Rare Cubans

[brian1]

I wouldnt touch those cigars with a ten foot pole! Without proper HSA provenance they are worthless to me. A nice story and curiosity but thats it. Any collector that would drop serious coin on these with just a good story is stupid.

[ChanceSchmerr]

I spent an hour or so looking at these cigars and the boxes. I took several pictures. They are very real and legit. Michael Jordan recently has purchased boxes at his Celebrity Golf event in Nassau to smoke -- not collect.

Until someone actually smokes a cigar and reports back, we cannot be 100% certain - Come on, Cohibas are the most counterfeited cigar brand in the world by far! Appearance alone can no longer be the sole determinant.

Jordan was the best on the court, but also known as a compulsive and sometimes reckless gambler. He can afford to blow a chunk of cash on a good story + 'cohiba' cigars. The rest of us ....can't.

Maybe they are real! I'm just saying that we will very likely never know.

[Van55]

Maybe they are real! I'm just saying that we will very likely never know.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "real." Certainly they are really cigars in nice packaging. Are they Behike overruns? I agree that we probably will never know for sure. The Cubans will say about them whatever they think the listener wants to hear. But your right. They can't really say they're genuine Behikes, and they cant really say they're counterfeit knock-offs for the reasons you expressed earlier.

Put me squarely in the camp of those who would not pay dearly for them, as my logic tells me that the story being told about them has too many holes in it to be factual. That plus the fact that proven counterfeit purveyor VitaSea peddled "Behikes" with much the same story line, absent the numbered bands.

[ChanceSchmerr]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "real."

By "real" I mean legit, true Cohibas. Of course they are real and not imagined haha

[Colt45]

By "real" I mean legit, true Cohibas. Of course they are real and not imagined haha

Well.......

If they are an unofficial (private or otherwise), unsanctioned release, can they legitimately be called cohiba? Can they legitimately be called

a habanos product at all? What are they if they went out the back door (not suggesting that's the case)? Yet they wear cohiba bands.

They were not "good enough" to go into the humidors, yet they wear behike bands and have been numbered as behikes. So the initial production

number of four thousand is incorrect? Every question leads to another question (for me). I think that if I were on the Habanos and / or Imperial

side of things I might be a bit irritated. I love a good mystery.

And we haven't even touched upon the Russian diplomatic humidor........

[brutusthebuckeye]

"Like sand thru the hour glass" These Are The Days of Fake or Real "Behike"

Real or Fake doesnt matter to me cuz i can't afford them!!!!!

But the drama is epic!!!!!!!

[Van55]

And we haven't even touched upon the Russian diplomatic humidor........

Our Russian friend, cigarros, touched upon the Russian humidor:

In this video on 06:40 when he tells about gifts for russian goverment I had doubts. I specially asked President of Moscow Cigar Club about this cigars Palmas Real. He has some friends in goverments who smoke cigars. If cigars have been produced in 2008 the President of Moscow Cigar Club would know about their existence. But he did not see this cigars though as I know he happens near the Kremlin

I not assured but it seems like a bluff))

I think by "bluff" he means "counterfeit."

[Habanos2000]

Well.......

If they are an unofficial (private or otherwise), unsanctioned release, can they legitimately be called cohiba? Can they legitimately be called a habanos product at all?

I'd have to vote NO on both counts.

[cigarros]

Our Russian friend, cigarros, touched upon the Russian humidor:

I think by "bluff" he means "counterfeit."

Can not doubt, if cubans have made for our government though one cigar, we would know about! We have some friends who knows about it more than we're! On Cuba and in Russia. I declare responsibly that for Russia сubans didn't do such cigars. Puff.com deceive us!

Cheers!

[Van55]

Can not doubt, if cubans have made for our government though one cigar, we would know about! We have some friends who knows about it more than we're! On Cuba and in Russia. I declare responsibly that for Russia сubans didn't do such cigars. Puff.com deceive us!

Cheers!

Thanks for confirming that, cigarros.

So if the Russian diplomatic cigars are not as described by Adam of HH, what does that say about the "Behikes?" I continue to hope that he is merely passing on the (apparent) misinformation he was given about these cigars by his contact in Cuba rather than intentionally advertising counterfeit "rare" issue cigars.

Incidentally, his posts on the thread at cA confirm that his video at puff.com was an advertising bit that he did at the request of Jon Caputo who, he says, has been a regular client of his. Those of us who have had direct contact with Caputo know that Adam's relationship with him is not a great character reference for Adam.

[brutusthebuckeye]

Van....He said that he will get the proof from Jimmy when in Havana!!!!!!!

What if Jimmy has them????

Tune in next time for.............................

[Van55]

Van....He said that he will get the proof from Jimmy when in Havana!!!!!!!

What if Jimmy has them????

I understand you are referring to Jimmy Ng. I really don't know anything about Jimmy, so I don't know what his having a box of these would prove other than that there's more than one person who can be sold a line of stuff by Adam's Cuban "source" for these.

What do you think it would show and why?

There's a guy named James Yee who answers cigar-related questions on the web site allexperts.com. (I don't think much of the guy's expertise, personally."

Here's a question and answer from June 4, 2009:

Expert: James Yee - 6/4/2009

Question

QUESTION: Hello there,first I will like to apologize because maybe you will consider this like a ofense but please be sure that is not,last month I was in habana and I found a person with 3 Humidor cohiba behike by the price of each of 5000 us,knowing all the history about this particular cigar I checked a few times all but they all look alike,so finally the seller told me that they knows the person that made the cigars and the workers capable of made the boxes and they went to work in this proyect until they finish the 3 humidor behike,considering the price of the original boxes I consider that at this price a box of cohiba behike even if is fake is a bargain,please what do you think about it,thanks for your time.

ANSWER: Hi Edo,

It's very likely that the cigars are NOT genuine. The Cohiba Behike is an extremely expensive cigar that was produced in a very small quantity (only 4000 cigars and 100 humidors produced; 40 cigars per humidor) so it doesn't make sense that the seller is selling three of these humidors - complete with cigars - for only $5000 US dollars each.

The original price of the Behike humidors (w/40 Behike cigars each) was over $18,000 US dollars per humidor. Since then, the price for these cigars have actually increased so it's hard to believe that these cigars are genuine Behikes being sold for only $5000.

I believe that the seller is trying to sell to you counterfeit Behike cigars. If the cigars were real Behikes, I don't think he would sell them for only $5000. These cigars are very likely counterfeit cigars and although they will contain Cuban tobacco, the tobacco is most likely low-quality tobacco grown by counterfeiters and/or independent tobacco farmers in Cuba.

Hopes this answers your question. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,

James

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes ,he explain me that but remember that in cuba that is a lot of money,thanks for your anserw,thanks a lot,but I will buy one for me anyway just to show to mine friends that I have one jajaj

ANSWER: Hi Edo,

Even in Cuba, in the La Casa del Habanos stores (which is the official, authorized Habanos retailer), the price of the Behike humidor was still approximately $18,000.00 USD. $5,000 is simply too low and very suspicious. I don't believe the cigars are genuine.

Regards,

James.

I quote this here not so much for the answer as for the question, which shows that these "Behikes" have been offered on the street in Cuba.

[brutusthebuckeye]

Interesting ...Thanks for that!!!!!!!!

If Jimmy has them i guess it makes him a bit more crediable but thats about it...i guess thats what he is after or he would not be posting it on CA!!!!!

[SnakeHips]

Thanks for confirming that, cigarros.

So if the Russian diplomatic cigars are not as described by Adam of HH, what does that say about the "Behikes?" I continue to hope that he is merely passing on the (apparent) misinformation he was given about these cigars by his contact in Cuba rather than intentionally advertising counterfeit "rare" issue cigars.

Incidentally, his posts on the thread at cA confirm that his video at puff.com was an advertising bit that he did at the request of Jon Caputo who, he says, has been a regular client of his. Those of us who have had direct contact with Caputo know that Adam's relationship with him is not a great character reference for Adam.

I'd be anyone's best friend if they were a regular stream of income...

[mrcoin]

They are fakes. We'll be seeing the proof soon enough, but not on cA. LOFL

[Van55]

My friend the_Manitis noticed that the cigar on the top row of the box shown in the video has number 4581 on the left. If these supposed post-production Behikes were boxed in 40's beginning with number 4001, the top left cigar in the Havana Humidor box should be numbered 4561. I think the box is completely bogus and the story provided in the video is ridiculous. Somebody got conned!

[Van55]

This all grows curiouser and curiouser.

I found Jimmy Ng's website and poked around a bit. He has photos there of an actual Behike Elie Bleu humidor. Lo and behold he also has photos of what he labels' "Gift Behikes" http://www.lacasacubana.com/cigars06.htm

Note that the box looks a lot like the one shown in the puff video (albeit of a totally different

color, but the cigars inside do not have numbered Behike bands, but seem to have the Palma Real diplomatic bands described in the video.

It's just possible that the illustrious Mr. Cigar (Ng) got conned as well.

[Buch0]

Well spotted Van but one cant help and think surely such obvious differences would be spotted by even someone such as him?? They are not subtle discrepancies by any means, maybe they are just posted for visual purposes on his website?

Unbelievable whatever the story is behind it anyway.. The plot doesn't cease in thickening.

[mrcoin]

How about some more fuel for the fire?

Both Jimmy Ng's box and Adams Befakee box have two latches. Has anyone here ever seen any Cuban box or humi with two latches??????

[Van55]

The Havana House video tale unravels further.

You will recall that, on the video, Adam Collins says that the box of Cohiba Sublimes and Sublimes Extra was made for Raul Castro to give to Russian dignitaries during his visit to that country in "late 2008 I think." Research reveals that Raul Castro did not even visit Russia in 2008. His very first visit to Russia and the first visit to Russia by any Cuban head of state since the Cold War took place last month and early this month.

http://www.topnews.in/raul-castro-first-vi...old-war-2116728

So the question becomes -- did Adam lie on the video or did he simply pass on erroneous information given him by his Cuban "source?"

[thechenman]

The Havana House video tale unravels further.

You will recall that, on the video, Adam Collins says that the box of Cohiba Sublimes and Sublimes Extra was made for Raul Castro to give to Russian dignitaries during his visit to that country in "late 2008 I think." Research reveals that Raul Castro did not even visit Russia in 2008. His very first visit to Russia and the first visit to Russia by any Cuban head of state since the Cold War took place last month and early this month.

http://www.topnews.in/raul-castro-first-vi...old-war-2116728

So the question becomes -- did Adam lie on the video or did he simply pass on erroneous information given him by his Cuban "source?"

Curiouser and curiouser...as the plot thickens.

[cigarros]

So the question becomes -- did Adam lie on the video or did he simply pass on erroneous information given him by his Cuban "source?"

Of course he lie! His cuban sources lie ditto! Russian dignitaries didn't receive such gifts for last year! My sources in Moscow don't confirm this information)) Two years ago I could receive as a gift one cigar from box that were presented by Raul Castro to one russian vice-premier. It was Partagas Salomones Espanola from Commemorative Humidors 1995. Fantastic cigar! But last year cubans didn't do such gifts and especially unknown Palmas Real shown by Adam Collins. Our sources would give us such information and picks if they're were presented....

[mrcoin]

Of course he lie! His cuban sources lie ditto! Russian dignitaries didn't receive such gifts for last year! My sources in Moscow don't confirm this information)) Two years ago I could receive as a gift one cigar from box that were presented by Raul Castro to one russian vice-premier. It was Partagas Salomones Espanola from Commemorative Humidors 1995. Fantastic cigar! But last year cubans didn't do such gifts and especially unknown Palmas Real shown by Adam Collins. Our sources would give us such information and picks if they're were presented....

Thanks for the information cigarros. May I quote you on that? If not I'll respect your wishes.

[cigarros]

[Van55]

I misread the news piece. Raul's visit was in late January to early February of 2009. That might be close enough to "late 2008" for many. I apologize. But that doesn't detract from cigarros' unimpeachable information that Raul never gave boxes of Cohiba Sublimes and Sublimes Extra to Russian officials during, before or since his visit.