Buying REAL Cuban Cigars in Mexico. How can you be sure?

[@bobbyjenkins9628]

El buen tiro CD. Juárez I personally recommend this amazing cigar bar

[@jarheadharlista5009]

Great video! Lots of useful info. I'll be heading to Cancun in a couple of days and plan on picking up some sticks at LCDH.

[@Toklat]

Don't lcdh in CANCUN WORST FAKES!!! I BOUGHT 5 DIFFERENT CUBANS THERE UNSMOKABLE GARBAGE!! IDIOTS KEEP GOING BACK. I HAVE BEEN SMOKING CIGARS OVER 50 YEARS. BEWARE!!!

[@timstort8223]

Will be going to LDH in Cancun in February, can’t wait to smoke my first Cuban and bring a few back, thank you much Uncle Sam (;

[@wendolyneperezreyes4274]

Hello I like your Chanel a lot

[@KimoKapaku]

Thank you Wendolyne. I'm glad you enjoy the content!

[@josetorrez1663]

How do you get Cubans into the states? I’m going in August and would like to bring some back.

[@KimoKapaku]

@@josetorrez1663 in your suitcase and hope they don't inspect you

[@ASMRCIGARS]

Take an empty box of new world. Remove the bands on the Cubans and place them in your new world. (Just a extra precaution I’ve heard other Americans take) 👍🏽 or just buy air tight tupperware container

[@wisamaskar-theAskarBrothers]

Serial code alone is not enough, I just got a box of siglo VI from the resort cigar shop in dreams Macao beach and it is fake although the serial number is good and verified on habanos, I was lucky to reach out to the store and got most of the money refunded

[@KimoKapaku]

Wisam I agree 100% with your statement, it is only 1 of many other factors such as scanning for a serial number printed on each cohiba label on the back side with a blue light, in addition, one other important factor is the reputation of the shop. Was the resort shop you went to a LCDH Authorized dealer and did they have the Habanos seal on the door amd on all of their boxes?

[@KimoKapaku]

A general rule of thumb is NEVER, EVER, trust hotel resort cigar shops selling Cubans unless they can provide proof they are an authorized retailer if S.A Habanos

[@KimoKapaku]

Out of curiosity, how much we're they selling the Cohiba Siglo VI for per stick?

[@wisamaskar-theAskarBrothers]

@@KimoKapaku no they were not an LCDH that was in dream Macao beach puntacana and they said they have a cigar shop at every dreams resort. That was back on December he asked 45 usd for a stick and managed to get the box for 750, I thought that could be the old prices as I have called Cuba LCDH in NOV and they said the siglo vi will be around 80 usd a stick. The band is very close to the original all the holograms are there ..etc, it is hard to figure it out unless you are really experienced with cigars or you have a real one to compare with. I contacted the shop and the resort and was able to get refunded like 80% of the money, they are still good cigars and long filler just no Cohibas.

[@TehParanoil]

Hey, in cabo right now, heading back to the USA tomorrow. Hoping to bring back 10 cubans for myself. Do you know if this is currently okay? Getting conflicting stories on the internet. Thanks!

[@KimoKapaku]

Matt, while it is "technically illegal" I have never had a issue" if you're bringing a b9x or bundle back just say they are a souvenir IF THEY GRILL YOU. Otherwise when I'm asked "Do you have anyrhing to declare?" I typically say NO. Then if they ACTUALLY CHECK (which they never do) you can play the ignorance card! Let us know what you bring back. Did you go to LCDH Cabo?

[@70Drec]

Great info as usual. Planning on a cruise in July with a stop to Cozumel. Gonna head to the la casa their. Have you had experience trying to get a box or two on the boat ?

[@db7tv326]

Thank you for this video. Will be in Cabo for 8 days. Excited to get some Cubans

[@KimoKapaku]

My recommendation for buying any single sticks in Cabo is to first check whether the shop has another full and sealed box of the cigars they are selling from an open box. Reason being is that if they sell singles from an open box, you want to know (at least have a fair idea) that when they sell out of the singles, they open a new box and not just "re-fill" the same box with more cigars which is a major red flag. Also if you see some cigars you want to buy, ask if you can take the box if you buy the rest of the cigars in the box. If they say no you can't have the box, RUN!

[@caughtoncamera27]

BUYN cubans in Mexico one place to go. LCDH. La casa de habanos.

[@KimoKapaku]

Depends. The cancun shop has a reputation for selling fakes. The shop in Playa del Carmen "Cada Partagas" is legit. I know bc I live here

[@wisamaskar-theAskarBrothers]

What is the COhiba lancero price now in Cancun LCdH

[@KimoKapaku]

Wisam, currently the price of Lamceros is around $85-$90/ stick. One thingbthe Cancun shop does is offer discounts if you purchase 5 or more sticks.

[@wisamaskar-theAskarBrothers]

@@KimoKapaku thank you

[@bayouboi0208]

Taking a cruise to Cozumel and Yucatan next week where can I find real Cubans?

[@junzhang4684]

Can you distinguish between real and fake cigars by blind smoking?

[@KimoKapaku]

Yes and No. I can distinguish Cubans and rest of world cigars for the most part and to some degree different habanos but I'm not a cigar somalier. I'm an amateur as I've only been into Habanos for 5 yrs now

[@KimoKapaku]

There are guys who have a shitload more experience than I do and I'm constantly learning which I hope to share with everyone who wants to listen

[@user-mi2st2kv2t]

Following the channel for a while. Very useful info and latest updates. Wonder whether you would be interested in business cooperation ?

[@KimoKapaku]

Email me at [e-mail]

[@qt1622]

New subscriber here , what are your thoughts on the duty free Cohibas in the Cancun airport ? Are they legit ? And is it safe for carryon to the us ?

[@KimoKapaku]

So my initial thoughts on this in a word EXPENSIVE! I have seen the duty free shop in Terminal 3 and unless there is something EXTREMELY RARE, I dont buy from Duty free. As far as authentication I dont have an issue since I they have the govt health stickers and SA Habanos export tax label. I have peeled back (against the rules) the health labels on the box on the bottom to view the box codes and dates. The employee came in and threw me out for doing so, but the codes were there. As for being "Safe" to take with you? THat's up to you. If you are asked by immigration "Do you have anything to declare?" and you say Yes, then they will 80% confiscate your sticks. But knowing the law is best practice. See this link help.cbp.gov/s/sidebar-top-5-import?language=en_US

[@KimoKapaku]

In addition, please read the link about Cuban cigars, despite what others may say. You have to know the law before making "decisions" help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-82?language=en_US#:~:text=Bringing%20in%20Cuban%20goods%20and%2For%20cigars%20into%20the%20United%20States&text=Effective%20September%2024%2C%202020%2C%20authorized,accompanied%20baggage%20for%20personal%20use.

[@KimoKapaku]

Email me if you have any other questions at [e-mail]

[@Aaron-ep9ne]

Do the bands on the Cubans do anything when the black light is on them?

[@KimoKapaku]

Certain bands do, for example Cohiba bands have a serial code that appears on the back side of the band under a black ligh, where the ends are glued together

[@KimoKapaku]

Certain bands do, for example Cohiba bands have a serial code that appears on the back side of the band under a black ligh, where the ends are glued together

[@digitalworldhd5636]

Once more you are providing misinformation. 1) Just because a box verifies to be authentic on the Habanos website does not mean it is authentic. 2) Labels are not an indicator either if a cigar box is authentic or not. 3) The year of a cigar box that is so much for you to know if are buying an aged box or not. By no means the year is an indicator that a Cigar authentic or not. The only way you can be assured you are buying a authentic Cuban cigars outside of Cuba is 1) buying a box by comparing others of the same brand and style and the serial numbers to be different. 2) Buying it from a Habanos authorized dealers. Anything less of these two points you could end up with a counterfeit cigars.

[@KimoKapaku]

Again you are taking things too literal. Authentication is based on a series of factors that cumulatively provide a higher degree of confidence in something being authentic. Let me try to explain from a pharmaceutical perspective since this is my industry. Sterility of the last vaccine or medicine that you had injected is not 100% sterile bc you cannot test the sterility of a drug by testing every single vial for sterility otherwise you would have nothing left. The industry as mandated by the FDA requires a sample set of 20 vials to be tested along with inprocess checks to give the confidence or "sterility assurance" that the product in the end is sterile. With habanos authentication there is nothing that is 100% authentic unless you are the roller in the factory, the person doing the packaging and the final person applying the label. So again, its a multitude of factors that CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL That you are getting an authentic product. It is NOT A GUARANTEE. I can tell you that all of your cuban cigars could be fake by pointing out areas where you do not have first hand knowledge of their origin that can cast doubt on the authenticity of what you bought. We have to look at the big picture and do what's in our power to try our best to authenticate as many checkpoints and factors as we can

[@jarheadharlista5009]

Would you buy single cigars at LCDH?

[@KimoKapaku]

Yes, I would and I have. My comment about not buying single sticks was more about when I am buying quantity instead of just "sampling"

[@Toklat]

Dummy

[@TheJetstream10]

As George Costanza would say, they're Cuban if you believe them to be Cuban. Lol. Which means if you believe them to be so, smoke them and enjoy them if they are or not. Who's going to know?

[@KimoKapaku]

@TheJetstream10 unfortunately for George Costanza he doesn't know shit about cuban cigars bc he doesn't smoke enough cigars to know the difference

[@ddh2o759]

I've bought some of the "Cubans" in Mexico - probably better off buying a good Mexican or Central American cigar.

[@KimoKapaku]

Buying Cuban Cigars in Mexico is a tricky activity when you are not informed or have done any background research. I put out these videos to help provide some background info on places you can feel confident on buying real habanos. A person needs to tread carefully when taking the word of vendors in tourist areas that they are selling habanos. Trust no one and verify before buying!

[@digitalworldhd5636]

@@KimoKapaku I bet you have learned some hard lessons in buying fakes but you continue to be a patron of the stores in Mexico. LCDH stores are legit and if you know what you are buying then you will end up buying authentic. Mexico is a very bad market to buy Cuban Cigars for the following reasons. Fakes, High Prices and low quality of cigars that Habanos ship to the Mexico distributor. I can guarantee you the better rolled cigars end up with distributors like Frank & Hunter like channels.

[@33kingmajor16]

I got two boxes from Cozumel and there fake as hell 😂😂

[@KimoKapaku]

What boxes did you get? Were they sealed boxes? Did you check the serial codes before you bought? Did the boxes have the Mexican govt tobacco import tarif label on the right side of the box btwn the lid and box? Also we they covered top to bottom with the govt health warnings? I'd be curious to see photos for reference ti check this out since I can go to the shop easily from my house. If you can send some photos to my Facebook page. I would like to inform others of your experience

[@33kingmajor16]

@@KimoKapaku it was the boxes with the plastic case that you slide off, got different kinds of cigars