Factory Codes

[gojira]

7 hours ago, FireDigger said:

I've heard there might be other 2020 codes for El Laguito in OER and SOU. Is that possible? Could anyone confirm or condemn this rumor? Thanks!

I have been wondering about SOU myself as I have seen some BHK 52 with the SOU code.

5 hours ago, Kaptain Karl said:

No, seems to be just MAR. 
 

Also, what factory is/was UEB? I’ve seemed to have had a pretty stellar track record with UEB. 

I think that UEB was a secondary code for Partagas in addition to MSU. Some people agree, others don't.

[Bijan]

5 hours ago, gojira said:

I have been wondering about SOU myself as I have seen some BHK 52 with the SOU code.

Don't know about behike specifically. But almost everything is made everywhere now. There were 10+ codes for talisman.

5 hours ago, Kaptain Karl said:

No, seems to be just MAR. 
 

Also, what factory is/was UEB? I’ve seemed to have had a pretty stellar track record with UEB. 

I think UEB->SOU. Not clear what either was.

 

[gojira]

6 minutes ago, Bijan said:

Don't know about behike specifically. But almost everything is made everywhere now. There were 10+ codes for talisman.

True.

[Tstew75]

Just now, Kaptain Karl said:

No, seems to be just MAR. 
 

Also, what factory is/was UEB? I’ve seemed to have had a pretty stellar track record with UEB. 

Agreed KK, Laguito probably only has one code at a time. I don't think it's a big enough factory to require multiples, not to mention insiders have historically stated it's rare for any factory to have more than one code (at a time).

You're also right about UEB...one of the most consistent codes in 18/19. I opened many gorgeous UEB boxes.  I don't think anyone's certain what factory it is, but it was at least rumored to be a secondary Partagas code (I'm laughing writing this after stating the 'one code' theory above lol)

[havanaclub]

I have been wondering about SOU myself as I have seen some BHK 52 with the SOU code.

This was similar with UAO/MOL. Some thought MOL was laguito too. I have genios MOL and Sig VI, and there were monte A too and other cohiba with MOL. But I doubt it. MOL was a good code however.


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[Bijan]

Interesting speculation on MSU/UEB, MOL/UAO

Looking back at top codes for 2018 and 2019 from @El Presidente:

2018:

1. MSU
2. UGO
3. UEB
4. MOL
5. ESL
6. UAO
7. LGR
8. UTL
9. ABO
10. REG
11. ASR
12. RUM
13. ROM
14. TPO
15. RAG
16. MSA
17. EPM
18. UBM
19. GOS
20. BUP

2019:

1. MSU
2. MOL
3. UEB
4. EOS
5. LGR
6. UAO
7. UER
8. ESL
9. BRE
10. REG
11. GOS
12. RUM

We can see MSU/UEB/MOL/UAO in the top 10. With MSU/UEB/MOL in the top 5. And MSU the best code each time.

[gojira]

10 minutes ago, havanaclub said:

This was similar with UAO/MOL. Some thought MOL was laguito too. I have genios MOL and Sig VI, and there were monte A too and other cohiba with MOL. But I doubt it. MOL was a good code however.


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I agree. I have Sig VI as well and some Esplendidos with the MOL code.

[HDGSN]

If we go by single factory/single code, MOL could now be MTS. Both have come up with Espys, Sig VI and Winnies.

[Nico]

Generally it has been a better run factory than most with a good level of worker pride and buyin. It was reflected in the end product. 

Thanks a for answering. One more question, does laguito produce anything outside of cohiba?

[Edicion]

What about the TUE '20 code for some Cohibas I have seen recently. What factory is that?

[Salomones]

I do have TUA on my Boxes RA Superiors from October 2020

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[BRACHTOBER]

What is this factory code ? Year and date? Thx 👍🏻

[Salomones]

1999

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[Jauwels]

Anyone has boxes with code GOB 20?

[JohnS]

1 hour ago, Jauwels said:

Anyone has boxes with code GOB 20?

Yes, Saint Luis Rey Regios

[Jimmy_jack]

How about EOL or EDL NOV 20 on some PSD4. Any knowledge of that code?

[El Presidente]

The reality is that 80% of current codes will remain unknown until people get back to Cuba and tour factories. 

[hm151]

On 4/22/2021 at 12:25 PM, Jauwels said:

Anyone has boxes with code GOB 20?

I do! Hoyo Primaveras.

[NSXCIGAR]

On 3/24/2021 at 8:04 AM, gojira said:

I think that UEB was a secondary code for Partagas in addition to MSU. Some people agree, others don't.

I don't believe there are multiple codes for any factory. Never been a report of it from Havana and there's really no need for it. Codes rotate frequently enough and there are dozens of provincial factories that explain it. Almost every cigar is made in multiple factories, although recently it seems 99% of Cuaba and San Cristobal are made at La Corona. Cuaba used to be made exclusively at Briones Montoto (RyJ) until it closed. 

Some cigars are almost never made in Havana like Sir Winston and Cohiba CCE. Obviously Trinidad is almost all made in Pinar and so are VR Famosos. 

As far as Partagas, the only cigars consistently made there are Bolivar with only BCJ almost exclusively made there. 

[Jonboy4074]

I don't believe there are multiple codes for any factory. Never been a report of it from Havana and there's really no need for it. Codes rotate frequently enough and there are dozens of provincial factories that explain it. Almost every cigar is made in multiple factories, although recently it seems 99% of Cuaba and San Cristobal are made at La Corona. Cuaba used to be made exclusively at Briones Montoto (RyJ) until it closed. 
Some cigars are almost never made in Havana like Sir Winston and Cohiba CCE. Obviously Trinidad is almost all made in Pinar and so are VR Famosos. 
As far as Partagas, the only cigars consistently made there are Bolivar with only BCJ almost exclusively made there. 

I agree.
A couple of side notes:
-Am I the only one that finds it strange Sir Winstons are never rolled at the mother factory?
-I'll add that, along with the BCJ, I have never seen a box of BPC rolled anywhere but Partagas factory.

[Tstew75]

Just now, Jonboy4074 said:

I agree.
A couple of side notes:
-Am I the only one that finds it strange Sir Winstons are never rolled at the mother factory?
-I'll add that, along with the BCJ, I have never seen a box of BPC rolled anywhere but Partagas factory.

Extremely strange about Winnies.

I also find it interesting that a large proportion of Cuba's most pricey stuff (REs/ELs) don't receive mother factory love either.

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, Tstew75 said:

Extremely strange about Winnies.

I also find it interesting that a large proportion of Cuba's most pricey stuff (REs/ELs) don't receive mother factory love either.

All I can think of with the SW is that as soon as the leaf comes in it goes to the first factory with availability to roll them which is unlikely to be a Havana factory. I don't think there's any question at this point that SW uses special dedicated leaf. The Havana factories are usually busy rolling high-volume staples all the time. Same with Lusitania. Rarely if ever will you see a Lusi from Partagas. I would guess the same dynamic as the SW there but I'm not sure how special the Lusi leaf is.

For example, La Corona has its hands full with all Cuaba, most San Cristobal, most PL, most Dip 2, Punch PC (massive numbers), lots of RyJ PR, Cohiba Panetelas, lots of Hoyo Rio Seco and PR. HU is busy with all Connie 1, most Connie A, all Noellas, lots of Monte 1935, Seleccion Piramides, Cohiba PE. They're pretty much balls out with regular production staples so sporadic production cigars or low volume cigars are unlikely to be made there. You'll never see SW, Sancho Panza Beli or SLR Regios from Havana. 

As far as special production it seems that they did roll most or all of the Boli Silver Jubilee at La Corona. Some Talisman also came from La Corona. So it does happen.

2 hours ago, Jonboy4074 said:

I'll add that, along with the BCJ, I have never seen a box of BPC rolled anywhere but Partagas factory.

I did miss a few. Yes, BPC is pretty much all Partagas as are BT2/3. Recent BRC appear to all be Partagas. Also it seems Culebras are exclusively Partagas and it looks like the Capitols are almost all Partagas. Most if not all RAS are also Partagas. LGC is also pretty much all Partagas. 

 

[Juliano88]

SOU has been pumping out some nice cigars. Also love me an HDM produced at the La Corona factory. 

[Tstew75]

1 hour ago, NSXCIGAR said:

All I can think of with the SW is that as soon as the leaf comes in it goes to the first factory with availability to roll them which is unlikely to be a Havana factory. I don't think there's any question at this point that SW uses special dedicated leaf. The Havana factories are usually busy rolling high-volume staples all the time. Same with Lusitania. Rarely if ever will you see a Lusi from Partagas. I would guess the same dynamic as the SW there but I'm not sure how special the Lusi leaf is.

For example, La Corona has its hands full with all Cuaba, most San Cristobal, most PL, most Dip 2, Punch PC (massive numbers), lots of RyJ PR, Cohiba Panetelas, lots of Hoyo Rio Seco and PR. HU is busy with all Connie 1, most Connie A, all Noellas, lots of Monte 1935, Seleccion Piramides, Cohiba PE. They're pretty much balls out with regular production staples so sporadic production cigars or low volume cigars are unlikely to be made there. You'll never see SW, Sancho Panza Beli or SLR Regios from Havana. 

As far as special production it seems that they did roll most or all of the Boli Silver Jubilee at La Corona. Some Talisman also came from La Corona. So it does happen.

I did miss a few. Yes, BPC is pretty much all Partagas as are BT2/3. Recent BRC appear to all be Partagas. Also it seems Culebras are exclusively Partagas and it looks like the Capitols are almost all Partagas. Most if not all RAS are also Partagas. LGC is also pretty much all Partagas. 

 

But it still begs the question...if Partagas, Laguito & La Corona routinely score as some of Cuba's best factories (with presumably better rollers, etc), why wouldn't most ELs be rolled at these spots, especially any ELs from that mother factories' marcas? Meaning they'd shift some of the pedestrian production out to Provincial.  It just doesn't make sense in it's current setup...but nothing makes sense there, so I digress lol

I do realize that a handful of EL/REs are rolled at the big 3/4, but not many.

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, Tstew75 said:

if Partagas, Laguito & La Corona routinely score as some of Cuba's best factories

I'm not sure that's necessarily true. The post just above is praising SOU. UEB & MOL came in in the top 5. No idea what factories they are. Many provincial factories have received high praise in the past. RAE and BUM come to mind in recent years. 

As I've said before I think that date and the cigar is just as important as factory. What Cubatabaco has done to standardize quality across Cuba since the early 2000s has been impressive. If there's a rough patch for a code I think it's more about the time period and what cigar it is. Bad product coming out of a particular factory is usually very limited. Limited to a specific cigar or a 3-6 month time window.

A perfect example of this is LGR El Principe. LGR 17 was great. LGR 18-19 was off. Late 19 it got back on track right as LGR transitioned to RAT in DIC 19. But LGR 18-19 La Fuerza was outstanding during that whole period. So in this case the problem was limited to one cigar albeit for a long period of time. Does that mean La Corona is a trash factory? Not at all. 

You really need all three to be able to make a determination about code hunting.