Triple Ligero's "Montescristo GR" cigars examined

[StogieRoadie]

[quote author=moki link=topic=9459.msg52528#msg52528 date=1305729878]
That's [url=http://www.onlinehumidor.com/forum/index.php?topic=9459.msg52419#msg52419]not exactly what I said[/url] (or meant).  All I meant was that "no, I'm pretty sure both of TL's cigars are fake" in response to you saying it could be a regular Monte #2 with a GR band on it.
[/quote]

This is exactly what you said in response to my post.

[quote author=moki link=topic=9459.msg52419#msg52419 date=1305643611]
uh... only if the regular Monte #2s you have are fake.  imo
[/quote]

[moki]

[quote author=StogieRoadie link=topic=9459.msg52532#msg52532 date=1305731498]
This is exactly what you said in response to my post.

[/quote]

[url=http://www.onlinehumidor.com/forum/index.php?topic=9459.msg52419#msg52419]Read the reply again:[/url]

[url=http://www.onlinehumidor.com/forum/index.php?topic=9459.msg52419#msg52419]http://www.onlinehumidor.com/forum/index.php?topic=9459.msg52419#msg52419[/url]

Intent: "Neither of the TL cigars a real Montecristo #2 with a different band on it."

[TNT Cigarguy]

I have some of those GRs sitting at home. I will examine when I get back into town. I am looking forward to tearing one apart. I will post pics

[Ninja]

[quote author=DBall link=topic=9459.msg52399#msg52399 date=1305634334]
I haven't ever seen the toothiness that there is on that cigar on the far right on a Cuban cigar...
[/quote]

FWIW, I have seen that kind of toothiness on cuban cigars in the factory, but they never make it past sorting.

And I had a fake TL Monte GR sent to me too, and I was looking at it today. Moki has nailed it, but I would add that the band on mine seemed to have used glue to affix it. Not 100% but it looks like it. In the factories, the use a mixture of flour and water to make a really think paste to affix the labels. Plus the glue appears to be on the bottom part of where the band overlaps in the back. This is kind of the opposite of how they are applied in the factories with the top part of where the band overlaps getting the glue, and they then apply it using the side of a wooden box.

[4cbln3]

[quote author=StogieRoadie link=topic=9459.msg52522#msg52522 date=1305727462]
Rob,

I know what Monte GR's are supposed to be.  I commented on a previous post of Moki that TL GR's looks like a regular Monte 2 with GR band.  Moki then commented that if my Monte 2 looks like TL GR's then they are fake in his opinion. 
[/quote]

StogieRoadie, I'm going to assume you know your sources and vitolas well enough to know if you have fake Monte no.2s or not, but unless you have some Monte GRs from TL and are learning as I am, let's leave out any "he said/he meant" sidetracking. I didn't read anything Moki wrote as "you may have possible fake Monte's, GR or otherwise.

I, for one, applaud Moki and Ninja and their time spent trying to teach us for future use in this hobby. And this is not even his home forum.

My .02 cents

Dave

[gomez]

[quote author=4cbln3 link=topic=9459.msg52568#msg52568 date=1305751371]
StogieRoadie, I'm going to assume you know your sources and vitolas well enough to know if you have fake Monte no.2s or not, but unless you have some Monte GRs from TL and are learning as I am, let's leave out any "he said/he meant" sidetracking. I didn't read anything Moki wrote as "you may have possible fake Monte's, GR or otherwise.

I, for one, applaud Moki and Ninja and their time spent trying to teach us for future use in this hobby. And this is not even his home forum.

My .02 cents

Dave
[/quote]

EXCELLENT post!!!!!!

[moki]

StogieRoadie, if I said anything that could be misconstrued, I apologize.  I don't mind being criticized.

All I meant to say was that I felt both of TL's cigars were fake farm cigars, and that neither of them were likely to be real Montecristos with a band added.

I do agree with you that something like that *could* happen, and would be insanely profitable for someone to do, given that TL was selling the Monte GR's for $70 a pop.

I just don't think that was the case for the Montecristo GR cigars I've seen.

It's very possible that the "diplomatic" Cohiba Lanceros with the extra single Palm band are real CoLas with a band added.  I just don't know at this juncture (I've not had the time to smoke one yet).

[njstone]

I agree with Moki and the others, Stogiecidal.  I don't think you need to be worried about wrapper variation in regular production stuff.  I could post many pictures showing the absolutely stunning contrast in wrapper colors that you can get, as I'm sure a lot of guys could.  That's just par for the course in regular production stuff, both Cuban and non.

[insight]

FWIW, I smoked one of TL's GR yesterday and it was definitely not what it was purported to be.  I am going to try one of Limor's sometime in the next bit here and will post a comparison.  I don't have a sample of the real deal but I will try to at least get my hands on a legit monte 2 for additional profile comparison (Montes are one of the marcas I just don't tend to ever stock)

[moki]

[quote author=StogieRoadie link=topic=9459.msg52416#msg52416 date=1305641973]
The TL GR looks like a regular Monte #2 with the GR band.  I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case.[/quote]

Having smoked it, I must concede that you were right, StogieRoadie.  The 3rd cigar from the left did indeed taste like a $8 Montecristo #2 to me (but decidedly was NOT a $70 Montecristo GR).

Apologies.