Habano Authenticity Tests

Hello all,

This comes from the great folks at the Valencia Cigar Lounge, located in beautiful Valencia California. They are an up and coming Cigar Lounge so folks in the area be on the look out and share some positivity and a stog with those fine folks. To visit their website go to www.ValenciaCigarLounge.com.
Here, they have imparted some great tips on separating genuine article Habanos versus their cheap counterfeit knock-offs. Enjoy!


SMOKE:
- The #1 test for a real Habano is the taste after lighting. If you feel you have lit a chocolate bar and are being carried off to heaven on its smoke, you are most likely smoking the genuine article.
- Even non-smokers (like me), are able to feel the absolute pleasure of breathing in a smidgen of a Habano's sweet 2nd hand smoke through their nose. (Domestics generally burn ones nostrils!)
- You can take 3-5 sweet long, consecutive puffs with no negative effects. (The 2nd or 3rd puffs of a domestic begin to hurt.)
- People will flock around to compliment your 2nd hand smoke. Although domestics smell great too, Tarzan himself could not herd the flock like a Habano. (Best 2nd hand smoke: Bolivar Churchill)
- Habanos are meant to be smoked to the nub. In fact, unlike domestics are often discarded at the nub, the best taste of most Habanos start at the final 1/5 of the cigar. I myself smoke my Habanos till my finger tips burn and I have to throw the cigar to the ground - if anyone invents a cigar roach, I'll buy one.

VISUAL:
- The genuine article will likely be a dark, oily cigar. With limited exceptions, Habano wrappers are almost never light or blond - aka Connecticut. The only exceptions I've found are the Montecristo #2 ESPECIALES (thinner yet slightly longer than the M2) and the Trinidad Lanceros, both of which have rare and wonderful Connecticut wrappers.
- It will be rolled perfectly, and will be nearly indestructible. However, keep in mind that "street Habanos", sold mostly ON the Island itself, are often very vainny or slightly crooked (although they taste just as perfect).
- It will have a triple head, allowing for an easy "cut" with your teeth. (Habanos are not made to be razor cut, but bitten.) A triple head means it will have 3 distinct small pieces of leaf covering the head of the cigar, the top head intended to pop off with a cutting bite with your teeth.
- It will not be over packed nor firm, but spongy and soft.
- Its band will look aesthetically pleasing, perfectly designed and colored, and will likely have raised letters or art. (Watch out for Cohibas with flat, un-raised letters, or with an orange, not yellow band.)
- It will almost never come in a tube - at least I've never seen a genuine one in a tube.
- It will almost never have more than one band or label. (Watch out for 2nd bands reading "Edicion Limitados" or the like! These taste aweful.)

PRE-LIGHT TASTE:
- The wrapper and open tip will smell sweet, and not tobacco'e or chemically.
- As you bite the cigar's head (aka, cutting), you will feel no chemical taste in your mouth.
- You will also not feel any chemical taste or burn on your tongue or lips as you hold the cigar in your mouth.
- Your pre-light draw will be open and sweet, again, with no chemical taste.

BURN:
- Most Habanos will burn perfectly, and stay lit even when unattended. (However, some sticks, like the Bolivar Churchill or most Salomones need extra lighter attention.)
- The ash length of most Habanos are legendary. I have gotten half length with no trouble.
- As Habanos are not packed tight, they are usually a quicker burn.

POST-SMOKE:
- Perhaps the most significance difference between top shelf domestic cigars and Habanos is the lingering effects on your body after you have smoked. With domestics, you may feel tired, heavy, tight, with a bad taste in your mouth. With Habanos, however, the only after effect is a wonderful scent of sweet chocolaty smoke on your face and shirt - no heaviness; no tiredness; no tightness in your chest; and definitely, no bad taste in your mouth.
- You will also be able to smoke 2-3 Habanos in a row with no lingering burn, bad taste, or discomfort in your mouth or body. On the other hand, 1 or 2 domestics and your tongue begins to fight back!

THE BOX: (Stay tuned...)
- Try not to buy unopened boxes, but if you must...
- No paper on the box will be coming unglued or unraveled. However, some boxes may get crushed or misshapen in shipping, and that's OK.
- All labeling will be beautiful, and glued perfectly.
- A small Red "Habanos" label will be across the top, back, right corner.
- A Green "Republica de Cuba" sticker will be across the top, left, front, extending under the box.
- Manufacturer's label on the top, front, center.
- A ..... will be burned on the bottom middle.
- A circular blue .... stamp will be on the bottom, touching the under side of the "Republica de Cuba" label.
- A golden nail will be in the top, front, center.
- Inside, there will be a paper flap, with the manufacturer's label, that is fastened/secured to the inside front of the box, and extends out toward you.
- Under the flap will be a lose, 2x3", "rice paper" ticket with Spanish writing.
- Under the ticket will be your fabulous cigars.
- Under the cigars will be a wooden sheet, to separate the cigar levels (sometimes broken up to be used as the perfect cigar lighting stick).
- The bottom level cigars will have one rectangular solid wood box to take the space of one cigar.
- There will be 25 cigars in your box, except for Trinidads, which only have 24 per box.
- Strictly wood box cigars, like the Cohiba Siglo VI or Trinidad Robustos, will not have a " paper flap that extends toward you" but the cigars will be bundle wrapped with a 1" silken band and/or inside of a sheet of rice paper.

PURCHASING:
When purchasing a Habano, keep the following in mind:
- All of the above!!!
- Try to smoke (taste test) a variety before buying bulk from the same retailer.
- Be skeptical of Habanos that cost less than $10 each, or $200 for a box.
- Try not to buy an unopened box.
- Try not to buy a Cohiba or Montecristo, as they are the most counterfeited - unless you are an expert.
- Try not to buy a Habano with a blond/light wrapper.
- Try not to buy a Habano that smells either chemically or bland (usually blond).
- Try not to buy a Habano that unwraps or crinkles when squeezed. (Habano wrappers are almost indestructible, even if ill-humidified.)
- Do not buy a so called "Habano" in a TUBE!
- Do not buy Habanos with 2 or more bands or labels.
- Do not buy Habanos without the triple (bite off) heads.