BHK 54 questions

[travis176310]

My first post follow my introduction. 

I regularly go to the Caribbean on dive trips and also purchase cigars.

Most times from LCDH, and sometimes from the greys if the cigar is good and I like the price. But knowingly understand those are not authentic. But those usually have obvious flaws that tell me what I am getting. Like very bad guarantee seals. 

I recently purchased a box of BHK 54 from a Grey market vendor but didn't open the seals and inspect the cigars at purchase. Very stupid as I thought I was dealing with an associated vendor. Paid retail and they would not haggle. I checked every box in the humidor and every one had an apparently legit guarantee seal. Holograms, UV and microprinting. Only red flag was that they had them at all.

Once I opened the box I had concerns. The cedar had burnt edges, wrapper color was not consistent, wrapper texture was too rough, bands have no UV CH number or the dots.

Haven't smoked 1 yet but I think I know the answer to my question.

Any chance they are real?

 

[Ender1553]

Can you send a better screenshot of the bar code on the seal? I'm sure you checked that, but that's a big indicator too. Some scams will reuse genuine boxes though

Edit: checked the code. The outside box is legit, but as mentioned, they could have reused a genuine box.

[travis176310]

Thanks for responding. I checked and verified every box in their humidor and every one I checked came back verified. Also all of the boxes had the health stickers, but not as many as I typically see on LCDH boxes. Those typically cover the holographic coat of arms and these didn't. I had compared it to a box from 2016 and the only difference I can find is it feels higher and the 2016 box had a thin protective plastic over the piano finishes and this one didn't. I have seen some threads talking about Cohiba removing the dots on the bands in 2023, these are 2022 and no dots? But no UV CH number on the band is more discouraging to me than the missing dots. Also the wrapper is not as silky smooth and as oily as I would expect. I did purchase and smoke one from an open box they had and it was very good. But I am a novice, what do I know?

[Fuzz]

Welcome to FOH! It is customary to introduce yourself here, before asking the Forum for assistance.

[travis176310]

I appologize for the indiscretion. I thought that was what I did when I first joined the forum. Do I need to do that for each one any time I post?

[jfestrelabr]

Fake, Just look at the external seal with UV.

I will post an example

1st photo is of the fake stamp.

[Edicion]

I doubt they're real Behikes based on how they look, even if everything checks out. 

[gormag38]

On 9/16/2024 at 6:31 AM, jfestrelabr said:

Fake, Just look at the external seal with UV.

This is spot on. Good catch. 

Haven't seen many UV seals with that flaw since it was discovered. 

[Marco_011t556]

Per my understanding, all BHK (even after year of 2024, unlike other regular Cohiba) have blue dots on rings under UV. So yours is without bluedots. Also the holograms reflects white rather than a bit yellow under UV.

 

 

[jfestrelabr]

I wouldn't bet on the consistency of such a verification method, in my humble opinion the only maxim that exists today is "buy the seller".

[travis176310]

Thanks guys. I have no doubt they are not legit. Especially after smoking one. I have learned my lesson about not inspecting the actual contents. I did try one from an open box and was quite happy with it. I have bought suspect cigars before but always tried them first and if I liked it I would buy anyway knowing what I was getting. Unfortunately due to my inexperience I thought I could trust the seal and the fact they were unopened. Seller and I may be working out a correction. Time will tell.

On 9/17/2024 at 1:56 PM, Edicion said:

I doubt they're real Behikes based on how they look, even if everything checks out. 

My thoughts exactly. Plus I have never seen the burnt edges on the cedar slip. After smoking one, definitely not authentic. 

[NSXCIGAR]

On 9/19/2024 at 9:34 PM, travis176310 said:

Plus I have never seen the burnt edges on the cedar slip.

A rough looking, thick or grainy cedar sheet is a classic indicator of a fake box. Also rough looking or very grainy box bottoms for any of the varnished Cohiba boxes. 

On 9/17/2024 at 6:22 PM, Marco_011t556 said:

Per my understanding, all BHK (even after year of 2024, unlike other regular Cohiba) have blue dots on rings under UV. So yours is without bluedots.

I'm not sure that's been confirmed 100%. Someone else just posted up a APR 24 box of BHK 52 that (presumably) appears legit in every way except no blue squares on the bands.

On 9/17/2024 at 5:11 AM, gormag38 said:

Haven't seen many UV seals with that flaw since it was discovered. 

They're still very much around. Both with an empty space in the leaf or with the numbers from the printed shield used as a template, usually older so you'll see 000011 or around there. It's still something worth looking for. 

[travis176310]

Lesson learnt, always open and inspect. Had I done that, I would never have purchased based on the cedar sheet and the quality of the cigar. I am happy to have learnt how to be more knowledgeable concerning seal inspection. Plus this experience brought me here and the BR auctions. Any future full price purchases will now be limited to reputable distributors. I will still enjoy shopping the Grey market on my trips. But only looking for good cigars I like at the right price knowing they are not likely to be what they are marketed as. I have found some really good fakes that were worth paying $15 -$30 a stick for.  It have no illusion about what they are.