Monday, November 29 1999
Unless you really know what to look for, it's hard to tell if the Cuban cigars you're about to purchase are the genuine article. You could try speaking Spanish to it but you wouldn't get anywhere. All cigars speak fluent Spanish. But seriously, if you're in a country where Cuban cigars are available, buy them in a "legitimate" cigar store, not some tourist trap advertising Cubans in larger-than-life type. (This is a very popular scam in Tijuana.)
An authentic box of Cubans should have the green and white Havana Seal label, which reads, "Republica de Cuba. Sello de garantia nacional de procedencia" (Cuban Government's warranty for cigars exported from Havana). The box will also have an oval stamp on the bottom that reads: "HECHO EN CUBA" ("Made in Cuba) with the words " Totalamente a mano" ("Entirely by hand") underneath, a factory code and the words " Habanos s.a." Cubans made between 1961 and 1989 will only have the HECHO EN CUBA stamp with post-1985 boxes also featuring the factory code. The Habanos, s.a. stamp didn't appear until 1994. If you're lucky enough to find a box of pre-Revolutionary Havanas, the stamp will read "MADE IN HAVANA-CUBA," with the factory name stamped below, a lot number below that and the word " HABANA" stamped below that. Be wary of a box that has "Envuelto a mano" on the bottom. This only means "hand-packed."
A good "pre-purchase" solution is to check out Cigar Aficionado's "Counterfeit Gallery" and familiarize yourself with the "legal" and phony Cuban cigar bands. Again, there's a good chance you'll hit pay dirt if you buy the cigars in a good tobacco store, not a trinket shop. You're also more likely to find "legal" Cubans in Europe and Canada where the demand is much higher.
(Note: Famous Smoke Shop-PA, Inc. does not condone the purchase of Cuban cigars, genuine or otherwise. They are still illegal in the United States)
