dublin76 Posted March 18, 2012 Posted March 18, 2012 Box code: USE ABR 10 Box description: dress box of 25 stating "25 - petit libertador" Bands: bolivar band without Cuba on it. Exclusivo Benelux band also. Location: island shop on St Maarten. Appears there was a petit libertador in 08 for France and a RE SLB 25 for Benelux in 09 from what I can find. All labelling was pretty authentic looking on this box. Was surprised to see a bolivar being knocked off. Smelled great too. Any insight? Possibly real? Who knows I guess. Just can't find enough info to confirm authenticity, but enough for me to conclude fake. I believe this store had a mix of legitimate and fake cigars and was fun digging around and bantering with the owner.
TankerT Posted March 18, 2012 Posted March 18, 2012 Box code: USE ABR 10 Box description: dress box of 25 stating "25 - petit libertador" Bands: bolivar band without Cuba on it. Exclusivo Benelux band also. Location: island shop on St Maarten. Appears there was a petit libertador in 08 for France and a RE SLB 25 for Benelux in 09 from what I can find. All labelling was pretty authentic looking on this box. Was surprised to see a bolivar being knocked off. Smelled great too. Any insight? Possibly real? Who knows I guess. Just can't find enough info to confirm authenticity, but enough for me to conclude fake. I believe this store had a mix of legitimate and fake cigars and was fun digging around and bantering with the owner. Pretty sure that is not legit. (As in 99% sure.) Check out Trevor's site for all your legitimacy checking needs... http://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/
dublin76 Posted March 19, 2012 Author Posted March 19, 2012 Yes, bought knowing likely fake as much for curiosity as anything. Will post pics this week once I get home. So here are some photos: 1.) First giveaway for me (besides being an island non-LCDH shop) was the box stamp -- have never seen a bar code in the middle of the stamp = fake. 2.) Next was that the bands were not placed toward the cap but were more centered = fake. 3.) Next was the quality of the Habanos label = fake. 4.) And the obvious is that there was no Petit Libertador for Benelux = fake. I look forward to finding time to peel a stick open and see what is inside. Good learning and exploration! Now, to smoke or not to smoke... Thank heavens for FOH and for knowing one is buying real high quality sticks. Cheers!
dublin76 Posted March 19, 2012 Author Posted March 19, 2012 To clarify. Looks like the barcode label is over the top of the label with the red code, not all one label with a barcode in the middle as I stated before. Just pulled the box out for further eval.
randomhero1090 Posted March 19, 2012 Posted March 19, 2012 Clearly fake. Maybe someone got their hands on some boxes and bands back in the Netherlands from the real 2009 RE and slapped them on there OR the bands are fake too. The RE band doesn't look right, and neither does the old Boli band (however, those bands were available up until 2009). What does Habanos spit back when you plug in the serial number?
randomhero1090 Posted March 19, 2012 Posted March 19, 2012 To clarify. Looks like the barcode label is over the top of the label with the red code, not all one label with a barcode in the middle as I stated before. Just pulled the box out for further eval. And that did happen during the transition. You could have ended up with 2 seals on 1 box. I got a box of early 2010s that had both.
dublin76 Posted March 19, 2012 Author Posted March 19, 2012 Clearly fake. Maybe someone got their hands on some boxes and bands back in the Netherlands from the real 2009 RE and slapped them on there OR the bands are fake too. The RE band doesn't look right, and neither does the old Boli band (however, those bands were available up until 2009). What does Habanos spit back when you plug in the serial number? Didn't recognize the number. I also guessed it may be an authentic box repacked. Should I smoke these things? Safe do you think?
Diamondog Posted March 21, 2012 Posted March 21, 2012 Didn't recognize the number. I also guessed it may be an authentic box repacked. Should I smoke these things? Safe do you think? Crack one open, have a look at the filler/binder, post some pics...
FrankBlack87 Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 i cant say for sure, but they appear to be fake to me. Acording to trev's site, it does not look good. I have seen many fake bolivars in the B&M's here in cali and they look similar...unusually dark outline on the band and simon bolivar looks like he has a busted nose
Michel1968 Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 These are fake for sure. The ER in question was the Fabulosos, packed in a cab of 25 this being the real deal...:
dublin76 Posted March 22, 2012 Author Posted March 22, 2012 These are fake for sure. The ER in question was the Fabulosos, packed in a cab of 25 this being the real deal...: Thank you for that photo! I am going to dissect one of what I have and post pics. I will also light one up in a week or so and report back on what I experience. In comparing to the authentic band photo, two more glaring differences: 1.) The raised gold dots that form the circle are larger and 2.) the tiny gold arrow-like imprint over the red stripes closest to the white circle are solid in the real deal, but are not in the fake. All in all a good learning experience.
dublin76 Posted March 22, 2012 Author Posted March 22, 2012 Crack one open, have a look at the filler/binder, post some pics... We all know these are fake, but here is what the leaves look like when unwrapped. I am no expert, so not sure what I am looking at.
Michel1968 Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 eeeewwww, the bottom picture... is that tobacco? :confused: This has to be the most naughty fake I've ever seen
dublin76 Posted March 22, 2012 Author Posted March 22, 2012 eeeewwww, the bottom picture... is that tobacco? :confused: This has to be the most naughty fake I've ever seen Yes, those pieces were the "filler". Looked nasty to me, but I have not cut open a cigar before, so not sure what should be in there. I may have to cut open a few cheap NCs to see what they have inside for comparison.
Michel1968 Posted March 22, 2012 Posted March 22, 2012 My first thought was the filler being poorly colored, pressed paper. What is that white/grey stuff, mold or something? Definitely cut open an el cheapo NC, that should look like cigar heaven compared to this... On a side note, as a Dutchman I'm kind of flattered to see a fake BeNeLux edition (from the mouth of what must be one of the least chauvinistic persons over here)
Michel1968 Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 wait you got a benelux RE in st maarten? Yeah, unlikely but actually not that 'weird'... Part of St. Maarten still is Dutch territory. A ER BeNeLux sold on a 'Colonial Memory', you've gotto kind of appreciate the creativity in that...
Rays98GoVols Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 I own a box of The Bolivar that you are referring to. Box Code OPA SET09 SLB25 (not a dress box like yours) They are suppose to be Fabulosos. (not petit Liberador like yours) Size: Robusto 52 x 135 (5.3") Cost $350 US They are defintly fake...Sorry, but they may still smoke good. Give them a chance before you condem
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