Well it does look legit but I can remember going into a shop in Cabo where they had the same sign posted but were waiting for official confirmation from Habanos SA so they could put a sign outside. I did not buy there even though the cigars looked ok. Unless I am going to Cuba to buy cigars, I always take enough to last for the duration of the trip.
Non illegitimus carborundum
Posts: 2917 | Location: Welland | Registered: August 21, 2002
Av Rafael E. Melgar s/n Between Calle 6 & Calle 8 77600 Cozumel, Q. Roo Mexico
Three things make me somewhat suspicious:
(a) Why would you go through the trouble and expense to open an LCDH franchise, and then name it Habana Club? That's like paying for a Starbucks franchise and then calling it Java Joes's. Wouldn't you want to leverage the built-in brand recognition?
(b) I heard there was a legit-looking LCDH in Cancun if I remember right that was on the 2nd floor of some building and they were selling fakes. If it can happen there...
(c) They make it a point of saying "No Dominican fakes" and "100% genuine" which makes me think 'doth protest too much'
Not to say this place isn't legit, but the easiest way to find out is simply to email Habanos SA.
Self-professed experts and self-proclaimed authenticity.
What happens when the experienced experts have the experience and base their expertise on black market cigars? Problem is, very few of us have sufficient background and experience with the subject matter to enable us to discern counterfeit from authentic. So what does that say about our expertise?
Unbelieveable.
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER (not Ann)! VIVE CPD! Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go...(Oscar Wilde)
Posts: 10244 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
By the way...my favorite post so far from my man, who has so far started three (count 'em) threads on this same subject:
Posted 11-30-06:
quote:
Originally posted by RBW56: Not only new to forum here, but newbie to Cigars as well. I just started puffing about a month ago after months of study and deliberation. I quit cancer sticks back in 85, so you can understand my deliberation and research into the hobby. I consider this a rewarding hobby with a developed taste for certain type of cigar.
What tastesgreat for you may not be my cup of tea. With that said, there are certain Tabacaleras that are a standard to measure others by.
One of my Fav Sticks is the CAO Brazilla. Great Smoke, Medium, full of flavor. You can get a bad stick from any cigar maker though as I recently expericed a bad Brazilla recently, a plug in the middle and it blew out and unraveled, what a 7$ waste. The ratings in Cigar Aficionado and Cigr Mag are a reference only to me. A guide as taste is individual. Some less expensive sticks are equal or better than some top shelf sticks. CA just rated a 3 buck stick over a 90! One of my fav bottom shelfers.
I live in the Atlanta area in the burbs. Where I reside there is only one Tobacco shop and it is expensive, can drive 40 miles one way to a great shop with a humidor of over 1000 square feet, with some fair prices, and on customer aprecation day, 25% off every thing in store, with free catered food, free booze and reps from the major cigar makers handing out freebies all day and a grand drawing, with drawing every 5 min for prizes. It was my first Cigar Event and will not be my last! It was great to bond with like minded people who enjoy life and reward themselves with thier fav stick.
Get a lot of recomendations, and get to try out a lot of differnt smokes. Can't wait till next years event.
By the way, just FYI, the best internet cigar shops are Mikes and JRs. They have been in the busines for a long, long time, and both grow tobacco and manufacture their own brands as well, and they ship fast and cheap, 2.50 per order, and have a gurantee that you can return it if you do not like it for a full refund minus shipping charges. I have been pleased with both. Mikes a great premium sampler for $15.95 for 8 sticks of the good stuff, and I mean good stuff, no house brands. A Fuente, Macanudo, Montecristo, La Gloria to name a few. It intorduced me to the world of good smokes.
Hey, enjoy the day with a great smoke, yours of course!
