The Birthdate of the Estupendo '06

[neal875]

Hello all:

Can one of you please provide the box date of the original RA Estupendos. I believe it to be April '06 but need further confirmation.

I appreciate all your expert input.

[Colt45]

Hello all:

Can one of you please provide the box date of the original RA Estupendos. I believe it to be April '06 but need further confirmation.

I appreciate all your expert input.

I've never heard of any with that early a code. The earliest I can recall reading about has been August (AGO), and

September seems to be fairly common as well.

I'm sure others will be able to shed more light.

[El Presidente]

Hello all:

Can one of you please provide the box date of the original RA Estupendos. I believe it to be April '06 but need further confirmation.

I appreciate all your expert input.

Th ones I have kept for myself are August 06. Let me shoot an e-mail to PCC to see if I can get a definitive answer for you.

[Guest rob]

I have both AGO and SEP.

I have not seen anything before or after those dates (in the 06 release).

[Mike 331]

I've got box #5 and it is from August, for what it's worth.

[El Presidente]

I've got box #5 and it is from August, for what it's worth.

So who got # 1.

Simon (Minismithy) never told me and I am too heartbroken to ask

[Don Candido]

I have August 1987! No one thinks they are fake do they? That is 0SUC box code.

[Guest rob]

I have August 1987! No one thinks they are fake do they? That is 0SUC box code.

Lucky F$&ker!

I've heard so much but have never had opportunity to smell, let alone smoke, one.

[El Presidente]

Hello all:

Can one of you please provide the box date of the original RA Estupendos. I believe it to be April '06 but need further confirmation.

I appreciate all your expert input.

Neal I had it confirmed

POS AGO 06

[neal875]

Thanks a lot for checking. My friend has a cab that is marked POS ABR 06. The wrappers, box stickers, cigar bands, yellow ribbon and box all look incredibly legit just like a box I have from Sept., but could they be fake or could there have been a pre-release of some kind??

At least they're not August 1987.

[El Presidente]

If he purchased from an online vendor they are 99.9999% likely fake.

If he purchased in a Havana Divan or from a friend who went to Havana then they have been stolen from the distributor and any box code used (I won't be surprised if you tell me it was Partagas Divan). They may or may not be legitimate RA Estupendos.

There was no pre release.

[neal875]

I believe the latter example is exactly how he got them. They really do look absolutely like the real deal. Exactly. Someone would have had to have the real packaging and labels to do this because in terms of embossing, color and quality--they are spot on.

So, if they were stolen then the box code is irrelevant eventhough they might be real? It is probably why there is also no box serial number either--it was probably removed. Is that your guess?

Stamp is in typical font and color of POS cigars from that period.

[Colt45]

So, if they were stolen then the box code is irrelevant even though they might be real?

I suppose it depends on how you look at things. if looking to eventually sell this box, then I think the code would be

very relevant.

If keeping for himself, he has on his conscience stolen goods, which doesn't bother some people. But, stolen is stolen.

[El Presidente]

There should be no Regional Releases in Havana Divans. Unfortunatley this has occured on too many occasions.

HSA know the people behind it and can stop it if they want. The fact that they don't speaks volumes.

The box for re-sale or trade is essentially worthless. No rgeistration number and incorrect box code places it as a cigar non grata. Still, they should smoke well.

[aavkk]

Is there a box # on it? It would be interesting to see if there is a duplicate out there.

[neal875]

So, Rob, do they run extra, non-numbered boxes for sale in the Divans? That would mean that they have to produce extra boxes, labels, ribbons and cigars which would mean that it is 'unofficially' official merchandise. The cigars themselves would be real production issue and, hence, smoke well.

Is that what you are suggesting happens with these releases? If so, that is pretty interesting and would certainly explain why there is no registration number or conforming box date.

[El Presidente]

So, Rob, do they run extra, non-numbered boxes for sale in the Divans? That would mean that they have to produce extra boxes, labels, ribbons and cigars which would mean that it is 'unofficially' official merchandise. The cigars themselves would be real production issue and, hence, smoke well.

Is that what you are suggesting happens with these releases? If so, that is pretty interesting and would certainly explain why there is no registration number or conforming box date.

No the thieves at the Factory (managerial) arrange for boxes to be taken of the production run and are sold "unofficially" to their mates/connections. PCC will still get their allocation. The theft in this case is to the control of their intellectual and physical property.

This stock is not on display for purchase in Havana Divans.

[neal875]

That is really interesting. They must order a significant amount of additional materials for the run itself (for breakage and quality issues) and then use them for this purpose. It probably isn't as destructive in this small a quantitiy as the major activity of this kind (the high production cigars) but it is a dilution of the notion of 'limited' or 'regional' , nonetheless.

It must not have been a big problem for a really short run like the Estupendos as I haven't read about any other such things-- on this site anyway. Maybe you have. But, I had no idea that this 'process' even happened at all. Thanks for the info, it is really the kind of data that makes this site a real winner.

[Colt45]

It probably isn't as destructive in this small a quantitiy as the major activity of this kind (the high production cigars) but it is a dilution of the notion of 'limited' or 'regional' , nonetheless.

It must not have been a big problem for a really short run like the Estupendos as I haven't read about any other such things-- on this site anyway.

Keep in mind that the regional distributors foot the bill for the REs. In the case of the RA Estupendos, it's PCC. I'd be

willing to bet that they're not overly happy about it. That HSA might know it goes on, and turn their heads makes it

even worse.

[El Presidente]

I have seen it with most Regional Releases. Of course then we have "pre release" Limited Editions (when they are legitimate). HSA controls the LE's so it is up to them to control their own backyard. The Regional Releases disturb me more as the Distributors are relying on HSA to control and protect the process.