twizz
IITYWYBMAB
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2009
- Messages
- 332
In being my first post here, please advise if I'm out line with anything I say, but I'm hoping to get some insight/advice/intellectual conversation (I'm usually left looking crazy, talking to myself in search of the latter).
So I hadn't had a good cigar in probably six months, just lots of life things going on that I didn't sit down for one. Even found some (destroyed) oldies in the humidors (table and travel). My boss and I were discussing his upcoming order of cubans, and I asked to get in on it, and he said no problem, so I spent the time and got the humidors back up to spec, fresh battery in the hydrogometer, etc. Pricing was on the soft side of right (~250/box), and he indicated that he found his source's source, and is going direct to him. In the meantime, I placed a small order of 10 sticks from an overseas vendor with a great rep (love to talk to anyone with experience with those), and got a box of Onxy Reserve mini-belicosos to fill up the empty space.
He sends me a text message yesterday saying he was on his way there and asked what I wanted (he was getting Monte #2s). I told him I'd prefer any Cohiba (A Cuban Cohiba is the most memorable smoke I've ever had, and I was a 3 stick a day guy for three years) for myself, and I'd like a few of his Monte 2s. While I never anticipate his arrival at work, this Monday morning was a little different, but why wouldn't it be when he's bearing such gifts.
I'm immediately excited by the 'Edicion Limitada 2007' band across the top left corner of the Cohiba Piramides box, but what sets me off is the warranty seal on the RIGHT side of the box (don't they come on the left). That, and the fact that Cohiba wasn't a party to the 07 EL. Its been too long since I've had a Cohiba in my hand to compare, but all of these small things are adding up to my 99% confidence level of a fake.
Hopefully some more experienced members can weigh in on this before I break the bad news to him, so let me answer some obvious questions: These are represented as domestic market Cubans, with the hologram sticker on the lid. Warranty seal has microprinting in the proper places, as well as the UV mark. Box is of the standard 13-12 arrangement (what do you call this thing again). Hinges on the back are on the smaller side (<1 inch). Box code is SOR NOV 06. I have yet to find an SOR code anywhere online, let alone for a Cohiba. Cohiba Brand Sticker on the inside of the lid has a white border after the gold border (don't recall seeing this anywhere else). Cigars themselves seem to be well made, but each has at least one large vein protruding from the wrapper. I can post pics if you guys would like to see what I have.
Has anyone else encountered these??
I'm from the philly area, and these came from a source in SNJ (PM me or edit this line for deletion if it is too revealing).
So I hadn't had a good cigar in probably six months, just lots of life things going on that I didn't sit down for one. Even found some (destroyed) oldies in the humidors (table and travel). My boss and I were discussing his upcoming order of cubans, and I asked to get in on it, and he said no problem, so I spent the time and got the humidors back up to spec, fresh battery in the hydrogometer, etc. Pricing was on the soft side of right (~250/box), and he indicated that he found his source's source, and is going direct to him. In the meantime, I placed a small order of 10 sticks from an overseas vendor with a great rep (love to talk to anyone with experience with those), and got a box of Onxy Reserve mini-belicosos to fill up the empty space.
He sends me a text message yesterday saying he was on his way there and asked what I wanted (he was getting Monte #2s). I told him I'd prefer any Cohiba (A Cuban Cohiba is the most memorable smoke I've ever had, and I was a 3 stick a day guy for three years) for myself, and I'd like a few of his Monte 2s. While I never anticipate his arrival at work, this Monday morning was a little different, but why wouldn't it be when he's bearing such gifts.
I'm immediately excited by the 'Edicion Limitada 2007' band across the top left corner of the Cohiba Piramides box, but what sets me off is the warranty seal on the RIGHT side of the box (don't they come on the left). That, and the fact that Cohiba wasn't a party to the 07 EL. Its been too long since I've had a Cohiba in my hand to compare, but all of these small things are adding up to my 99% confidence level of a fake.
Hopefully some more experienced members can weigh in on this before I break the bad news to him, so let me answer some obvious questions: These are represented as domestic market Cubans, with the hologram sticker on the lid. Warranty seal has microprinting in the proper places, as well as the UV mark. Box is of the standard 13-12 arrangement (what do you call this thing again). Hinges on the back are on the smaller side (<1 inch). Box code is SOR NOV 06. I have yet to find an SOR code anywhere online, let alone for a Cohiba. Cohiba Brand Sticker on the inside of the lid has a white border after the gold border (don't recall seeing this anywhere else). Cigars themselves seem to be well made, but each has at least one large vein protruding from the wrapper. I can post pics if you guys would like to see what I have.
Has anyone else encountered these??
I'm from the philly area, and these came from a source in SNJ (PM me or edit this line for deletion if it is too revealing).
