How we verify Cuban stock
Counterfeit and grey-market Habanos are common enough that it is worth knowing what to look for — including when you are not buying from us.
Our Cuban stock comes through Intertabak AG, the authorised Habanos distributor for Switzerland. That matters less as a badge than as a paper trail: a box that arrives through the official channel carries an unbroken set of identifiers, and we do not remove any of them.
What to check on any box
The warranty seal. Green, across the opening, with a hologram and a micro-printed serial. It should be intact and sitting flush.
The barcode label. Present, unmarked, and not cut away. This is the one most often tampered with, because it identifies the distributor the box was released to.
The factory and date code. Stamped on the underside — a three-letter factory code and a month and year. A box with no code, or a code that has been sanded, is not one to buy.
The cigars themselves. Bands should be identical in height and alignment across the row. Uneven banding is a common tell on counterfeits.
Storage
The shop keeps its stock in a walk-in humidor lined with Spanish cedar, held at around 70% relative humidity. Cigars that have been allowed to dry and then been re-humidified do not recover — the oils are gone — which is why storage conditions are worth asking about wherever you buy.
Common questions
- How can I check a Cuban box myself?
- Every Habanos box has a factory barcode label, a Republic of Cuba warranty seal, and a date code stamped on the underside. The alphanumeric code on the seal can be checked on the official Habanos S.A. authenticity portal. Boxes we supply keep all three intact.
- Why do some sellers remove or scratch off the barcode?
- Because the barcode identifies which authorised distributor the box was released to. Parallel importers remove it to hide that the box left the official chain. A scratched, cut or missing barcode is the single clearest warning sign when buying Habanos, and worth walking away from.
- Can I see the box code before I buy?
- Yes. For boxes and cabinets, email the shop at sales@coloncigars.com and we will send photographs of the actual stamps and the wrapper before anything is dispatched.
- How do cigars survive being posted?
- Orders go out in sealed pouches with a Boveda two-way humidity pack, which holds them near 72% relative humidity for around three weeks. That is comfortably longer than any delivery inside Switzerland takes.
If you are unsure about a box you already own — bought anywhere — bring it in. We will look at it with you.