Fake or real?

[KoreanCowboy]

Not sure on how the ash is different then any other cigar no matter what it's still burnt tobacco in the end

Cuban ashes are definitely different in color and density compared to NC's.

[Bclass1]

Cuban ashes are definitely different in color and density compared to NC's.

X2 on this

[aes8]

Cuban ashes are definitely different in color and density compared to NC's.

X2 on this

Wow, just wow.

[El Presidente]

I have some time in the warehouse next week. How about I showcase the diversity of Maduro 5 wrappers.

[Pedro2486]

I have some time in the warehouse next week. How about I showcase the diversity of Maduro 5 wrappers.

That would be a cool comparison to see prez. I know the Magicos I have there is a big variation in wrapper colours, but none look like the OP

[Ken Gargett]

i remember we were in cuba when they were originally released and they were seriously dark. but i don't remember them being rough. i'll dig out a box and if it reveals anything, report back.

[Ken Gargett]

Hi all, someone just sent me what I believe to be a fake Cohiba Maduro 5. This thing is darker than most nc maduros and doesn't even taste cuban. I'm not very experienced with this marca and any opinions or input about this cigar would be appreciated. Thanks!

i have just pulled out a box i bought in cuba on release. i will try and take/load a photo tomorrow. the code is EMA AGO 07 and the cigars were first released from the 2007 vintage.

but comparing the two, not much difference. if someone compared the two and said that the one in the photos here was simply a not very well rolled example then you could not argue.

very little difference in colour. mine might be marginally lighter but so close that it would not be compelling evidence.

the "maduro" on the band in the photo appears to be considerably brighter than mine but that could easily be the light from a flash or even a window,

as for the triple cap, bit of variation in the box but for most, looking at them it is very hard to see much evidence of the triple cap.

the one here is more veiny than mine but some do have evidence of veins (remember that as these were the original release, so every chance that they were made to be as good as they would ever get and subsequent releases might be less exemplary - which would add to the evidence for those who believe not a fake).

there are some of those 'liver spots' on mine, as there are here.

the one in the photo does appear rougher but who knows how the friend carried it. and remember again, original box. they would have been top notch. and this is the first time the box opened since purchase. tough comparison.

not conclusive i fully accept, but, for me, there are variations on the theme. that said, there is nothing in those photos that would provide smoking gun evidence to say that they are fakes, when compared to mine.

not saying that they are not, but there is more than reasonable doubt.

without other evidence, i am in the 'these are not fakes' camp.

[bingobaron]

i'm afraid that it is almost certainly a fake. No triple cap and poor quality wrapper is a giveaway. I have a couple of boxes of these that I compared the photos to and the ones in the photos don't come close. Combined with the fact that the taste is off, this is a fairly obvious case of fake cigars. The taste of these is exceptional and very cuban indeed. Cohiba wouldn't let a cigar looking like that out of the factory.

[Ken Gargett]

. Cohiba wouldn't let a cigar looking like that out of the factory.

whether fake or not (for me, need more than those photos to decide that but if taste seriously dodgy then most likely) but that bit above i'd dispute.

i purchased one of the reserva mixed boxes from cohiba - trev describes them as 2003 - Reserva Selección, tho mine dated 2002 (30 mixed cigars, one of the early truly special releases) - the first box i got had half the bands missing. so to suggest cohiba would not let something like that out the factory is something i think is demonstrably very wrong.

[Smallclub]

Sorry Smallclub, as I respect a lot of your posts on this site as well as your demeanor to a point, it is utterly impossible to tell someone that "the wrapper in the picture is not cuban" solely based on that picture alone..

I reiterate: I've never seen a toothy wrapper on a habano, not even on a cheap Piedra or machine made of the past…

[Ken Gargett]

guys, pure speculation but what if our friend who made the gift had carried it around in a bag or a pocket or something, not realising that cigars need TLC. it would start to very quickly look a bit wonky.

[JoeyGunz]

Only have the secretos but burned one last night

These were original release I think so 7 years age?

Draw was slightly tighter than perfect

absolutely beautiful smoke, so well rounded, balanced and flavourful, floral but with coffee and cocoa, smoked slow and long as well.

I'd say you can definitely tell they're Cuban from the flavour.

[thebigk]

Wow, just wow.

Thank you

[stargazer14]

i'm afraid that it is almost certainly a fake. No triple cap and poor quality wrapper is a giveaway. I have a couple of boxes of these that I compared the photos to and the ones in the photos don't come close. Combined with the fact that the taste is off, this is a fairly obvious case of fake cigars. The taste of these is exceptional and very cuban indeed. Cohiba wouldn't let a cigar looking like that out of the factory.

As has been stated, these come in all shapes and sizes (and I would imagine - flavors).

Here is a shot of one of mine from the original release - a triple cap can be seen on this one but there are others where it can not.

And it looks like ****. This happens. It does not mean your cigar, or someone elses, is fake.

[Armaniac]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I guess I'll try a guaranteed real Maduro from the LCDH in Montreal and compare. Thx again.

[santela]

I recently purchased two boxes of Monte Petit Edmundos from the same legit vendor, and the color difference between the two boxes were pretty darn significant. The one on the right almost looks maduro to me. Funny thing is they both have exactly the same box codes too.

So I guess the moral of the story is to not judge a cigar by its wrapper.

[rcarlson]

I recently purchased two boxes of Monte Petit Edmundos from the same legit vendor, and the color difference between the two boxes were pretty darn significant. The one on the right almost looks maduro to me. Funny thing is they both have exactly the same box codes too.

So I guess the moral of the story is to not judge a cigar by its wrapper.

The give away for me was not the color. It was the quality (roughness) of the wrapper, along with the absence of a visible triple cap and the shot of the foot.

[El Presidente]

I see colour variation within the same box code of the same mastercase all the time.

I have seen silky smooth MPE and MPE that look like they were hit by the ugly stick.

If the vendor is legit then there is no problem outside of Tabacuba quality control

[Arazk9]

Hi amo! From this photo it seems like the third row of the squares are cut off a tiny bit. I might be wrong about that but I can almost clearly see that there is a thin white line between the yellow "Habana, Cuba" and the black "maduro". That, and the triple cap missing, and the non-cuban taste tells me this is a fake

[nikesupremedunk]

I reiterate: I've never seen a toothy wrapper on a habano, not even on a cheap Piedra or machine made of the past…

That's very surprising, given the crappy quality control of Habanos. Take a look at these 1966's which are supposed to be one of the highest quality cigars exported out of Cuba. Couple of them had rough toothy wrappers (2 on the right) and if I didn't trust the source I would have immediately thought fakes. Luckily they don't affect how the cigars smoke, but pretty disappointing to pay ~$50 for a stick that looks worse than a $5 NC.

[Smallclub]

Take a look at these 1966's which are supposed to be one of the highest quality cigars exported out of Cuba. Couple of them had rough toothy wrappers (2 on the right)

These 2 cigars aren't really toothy. The wrappers are dry, have huge veins and are poorly implemented.

Toothy is more like:

[CaptainQuintero]

Toothy? What the heck does that mean? Chewed on? Looks like someone has chewed on it?

[...]

Toothy? What the heck does that mean? Chewed on? Looks like someone has chewed on it?

Refers to sandpaper-like feel of the wrapper, with tiny little bumps protruding out on the surface.

[RijkdeGooier]

The sandpaper wrapper is usually an indication of non-cuban origin, mainly Nicaraguan

[CaptainQuintero]

like bumpy and hairy/fuzzy?

If so I've seen it on Liga Privada flying pigs, very tasty this toothy stuff