History of 50 cabs?

[CigarCulture09]

Cab of 50 RASS, Partagas Lusitanias and HDM DC all day. 

[ATGroom]

9 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said:

I'm personally more interested in the 100 count "Cajons" referenced in some releases on CCW.

I think when people picture a 'cajon' they're thinking of an SLB with a big wheel of double coronas, which is a bit of a myth, I'm afraid.

The MRN book refers to some cigars having come in 'Cajons of 100'. Many people interpreted this to mean that there was a type of packaging called a 'cajon', including I think Trevor when he was first doing CCW as he added 'Cajon' to our database as a packaging type. The reality is that "cajon" just means box. There isn't any specific packaging type known as a "cajon", at least not by the Cuban industry. I've been gradually removing them from CCW over the years and replacing them with what their actual packaging was.

Most of the cigars that came in 100s were cigarillo type sizes in boîte nature boxes, with a few petit coronas. MRN also uses the term to include dress boxes with 20 packs of 5 cigars, humidors and so on, and various other more exotic packagings.

Not that boxes of 100 aren't cool as hell.😜 They're just not called "cajons."

[riderpride]

On 6/6/2025 at 6:32 AM, El Hoze said:

I try to keep the spirit alive, I probably smoke 3-4 prominentes a week. And in fairness when I don’t I am generally breaking it up into 2-3 smaller cigars depending on my schedule. I am lucky though, my wife loves cigars and I can smoke inside as my house has great airflow and I live in Florida (summer is a different story). I am thinking of following Max’s lead on having a little glass of tequila with lunch every day (incredible tequila he is drinking btw), but most times I start drinking hard stuff before dinner I wake up alone in the guest bedroom with an angry wife so I stick to light beer mostly. 

Been to Florida plenty (of times). I assume this is the reason for Heiniken Light and Corona Light - as if they weren't light enough. 

Cheers!

[joeypots]

Yes, the DCs are great amongst the ones that are still available. BUT, RIP: HDMDD, BCE, BCG, and the other discontinued cigars in 50s that are long gone.  

[Stevieboy]

CCW lists JL2s in cabs of 50 but I've not seen them in ages. Has anyone bought one lately with a recent date? I suppose they might not be officially discontinued but I can't think I've seen one in 10 years?!?!

[Fugu]

9 hours ago, Stevieboy said:

CCW lists JL2s in cabs of 50 but I've not seen them in ages. Has anyone bought one lately with a recent date? I suppose they might not be officially discontinued but I can't think I've seen one in 10 years?!?! 

Not been updated on CCW.

Edit: Discontinuation of the 50-SLB had been announced by HSA in mid 2013, as per my files. (so, you are right, it's been > 10 years)

[gormag38]

5 hours ago, joeypots said:

BUT, RIP: HDMDD, BCE, BCG, and the other discontinued cigars in 50s that are long gone

This. The BCE in 50 cabs from 07-08 that I've had have been remarkable. Great stuff. 

[zeedubbya]

8 hours ago, gormag38 said:

This. The BCE in 50 cabs from 07-08 that I've had have been remarkable. Great stuff. 

Have been hunting this cab for years. Have come across many partials and singles and even had a superb member here send me 10 from a POS 2006 Cab as a surprise once, but never have owned a full cab.  Some day I am sure it will happen.  

I have always thought 50 cabs were made for real aficionados of a cigar.  I’ve owned about 8-10 Lusi cabs, but now it’s probably cost prohibitive to buy another. Sadly. There’s nothing, and I mean nothing more fulfilling in our hobby than pulling 50 cigars slowly from their cabinet and smelling them and looking at them, let alone pulling one to smoke! Even with PLPC and Party Shorts it’s an amazing experience. With DCs the dopamine flows like no other. If offered a last meal I’d probably say “Get me a 50 Cab of SLRDC instead and let me fondle it and smoke a couple.” I’m serious. LOVE 50 cabs! 

[KCCubano]

8 hours ago, gormag38 said:

This. The BCE in 50 cabs from 07-08 that I've had have been remarkable. Great stuff. 

08 BCE Cabs were superb as were my two cabs of SUA 02 BCE.

[Darco]

7 hours ago, zeedubbya said:

I have always thought 50 cabs were made for real aficionados of a cigar.  I’ve owned about 8-10 Lusi cabs, but now it’s probably cost prohibitive to buy another. Sadly. There’s nothing, and I mean nothing more fulfilling in our hobby than pulling 50 cigars slowly from their cabinet and smelling them and looking at them, let alone pulling one to smoke! Even with PLPC and Party Shorts it’s an amazing experience. With DCs the dopamine flows like no other. If offered a last meal I’d probably say “Get me a 50 Cab of SLRDC instead and let me fondle it and smoke a couple.” I’m serious. LOVE 50 cabs! 

Absolutely. Besides the relief you have while pulling a cigar from the cab that you  still have plenty of good ones left. Having said that, nothing like the disappointment from a bad cab of 50. This is rare but I have a bad cab 50 RASS that I truly hate looking at. 

We see less cabs for logical reasons. Today’s smokers smoke a very wide range of cigars, compared to older generations were a smoker might only smoke a single brand/vitola or very few cigars in the mix. Also, it was common for cigar smokers to smoke many a day. So you can encounter a smoker who smokes 4/5 a day and only smokes BBF. They have created the cab 50 (and the 100) in order to save him unnecessary cost of 2/4 cedar boxes. 

[JohnS]

What could I add (to this discussion)? This year, I've found sharing out aged cigars from a 50 cab of Partagas Shorts, Punch Punch and Por Larranaga Petit Coronas a really easy and enjoyable thing to do.

[Fugu]

On 6/6/2025 at 6:03 PM, zeedubbya said:

Have been hunting this cab for years.

And quite understandably so.

But to be honest, the dress box version is as good as the SLB version. I got both from ‘08, and frankly, can’t spot any systematic difference there. Both are equally fantastic.

A bit off-topic, but let me add that a lot of what came out of Partagás factory at that time has been - and meanwhile well proven to be - exceptionally good. TEB 08 coded production, standing the test of time, and counting. Whether now Partagás (in particular 898), Bolívar (BPC, BCE, Inmensas), Ramon Allones (RASS) or La Gloria Cubana.

If you are not just on the look out for the SLB for its “look and feel”, but also looking for the particular smoking quality of a good Boli Coronas Extra, then I’d encourage you to not dismiss dress boxes from that period either. Also, it’s well worth having a look for ‘08 Inmensas (which never came in SLB anyway 😉)

[joeypots]

The 50 cab seems to have been replaced by the tenner for the same money.

[zeedubbya]

On 6/8/2025 at 8:53 AM, Fugu said:

And quite understandably so.

But to be honest, the dress box version is as good as the SLB version. I got both from ‘08, and frankly, can’t spot any systematic difference there. Both are equally fantastic.

A bit off-topic, but let me add that a lot of what came out of Partagás factory at that time has been - and meanwhile well proven to be - exceptionally good. TEB 08 coded production, standing the test of time, and counting. Whether now Partagás (in particular 898), Bolívar (BPC, BCE, Inmensas), Ramon Allones (RASS) or La Gloria Cubana.

If you are not just on the look out for the SLB for its “look and feel”, but also looking for the particular smoking quality of a good Boli Coronas Extra, then I’d encourage you to not dismiss dress boxes from that period either. Also, it’s well worth having a look for ‘08 Inmensas (which never came in SLB anyway 😉)

I’ve had a couple dress boxes (98 and 08), and I agree with you they are superb. Also agree with what you’re saying about Partagas factory. POS Upmann Monarchs are superb.TEB BRC are great. Immensas, yep. Notice there’s NEVER any POS or TEB D4 or P2 ever anywhere? So good. '05 original release P2. I could go on and on. Having a full 50 cab is just a “dream” of sorts, because it’s my favorite cigar in my favorite packaging format. 

[gormag38]

On 6/7/2025 at 2:03 AM, zeedubbya said:

Have been hunting this cab for years. Have come across many partials and singles

Yeah man, I've been taking advantage of these singles/partials. But it certainly is a 'dream' to procure a full 50 cab of these. 

On 6/8/2025 at 8:53 AM, Fugu said:

A bit off-topic, but let me add that a lot of what came out of Partagás factory at that time has been - and meanwhile well proven to be - exceptionally good

Couldn't agree more. I saw some Party SdC3's (I think) pop up on BR that was from this time. I lusted over them hard; haha. 

22 hours ago, zeedubbya said:

Notice there’s NEVER any POS or TEB D4 or P2 ever anywhere? So good.

Interesting. I've never really thought much of it, but I can't recall seeing any come up.