smoke- I was kinda dissapointed. Is it worth trying to get an authentic one or is my money spent better on other sticks? Edit- I bought a churchill and robusto of the Cuban label today with my order jsut to give it another try. There must be something I'm missing.

Absolutely you should try authentic Cubans....I have the luxury of having them legal where I live so easier said than done.....there is no question Cubans are some of the finest in the world....Two I would reccommend are any authentic Cohiba I am partial to the Siglo VI I like big cigars and also any Trinidad again I am partial to the Robusto Extra...

bacon.jay