Probably fake "Cohiba" Sublimes

July 25th, 2021: I was given this box by a friend of a friend. I assumed that they are fakes, as I couldn't find the brand 'Sublimes' on the internet, only 'Sublimes Limited Edicion 2004' or 'Sublimes Extra'. 

So I put them aside for a couple of years. They are now four years old. Finally, I decided to try one. I cannot say whether or not they are fakes. Reasons to believe that they are not fakes:

1. The silver strip on the label is a hologram: it reflects a rainbow of colour at different angles.
2. The box has a three letter code EVA near the date.
3. The benefactor of the box has longstanding business relations in Cuba and would be unlikely to be duped. 
4. They have the Pinar del Rio flavour profile.

On the other hand, I received this comment which concludes that they are fakes:

The I in Cohiba should align perfectly with the C in Cuba, the squares are not aligned and should never touch under the chin, the Tanto head is off center, Cohiba box cuts  squares on the right side, comma after Cuba is in the wrong position. These flaws are not uncommon in many counterfeit examples. Due to the fact that Cohiba is so heavily counterfeited, the company in Switzerland only produces perfect bands for authentic Cohibas.

Whatever the status of the cigars, they proved to be a decent smoke, with excellent aroma, perfect burn and a Pinar del Rio flavour. 

Construction: 6 X 54, a very light claro wrapper, loosely packed, light in the hand. The box was marked June 17. Very smooth surface. The wrapper was extremely thin; a tiny part broke off with the band, exposing a dark binder below.

According to one website, the cigars, if genuine, are produced in the Vuelta Abajo factory in Pinar del Rio, the province on the extreme western tip of Cuba. 

Draw: Very easy draw. I would have preferred a bit more resistance and tighter packing. 

Burn: Perfect

Flavour: Mild to medium Cuban flavour, resembling that of the Vegueros cigar, which also comes from the Pinar del Rio Province. A little bit of mild pepper at outset and towards the end.

Complexity: Not much complexity in the flavour, but the aroma was amazingly rich and complex.

Body: Mild to medium

Strength: Not much kick, perhaps a bit at the end, but barely noticeable.

Finish: Good finish for such a mild cigar.

Aroma: The best part. Extremely rich, complex and delicious Cuban aroma. 

Ash: Very light ash, came off easily after the first inch with a light tap.

Balance and Consistency: Well balanced and consistently aromatic.

Time smoke: 75 minutes. Despite its size, the light packing made for a fast burn.

Overall: A pleasant, mellow, cigar, with a deep, rich aroma. Quite satisfying.

September 16th, 2021: Starts mild in body, low strength with a dash of white pepper. Aroma was rich and complex. Finish was long and very clean. Draw was very easy with volumes of smoke and a light ash that fell off after an inch. Despite the size of the cigar, it was very lightly packed. Burn was sharp. Despite the mildness, flavour was still complex.

By the second half body increased to almost medium and strength picked up a little. Spice increased to make the mixture more interesting. I smoked the cigar to nub. It was quite tasty, quite enjoyable. Not really enough body for my liking. A little more strength would have complemented the mild flavour. Overall, the cigar was quite balanced. I'm sure many people would find this a very satisfying cigar. 80 minutes. Pleasant. 

November 8th, 2022: Much the same as the previous cigar. If this is a fake, it's a very fine quality fake: excellent construction, draw and burn, albeit, lightly packed and fast burning for such a big stogie. 75 minutes. Pleasant.