ISOM OR NOT ISOM...THAT is the question!

[justinphilly]

Ok, so here is the dilemna.. I ordered a box of Romeo Y Juliet Exhibiton #4 from a ??????????.com. This site came reccomended to me for having genuine smokes.. To me, admittedly a novice, they look good. The seal appeared in tact, the habanos sticker was intatc, there was a proper date satmp on the bottom. etc....

Someone, who i admittedly do not OVERLY trust, after smoking one said, "no way this is cuban!" I need people that i can trust to tell me if they are or they arent.. I will not post pics of the smokes, and i cannot post pics of the box, as i got rid of it ( i know i know dumb-a$$)

What i want to do is send some out to you guys.. NOW STOP!!! dont just pm me your addy...!!! Sorry to the newb's here, but i am a newb too.. I need only FOGS, or at least people that I have spoken to, just so i dont think you are looking for free smokes..

Please PM me your addy, and i will send a stick or two our to you.. That way you can smoke them and pm me back, or you may just be able to look at them and let me know..

I appreciate, in advance, your help.. I will send out like 10 sticks.

[darkness449]

Who said it wasnt a cuban? Were they a FOG? Do they even know what a cigar is? I'd volunteer but I probably couldn't tell you if they were real or not. Hope they are though.

[justinphilly]

no, it was no-one from here.. and if it was a fog i would beleive him before this guy..

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by darkness449

Who said it wasnt a cuban? Were they a FOG?

Exaclty. If they aren't an FOG than I would question their analysis before you send out ten sticks. I don't pretend to be able to dicern real or fake cubans, but if the site came recommended from a reliable source here on CS, then I would give that more credence.

[justinphilly]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Exaclty. If they aren't an FOG than I would question their analysis before you send out ten sticks. I don't pretend to be able to dicern real or fake cubans, but if the site came recommended from a reliable source here on CS, then I would give that more credence.

i hear that, but my concern is that if i keep these and hope they are real, that i might trade or swap them with some FOG's. I dont want them to ge these and think that i am ripping them off.. I dont mind parting with some sticks, as long as i will be able to find out if the other 15 are real...

[pinoyman]

Amigo, Just got your PM last night and sorry for not responding right away.
Why did you say it's not cubans? are you sure you know the taste you're looking for? I warned several members to be careful buying from this people,
not that I personaly experienced buying fakes from them but the service and
the way they store their cigars.
I can give you couple of good shops and hook you up.
or maybe, what you've got is a real cubans...
Let me know if I can be a help.

[IHT]

has your buddy ever smoked a cuban cigar?
how long did you let them rest around 65% RH before smoking them?

[Navydoc]

Originally Posted by IHT

has your buddy ever smoked a cuban cigar?
how long did you let them rest around 65% RH before smoking them?

Excellent questions...I typically wait at least 2-3 months to try cigars out of a new box as the flavor profiles tend to go through a "settling" period when first received. I have some from my regular source whom I trust and would be willing to trade a couple with you so that we can BOTH compare. PM sent.

[LasciviousXXX]

The Doc comes through again in the clinch........ HooHa!!





XXX

[poker]

Originally Posted by Navydoc

Excellent questions...I typically wait at least 2-3 months to try cigars out of a new box as the flavor profiles tend to go through a "settling" period when first received. I have some from my regular source whom I trust and would be willing to trade a couple with you so that we can BOTH compare. PM sent.

I agree with Navydoc here 100% that 2-3 months can make a big difference with newly arrived cigars. Also keep in mind that a difference in box dates can also mean they may not taste identical to another if both are authentic, but should share many taste characteristics.

My questions would be what led you to suspect these to begin with? What is the box code? How long have you had them in your posession?

Navydocs offer sounds like your best option & theres absolutely no need to send out 10 cigars to folks (including myself) just to check validity opinions.

[pyrotech]

1) the Doc's offer is a fair and generous one (bite his arm off.)

2) could you PM your source and I'll check this side of the atlantic.

3) I've smoked s**t THAT I KNOW IS CUBAN, either sick, bad storage etc etc etc, as many here will tell one cigar ain't the whole vitola.

4) It may be a good thing you have doubts at an early stage, just rember the old saying, "fools rush in, where FOG's fear to tread.

[Thurm15]

...and justin, keep your smokes in the Box they came with from now on. They store and age better that way. Plus we could have possibly known there authenticity from a pic of the Box and Seal.

[MoTheMan]

[SIZE=3]Your "friend" don't know chit. PERIOD!![/SIZE]

Got your PM which I replied to with a long e-mail and thought I'd chime in here.

First, let me regress a bit. I'm not writing this to advocate that a US citizen should break the law (be careful how you word things on a public forum -- read my post on Sources For Cuban Cigars) and spend time, money, and energy buying contraband. No! OK, OK, no more ranting.

The reason I'm replying here is that I have some knowledge that may be valuable.

Now, I know the vendor that you purchased these cigars from. Yes, his product is authentic. I also checked on his inventory. He has R&J Exh. No. 4 in stock, but they are dated MAY 05, which means that they're VERY YOUNG. Some young cigars can be very tasty but only if you smoke them in the first 1-2 months of release. After that they go through a sick period, which is supposed to last a year but can last a year and a half. They then become smokeable; but only age (i.e. 5+ years or more) can bring out some of the real nuance of the cigar. My friend, you need to sit on your sticks a while. Now, if you weren't too disappointed with what you had, go ahead & get some more.

A few more things. I actually know this vendor personally, on a first name basis. Yes, he's overseas, and yes he sells Cubans, but he's also very active in the cigar community. Last time I communicated with him, we talked about whether or not he was going to attend the Big Smoke this year (Nov. '05 in Las Vegas). He usually attends every year, but his plans for this year were still up in the air. It would be good to actually meet him in person if you get the chance, it's a good way to cement a relationship.

Now, for a relevant story. Had a friend in Baltimore was getting his "Cubans" from Miami and felt that I was snubbing him becasue I didn't like smoking his stuff. He didn't trust buying cigars from any internet vendors, and really had very little experience with true Havanas. Well, a short time after I first met him he travelled to London on business and got to meet Mitch at CGarsLtd.com. Mitch is a vendor that posts here on CS, through his assistant SmokeyGirl, and advertises on Top25Cigar. Mitch has an incredible inventory of some very nice, very well aged stuff and always manages to find more. Mitch got him to try some really good aged Havanas and my friend was hooked. I know that every chance he gets he goes to London to get more cigars.

Only when you get to smoke stuff like that can you really appreciate what a good stick has to offer, and if your experience is limited, well, it'll just take time.

Hope this was helpful.

[(909)]

Originally Posted by MoTheMan

[SIZE=3]Your "friend" don't know chit. PERIOD!![/SIZE]

Got your PM which I replied to with a long e-mail and thought I'd chime in here.

First, let me regress a bit. I'm not writing this to advocate that a US citizen should break the law (be careful how you word things on a public forum -- read my post on Sources For Cuban Cigars) and spend time, money, and energy buying contraband. No! OK, OK, no more ranting.

The reason I'm replying here is that I have some knowledge that may be valuable.

Now, I know the vendor that you purchased these cigars from. Yes, his product is authentic. I also checked on his inventory. He has R&J Exh. No. 4 in stock, but they are dated MAY 05, which means that they're VERY YOUNG. Some young cigars can be very tasty but only if you smoke them in the first 1-2 months of release. After that they go through a sick period, which is supposed to last a year but can last a year and a half. They then become smokeable; but only age (i.e. 5+ years or more) can bring out some of the real nuance of the cigar. My friend, you need to sit on your sticks a while. Now, if you weren't too disappointed with what you had, go ahead & get some more.

A few more things. I actually know this vendor personally, on a first name basis. Yes, he's overseas, and yes he sells Cubans, but he's also very active in the cigar community. Last time I communicated with him, we talked about whether or not he was going to attend the Big Smoke this year (Nov. '05 in Las Vegas). He usually attends every year, but his plans for this year were still up in the air. It would be good to actually meet him in person if you get the chance, it's a good way to cement a relationship.

Now, for a relevant story. Had a friend in Baltimore was getting his "Cubans" from Miami and felt that I was snubbing him becasue I didn't like smoking his stuff. He didn't trust buying cigars from any internet vendors, and really had very little experience with true Havanas. Well, a short time after I first met him he travelled to London on business and got to meet Mitch at CGarsLtd.com. Mitch is a vendor that posts here on CS, through his assistant SmokeyGirl, and advertises on Top25Cigar. Mitch has an incredible inventory of some very nice, very well aged stuff and always manages to find more. Mitch got him to try some really good aged Havanas and my friend was hooked. I know that every chance he gets he goes to London to get more cigars.

Only when you get to smoke stuff like that can you really appreciate what a good stick has to offer, and if your experience is limited, well, it'll just take time.

Hope this was helpful.

Bingo, now put those babys into hibernation for a while and smoke some Padrons.

[justinphilly]

glad i got another vendor, that i dont have to worry about