Need help identifying this box code

[Monarch]

Almost two years ago I was invited to a very grand dinner hosted by a client who was certainly larger than life. I could spend an hour describing dish by dish the white alba truffle dinner course along with the double magnums of haut brion, anyway to end the dinner, the very generous client handed out boxes of vintage Hoyo and Punch Churchills to myself and my colleagues like it was Christmas Day. I understand there's some age on this box given the box code is of the previous format, but I have no clue how to decipher it. Could anyone help with this?

[Derboesekoenig]

For sure pre-2000 and I'm 99.9% sure pre-1999. The markings are so light. My guess is September 1998. Look at the date codes on cubancigarwebsite.com

[NSXCIGAR]

March 1998, Sancti Spiritus factory. 

[Nino]

2 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

March 1998, Sancti Spiritus factory. 

Correct - I was tempted on Villa Clara VC but it is Sancti Spiritus SS.

[avaldes]

Triple correct. I miss NIVEL ACUSO.

[NSXCIGAR]

They're 98s so they might be good. I recall getting a box of Hoyo Churchills from 2000 that tasted like hay rolled in 40 year-old newspaper.

[Monarch]

4 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

They're 98s so they might be good. I recall getting a box of Hoyo Churchills from 2000 that tasted like hay rolled in 40 year-old newspaper.

I've smoked a few, they're great. Obviously smooth and subtle being that old, but surprisingly picked up to med/med-full body in the final third. My closest reference point is a 2014 churchill which was full flavoured and peppery, like a stretched petit robusto.

 

Thanks for your help BOTL, nice surprise to know they're 98, I was still in my early-teens...