by Steve Saka

Absolutely. Tooth is most commonly noticed on Cameroon wrappers, but the African Continent is not the only place a toothy wrapper is grown. In fact you can find examples of wrapper leaves will serious grain from almost everywhere including Cuba. As for which brands are more susceptible that is tough, however I can tell you that those wrappers that receive more sun time tend to develop more oils and, in turn, more grain. These same wrappers tend to be darker in color. So with all of this in mind it is more common to see tooth on darker wrapper Havanas such as Partagas and Bolivar.

The impact of the wrapper on the taste of a cigar is one of the most debated issues in the cigar world. To assign a numeric vale to the impact is impossible since each blend differs as do their wrappers, however I can say unequivocally that the wrapper can have a very significant impact on the flavor of some cigars. Also I have a personal pet theory that the impact of the wrapper also depends on how you personally smoke your cigars: If you are the type of smoker who tends to hold the cigar in your mouth, chew on it, etc. then the wrapper's flavor will have a greater impact on the overall flavor against your palate. However, if you tend to smoke your cigars with little contact upon your oral membranes then the overall impact of the wrapper's flavor will be diminished.

I suggest that you try smoking a variety of cigars that are available in different wrappers and determine your own opinions. Some ideal pairings for tasting would be: Arturo Fuente Hemingway Cameroon vs. Maduro, Hoyo Excalibur No.1 EMS vs. Maduro, and the Henry Clay Maduro vs. Habana 2000. I think you will discover for yourself that the wrapper does greatly affect the flavor of the cigar. As for the how much, well you will just have to argue that with your herfing buddies.

The reason is simple ­ people use food terms and aromas to describe cigars because that is how we have learned to express the sensations on our palates. It is the flavors that we have had in our mouths in the past that serve as our frame of reference and provide the best way for an individual to verbally express the sensation they are experiencing from a cigar. Does that mean everyone eats dirt, flint, or leather? No, but most of us have had those flavors in our mouths or have smelled them in our lifetimes. Remember that scent and flavor are two intertwined by our sense. These non-tobacco terms are use to provide a common reference for all of us.

As for your not tasting any of these notes is not surprising, because many people do not. Remember that your sense of taste and smell may not be the same as the next persons. Some people simply have more acute palates than others and can identify individual flavors better than their peers. People's sense of smell and taste vary just as greatly as do people's eyesight, threshold for pain, or ability to hear. Most of us are within the same relative range palate-wise, but there are some with a very acute sense of taste and smell while there are others that have very dull palates. All that is important is for you to determine if you enjoy the flavor of what you are smoking regardless of what it may taste like to others.

Your site is excellent. I recently purchased some boxes from a man claiming to be Cuban, who says he gets them from friends in Miami via the Bahamas. He claims he has a connection in the Cuban govt. who gets them for about $40-50 a box so he sells them for $275. The first box was Cohiba robustos with everything in place, perfectly cellophaned, and a code of HM-OISU on the bottom. A little old, yes, but I thought maybe someone was just aging them or having trouble getting them out. I smoked a couple and they seemed OK, but not great. I then got a box of Bolivar RC and Partagas pyramids. I never saw a Partagas pyramid so I figured it would be great. Both boxes were celloed and sealed with the stamp and the decal. No glassine strips in either. Both had the code SS-OISU on the bottoms. The Partagas box was stamped, 25 Belicosos on each side on the cedar portion. However, the cigars are the size of a Monte #2 and don't taste anything like a Partagas. They look rustic. The Bolivars have very little embossing on the coins on the bands, if at all, and also don't taste like Cubans I've had previously. [ALSO] both the Bolivar RC and the Cohiba robusto measured 5" long each, yet they fit in their boxes nicely. After looking at your site, I can't find triple caps anywhere in any of the three boxes, although I can't say for sure on the Cohibas. I'm just not good enough to detect it.

Are there counterfeiters in Miami with Cuban govt. stamps and decals who are refilling old boxes? Everything looked so good before they were opened. Thanks for everything you're doing. - L.R.

Yes - it is a very common ploy of counterfeiters to recycle old empty boxes. It is readily apparent to me that you were taken advantage of. Sadly you had plenty of clues to help you avoid these purchases.

1. Old boxes - As I said before this is a very common tactic. Aged havanas are difficult to come by, and when you do they are typically priced significantly higher than those currently shelf-side. Only reputable collectors and a few dealers will have aged Havanas in stock.

2. Cellophane - Only machine-made Havanas come in cellophane and there are no machine-made Cohiba Robustos.

3. Vitola Incorrect - As you noted, there is no such cigar as a Partagas Pyramid.

4. Size Incorrect - Both the Royal Corona and the Cohiba Robusto were too long.

5. Triple Cap Missing - It is very easy to detect the triple cap on Havana parejos (straight sided cigars). It would be readily apparent on most of the cigars in the box upon close inspection.

6. Lame Story - Another tip off, almost every counterfeiter is "Cuban" and has "friends in Miami via the Bahamas" and "claims he has a connection in the Cuban govt. who gets them for about $40-50 a box so he sells them for $275." Anyone who claims he is getting Cohiba Robustos for $50 a box is full of more crap than my septic tank. Lame cover stories are part of the hook.

Just because the boxes were sealed with intact stamps is not proof of legitimacy. In today's world of color laser printers and scanners it is no problem to make perfectly legit looking seals in the comfort of your own home. I am sorry you were burned so badly, but hopefully your mistake will help others.

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