Fake

[smokey joe]

Recent chat has raised a debate, I’m interested to know what you think. So here it is, if you had a 10 year old Cuban cigar and a freshly rolled fake of the same vitola (no bands or boxes to check) do you reckon you could tell the difference?

[liles]

How fake? I'm pretty sure I could pick out an NC and a CC regardless of age.

Is it a full dupe, blended and rolled by somebody who knows their shit? Young tobacco (especially how quickly Cuba are shipping it now) definitely has a taste.

So, maybe? I'm sure somebody who knows what's what could dupe anybody, if they have access to the right tobacco.

[ha_banos]

Recent chat has raised a debate, I’m interested to know what you think. So here it is, if you had a 10 year old Cuban cigar and a freshly rolled fake of the same vitola (no bands or boxes to check) do you reckon you could tell the difference?

I think we all hope so!

[liles]

I think we all hope so!

Haha, I'd say the opposite. If we couldn't, it'd make for a much cheaper hobby

[smokey joe]

Ok so what about if it was only by the smell, could you tell which was which from that alone?

[smokey joe]

How fake? I'm pretty sure I could pick out an NC and a CC regardless of age.

Is it a full dupe, blended and rolled by somebody who knows their shit? Young tobacco (especially how quickly Cuba are shipping it now) definitely has a taste.

So, maybe? I'm sure somebody who knows what's what could dupe anybody, if they have access to the right tobacco.

A proper fake not some Mickey Mouse bullsh!t just fresh vs the legit 10 year old Cuban of same vitola

[liles]

Oh then probably not. It surprises me how much people pay for some aged boxes at auction when the sticks could just be swapped from a fresh box, depending on the last band change.

Taste? Maybe a 10 yeah from a freshie. But a 10 year to 3 year? Idk, you'd have to really know the vitola. Cubans are anything but consistent

[SonicStag]

Thinking back to how many were duped by the Montefortuna scam a few years ago I doubt there’s many that could tell

[liles]

Thinking back to how many were duped by the Montefortuna scam a few years ago I doubt there’s many that could tell

Yea high end fakes like that will slip the net. Especially when you're talking about long filler Cubans as the dupes, it can make it very tricky. We've all had bad cigars before - was it a fake or just bad QC?

[PeeJay]

I'd have to say no

[Simon Bolivar]

There's two types of fakes, the on the street or beach fake, which anyone on here should be able to spot & avoid. Then the higher end fake, probably rolled by a pro, using less quality tobacco but a decent wrapper. Put a very good band on it & most wouldn't spot a problem fresh but yes, spotting a fresh to a ten yo is easy, if you're used to smoking vintage.

Buyers at auction can get duped but if you attend prior & examine & smell, vintage aroma can't be faked. it is of course a game of chance & buying sealed boxes even more so, that's why they go for a little less but I have been lucky with my buys...so far!