Re: Are these fake??
 

This would not surprise me in the least. If that's the only source you have, I would stick to unpopular vitolas in the lesser known marcas (the less likely to be counterfeited) and then scrutinize everything I did buy. I do tend to agree with the sentiment of not supporting anybody selling fakes, but it sounds like that might be the only option for the OP, if so best of luck.
:tu

Re: Are these fake??
 

They have real liquor, so they must be reputable. ;)

Re: Are these fake??
 

Haha sure real liquor does not make one place reputable. :) Cigar sales are only allowed in touristic hotels in Turkey. There is an import ban on all kinds of cigars. For example no American cigars none even fakes cannot be found if there are any. Lousy Turkish made cigars are every where. I bought cubans from this place and their cohiba robustos and partagas lines are real but these were new. I was surprised seeing DC 2003 LE. The seller assured he is buying from a legit source but sellers assurance does not make one reputable either :) I will stick to less popular brands and sizes since there is only two shops in Capital city that's all. You guys are lucky.

Re: Are these fake??
 

I don't think shop owner does it deliberately. As I said its an upscale neighborhood and he cannot survive once it is proven he sell fakes.

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Well, he either purchases from a LCDH or he doesn't. If he's purchasing from anywhere else and they're not authentic, it seems pretty deliberate to me. :2

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??? This is a complete fabrication. There are many sources of legitimate Cuban cigars that are not official LCDH's. If you have no direct knowledge it is best to remain silent. :2

Re: Are these fake??
 

Today I went there and asked for the box of DC 2003 EL and they will get it ready for me. I will know since I still have an original box. According to his story, a tour operator to Cuba is bringing cigars using his customers 50 cigar permit. If one to come from another country can bring in 50 cigars with him according to Turkish customs rule as personal item. That is how I get my American cigars. My friends from states bring in 2 boxes every time they visit me. I told him my friends find it extremely hard to believe that Cohiba 2003 DC EL is real. We will see. My intention was not to start an argument but there are legit cigars even in Turkey and no LCDH.

Re: Are these fake??
 

How bad are the penalties if customs finds cigars in a package? I'd rather go that route than buy somewhere you're unsure of...I think that's about as much as I can say in an open forum.

There HAS to be better ways to get you cigars then risking you spending your money on fakes.

Re: Are these fake??
 

I don't know much about Turkey but a quick Google search shows and LCDH in Bucharest. Even if that is a good ways from you maybe they ship

Re: Are these fake??
 

Every small and personal cargo is subject to x-ray screening and once they discover that there are cigars in it, they call you and ask to open the box and viola. They either trash all the cigars and destroy them by crushing and give you the empty box and have to pay a small fee or if you can convince them that there is a mistake then they ship the cargo back to the sender. We are under a strick regime now. The only way to bring in cigars is if one to visit another country and at his return back to Turkey he can carry 50 cigars as personal item, other than that few shops like this sells cigars.

Re: Are these fake??
 

... There are Cuban maduros??? Seriously!?

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Yes. 3 vitolas under the Cohiba marque, came out about 5 years ago.

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Sounds tasty... :dr

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not really. :2

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Everyone's tastes are different, but I wasn't that impressed by them.

Re: Are these fake??
 

Here are three quick things you can do on the spot:

1. Check the band. The color, font, physical size, and application of the band are good indicators unless of course its a real band on a fake cigar. If you have a iPhone or Android based phone, it should be a breeze to go online and look for pictures of actual bands (like on the website, already mentioned, cubancigarwebsite.com)

2. Check for a tripple cap.

3. Rub the foot of the cigar with your finger. Sounds strange but when guys come back from Mexico with fake CC's and want to know if they are real, I rub the foot of the cigar and a bunch of short filler falls out and thats how I show them its fake.

Be sure to also check vitolas.net as there is some very good information on how to spot fakes. Hope this helps!

Re: Are these fake??
 

look legit to me

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The cheapest one the cohiba secretos are the other two are quite overpriced and crap.

RyJ Escudo Maduros are pretty good though.

Re: Are these fake??
 

A few things...

I wonder what he means by "get the box ready" for you? It's possible he has cigars stored elsewhere, but I wonder why he doesn't have them displayed in the box. Do you think he's searching for a legit box right now?

Also, an awful lot of fakes (in our country at least) come with stories about getting them directly from someone in Cuba that has a connection, or something like that. Doesn't mean they're not real, but I tend to think "stories" offered to prove authenticity warrant more skepticism.

On a related note... thanks for posting this. I thought I remembered having one in the humi, and I just confirmed it. I had no idea they were so highly sought after. I hope my expectations aren't too high now with this knowledge.

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It must suck to live somewhere that doesn't allow cigars from specific countries. :r I joke.

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Boobs are proof that a man can concentrate on two things at once.

And now back to our regularly scheduled thread....

Re: Are these fake??
 

As I said before you guys are lucky and in some respect sucks to be in Turkey. DC 2003 EL was indeed fake after smoking it. The only thing that gave it away was the taste. Even the filler was long fillers. I do not need to see the box since it feels that they have gone all the way to fake this magnificent cigar. If you know a good and reliable online source please let me know privately so that I can buy some and my friends from states will bring in next time they visit me.

Thanks

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Would you buy a Rolex from some guy that knew some guy...

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If the Rolex is real yes.

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Point taken thanks. Desperate times desperate measures.

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My thanks to all that replied :)
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/a.../hogcinco5.jpg

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:tpd::D

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Oh phoon isnt going to like this.

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Nope, clear violation of Cigar Asylum policy.

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Glad I work at home.

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No worries any more, the nudity is gone.

WHO IS PHOON?
Posted via Mobile Device

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Bahahaah I love the replacement pic! Well played!

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I like this website, mainly to see what types there are out there. Try plugging in your dates, sizes, etc. on this link and see what pops up. Hope this helps!

http://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/bra...x?brand=Cohiba

Re: Are these fake??
 

That's the #6 with lean brisket, tripe, flank and tendon, right?

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I WAS CLOSE and really i meant icehog