You are now ready to inspect the cigars packed in the box's bottom layer. The wrapper color of these cigars should be almost identical to that of the cigars on the top; a noticeable difference is a tip-off that the product is fake, since counterfeiters often place the junk on the bottom. If you were a little suspicious when you examined the top layer, be especially thorough with the bottom. If the cigars stick to the lining paper, especially the cigars on the far left or right, it means that the box was produced so quickly that the glue was not allowed to dry before the box was loaded. This is common among fakes.The final marker of authenticity is a little-known but always reliable flaw that appears on most fake boxes. If you examine the thin cedar lining separating the two layers, appearing on the upper right corner should be a small half moon-shaped cut-out for your finger. This cut should be perfectly curved, with a clean edge; it is machine-made and should be free of any imperfections caused by a human hand. The remainder of the liner should be cut to perfectly fit the box, with approximately an eighth of an inch clearance around the edges. The surface should be free of cracks or splits that are a sure sign of salvaged wood. If you receive a box which has a divider made of cardboard instead of cedar, the box is surely not authentic.
Not all boxes of factory-made Cuban cigars are perfect and meet the criteria described here. They are, after all, a handmade product being produced in a country that routinely experiences shortages of raw materials. In the last few years, the tobacco crop has been strong, allowing Cuba to increase production to meet growing worldwide demand. New factories have been opened and new rollers trained. The production push has strained quality control, especially in the area of packaging. Hopefully the worst is over now and the leadership at Habanos can focus again on quality and consistency.
For those who love Cuban cigars, the best protection is to purchase from an authorized Habanos dealer, such as the La Casa del Habano stores, located in many major cities around the world. If you live in a country that bans Cuban products, you must do your best with what is available. Always be wary, keeping the mindset that most of the product you encounter is, unfortunately, not what it is represented to be.
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