Cigar Box Dates

[DeeDubya]

I've always wondered about the date label on each new box of cigars. Is that the date the cigars are boxed? Is it put there by the manufacturer, the wholesaler, or the retail seller? What significance does it have in relation to the age of the cigars?

Nothing. According to Johanna at Famous, they date each box when it is processed and goes into their inventory. So the only value for us is how long they had it in stock before it was sold.

This is most likely old news for many of you. But a search didn't tell me anything about this date on the outside of the wrapped box.

[bigwhiteash]

Yeah.. Famous is the only one I know for sure.. it's put on when they receive a shipment into their stock.

I would assume any barcode label affixed outside the shrink wrap would be a vendors inventory control label, whether it has a date or not.

Then again.. I recently bought a box of Padron that I know came from the manufacturer, with only a brief stop to re-pack it for me. and it had a barcode label on the outside... no date though.


So... I guess I'm no help at all, huh?

[DeeDubya]

Well Dennis you're always a good help. I guess my OP was pretty much a mute point anyway. It seems that it would be nearly impossible to find the actual date a cigar is rolled. If so, then one could begin to calculate the aging period. Or not.

[bigwhiteash]

Well... unfortunately, I'm in no position financially to buy large quantities of cigars just to look at for years...

So I like to see that Famous lable with a 18 month old date...

I got a box of JdN Lanceros last year that had rested in their house for over a year, and aside from a few draw problems, they were outstanding!

[DeeDubya]

You know what, this is a good time for me to say that too. The humidor project is exactly that, a project. It's not to store a valuable collection of cigars. I don't have a valuable collection. It just worked out that I have the space, a little (very little) construction knowledge and a fair variety of tools. It's just going to be nice to not have to pull out a heavy cooler and dig to the bottom to find what I want. Strictly convenience. I look to you guys for cigar knowledge and generally find what I need.

[ashauler]

You're just tryin' to get out of adopting me.

[DeeDubya]

Yeah, now see there lies the problem. Your cigars wouldn't fit in the humidor. We'd have Padrons and Padillas laying all over the house. "Oops, I just stepped on sombody's Partagas 150." The dog would be chewing on OpusX's and we'd have to grind up some of the Fuente's for flowerbed mulch. It would be a mess, you and your cigars. George might adopt you?

[craig]

Yeah.. Famous is the only one I know for sure.. it's put on when they receive a shipment into their stock.

I would assume any barcode label affixed outside the shrink wrap would be a vendors inventory control label, whether it has a date or not.

Then again.. I recently bought a box of Padron that I know came from the manufacturer, with only a brief stop to re-pack it for me. and it had a barcode label on the outside... no date though.


So... I guess I'm no help at all, huh?

Padron should have the date stamped on a little piece of paper in the box. The paper has other quality control info written on it (in Spanish, I'm guessing).

DPG stamps month and year of boxing, as do the Cubans. LGD puts the year of rolling, IIRC.

[Roger]

Since cigars are supposed to be aged. Is there in fact a limit to how long they can be stored? I simply have no idea on that.

[badwhale]

Since cigars are supposed to be aged. Is there in fact a limit to how long they can be stored? I simply have no idea on that.

No, not if stored correctly. However, I've learned there is a point where they don't really get any better.

Will

[ashauler]

Yeah, now see there lies the problem. Your cigars wouldn't fit in the humidor. We'd have Padrons and Padillas laying all over the house. "Oops, I just stepped on sombody's Partagas 150." The dog would be chewing on OpusX's and we'd have to grind up some of the Fuente's for flowerbed mulch. It would be a mess, you and your cigars. George might adopt you?

Well, hell, looks like I'm just out of luck.