I wanted to throw this up, just to show how good fakes are getting. The one on the left is mine that was purchased from LCDH in Mirimar, Cuba and the other was from a trade. At first it looks fine, until you put it next to a real one. Hope this is helpful.

"I wanted to throw this up"

Did the fake really taste that bad Frank?

I can't see it well enough and I can't smell it through a picture... but they BOTH could very well be real. They aren't all going to look exactly the same every time. Some are lighter, some are darker, some have more pronounced points, some don't...

Smoke it.

Being a newbie to the world of "Castro Garz", I am asking this with sincerety.

Aren't Monte#2's made in several factories in Cuba? So wouldn't that make them prone to differences in shapes and certain color variations?

TIA.

-Chris

or they could both be fake

you think you can't buy fake cubans in cuba?

Sorry guys, I should have been more specific. The problem isn't in the color, but in the way its made and also the fact that short filler was used for the one on the right. I believe its still cuban, just not a factory made #2. The factory question is actually a good one and I'll put another pic up showing 2 Real #2's from different years and factories but both came from the same LCDH and how similair they are.

Gan, actually it wasn't that bad. Thats why I think its cuban, I just think they were made from someone in cuba and not any of the factories. Pretty good quality fakes at that. Maybe fakes is not the right word but I don't know what else you'd call it.

EI, your right. I have canadian cousins that have gone to Cuba a bunch of times. They said on every corner there is someone telling you that they have a relative who works in the factory and they smuggled out a box to sell you. They're all FAKE. Unless your buying from a gov. run store (which isn't cheap by the way) your at risk for picking up fakes even in cuba. My cousin made a good point. There is such a high demand for Cubans in the world with production almost impossible to keep up with. When your in cuba and go the gov. stores, they are always out of inventory and most of the time you have to take what you can get. How the heck can these on-line guys have at all times an endless supply of whatever you want when the gov. run stores can't even keep a good inventory. Makes you wonder.

Hey Gan, Don't mind me, I'm a little slow. Just got it. OOFF, thank god its hump day.

Frank,
I hope that is not in the bunch I sent you....man o man.....
Clyde

nope held one up to the screen and compared...mine look like the one on the left....
Whew
Clyde

I was under the impression that they now use nylon molds (as opposed to the old hand carved ones), so even different factories should come up with nearly identical bunching. Some variation will arise in the final rolling, but the profile should be darn close. I've never seen the #2 in person, but all the pictures I've seen show the long flowing taper like the one on the left.

No Clyde, your good.

Red, I'll show you one tommorrow.

Go on the CA website. It's the bands that are the way to spot a fake. There are close-ups of fakes and a pic of an authentic one.

I bought a 4 pack of monte #2s from a swiss retailer. I traded one for another one bought by a guy across the country. Ours looked the same as far as shape, ring guage and color. The band on his was a little different than mine though. His was a fake.

One of the two pictured IS fake. The ring guage would never be that far off from one to another. I'm looking at my last #2 and it looks more like the one on the left.

I read an article some time back that said there are over $200 million in fake Cuban cigars each year being exported or sold from CUBA itself.

Cuba has special agents that do nothing but try to stop this trade to protect thier reputation.

DED

LCDH, is, I believe, co-owned by the Cuban government, that is the reason that there are so many cubans available on the internet.
I believe that because the #1 buyers of Cuban cigars are Americans, who aren't really allowed to travel to Cuba, the Cuban Gov keeps the Internet sites filled with cigars, instead of hoping to sell them at shops in Cuba.
It doesn't make sense to sell them the traditional way.
So, find a real deal site and enjoy!
Eric1989

"There is such a high demand for Cubans in the world with production almost impossible to keep up with."

Ahhh capitalism in a communist county don't you just love the irony

Great post Frank. I've seen a lot of fakes. Ussually the quality sucks and it's obvious soft spots or a poor cap that gives it away. In the example you gave a person who had never had a Monte #2 would probably presume due to the impressive tip on the torp that it was probably the real deal. A good friend of mine who is in retail only smokes Monte #2's and he has various box dates going back to 2000 all are nealy identical with the exception of vary slight coloration of the wrapper. Once again great post Frank, as always.