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Gee,Slim,I wish I hadn't read this. I'll bet every ISOM gar I own is fake. On the brighter side,those SOB's ain't getting anymore of my $. Next ISOM I buy is going to be at a govt store,by me! Thanx for posting this article. X

Thanks Slim. This just confirms the estimate that 95% of Cuban cigars sold are counterfeit.

Very interesting. Thanks Slim.

Disturbing, yet expected. The 5% authenticity rate is interesting. Most of my casual smoking acquaintences won't admit or wouldn't categorize themselves as ignorant on the issue. They'll smoke what, to them, is truly a cuban. Feeling good about themsleves, they'll have a good smoking experience. Ignorance is bliss. I, however, am doomed. I realize the monte 2 I was given at the bachelor's party last night was most likely an imposter (darkest wrapper I'd ever seen on a cuban, especially monte) but kept my mouth shut. Skepticsm is a bitch.

For boxes, I buy only from established shops (e.g. davidoff's in zurich) and take my chances with customs. I also nibble from my local tobaccanist. However, there are no guarantees in life. If you just gotta have your cubans, all you can do is become informed and minimize the likelihood that you'll be taken.

busdaddy ... don't be to quick to negate that dark Monte #2, my friend. I've been gifted many Monte #2's that I thought were genuine, untill I was given one by a friend who is very knowedgeable about Cuban cigars. He goes by the name 'canjuneh' at many boards, and is well respected ...

I compared the one he gave me 'side-by-side' with one that I previously had aging in my humidor. Much to my surprise, the wrapper on canjuneh's was darker, smoother, and was a deep reddish color. It was even a differnt torpedo shape. I smoked them one right after the other ... starting with the first one I had. It was great, and I savored it as I would a fine ISOM.

But ... lighting up the second, I was immediately struck with an entirely different taste and smell. The two didn't even compare, different as night and day. The unmistakeable thick 'creamy' quality of the smoke of the Cuban cigar was prominent ... along with the 'tingling' sensation to my lips and tounge that only a Cuban cigar can produce, ensured me that the first was not a Montecristo #2. I even got a 'buzz' from it.

Now ... I didn't say the first wasn't Cuban, I just said it wasn't from the factory of Montecristo. I belive it was what is called a 'farm' cigar, grown and made in Cuba, but one of the lesser known (and smaller) farms that neighbors the larger, more well known factories. The tobacco leaves can be of an inferior quality.

So, while you still may be smoking a genuine Cuban cigar ... it is a 'fake', because it is not what the band said it was ... and still may be a darn good cigar.

The Monte #2 that tasted bad was probably a counterfeit, too. The difference is, the one that tasted good was counterfeited in Cuba with Cuban tobacco, and the other was counterfeited on a different Caribbean island. It's important to know which island your Habanos are counterfeited in.