Real or fake

[tommy]

Hi guys, I've been offered two boxes of Esplendidos from my uncles trip to Cuba. He doesn't know cigars and I didn't know he was going so couldn't advise. The boxes look good and all the usual fake trademarks are absent down to tiny details, there is however an anomaly that seems wrong to me and that is the stamp, it's not a factory/month/year stamp but FEB 2014. From that alone I'm thinking they are wrong but if that's the case they have every tiny detail other than that right down to hologram, wood colour, clasp pins, labels the lot. Why would fakers get such a good fake then get an easy to fake date stamp wrong.
So my question is this, have any of you seen this FEB 2914 date stamp configuration?

[monkey66]

Try reading this Tommy then post pictures.

http://www.ukcigarforums.com/showthread.php?14543-10-assumptions-for-avoiding-fake-cigars-beginners-guide

Take a look here as well:

http://www.ukcigarforums.com/showthread.php?13117-Fake-Esplindidos-or-quot-You-like-Cigars-don-t-you-quot

BTW - from what you have said these are 99.5% fake.

[Rob Royston]

I wouldn't have a clue. But if it was me with 2 boxes, I wouldn't mind losing one to...experiments? Cut one of them beauties open if it was me.

[Sligub]

Ask him where he bought them and wither there is a receipt. Any answer other than LCDH and yes means fakes

[tommy]

He got them in a cigar shop! I know not helpful. I was convinced fake but very good copy. All fake identifying sites I visited showed them as legit but that date stamp is definitely wrong so that's my answer I guess. I feel kinda bad as he bought them thinking he's done me a favour! Think I'll reimburse him and take them, they may smoke ok.
Can't take pics as I'm not there again for a week or more.

[Pandyboy]

Smoke one and see what its like!

[monkey66]

[monkey66]

Another good question, how much did he pay?

[butternutsquashpie]

X2

Esplendidos also come with Cohiba cardboard boxes nowadays.
Kinda like the BHK or 1966 style.

Sent by the Enigma on BlackBerry.

[TJCoro]

When Hell Freezes!

I'm impressed!

El P

[Deano]

What did he pay for them, and can he tell you which store?

[tommy]

X2

Esplendidos also come with Cohiba cardboard boxes nowadays.
Kinda like the BHK or 1966 style.

Sent by the Enigma on BlackBerry.

So no seal on the wooden box then? That's it, solved. They are fake, these have a seal on the box.
The thread has been useful, hmmm.

[tommy]

What did he pay for them, and can he tell you which store?

The store question came up already, his answer was "a cigar shop"! No help. How much, I think about ?100 per box.

[PeeJay]

That sounds like the tourist trap one that the tours go to, ask him it it had a gated and grilled entrance

[tommy]

My initial question was over the box code. Has anyone ever seen a genuine box code from Cuba that has no factory code and looks like this: FEB 2014.