Input Requested From the "Cuban Experts"

[drew_goring]

They look legit to me bud. There should be a clear seal on the front right hand corner of the box as well. But the way you have described them and the questions you have answered would lead me to be 97.5% sure that they are real. But one question for you, are you not committing a crime by smoking a cuban cigar? Couldn't the sales of those cigars be funding terrorism that you are in IRAQ to stop?

This is only true for boxes purchased in Cuba itself, not boxes that are exported.

[CoventryCat86]

This is only true for boxes purchased in Cuba itself, not boxes that are exported.

Give that man a cigar!

[drew_goring]

Just a few more things to note. Authenticating most specimens is extremely difficult with just pictures alone. Also, the fact that there are legitimate inconsistencies coming out of Cuba makes it that much harder.

The seals/codes/stamps appear to be in the right places, and as well the warranty code seal appears to be in line with an '05 box of mine that I checked. It is hard to tell from the pictures, but on the warranty seal where you see the portrait of the workers in the tobacco field with the trees, there is micro print. Unless you have a genuine box next to it to compare, it is difficult to determine if it is legit or not. I really don't like RyJs all that much, so I don't have any bands sitting around to compare it to, but it appears correct to me. As does the tube. The only real concern that I have would be one the bottom, where the paper of the dress box does not overlap. However this could be due to damage during transport, or another one of Cuba's famous inconsistencies. Also, it would be strange for a counterfeiter to go through the import process and have the health warnings on the box.

The main thing is that you enjoyed it.