Davidoff production date

[eggtimer]

Not sure if this is ok to post here but I can't seem to find production dates on Davidoff packs. So when they still produced Cubans, I presume it said so. But with the changes in (from cuba to non Cuba, management/blender/new producers etc, the production date seems vital!).

With Cubans we now have box codes - love it - all straight forward. 

But Davidoff??

Thanks all!

[NSXCIGAR]

2 minutes ago, eggtimer said:

I can't seem to find production dates on Davidoff packs. So when they still produced Cubans, I presume it said so.

Obviously before 1985 there would have been no code at all. But I'm not sure if the petacas ever had codes from 85-91 either. They were only sold as 5-packs and I don't believe I've ever seen a 5 x 5 or 5 x 3 format for them. I'm not a Davidoff expert by any stretch but I'm sure someone here's seen enough to give you a definitive answer. 

[MrBirdman]

Like most NC, Davidoff does not date stamp their boxes. 

[eggtimer]

Thanks all!

[NSXCIGAR]

17 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

Like most NC, Davidoff do not date stamp their boxes. 

I think he's asking about Cuban Davidoff.

Edit: No, I guess he's not. Only asking if they kept codes after 1991.

@eggtimer, codes are a Habanos/Cubatabaco thing, not a brand thing. Davidoff wouldn't have carried it over.

[Fuzz]

Okay, people. Someone just received a nice vacation from the Forum. That person is lucky I was not the one wielding the hammer this time, as the vacation would have been for a lot longer. If you can't play the ball and not the man, then I suggest you find a new Forum to bother.

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, Fuzz said:

Okay, people. Someone just received a nice vacation from the Forum. That person is lucky I was not the one wielding the hammer this time, as the vacation would have been for a lot longer. If you can't play the ball and not the man, then I suggest you find a new Forum to bother.

We all screw up. Me included. 

"Ying and Yang", tolerance, The wish to help others. Others responsibility to help themselves. 

It is a fine line but when members cross that line, and by that I mean getting nasty, then you will be kicked off the FOH playground at least for a time in order to reassess. 

You generally get two chances to get your own personal house in order. Don't necessarilly count on that second chance as it is dependent on your previous contribution and behaviour. 

 

 

[gustavehenne]

On 3/15/2023 at 4:19 AM, eggtimer said:

Not sure if this is ok to post here but I can't seem to find production dates on Davidoff packs. So when they still produced Cubans, I presume it said so. But with the changes in (from cuba to non Cuba, management/blender/new producers etc, the production date seems vital!).

With Cubans we now have box codes - love it - all straight forward. 

But Davidoff??

Thanks all!

As others have said, most non-Cuban manufacturers, including Davidoff, don't stamp the box. The only exception to this (that I've seen) is Padron who include a little piece of paper indicating the roller, date rolled etc. - very nice.

In my experience I've never had the need to age a Davidoff and indeed where I have, I've not found brilliant results. I'm guessing they chose not to include this detail (although I agree I would love to see it) because they put their cigars out with a commitment that they are ready to smoke... 

[MrBirdman]

14 hours ago, Fuzz said:

Okay, people. Someone just received a nice vacation from the Forum. That person is lucky I was not the one wielding the hammer this time, as the vacation would have been for a lot longer. If you can't play the ball and not the man, then I suggest you find a new Forum to bother.

I'm not asking for details, but I cannot help but wonder at how a thread as anodyne as this could still prompt a ban-worthy post from someone. Please use your vacation to reflect on why we come here. 

[MrBirdman]

39 minutes ago, gustavehenne said:

As others have said, most non-Cuban manufacturers, including Davidoff, don't stamp the box. The only exception to this (that I've seen) is Padron who include a little piece of paper indicating the roller, date rolled etc. - very nice.

In my experience I've never had the need to age a Davidoff and indeed where I have, I've not found brilliant results. I'm guessing they chose not to include this detail (although I agree I would love to see it) because they put their cigars out with a commitment that they are ready to smoke... 

For me, results with aging Davidoff are mixed based on the vitola. To my palate, the Grand Cru Nos. 2 & 3 lose some of their woodiness and get sweeter and nuttier with 2-3 years age. I much prefer them that way. I also just tried one of the No. 1 2023 special edition re-releases and it was fairly harsh. I suspect they'll need at least a year to improve (if they will at all). Big disappointment. Other Davidoff, particularly the larger ring gauges, don't tend to age very well.

Most NC are ready to smoke with 30 days rest and few gain much beyond 12-18 months (which in many cases is the age you'll be buying them at anyway). Only experience can tell you where you really like a given cigar, @eggtimer.

Also, Illusione is another company that will date stamp its boxes.

[GoodStix]

4 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

Most NC are ready to smoke with 30 days rest and few gain much beyond 12-18 months (which in many cases is the age you'll be buying them at anyway).

I’ve not had the opportunity to buy Padron 1964… yet.  But I’ve been told by a retailer they’re best enjoyed in the first year of purchase and lose flavour if aged.  I’m not sure if that simply meant mellow somewhat as many cigars do (and perhaps other flavours develop) or go flat.  But it was said to me as a caution.  Thoughts?

[MrBirdman]

38 minutes ago, GoodStix said:

I’ve not had the opportunity to buy Padron 1964… yet.  But I’ve been told by a retailer they’re best enjoyed in the first year of purchase and lose flavour if aged.  I’m not sure if that simply meant mellow somewhat as many cigars do (and perhaps other flavours develop) or go flat.  But it was said to me as a caution.  Thoughts?

That’s how most NC are - the ones that aren’t are found mostly with trial and error (except maybe Opus, though I’ve heard even some Opus lines are best in the first year).

I also don’t see much benefit to aging Padron beyond resting them for 30-60 days in your humi. 

[SCgarman]

3 hours ago, GoodStix said:

I’ve not had the opportunity to buy Padron 1964… yet.  But I’ve been told by a retailer they’re best enjoyed in the first year of purchase and lose flavour if aged.  I’m not sure if that simply meant mellow somewhat as many cigars do (and perhaps other flavours develop) or go flat.  But it was said to me as a caution.  Thoughts?

Not necessarily. I have had Padron 64s sitting for several years, and they still have their characteristics. Since the tobacco has already been aged 4 years, they are ready to smoke ROTT. They don't "evolve" with time like Cubans though. Still plenty of flavor after several years. They are no doubt made with great leaves.

[NSXCIGAR]

9 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

I'm not asking for details, but I cannot help but wonder at how a thread as anodyne as this could still prompt a ban-worthy post from someone.

Ha, yeah, you've really got to step in it to get a time out from this thread. Fuzz is on that stuff like white on rice. My virgin eyes didn't even see it. 

[eggtimer]

On 3/18/2023 at 3:00 AM, MrBirdman said:

For me, results with aging Davidoff are mixed based on the vitola. To my palate, the Grand Cru Nos. 2 & 3 lose some of their woodiness and get sweeter and nuttier with 2-3 years age. I much prefer them that way. I also just tried one of the No. 1 2023 special edition re-releases and it was fairly harsh. I suspect they'll need at least a year to improve (if they will at all). Big disappointment. Other Davidoff, particularly the larger ring gauges, don't tend to age very well.

Most NC are ready to smoke with 30 days rest and few gain much beyond 12-18 months (which in many cases is the age you'll be buying them at anyway). Only experience can tell you where you really like a given cigar, @eggtimer.

Also, Illusione is another company that will date stamp its boxes.

thanks, I agree and appreciate the insight.

My favourite (I am a mild cigar smoker) is the grand cru robusto. My last order of 6 or 7 4 packs (can't quite remember) resulted in a mix of very new smelling cigars (amonia smell) and some very mild smelling ones. I suspect they were different production years. I agree that most non cubans are ready for smoking but not quite all. When I smoked a Fuente King T sungrown after ca 4 weeks, it was absolutely awful. I am not sure, but hope, that these improve over the next 3 years ...

[eggtimer]

On 3/18/2023 at 7:59 AM, MrBirdman said:

That’s how most NC are - the ones that aren’t are found mostly with trial and error (except maybe Opus, though I’ve heard even some Opus lines are best in the first year).

I also don’t see much benefit to aging Padron beyond resting them for 30-60 days in your humi. 

I hope my fuente King T sungrown will improve - the cigars don't feel ready yet, at all! (but I am not very experienced - these are very strong for me anyway)

[JLH]

Tatuaje box dates and they improve with age. Well, most of them. He makes a lot of different cigars.

 

Jason

[gustavehenne]

On 3/17/2023 at 4:00 PM, MrBirdman said:

For me, results with aging Davidoff are mixed based on the vitola. To my palate, the Grand Cru Nos. 2 & 3 lose some of their woodiness and get sweeter and nuttier with 2-3 years age. I much prefer them that way. I also just tried one of the No. 1 2023 special edition re-releases and it was fairly harsh. I suspect they'll need at least a year to improve (if they will at all). Big disappointment. Other Davidoff, particularly the larger ring gauges, don't tend to age very well.

Most NC are ready to smoke with 30 days rest and few gain much beyond 12-18 months (which in many cases is the age you'll be buying them at anyway). Only experience can tell you where you really like a given cigar, @eggtimer.

Also, Illusione is another company that will date stamp its boxes.

I broadly agree with you. I think Davidoff does its best work in 'Toro' size and some of the other vitolas can be hit or miss.

I bought a few boxes of the 2023 No. 1 Lancero and I thought it was beautiful. It was stronger and punchier than the No. 2 although I definitely agree it will be interesting to see how it ages. 

On 3/17/2023 at 8:19 PM, GoodStix said:

I’ve not had the opportunity to buy Padron 1964… yet.  But I’ve been told by a retailer they’re best enjoyed in the first year of purchase and lose flavour if aged.  I’m not sure if that simply meant mellow somewhat as many cigars do (and perhaps other flavours develop) or go flat.  But it was said to me as a caution.  Thoughts?

Padron goes through a lot of painstaking work to age the tobacco. I believe the standard series is 2 year aged, 1964 is 3 year aged and 1926 is 4 year aged (from memory) - and it shows. The sticks are super smooth but with a good nicotine kick and packed full of flavour. I'd concur with @MrBirdman that you don't really need to age most of these sticks as they smoke phenomenally well out of the box.

p.s. - the 1964 is a beautiful blend but definitely try the 1926, it's a real step above (to my taste)