Know anything about Partagas Box Codes?

[NYLaw]

A friend recently received a box of Habana Serie D-4s with the box code
OEB SEP 06.... We were wondering if anyone knows anything about this code, whether it's good, or where I can direct him on the web to see a review of this code, it's meaning, or authenticity...

Thanks,

Ben

 

[cvm4]

Unless you go to the factory and see that code being used for that month then there's really no way to tell what factory it is. The masterminds at Cuba switch factory codes every so often in every factory.

 

[Greg]

Yep, the codes really don't mean much anymore.

 

[cvm4]

I used to like knowing what factory the box came from :dunno:

 

[oneaday]

That's a valid box code, I have a friend, his uncle has a niece that has that same box code. Of course that means the box is genuine.......the cigars well that's a different story, I guess you will just have to smoke one and see.

 

[NYLaw]

OneADay,

I get the joke but on a serious note, have you really seen that box code on a Serie D/4? If so, have you smoked any?

Also, since you mention it, if the boxes are sealed with valid Cuba tax stamps (and the boxes were sent from a BOTL sponsor), can one reasonably rely on the authenticity of the cigs?

 

[Fox]

OneADay,

I get the joke but on a serious note, have you really seen that box code on a Serie D/4? If so, have you smoked any?

Also, since you mention it, if the boxes are sealed with valid Cuba tax stamps (and the boxes were sent from a BOTL sponsor), can one reasonably rely on the authenticity of the cigs?

I have not seen that particular box code, but that means nothing. Yes, you can rely on the sponsors. As noted, modern box codes are helpful for the age, but not much for the factories anymore.

 

[crossbow]

Howyadoin NYLAW!!

The the first three letters of the boxcode used to be factory specific for a long time but now it changes every month. Even then, sometimes the letters were interchanged. But because people were buying cigars made from certain factories and the rest of the provincial factories' products were ignored. The government decided to change the boxcodes every month.

Otherwise, the month and year is almost always accurate. Now according to most cigar aficionados, the 2006-made cigars are better than the 2005, which in turn, is better than the 2004 and 2003. I guess the box your friend managed to acquire is as good as it gets. The only way to verify whether the cigars from that box is good is for one to taste it.

Shall we say, Churchills Saturday after lunch?

 

[NYLaw]

Cross-

Thank you SO MUCH for that info. That's exactly what I was looking for. Everything else I found on the web seemed to refer to old info, which generally stated that the factory codes are still relevant. (But I remembered something about that not being the case anymore... So thanks.)

I do look forward to sharing these puppies, although somewhere more westward than Churchills would be more convenient... I'll post on the herf forum when I can attend something. (Although I just pulled up the Churchill's website- I think I got the right one- Maxwell & Dunne's? -- and that place looks amazing! Looks like a dinner & smoke there you could easily drop $100+ to have a good time.)

Finally, nice Godfather 3 pic of Pacino. Very, um, relevant.

 

[cvm4]

If it means anything, I have seen people refer to OEB when they talked about recent boxes they got or smoked out of.

 

[Matthew]

I have seen the PL Lonsdales from OEB in July and Aug '06. I have seen PLPCs with OEB codes from Feb '06, March '06, Oct '06 and Feb '07. I have not seen Partagas with OEB codes.

 

[Irritech]

I too can vouch for that code. I also can say those cigars are tha bomb!!:razz: