My bro thinks he has a supply of Cuban

[calcmandan]

So, my bro owns a bar and I stop in for some scotch. He walks over to me with a cigar in his had and I ask him what he has. So yeah, he shows me a presidente sized cigar and says 'it's a Cuban Cohiba'

I ask where he bought it and he said it comes from a supplier in Florida and it comes down to $10 a stick when he buys a sample pack.

Off we go to the front patio, and I'm sure he's being fooled. He hands me a very nice and flawlessly (in appearance) built 'bolivar.' It was a mild and sweet smoke. Quite the knuckle burner to be honest. It was a fake from initial inspection from the band's appearance. The lettering alone along the bottom of the band badge was off-center and partially cut off.

Looking at his Cohiba, there was no tell-tale holographic print on the band. The build quality, like the 'bolivar' was really nice.

At the end of the day, I decide not to break the news that he's being fooled. He seriously thinks they're the best cigars he's ever smoked. For fake cubans, I could pay less per stick than he does.

He texted me a pic of the order sheet. They claim to have Behike's for $10/each. Oh gag me with a spoon. And then they describe where the tobacco is grown. Last I checked, cohiba doesn't publicize who they obtain their tobacco from.

I attached the flyer for your enjoyment.

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[Emperor Zurg]

Lol!

Maybe they're from the Dominicuban Republic
I bet he got ahold of the Behike fumas that come in a bundle of 50 . I hear they age like a fine milk.

[SoCal gunner]

IMO - you should tell him your thoughts, then let him decide if wants to continue.

[josh lucky 13]

Tell your brother I got a hook up for 21 year old scotch 1/2 off msrp

[CentralTimeSmoke]

I'll never understand why people jump through all the hoops to smoke Cuban 'baccy (although I guess it's a lot easier nowadays, but you still have the chance of getting your stuff confiscated en route).

There's so much going on with the booming boutique cigar industry in the US that I won't ever have the time to smoke them all. I can tell you that people in Europe, where Cubans have been available forever, are scrambling over one another to get their hands on the boutique stuff that is easily available to Americans. Just add yourself to a cigar sales page on Facebook and see what international guys are willing to pay.

Perhaps when Cubans are finally legal here, the unicorn allure of them will fade and people will finally realize it's just another growing region and there's no magical fairy dust infused in them. Especially when demand grows even further and the quality of Cuban cigars gets even worse. I've never had a Cuban that comes close to a Foundation Tabernacle or a My Father Le Bijou, for instance.

This is of course all a matter of preference. I know there's lots of people out there who want nothing else but that Cuban twang. Smoke what you like.

[Tombstone]

I'll never understand why people jump through all the hoops to smoke Cuban 'baccy (although I guess it's a lot easier nowadays, but you still have the chance of getting your stuff confiscated en route).

There's so much going on with the booming boutique cigar industry in the US that I won't ever have the time to smoke them all. I can tell you that people in Europe, where Cubans have been available forever, are scrambling over one another to get their hands on the boutique stuff that is easily available to Americans. Just add yourself to a cigar sales page on Facebook and see what international guys are willing to pay.

Perhaps when Cubans are finally legal here, the unicorn allure of them will fade and people will finally realize it's just another growing region and there's no magical fairy dust infused in them. Especially when demand grows even further and the quality of Cuban cigars gets even worse. I've never had a Cuban that comes close to a Foundation Tabernacle or a My Father Le Bijou, for instance.

This is of course all a matter of preference. I know there's lots of people out there who want nothing else but that Cuban twang. Smoke what you like.

Twice I have been gifted legit Cubans and assumed them to be yard gars not realizing what they were till I started smoking them. Once I took with me running errands because I assumed it was going to go out while I made my stops and why waste an expensive cigar. Second time I was mowing the yard. One was a hoyo de monterrey epicure 2, the other was a Romeo I believe. There are some good ones but not worth the effort people put into them. Its like the Liga Unico line before Swisher bought them. People were way too into them for what they were.

[CentralTimeSmoke]

Twice I have been gifted legit Cubans and assumed them to be yard gars not realizing what they were till I started smoking them. Once I took with me running errands because I assumed it was going to go out while I made my stops and why waste an expensive cigar. Second time I was mowing the yard. One was a hoyo de monterrey epicure 2, the other was a Romeo I believe. There are some good ones but not worth the effort people put into them. Its like the Liga Unico line before Swisher bought them. People were way too into them for what they were.

Completely agree. All of my CC experience is due to gifted cigars. I've smoked probably two dozen spread across about 4-5 marcas. I personally don't think they're as distinctive as CC connoisseurs make them out to be. Most have been heavy on sweet cedar, white pepper and grass/earth. I can tell you that I've smoked MANY non-Cubans that have had that same profile. Give an average CC smoker an unbanded Camacho Ecuador and tell them it's a Cuban and I guarantee they'd be singing its praises...

Anyway...I didn't want this to turn into a CC rant. I just get a little frustrated when I see Americans buying potentially fake CC or going out their way to buy from international sellers when you could march down to your B&M and find cigars that Europeans are smuggling into their country. There are no better cigars in the world right now than the American boutique cigar market.

[calcmandan]

Lol!

Maybe they're from the Dominicuban Republic
I bet he got ahold of the Behike fumas that come in a bundle of 50 . I hear they age like a fine milk.

I'm sure they're locally made cigars out of Florida. Or factory seconds and banded.

I haven't had a legit cuban cigar since my first time in Hong Kong and, honestly, I don't remember it blowing me away.

I have had some great cigars legally procured and at a much lower cost than contraband sticks and I'm content.

I'll even enjoy backwoods.

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[Emperor Zurg]

I'll even enjoy backwoods.

Nothing wrong with Backwoods. Best cheapie, gas station cigar out there IMO. They even smell good.

[SoCal gunner]

Nothing wrong with Backwoods. Best cheapie, gas station cigar out there IMO. They even smell good.

I thought people bought those just to empty then out and reroll with marijuana?