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Habanos or Faux-banos?
by Anonymous, Cigar Enthusiast ave you ever been handed a “real Cuban cigar” by a close friend who recently returned from a cruise or vacation outside of the United States? He grins proudly, “This is one of the best cigars I have ever smoked!” as he hands over a Partagas SD6 Lonsdale, a Trinidad Pirámide, or an aluminum tube, in a color never produced by Habanos S.A. These are a few familiar tales I have heard within the last several years: “I know it’s real because the guy I bought it from knows the guard at the factory and lets him sneak a few boxes out the back door from time to time!” “My sister’s husband is stationed at the American Base in Cuba who has ‘government connections’.” (That must explain why he has to bring them out wrapped in newspaper instead of the real box with the new holographic stamp.) “My uncle has a cousin who works in the factory and smuggles cigars out at night after the rollers have gone home.” “These cigars must be real because no one would bother to fake such less sought-after blends as Quai d’Orsay or Saint Luis Rey.”
	The Glass-top Cohiba Esplendidos: the most popular fakes on the market. Many casual smokers may not be aware that the production and sale of fake Habanos has become a multi-million dollar industry. Last year a sting operation discovered over two dozen illegal cigar production facilities in Cuba complete with thousands of authentic boxes and near-perfectly printed bands wrapped around cigars rolled with Cuban tobacco, and/or some blend of whatever tobacco leaves these illegal production houses can secure from other sources. The Ultimate Counterfeit Cuban Cigar Primer is a wealth of information regarding the authenticity of Cuban cigars, highlighting the specific details to look for when examining boxes and cigars. This site is recommended reading for any Habanos smoker, especially if you plan on purchasing cigars from an unknown source or planning a trip to a tourist attraction outside of the United States to enjoy a few Habanos. Although short this quarter, I hope you enjoy this article and find more details at the site mentioned in the previous paragraph. May your habano smoking experiences be pleasant, be they real or be they not.

Habanos or Faux-banos?