Every cigar smoker will, sooner or later, be faced with this dilemma.
A friend or relative, knowing your fancy of cigars, hands you as a gift what they believe to be the golden choice of cigar smokers- a Cuban cigar. Or, at least, what they believe to be a Cuban cigar.
One look at the label, though, tells you this is a counterfeit.
What do you say? Do you burst their bubble and tell them, “Thanks, but this is a fake”?
Or do you just thank them kindly, knowing that this is truly one of those cases when the thought is what counts- and not the gift! Probably the choice most of us have made.
Of course, if you believe that your friend is actually purchasing these at great cost, you will want to – gently, probably – let them know whoever they are purchasing these from is not reputable.
Not an easy thing to do, for sure.
If you’re lucky you realize the quality as soon as you receive the counterfeit; the label is so flawed that you know it’s not real. Sometimes it takes to actually light up to realize the subterfuge. Whether or not the label passes muster, once the cigar is lit the smoke, aroma and taste will surely give it away. If you’re lucky, the counterfeit is at least a “smokeable” alternative.
Alas, many of us have had to take the “put it out and throw it away right now” option. Oh, well. It’s the thought that counts, remember?
Why are Cuban cigars so expensive? And why are they in demand?
Goes back to Economics 101 – supply and demand.
The supply is low- and Cuban cigars have the notoriety of good quality tobacco, hence the demand is high, results in high cost. And attractiveness to counterfeiters.
What should you know about Cuban cigars, and how to spot the fakes?
All Cuban cigars are called Habanos, and are controlled by a government corporation of the same name. Cigars are collected each day from the various factories and sent to the Habanos warehouse to await distribution. Located throughout the world are authorized Habanos dealers who get a large portion of these cigars, although the quantities shipped represent only a small proportion of what the dealer’s desire. A much smaller portion of the factory output is divided amongst the 20 or so domestic cigar stores, almost all of which are located in Havana.
Every week or two, the Havana stores receive an allotment of cigars, mostly small cigars but also a few of the large models (robustos, churchills, torpedoes, double coronas) that everybody is looking for.
You cannot hop a plane to Havana on a whim and buy any cigar you want. Large-size cigars are very difficult to find. Relatively few are produced, and only a fraction is sold in Cuba. Spread these precious few around to all the domestic and international dealers vying for them, and you can understand why few store-bought Cuban cigars ever reach America.
While it is possible to buy Cuban cigars in countries such as Mexico and Canada and then resell them in America, there is minimal profit in buying a box in Mexico for, say, $325, and reselling it for $400. Tobacco taxes usually nullify this third-country concept in every country but one: Spain. Factor into the equation the risk of losing cigars to customs, and it becomes clear that reselling cigars bought abroad doesn't make much business sense. Smugglers are interested only in making money, and their preferred method is to buy a box of counterfeit cigars for $30 in Havana and sell it for $400 in the States.
Even if they wanted to buy legitimate Habanos they couldn't, since there aren't enough available. Store prices in Cuba have recently risen 40%, forcing even more smugglers to the dark side in an attempt to maintain large profit margins.
Thus, the counterfeit cigar business is booming. Hundreds of street hustlers in Havana will offer to sell cigars to anyone who doesn't look Cuban. The more sophisticated smugglers operate large private factories that turn out thousands of boxes of the top brands, although the tobacco quality and construction of these cigars will never approach the strict quality standards of a real Cuban factory.
The Cuban police are trying to control the situation, but so far they are losing the battle. Additionally, some of these illicit cigar factories have sprung up in Central America, where there is an abundance of good rollers and tobacco. The cigars are shipped to the U.S. as non-Cubans and re-packed in counterfeit Cuban boxes.
The bottom line is that the cigar craze in America has awakened a deep thirst for Cuban cigars, which has spawned a whole underground industry. Unfortunately, the counterfeiters are getting better and better at their craft.
Excellent site for verifying the validity of your “Cuban” cigar:
The following is also a good site to look at regarding the methods to use when inspecting your cigar gift:
INTERESTING WEB SITE
Although this site has not been updated in some recent time, you could spend hours looking over the material that is on it including the excellent photographs included in the site.
Take a look, and bookmark:
http://www.policeny.com/“LEST WE FORGET…” THE NYPD MEMORIAL
February 1, 1935 Sgt George Nadler, ESU, Explosion-investigation
February 2, 1975 PO Frank Bugdin, Midtown North, Shot-investigation
February 4, 1933 Sgt Eugene Monahan, 34 Pct, Shot: Robbery pursuit
February 6, 1864 Ptl John Hoffman, 25 Pct – Accident, runaway horse
February 6, 1864 Ptl Austin Easterbrook, NFI
February 6, 1914 Ptl Edward Murtha, 147 Pct, Shot-Robbery investigation
February 6, 1944 Ptl Eugene Mahoney, 5 Det Sq, Auto accident on patrol
February 9, 1963 Det Richard Arundell, DetDiv, LOD Heart attack
February 10, 1926 Ptl Frank White, 35 Pct, Shot-Burglary in progress
February 11, 1966 Ptl Stanley Butch, Harbor, Fell from boat
February 11, 1982 PO James Carragher, PSA1, Shot: Off duty robbery
February 12, 1930 Ptl George Miller, 22 Pct, Auto accident on patrol
February 12, 1936 Ptl James Young, Mounted, Shot-robbery
February 12, 1940 Ptl John Holt, 28 Pct, Off-duty burglary
February 12, 1980 PO Robert Bilodeau, SCU, Shot-investigation
February 13, 1918 Ptl Samuel Rosenfeld, 102 Pct, Shot-Robbery in progress
February 14, 1921 Ptl John Sheridan, 70 Pct, Line of duty incident
February 14, 1925 Det Chester Hagan, DetDiv, Shot-investigation
February 14, 1963 Ptl Vincent Zichetella, 14 Pct, Shot-robbery
February 14, 1984 PO Thomas Ruotolo, 41 Pct, Shot-Robbery
February 14, 1999 PO Matthew Dziergowski, 123 Pct, Auto accident
February 15, 1917 Ptl Samuel Cunningham, 42 Pct, Shot-GLA Arrest
February 15, 1932 Ptl James Goodwin, 34 Pct, Shot-off duty robbery
February 15, 1971 Det Joseph Piciano, 41 Sq, Shot by prisoner
Note to readers: You can conduct a “search” on this Blog for “
Bilodeau” for more information on PO Robert Bilodeau who was killed in the line of duty on February 12, 1980. Bilodeau was awarded his second Medal of Honor posthumously after this incident.
Readers are also encouraged to send comments, suggestions and criticisms to the Minister of Investigation at:
Ltjac77@yahoo.com