A travesty I hope to fix...

[benday]

Bro, I'm not the guru of all things Cohiba, but see that double row of white dots on the top of the band? It should be three dots, not two. There are guys on here that know a lot more than me, but I don't think real ones ever had a band with only two dots. I could be wrong, but I don't think so. That said, try the tupperware humidor, and bring them up slowly, (over a couple of months), to 65% humidity, starting from 50. I rehabilitated some Romeo Y Julieta tubos in this manner, and while they never got back to where they should have been, they were still pretty good. I've had some fake Cohibas in the past that were really pretty decent, but nothing like the real deal. Good luck, and do go to the intro thread and introduce yourself. There are a lot of great folks here that may just lead you down the slippery slope of cigar madness.

you're right in many ways...cohiba did have a label with two dots on top band but from my research it was from 94-2000's (someone please correct me if i'm wrong here) and three dots was from late 60's-94? and current?

 

[dpricenator]

I just spoke with a guru on the subject, and he said there were cello'd lances with 2 dots. Of course you are a long ways form knowing if they are real.

he said he would come in a take a look later on.

 

[benday]

Let's clarify some stuff since a lot of info. is being thrown around.

On the dots... from the 70s to 1993, the label was very simple, dark, and had 3 rows of dots above... and just said COHIBA.

However, for a decade after that, 1993 to 2003, we went with 2 rows of dots above and added La Habana, Cuba... EXACTLY as yours look.

From 2003 to now, is where you have 3 rows of dots again and an embossed finish... the La was also dropped.

More to follow (1000 character limit per post).

you worded it much better than i...the confusing piece it the mashup of older and newer packaging all contained within this box.

 

[strife]

It looks like there's some sort of factory code on the box. The bands match pre 2003 Cohiba from what I can see in these pics. Why would counterfeiters go through the trouble of making such perfect bands and then slap cellos on them if it's an obvious tell. If there is a factory code we can narrow down the date manufactured by the codes style. We'd need closeups of any printing on the box for a better assessment.

 

[terabyteme]

So you need a piture of the botom of the box, where the "hecho en Cuba" Stamp is? or where?
If so here it is. If not... tell me off lol

 

[terabyteme]

So ones like pictures 1 and 2? Theres no sticker thing in the bottom of my box like in yours, if thats what you need?

 

[terabyteme]

also, you said there were 4 pictures in your post, but the fourth is a repost of number 2, so if what else you need is in that, i don't have the reference

 

[terabyteme]

I don't see a stamp like that anywhere... either they're fake, or i'm not looking in the right place i guess?

 

[pnoguy]

See? I KNEW somebody smarter than me would chime in!

 

[terabyteme]

Just ink

 

[terabyteme]

Well... if they put all that work into making that realistic of a fake, i might still put in the work to make them good again. they're still fairly aromatic, even with 5 years without a humi, and tasted pretty good, even though they were weak i'm hoping just from being dry as they were. Can I still assume they're cuban, considering they have the export seal? or is the stamping being not impressed proof they weren't exported from cuba?

 

[jwintosh]

good thread! thanks for the info!!

 

[terabyteme]

I was already prepared for it ot take months lol. The way i see it, if i can get these baby's in smoking shape, and they keep and or enhance the flavors they have now, they'll be worth the months of work.

 

[dpricenator]

Hey, it was fun... I was pullin' for them to be real dang it! Haha! Unfortunately, few similar stories (and I've heard a lot of them over the years) turn out to end with legit product. :crytears:

meee tooo. That would have been an awesome score. My love for lanceros had me drooling. Hopefully they are decent once you get them revived.

 

[Fox]

Well done, AZ. Very informative thread.

 

[Alwayslit]

Good thread. Nice work AZCigarNut.

 

[indyrob]

That pic alone tells me it's from 1989 to 1994, pre Habanos SA... and given your band, that means they're either from 1993 or 1994!!!

Take a pic of the ink stamp with the codes now.

All of your info is spot on except for the Cubatobaco did date stamp from the early 80's on I believe.
I really want to say 1985 is when they started, but it's been a while since I've had to pull that trivia fact out of my butt.

 

[dpricenator]

no butt trivia Rob.

 

[Jwrussell]

They look legit... and were given to him by a cuban he let stay in his motor home for a few weeks after Katrina hit. *shrug*

Side note, are Cohiba's any good, atleast when they're real? I know nothing about cigars, let alone cubans lol

I worked with a Cuban when I first started in this industry. Used to take trips back to Cuba on a regular basis and he would bring back boxes that he would then sell to my coworkers. I have no doubt the boxes came from Cuba. They were still complete and UTTER fakes. Might have been rolled with cuban tobacco, but they were not legit cigars from the factories there. In fact, they were so obvious it was funny. They were cigars that one could easily verify Cuba didn't even make (mostly Limited Editions that never were). 99% chance those are fake Cohibas. Could be cuban tobacco, could not. If you want to try, buy yourself a small tupperware-like container at Walmart or some such, bet yourself some 65% Heartfelt beads and SLOWLY bring them up to 65% RH.

As has been said, fake or legit, they will never be what they should be, but they may be smokeable.

 

[Jwrussell]

Oops, came in WAY late on this one. :rofl: