Isom ?

One of our GM's, who really doesn't smoke cigars regularly, went on a cruise and purchased some supposedly ISOM cohiba's and just gave me 2 (what a guy). All the bands were removed and he did not keep any.

I have read in some other posts things about construction, double caps etc...that would lead one to believe that the cigar was indeed of ISOM origin and am wondering what characteristics I should look for that would either support or refute that they are authentic? At least that the manufacture is isom.....I realize that the brand would probably be impossible to confirm or deny.

He said it was an authorized isom dealer, but what that really means I don't know. I have no experience with this having only had one isom. The cigars are about corona sized 6 x 46-48, just a guess as I haven't measured them yet, just dropped them in the humi last nite to stabilize for awhile.

Without doing some checking, I'd guess you have a couple of Siglo IVs. As for the authenticity of them, kinda hard to tell sometimes as the fakes can be skillfully rolled.

To me (and I don't pretend to be anywhere near an expert on the subject) it's much easier to tell if they're still in the box, and the band itself can be a dead giveaway.

Eg.: When they're in the box:

• Do they fill out the box? Are they too short, or too thin so you have movement?
• Are the bands all even in location and orientation?
• Are the wrappers basically all the same colour, and any variances change left to right, with the darker on the left?
• How do the triple caps look, and they all fairly even?

Like I said, these are just some of the ways (but maybe the most obvious) to tell. There are many around who can pick up an unbanded one and can tell immediately. I'm nowhere near that level.

Last time in Cuba, this guy showed me a box of RyJ he paid $45 CUC for, and they were brutal. I asked nicely "Are you sure they're genuine?" and he said "Yes, the guy promised me they were real and if I didn't like them, he'd give me my money back."

Yeaah, OK, whatever!!!:smiley40:

smoke'm

That's the only sure way of finding out! I don't recall anyone having had bad experiences with Cohiba ISOMs. So if it sucks, then it's fake. If you like it, that's all that matters.

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Originally Posted by nhcigarfan

smoke'm

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I will definitely be smokin them soon, I thought I would let them rest for at least a couple of weeks first.

Don't know what I will be able to tell, other than like or no-like....

They're fake and I highly doubt the tobacco is Cuban either.

They sound like fake Sig IVs which are supposed to be 5 5/8 x 46.

Sig IIIs are 6 1/8 x 42 and Sig Vs are 6 3/4 x 43.

Check the dimensions and look for a triple cap. Even if the dimensions and triple caps are correct, this doesn't mean much.

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Originally Posted by ashauler

I will definitely be smokin them soon, I thought I would let them rest for at least a couple of weeks first.

Don't know what I will be able to tell, other than like or no-like....

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That's all that counts... especially since they were a gift. :smiley20:

You mentioned they were double capped. They should be triple capped. Look closely.

As CC said they are fake and you're wasting your time smoking them. Send them to me and I'll dispose of them properly..........no, really.:smiley36:

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Originally Posted by Shelby07

You mentioned they were double capped. They should be triple capped. Look closely.

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Please excuse the quick high-jack & newb question: What does double or triple capped refer to?

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Originally Posted by derivation

Please excuse the quick high-jack & newb question: What does double or triple capped refer to?

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http://www.cigarnexus.com/counsel/counterfeit/

Go to "Inspecting the cigars themselves" section and look at item #8

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Originally Posted by derivation

Please excuse the quick high-jack & newb question: What does double or triple capped refer to?

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Notice on this cigar you can see there are 3 separate caps on the head?

http://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/Ima...n-Epicures.gif

(Almost) All Cobihas have the triple cap. All Siglos have a triple cap. Some fakers are lazy or unskilled and only place on cap on the cigar.

post a pic

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Originally Posted by Newfie

Last time in Cuba, this guy showed me a box of RyJ he paid $45 CUC for, and they were brutal.

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The problem is that the Coobans are now shippign and packing cigars with three months age in order to keep sales up. This means ammonia hell in each stick without aging.

I'm pretty bad at uploading so I hope this is clear enough but you can clsee a triple cap and the construction of most ISOMs is mediocre.

If you had the band you can clearly notice that the logos for all the altadis and genuine ISOMS are different, whiel similar they have all small differences.

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Originally Posted by jiaguy

The problem is that the Coobans are now shippign and packing cigars with three months age in order to keep sales up. This means ammonia hell in each stick without aging.

I'm pretty bad at uploading so I hope this is clear enough but you can clsee a triple cap and the construction of most ISOMs is mediocre.

If you had the band you can clearly notice that the logos for all the altadis and genuine ISOMS are different, whiel similar they have all small differences.

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This is why I age all my Cubans at least 6-12 months before I even try them. If they seem to be off, they go back in the humidor for another 6 months before I try again.

Still can't tell anything from your pic jai, but the link shelby provided has a decent pic of 3cap on it. Also, this whole subject has been thoroughly and very well done, with excellent pics over on cigarpass.

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Originally Posted by cls515

post a pic

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Not needed, they are fake....no triple cap!!

Sorry I tried again but I cannot get my camera to focus on the small spot to be able to tell the difference :smiley6:

Here is a good pic of a triple cap if anybody is still wondering:


http://www.cigarnexus.com/counsel/co...fc_tripcap.JPG

great pic drew, thanks.