Box Codes

[JimmyC]

How do you crack the codes?

 

[Docbp87]

In recent years, the dates are no secret, but the factories represented by the 3 letter codes change every few months. For instance, LRE ENE 09, would be factory LRE (whatever factory that code represented at the time), January 2009.

 

[srduggins]

http://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/info-packaging.htm#Factory_Codes

scroll up for the date codes, down for the factory codes.

 

[cvm4]

Depends if it's before 2005 or after. If after, then forget about it.

 

[Hot_Sauce]

^ what he said

 

[JimmyC]

Ok... so Factory codes are useless... So let me ask a more specific question. Are all Patagas Cigars produced in the Partagas Factory in Havana?

 

[cvm4]

Nope... Grants some are. Some are produced elsewhere. Some are in provincial factories.

 

[ninersfan]

If I understand things correctly, it's all but impossible to decipher the coding system Habanos SA has developed.

What was the reason for the new, highly cryptic box codes?

 

[cvm4]

IMO, I believe they implemented the rotating box code system so consumers wouldn't chase certain factories. Habanos was probably tired of retailers complaining about boxes with a certain code moving faster than those without it. The problem was that the Partagas, Upmann, etc factories would turn out much better product than provincial factories and the consumers knew this so they'd go after them.

 

[Bass man]

Some codes get figured out from factory visits or contacts. POS & TEB were Partagas codes. MEL was El Laguito in 2008.