A friend gave me a box of five Cohiba Esplendidos. And before I spark one I would like to know if they are the real McKoy or not. Quit frankly I think this cigars are not authentic from cuba as they claim they are…...if in fact this are fakes then I will destroy them…but before I do something like that I need your help to figure out if this cigars are the real thing or knock-offs. I have posted pics so you can help me come to a conclusion. Here are the links to the pics. Thanks for you time

http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2006250770941079343

http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002338144543325785

I think they are fakes. Take a look at our comprehensive side-by-side comparison of fake vs real cohiba esplendidos here http://havanajournal.com/cigars/cohibas .

If he did not buy them INSIDE an authorized Casa Del Habano, they are most likely fake.

A box of 25 should cost about $500 IN CUBA.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Thank You for your input. I don’t know the exact story of how my friend got them, but he does claim that they are the real deal. I have visted the article you pointed out to me. The article is very imformative. The article points out that the real cohiba band has a gold ink and is slightly raised, the ones I have don’t show that.
I am days away to dissecting one of the cigars and using the information that is provided on this website to come to my conclusion.

It would be a tragedy to dissect a real cohiba but at least you would know that you have 24 good ones left. If you cut it up and it is junk, you have not smoked junk. If you cut one open you should see whole leaves with the hard veins cut out. If you find shredded tobacco you have a fake. If you find one fake they are all fakes.

People want to believe they got a good deal but fakes are probably more common than real cohibas.

Also, you don’t want to smoke fakes, they could be banana leaves or who knows what! Obviously there is no quality control in fakes because the sellers don’t care about repeat business. Once a Cuban criminal sells you a box of fakes, they don’t want you to find them again.

Check the box. There is a fake cohiba box page link at the bottom of that link I posted above.

Get it?

Actaully the package I have is only a five cigar Esplendidos not twenty five. I have looked all over the net to see an actual picture like the package I have. But I have not seen one, please take one more look at the pics I have posted..and give me some feedback….If when I dissect a cigar I will post the results here along with picture of the material inside, so the whole world can see what comunism as done to the world of cigar aficionados.  LOL

I looked at the cigar label photos you posted and they look fake. I have never heard of a box of five Cohibas so that would be another strike but I could be wrong.

Ok I couldn’t wait any longer, so I opened the box of the Cohiba Esplendidos that my friend gave me and removed one cigar to dissect it and see the insides and compare it to the pictures provided on this site. After doing so I have come to the conclusion the the Esplendidos that I have are NOT genuine. There was not a single leaf with a “V” shape. It was leaves all right, but diffrent kinds of leafs all diffrent colors and aroma. I have provided some pictures of my operation on the cigar so you can see for yourself, I think the pictures speak for them selfs.

You have to click both links to see all the pictures:

http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003444477817682719

http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000548238903653243

Ramon,

Thanks for taking one for the team and cutting up a Cohiba. Sad to find out but at least now you know. Also, those other leaves could be banana leaves or some other crap just swept off the floor. I would not suggest smoking them. Since they are fakes they have been made by criminals and cheaters who probably do not have any quality control.

Throw them out or save for teaching aids for others.

Thanks for posting here at the Havana Journal. Glad we could help.

Thanks for your reply, your website has been instrumental in educating myself and other brothers on this topic. As I dissected the cigar I could not help but actually enjoying the aroma of the fake cohiba, who ever did this tried it’s best in reproducing the real thing. I found that the leafs insde were very fresh and strong in it’s aroma, alomost temping to smoke. But you are absolutely right you just never know what you are smoking. I can’t wait to tell my friend this story.

Although Cohibas are sold in five packs, I instantly knew they were fakes.  Cohibas are NEVER wrapped in cellophane.  EVER!  The band is a terrible reproduction as well.

Buy any good cigars lately?

cheval47 - 01 March 2007 03:55 PM

Although Cohibas are sold in five packs, I instantly knew they were fakes.  Cohibas are NEVER wrapped in cellophane.  EVER!  The band is a terrible reproduction as well.

Although the specimen presented here definitely fakes (short filler, glass top boxes, horrible bands), I’ve seen and smoked Cohibas that were wrapped in celophane.  These were from the 80’s.

I’ll go for the fake ones, too.