Just four days ago, «Cigar» and finews.com broke the news that Tao's Restaurant & Bar, a go-to for Zurich’s in-crowd, was selling counterfeit Cohiba Siglo VI cigars for a steep 115 Swiss francs apiece. These fake cigars came from Rudolf R.*, a retiree previously caught selling counterfeit Havanas, better known by his alias, Cubaruedi.

Since that exposé, both publications have been provided with information pointing to other high-end restaurants offering these dubious cigars, all supplied by Cubaruedi. Tobias Hüberli, Cigar's editor-in-chief, followed the trail, publishing a fresh set of revelations (article in German). In some cases, the suspicions proved true; in others, the establishments were cleared of wrongdoing.

Deceptive Bands, Off-Key Flavors

Hüberli, an expert in cigars, uncovered the fakes with the industry's standard methods. First, he analyzed the cigar bands, which on genuine Cuban cigars are printed by a Dutch security printing firm and feature numerous counterfeit-resistant details, much like banknotes. Second, he tested the cigars’ flavor profiles. Cuban tobacco has a signature taste that stands apart from any other origin, making it relatively easy for seasoned connoisseurs to detect impostors.

While Tao's and Meat Me steakhouse had already been singled out in last week’s investigation, Hüberli’s latest findings uncovered fakes in several other prominent locations:

1. La Zagra, Zurich: At this elite Italian restaurant in Zurich’s Seefeld district, a regular 15-point favorite of Gault Millau, Hüberli discovered multiple crude counterfeits stashed in the humidor. When confronted, restaurant manager Luca Gioia admitted he didn’t know much about cigars. This was evident in the pricing—he had been selling the fake Cohiba Siglo VI, which Cubaruedi supplied at 20 francs each, for just 38 francs. That’s a far cry from the authentic version, which retails for around 110 francs. La Zagra swiftly pulled all of Cubaruedi’s cigars from its shelves and has since contacted a lawyer.
2. Neue Real, Zurich: This Spanish restaurant, co-founded by Zurich dining legend Aurelio Lorenzo (formerly of Casa Aurelio), had also been unwittingly selling Cubaruedi’s cigars. When the scandal came to light, managing director Mazen Rahmani didn’t hesitate—he removed the cigars immediately. «Cubaruedi abused my trust and damaged the reputation of our establishment,» Rahmani told Cigar. Unlike Tao's, at least he wasn’t charging premium prices for the fake Cohibas—35 francs for a Edición Limitada Romeo y Julieta and 27 francs for a Cohiba Medio Siglo. 
3. Strauss, Winterthur: It is as upscale as it gets in Winterthur; and it was also selling fake Havanas. The pricing here was chaotic—the Montecristo Open Eagle was listed at 27 francs, instead of the usual 36 francs, and the Cohiba Medio Siglo at 26 francs, compared to 66.30 francs in legitimate retail outlets. This odd pricing structure suggests the owners had no idea they were dealing with counterfeit goods. «We’ve never received complaints about the cigars,» said restaurant manager Tuba Özdemir. «Cubaruedi insists his cigars are real, but we’ll be conducting our own investigation immediately.»

It’s not just high-end dining that’s been hit by the fake cigar trade. Tips have also surfaced about counterfeit Cuban cigars being sold at the Egoist nightclub on Langstrasse, Zurich’s infamous nightlife district. While the investigation team opted not to verify the claim on-site, they did reach out to the club for comment. The owners, however, remained silent.

Cubaruedi Speaks

Cigar’s Hüberli managed to speak with the man at the center of the storm, Cubaruedi. He continues to deny that the Cuban cigars he’s been selling at well below market prices are fakes. Yet, when pressed, he revealed his supplier: Solocigars, an online shop based in Costa Rica.

Solocigars has a notorious reputation for offering cheap Nicaraguan cigars disguised with counterfeit Cuban labels, selling them across the globe via its website.

A Secret Cuban Pipeline?

Could it be possible that Cubaruedi and Solocigars have somehow unlocked a secret supply chain, getting their hands on genuine Cuban cigars at rock-bottom prices, bypassing international import and retail costs? Hüberli is skeptical. «I find that highly unlikely,» he says. «The inconsistencies in the cigar bands are a dead giveaway—these are clearly fakes.»

 
Visit to Strauss in Winterthur: counterfeit Cohiba (right), original (left). Click image for larger view. (Image: «Cigar», Chris Iseli)

Hüberli points out that for years, Cuba’s cigar industry has been plagued by production shortages, leading to tight control over its supply chain. Global pricing was standardized in April 2023, but even before that, prices were relatively uniform across markets.

Is there any chance these cigars could be genuine Cubans but not part of the state-controlled tobacco monopoly? Hüberli dismisses this notion outright. «Cuba guards its cigar industry like a national treasure. There is no black-market wholesale supply of authentic Cuban cigars anywhere in the world outside of official channels,» he asserts.

* Full name known to finews.com.