However, if you are in the enviable position of purchasing one in person, there are several keys to look for in detecting a fake Cuban. The Cuban government uses strict regulations to protect its cigar industry from cheaters. By the way, the country is also very aggressive in its pursuit of illegal sales.
One way to determine authenticity is to look for the Cuban government’s warranty stamp. Since 1912, Cuba has been using the same stamp that seals the opening of every cigar box. The ornate stamp is wrapped around one corner of the box and sealing the lid to the bottom. Check to see that the seal is intact if you are buying an entire box.
Check the bottom of the box where three inscriptions are burned. These inscriptions say “Habanos s.a.,” the name of the Cuban export company, “Hecho en Cuba” in an oval, and the third is “totalmente a mano” to indicate it was made by hand. Boxes manufactured between 1985 and 1994 will have “Cubatabaco” inscribed on them.
Beginning in 1994, manufacturers began placing a self-adhesive rectangular sticker with the word “Habanos” across one of the top corners. Finally, a code is stamped in blue or purple ink on the bottom of the box that indicates the factory where the cigars were made and the date they were made.
The opened box should contain a thin cedar strip and a sheet of transparent paper between it and the cigars. Beneath that should be exactly thirteen cigars. As for the cigars themselves, they should appear uniform in color with a well-made appearance, no blemishes, cracks, prominent veins, or holes. Check the second level, too, because some counterfeiters might try putting real Cubans or high-quality fakes on the top and lesser quality below.
Regardless of how much effort you put into spotting a counterfeit, it is always possible to get fooled. However, by taking a few precautionary steps you can improve your odds or even prevent someone from trying to fool you with a simple display of knowledge.
