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How many counterfeit cigars find their way into the humidors of unwitting smokers each year? It's impossible to say for sure, but many experts put the number at more than three million -- in the United States alone. The streets of Havana teem with black-market smokes, most of them counterfeit, and even European markets are reporting an influx of fakes. To help you spot a counterfeit, we introduce Cigar Aficionado Online's Counterfeit Gallery.
Two prominent victims of counterfeit cigars -- Altadis U.S.A. and Padrón Cigars Inc. -- recently provided Cigar Aficionado Online with detailed examples of counterfeit versions of their brand names. Click below for this exclusive look. Counterfeit Fuente Fuente OpusX from Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia. Counterfeit Montecristos from Altadis U.S.A. Counterfeit Padróns from Padrón Cigars Inc. Click the links below to view a large version of each band. The thumbnail graphic tagged "Genuine" is the authentic band; subsequent text links are counterfeits. Locations listed indicate where the cigar was purchased, not made. Each large band, real and fake, is accompanied by a brief description. If you think you've been had, we encourage you to mail the band in question, along with all the information you have about its origin, to Counterfeit Gallery, Cigar Aficionado Online, 387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016. Please do not email bands. We need the originals to ensure that the distinguishing markings are clearly represented. However, with the enormous amount of bands that we receive, we cannot respond directly to all inquiries, nor can we return the bands to their original owners. |
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