Earthy Dirt Smell in ‘22 stock

[brooksyfoodlove]

Okay — first time poster here, long time reader. 
 

I’ve got some ‘22 Habanos and I’ve noticed that the smell of them is very earthy like dirt, as opposed to the more fruity barnyard smell of my ‘19 to ‘21 stock. 
 

I have found this across multiple marcas from Partagas to Cohiba. 
 

Has anyone else noticed this? If so — any experience smoking them? Am I crazy?! 

[Chibearsv]

If your Cohibas smell like dirt, either check for Covid or check your vendor. 😁

[brooksyfoodlove]

@Chibearsv I don’t mean this in a bad way, because it’s not a bad smell — it’s just noticeably different and earthy and soil is the only way I can describe it. I won’t name vendor but let’s just say I’m 100% positive of authenticity. And no covid

[Chibearsv]

I was just joking with you of course, but I certainly get mostly barnyard in my Cohibas, even the newer ones. 

[Enduin]

Just in case you are not aware of the most recent developments: any vendor that is not FOH or a LCDH at this point is not 100% safe. There is a new wave of very sophisticated fakes that affect trusted vendors and potentially B&M stores. If the new stock smells consistently different than the older stock it might not be a bad idea to invest in a black light and read up on the relevant thread here and on Reddit.

[brooksyfoodlove]

@Enduin I appreciate the response here. I’m up to speed on the MF and grey market situation. The cigars I’m referring to are exclusively from the sources you just mentioned. I will reiterate — this is not a question of authenticity but rather a question to see if anyone else has noticed a change in the smell/terroir for the year of ‘22. Since it’s an organic product it can vary by the year. Not a knock on Habanos or even the cigars in question but asking if anyone notices a difference in smell like I do. 

[Fugu]

Haven’t noticed such. But can it be that it’s due the fact that we are receiving stock now at a much younger age than before?

[rcarlson]

I haven't noticed this.  

[iggy_marley]

@Enduin Other than MF what other reputable grey market vendor has been confirmed to have sold fakes? In other words, at this point it seems to be just an MF scandal, not a grey market vendor scandal, correct?

 

[Tstew75]

if CCs don't smell really earthy I get concerned 😁

[cigaraholic]

• I love cigars that smell like the soil the tobacco was grown in, all the tobacco spends a lot of time in a barnyard. You probably have some very age worthy cigars. Hide them from yourself, give-’em a nice long nap👻 

 

[ReturnFreeRisk]

I have ordered about a dozen and half of ‘22 boxes and typically spot check with 1 cigar, sometimes ROTT…have to say they seem to be best out of the 19-22 lots which is really surprising me (thought 19 would be hard to dethrone). Havent thought any samples were overly earthy


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[BettyHumpder]

13 hours ago, iggy_marley said:

@Enduin Other than MF what other reputable grey market vendor has been confirmed to have sold fakes? In other words, at this point it seems to be just an MF scandal, not a grey market vendor scandal, correct?

There was a thread on reddit asking for further submissions of stock purchased from any grey market vendors during the same time period. I believe it's organized by the same fellows. it may be floating around these forums somewhere.

[El Presidente]

13 hours ago, iggy_marley said:

@Enduin Other than MF what other reputable grey market vendor has been confirmed to have sold fakes? In other words, at this point it seems to be just an MF scandal, not a grey market vendor scandal, correct?

I know of one other who has allegedly been caught up. 

Of course, at this point it is on the purchasers word that they have come from that vendor. Proof of purchase required. 

There are so many questions raised. Ring of fake cigars, legit cigars/fake seals, printing CF. Plenty of water to flow under this bridge. 

 

[jakebarnes]

8 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I know of one other who has allegedly been caught up. 

Of course, at this point it is on the purchasers word that they have come from that vendor. Proof of purchase required. 

There are so many questions raised. ring of fake cigars, legit cigars/fake seals, printing CF. Plenty of water to flow under this bridge. 

To answer the question of @Enduin and @El Presidente's response--he is probably referring to a vendor I talked with him privately about. I received a box of fake CoRo from a previously trusted vendor that had also sent me legitimate (and generally nicely aged) boxes in the past. Willing to sort through questions via PMs to avoid derailing this thread and avoid any forum rule violations, but definitely have the receipts.

[El Presidente]

1 hour ago, jakebarnes said:

To answer the question of @Enduin and @El Presidente's response--he is probably referring to a vendor I talked with him privately about.

...actually a different case Peter! 

The issue was the same as MF

[jakebarnes]

1 minute ago, El Presidente said:

...actually a different case Peter! 

The issue was the same as MF

Oh man. Crazy season, indeed.

[brooksyfoodlove]

9 hours ago, cigaraholic said:

• I love cigars that smell like the soil the tobacco was grown in, all the tobacco spends a lot of time in a barnyard. You probably have some very age worthy cigars. Hide them from yourself, give-’em a nice long nap👻 

Music to my ears! Again — these cigars do not, I repeat not, smell bad by any means. Just like the earth, like soil. Which makes sense. I have noticed it across CoRo, BRC, Perlas, Choix so I figured I’d ask. I just wanted someone’s take on this. 

[clovis]

I lurk and haven't posted in years, so this may not carry as much weight as most...but I noticed this recently. I noticed this independently before I read your post.  Monte 4 EBS ENE 22.  It just wasn't as sweet smelling as most cubans.  I have had them in the humidor now for 5 months now...starting to smell like expected a bit now, but they have been surrounded by other cubans for 5 months, so there is that.  I, like you, do not question the source at all...just an observation that matches yours.  So I would say you aren't crazy...or maybe two of us are crazy...haha.  Cheers.

[cnov]

11 hours ago, clovis said:

I lurk and haven't posted in years, so this may not carry as much weight as most...but I noticed this recently. I noticed this independently before I read your post.  Monte 4 EBS ENE 22.  It just wasn't as sweet smelling as most cubans.  I have had them in the humidor now for 5 months now...starting to smell like expected a bit now, but they have been surrounded by other cubans for 5 months, so there is that.  I, like you, do not question the source at all...just an observation that matches yours.  So I would say you aren't crazy...or maybe two of us are crazy...haha.  Cheers.

I have a box of GOS ABR 19 Monte 4 that smell extremely earthy, they sprang to mind as soon as I read the title of this thread, they have a particularly dark wrapper too.

[dominattorney]

I exclusively buy from FOH but yes, I have noticed this. As @Fugu mentioned, I believe it is due to receiving cigars with less age on the raw product prior to boxing after the covid issues tore up the market. 

[SCgarman]

On 10/9/2022 at 9:33 PM, brooksyfoodlove said:

Okay — first time poster here, long time reader. 
 

I’ve got some ‘22 Habanos and I’ve noticed that the smell of them is very earthy like dirt, as opposed to the more fruity barnyard smell of my ‘19 to ‘21 stock. 
 

I have found this across multiple marcas from Partagas to Cohiba. 
 

Has anyone else noticed this? If so — any experience smoking them? Am I crazy?! 

Why not light one up? Plenty of responses here regarding smell/aroma, but nobody cares to comment if the cigars TASTE like they should!

[shokao]

Haven't noticed this particular dirt smell on my '22 boxes. What I do taste in recent boxes is a excessive vegetable flavour of young cigars. Nothing that a good rest can't address.

[laguitoNo1]

My ‘22 PLPC cabinet smells like raw ammonia, love it!

[fisherclive]

Just got 3 boxes in today, none smell like dirt