Quote Originally Posted by Yankeefan2 View Post
Hey guys. A buddy of mine just came back from a cruise to Cuba. He brought me some cigars. Just because they are from there doesn't mean they are 100% Cuban so how can I tell if it's real or fake. I live in Miami and there are tons of fakes being passed around but I don't know what to look for. Anyone have any signs to pay attention too?
LOL, I would suggest you start with a search on this site and extend that to google. There's lots of info out there on how to spot a fake. If the box your received wasn't sealed with the appropriate labels on them (google it) then they are definitely fake.

I had a friend who knew I liked cigars bring me back a box from Cuba when he was there on vacation. They were supposed to be "Cohiba Esplendido's" They weren't. I knew it as soon as he told me he got them "from a guy who worked at the hotel" he stayed at.

The standard BS story is as follows: "Hey Gringo, I have a <insert relative here> who works at the <insert cigar brand> factory and through him I can get you a box of <cigar type> for REAL cheap" and those are always fakes........always! So if your buddy got them from a guy at the hotel, or on the beach, or at the bar.....they're not what they're purported to be. Chances are it is Cuban tobacco. Likely even rolled by a pro. But the tobacco is more likely homegrown or floor sweepings.

Cohiba cigars of any type in a box with a glass lid are 110% fake. The same is true for singles in glass tubes (saw those everywhere in Mexico).

Mostly though, one can tell by the bands.