Changing of Box Codes

[rtrimbath]

How long does it generally take for box codes to change? Example: MUO (to my knowledge) has been determined to be the El Laguito factory. How long will that be the case? Does it change yearly? Also, how was MUO determined to be the code for the El Laguito factory, and what process will be used to determine it once the box code changes? I know a lot of box code threads have been started, but I couldn't find one with an answer to my question. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[garbandz]

Supposedly only a few people in Habanos are responsible for the changes,and they appear arbitrary and randomly applied.

No definitive answer exists available to the public,so far as I can tell....

[Franko]

Supposedly only a few people in Habanos are responsible for the changes,and they appear arbitrary and randomly applied.

No definitive answer exists available to the public,so far as I can tell....

Same thing i got told in havana!!

[Stogieninja]

Iirc, we know the el laguido code because BHKs are made there. Hence any other box sharing a code from a BHK box is obviously from the same factory.

I think the other one folks usually seem to figure out is the Partagas factory. That might just be based in volume of codes seen, but someone more expert than me probably knows better.

[rtrimbath]

Thanks for the responses. The way the MUO code was determined makes a lot of sense, but with BHKs supposedly moving to more than one factory, I would imagine it will be even tougher to determine factory codes. It almost makes me wonder why they use codes at all.

[Trevor2118]

Have a read here regarding factory Codes:

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

[bbguardsp]

Fairly obvious LUB is the Jose Marti Factory for most of 2014. Large majority of H Upmanns with said code and Ali Allami has a video on YT of the factory with Cohiba Piramides tubos packs stamped with LUB.

[bbguardsp]

Fairly obvious LUB is the Jose Marti Factory for most of 2014. Large majority of H Upmanns with said code and Ali Allami has a video on YT of the factory with Cohiba Piramides tubos packs stamped with LUB.

[oliverdst]

fairly obvious.

[Guest Robo]

I believe that factory codes change with each tobacco growing season. From what I understand harvesting begins in November and runs until April. Then curing lasts 40-60 days followed by 5-6 months of aging. So, the first bales from a tobacco growing season will arrive at the factory in May/June. From what I can tell the earliest new box codes are MAY. The tobacco rolled from the same growing season would keep the same box code until done. That's why we see box codes rolling into the new year and even past into late in the year. (And, in some cases, even longer). This also explains why we see two box codes from the same factory. For example UPE MAY 13 and LUB MAY 13. UPE being the last tobacco from the previous growing season and LUB being the earliest tobacco from the current growing season. This only addresses the first part of your question, but there you go.

NOTE: This is just a theory I have, so if someone knows better please chime in.

Thx,

Rob

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rtrimbath]

I believe that factory codes change with each tobacco growing season. From what I understand harvesting begins in November and runs until April. Then curing lasts 40-60 days followed by 5-6 months of aging. So, the first bales from a tobacco growing season will arrive at the factory in May/June. From what I can tell the earliest new box codes are MAY. The tobacco rolled from the same growing season would keep the same box code until done. That's why we see box codes rolling into the new year and even past into late in the year. (And, in some cases, even longer). This also explains why we see two box codes from the same factory. For example UPE MAY 13 and LUB MAY 13. UPE being the last tobacco from the previous growing season and LUB being the earliest tobacco from the current growing season. This only addresses the first part of your question, but there you go.

NOTE: This is just a theory I have, so if someone knows better please chime in.

Thx,

Rob

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's more the explanation I was after. I have been curious as to when the new El Laguito code will appear after MUO, as well as others. Thank you.

[BonVivant]

I believe that factory codes change with each tobacco growing season. From what I understand harvesting begins in November and runs until April. Then curing lasts 40-60 days followed by 5-6 months of aging. So, the first bales from a tobacco growing season will arrive at the factory in May/June. From what I can tell the earliest new box codes are MAY. The tobacco rolled from the same growing season would keep the same box code until done. That's why we see box codes rolling into the new year and even past into late in the year. (And, in some cases, even longer). This also explains why we see two box codes from the same factory. For example UPE MAY 13 and LUB MAY 13. UPE being the last tobacco from the previous growing season and LUB being the earliest tobacco from the current growing season. This only addresses the first part of your question, but there you go.

NOTE: This is just a theory I have, so if someone knows better please chime in.

Thx,

Rob

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I love theories - did you ever see LUB MAY 12 or 11? Or UPE 14 or 15?

[Guest Robo]

I love theories - did you ever see LUB MAY 12 or 11? Or UPE 14 or 15?

According to the theory, we do not expect to see LUB in 2012 because it's from tobacco grown, cured, aged and ready to roll in 2013. I haven't seen any 2012 or earlier LUB. I haven't seen any 2014 UPE, probably because it was all rolled by the end of 2013, but that doesn't mean it's not possible. An interesting point can be made with the AME box code, which we see in '12, '13' and '14. According to the theory, the tobacco for the AME box code/growing season was sufficient to roll enough cigars spanning over 3 calendar years.

As Hutch says above, we can expect to see some exceptions, but generally new box codes appear in May. It makes sense to me.