La Corona and other current factory codes/how are they smoking?

[Rhinoww]

I know. We are lucky enough these days to find a box of some things …..  With that said I posted in Chat today to learn the current La Corona factory code.  

It seems things are in a bit of flux these days (or I have not paid much attention to factory codes for a while).  @hrs1 @lizardgizmo @jakebarnes all had intel on factories and I will leave it to them to post in this thread as there was also a “how are they smoking” component requested to be added. 
So, what can the collective wisdom of FOH tell us about current factory codes and to the extent known (for our fantasy world of hunting down a particular box from a factory) how are they smoking?  
Alternatively if you know something is being rolled at a factory, please share. 
it’s above my pay grade but if someone has a better way to share (Google doc?), I take no ownership in this thread other than the title of OP, which gets me nothing 😂
 

[NSXCIGAR]

La Corona since 2013:

EML->TOS->LGR->RAT->BRM

[Edicion]

Sorry if I'm hijacking but here's a couple of good threads on codes but I'm not sure how updated they are or if they led to any spreadsheet in the end. I think it was pointed out also that until travel fully resumes and factory visits take place, some codes won't be easy to identify. Posting for reference.

I would probably still but anything I'm interested in given the current shortage.

 

 

[LizardGizmo]

Here’s the full list of codes going back to 2003!

I feel like codes have become fairly irrelevant. I am experiencing consistent quality across the board. I’m using this list when buying aged stuff.

Most important to note are cigars like Sir Winston, which are currently only rolled at one provincial factory. They’re smoking brilliantly. Can’t wait to see how ‘21s taste in 5-10 years.

Also important is that starting early ‘23, all Cohiba will be exclusively rolled at El Laguito. I heard this direct from the production manager at EL. His mouth to my ears. Huge news given the price.

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, lizardgizmo said:

I feel like codes have become fairly irrelevant.

They're irrelevant in terms of factory. They're not irrelevant in terms of good or bad runs. If a code is performing well I'll stick with it whether it's provincial or I even know what it is. 

[LizardGizmo]

They're irrelevant in terms of factory. They're not irrelevant in terms of good or bad runs. If a code is performing well I'll stick with it whether it's provincial or I even know what it is. 

I think the current run across the board has been spectacular. For example, when a fresh code comes up on 24:24 I’m not critiquing the code. I am pretty confident the cigars are going to be good regardless.

[NSXCIGAR]

14 hours ago, lizardgizmo said:

I think the current run across the board has been spectacular. For example, when a fresh code comes up on 24:24 I’m not critiquing the code. I am pretty confident the cigars are going to be good regardless.

Recently I wouldn't disagree. 19-22 has been without doubt doubt the most consistent in terms of quality and construction since the late 90s. The last bad run of cigars I recall was late 19 LGR El Prinicipe. Before that some late 18 BRE Connie 1. So when there is a bad run I can choose a different code. Except for the El Principe. I was screwed on that one. Had to wait it out. 

 

15 hours ago, lizardgizmo said:

Also important is that starting early ‘23, all Cohiba will be exclusively rolled at El Laguito. I heard this direct from the production manager at EL. His mouth to my ears. Huge news given the price.

Don't doubt that he said it but that's virtually impossible. If EL is rolling all the Panetelas, Exquisitos, Siglo I, II & III and CoRo production would truly be next to nothing. EL simply can't handle that kind of volume. No single factory could which is why Cohiba is rolled in just about every factory in Cuba.

 

15 hours ago, lizardgizmo said:

Here’s the full list of codes going back to 2003!

Whoa, I've never seen anything like that before. That's fantastic. Is this from Cuba? 

[LizardGizmo]

6 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Whoa, I've never seen anything like that before. That's fantastic. Is this from Cuba? 

I've had this for quite some time - a listener sent it to the podcast email!

[Salomones]

15 hours ago, lizardgizmo said:

Here’s the full list of codes going back to 2003!

I feel like codes have become fairly irrelevant. I am experiencing consistent quality across the board. I’m using this list when buying aged stuff.

Most important to note are cigars like Sir Winston, which are currently only rolled at one provincial factory. They’re smoking brilliantly. Can’t wait to see how ‘21s taste in 5-10 years.

Also important is that starting early ‘23, all Cohiba will be exclusively rolled at El Laguito. I heard this direct from the production manager at EL. His mouth to my ears. Huge news given the price.

I agree.

Holguin told me they bring nearly all Cigars for Boxing to Havanafactorys. So they dont need Boxes or sort by colors itself.

But, I would like to get this Table in HD. Cant see all Codes properly.

[jakebarnes]

Outside of the usual suspects (EL. La Corona) I've sought out UEB/SOU prior to code changes due to the quality (UEB have been the best Monte 4 I've had and now have some gorgeous E2, Sig II and Galanes from SOU that I am resting) . I think that is now OEG. Also interesting that all of the Lusi's I have seen/own are BUP/EOL lately. 

 

The code that threw me off the most was the D4 we had a week ago on 2424 with a La Corona box code. Might be the first I've seen of that. 

 

15 hours ago, lizardgizmo said:

Here’s the full list of codes going back to 2003!

I feel like codes have become fairly irrelevant. I am experiencing consistent quality across the board. I’m using this list when buying aged stuff.

Most important to note are cigars like Sir Winston, which are currently only rolled at one provincial factory. They’re smoking brilliantly. Can’t wait to see how ‘21s taste in 5-10 years.

Also important is that starting early ‘23, all Cohiba will be exclusively rolled at El Laguito. I heard this direct from the production manager at EL. His mouth to my ears. Huge news given the price.

I'd definitely be interested in a file version of this if you are willing to share. 

[NSXCIGAR]

6 hours ago, jakebarnes said:

The code that threw me off the most was the D4 we had a week ago on 2424 with a La Corona box code. Might be the first I've seen of that. 

Wouldn't surprise me. La Corona rolls lots of stuff and D4 is rolled everywhere. La Corona is usually pretty busy with staples like SC and PL but I've seen pretty much everything come from there. 

[Lamboinee]

18 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

They're irrelevant in terms of factory.

Even my paltry amount of experience tells me that some boxes are not as great as others. My problems are: 1) when buying online, it can sometimes be difficult to get someone to respond to my questions about box code availability, and 2) even if I knew what box codes are super hot.... How can I use that info to help guide my shopping. I don't mean to be off topic, but I welcome anyone's assistance/guidance as I continue to try and educate myself. 

 

Glad I have access to a a super list. Thanks you thread. 

[NSXCIGAR]

2 hours ago, Lamboinee said:

Even my paltry amount of experience tells me that some boxes are not as great as others. My problems are: 1) when buying online, it can sometimes be difficult to get someone to respond to my questions about box code availability, and 2) even if I knew what box codes are super hot.... How can I use that info to help guide my shopping. I don't mean to be off topic, but I welcome anyone's assistance/guidance as I continue to try and educate myself. 

By irrelevant in terms of factory I mean it's no longer important to focus on a particular factory like it was pre-2000. In those days I would want my Bolivar to come from FPG. I would want my Punch to come from JM. I would want my RyJ to come from BM. And I wouldn't want anything coming from a provincial factory. 

Those days are over. You're just as likely to get a crap box from Villa Clara as you are from La Corona. So that's what's important and only trial and error and word of mouth can tell you if there's a bad run at a particular factory. Most of the time you can find an alternative factory. Sometimes you can't. Almost all San Cristobal and PL, for example, is rolled at La Corona. If you get a bad run of those you may not be able to find another factory producing it.

I've said before date is much more important than code these days. Buying blind is fine as long as there's nothing you're trying to avoid. I haven't experienced a bad run of anything in 19-22 production to avoid so buying blind hasn't been an issue for me. We're in something of a golden period of consistency. 

[LizardGizmo]

On 12/7/2022 at 10:51 AM, jakebarnes said:

Outside of the usual suspects (EL. La Corona) I've sought out UEB/SOU prior to code changes due to the quality (UEB have been the best Monte 4 I've had and now have some gorgeous E2, Sig II and Galanes from SOU that I am resting) . I think that is now OEG. Also interesting that all of the Lusi's I have seen/own are BUP/EOL lately. 

 

The code that threw me off the most was the D4 we had a week ago on 2424 with a La Corona box code. Might be the first I've seen of that. 

 

I'd definitely be interested in a file version of this if you are willing to share. 

This low quality version is all I've got. I will try to make a higher res PDF soon.

[BettyHumpder]

has anyone smoked much from the HU factory in 21 or 22?