From the 1st January 2000 all boxes of Cuban Cigars have carried an ink stamp showing the first three letters of the Month and two numerals for the year this century. A word of explanation is needed on the months. They are, of course, in Spanish, so the full table looks like this
Month Codes:January 2000 = Enero = ENE 00February 2000 = Febrero = FEB 00 March 2000 = Marzo = MAR 00 April 2000 = Abril = ABR 00 May 2000 = Mayo = MAY 00 June 2000 = Junio = JUN 00 July 2000 = Julio = JUL 00 August 2000 = Agosto = AGO 00 September 2000 = Septiembre = SEP 00 October 2000 = Octubre = OCT 00 November 2000 = Noviembre = NOV 00 December 2000 = Diciembre = DIC 00 January 2001 = Enero = ENE 01 and so on..... |
The identification of the factory where the box was made remains in a code, which thankfully so far has not been cracked. At Cigar World we believe that factories should remain secret. It is the Cuban industry's responsibility to ensure the quality and consistency of their precious cigars no matter where they were made.
Reproduced with kind permission of Hunters & Frankau - December 2000
(Havana cigar importers with over 200 years experience)
Reproduced with kind permission of Hunters & Frankau
(Havana cigar importers with over 200 years experience)
EPOO = 06/99
EUOO= 07/99
EAOO=08/99
EOOO=09/99
LEOO= 10/99
LL00 = 11/99
LR00 = 12/99
EL00 - 01/2000
ENE00 = January 2000
FEB00 = February 2000
El Laguito = LOME
H. Upmann - ECA
La Corona - SUA
Partagas - OSU
Romeo y Julieta = PEL
"NIVELACUSO" is dead. Habanos S.A. has finally begun shipping boxes of cigars with the new factory/date codes that they have been talking about for nearly two years. The new codes supercede all of the existing codes and are regarded as "super top secret" by Habanos officials.
They claim the reason for the change was to add an additional deterrence to counterfeiters, but we here at CigarNexus.com do not believe this to be the case. Let's be honest for a moment, how hard would it be for any counterfeiter to look at the bottom of any legit box of Cuban cigars in a store, read the seven letter code, and then duplicate the same exact letter string on hundreds of fake boxes? It wouldn't. Plus, how would a new unknown code help any consumer identify a box as real or fake? If anything it would make it easier for counterfeiters to use any letters they desired on the box and claim, "Oh those are the new codes." One Habanos rep countered my logic with, "It is designed to help authorized Habanos Dealers determine the authenticity of the cigars on behalf of their customers." To which I replied, "What type of legit Habanos dealer needs a new code to be able to tell the difference between real and fake Cuban cigars? If my tobacconist was relying on some ink stamp to separate the wheat from the chaff I would find a new one quick!" Guess what, there was no rebuttal.
As for the true reason for the code change, I can only speculate. Possibly Habanos was concerned that most consumers preferred buying and smoking from boxes of cigars that were made in the historic Havana factories over those made in the Provincial ones. The common perception is that the quality of the provincial made cigars is less. This impression would have a derogatory impact on Habanos S.A.'s overall product status since so many of the cigars are now being produced outside of Havana in an effort to reach 200 million cigars for export. New codes would prevent the consumer from being able to quickly determine where the box is made and short-circuit this bias. However, I don't believe this is the case.
First, Habanos S.A. has invested tremendous effort in improving the quality of their cigars from the smaller factories, and it is beginning to consistently bear fruit. Over the last year I have smoked some truly first rate Habanas from some of the provincial factories and I think that most hardcore Habana smokers are going to realize the improvements that I have and not be so leery of purchasing provincial made cigars. Second, as you look at the new codes you will quickly see that it is very easy to identify the various provinces and Havana made boxes from the first letter alone. If anything, this new code makes it easier to separate Provincial vs. Havana made cigars.
Honestly, I think the primary reason for changing the codes was because they simply outgrew the old ones. The new system not only includes all of the Provincial factories, but also simplifies the system by organizing all of the various factories by their region. Although it is going to be harder to remember the new codes, I believe it is a huge improvement over the previous system. It provides a common format for recognizing from which province the cigars are made and allows for the identification of the multitude of smaller factories outside of Havana.
So say goodbye to "NIVELACUSO" and hello to "NETAGIDOCU." It isn't as easy to say, but I think most Havana smokers are going to regard the new codes as an improvement over the old ones.
The above article was reproduced by kind permission of our friends at cigarnexus.com
Carlos Baliato, formerly El Rey del Mundo |
EGD |
Briones Montoto, formerly Romeo y Julieta |
EDC |
El Laguito | EUN |
Francisco Pacrez German, formerly Partagas | EAT |
Miguel Fernandez Roig, formerly La Corona | EOG |
Hacroes de Moncada | ENI |
Jose Marti, formerly H. Upmann | ECA |
Juan Cano Sainz, formerly Por Larranaga | EEO |
Cienfuegos I |
OTC |
Cienfuegos II |
OAI |
Cruces |
OOG |
Cumanayagua |
OET |
Lajas |
OIN |
Bayamo |
NAT |
Jiguana |
NOO |
Antilla |
UNG |
Gibara |
UDI |
Holguan I |
UAN |
Holguan II |
UCE |
San Andras |
UET |
Artemisa I |
TEN |
Artemisa II |
TEC |
Bejucal |
TND |
Gaines |
TOU |
Gaira I |
TAE |
Gaira II |
TDC |
Quivican |
TIO |
San Antonio I |
TCI |
San Antonio II |
TNG |
San Antonio de las Vegas |
TGT |
San Nicolas de Bari |
TUD |
Santa Cruz del Norte |
TTA |
Candelaria |
GDI |
Consolacian del Sur |
GAO |
Piloto |
GCN |
Pinar del Rio |
GNU |
San Juan (Rio Seco) |
GOC |
Arroyo Blanco |
CEG |
Cabaiguan |
COT |
Fomento |
CGI |
Guayos |
CNE |
Jatibonico |
CTO |
Perea |
CUN |
Sancti-Sparitus |
CID |
Taguasco |
CDU |
Trinidad |
CAC |
Zaza del Medio |
CCA |
Santiago de Cuba |
AGE |
Baez |
DNU |
Camajuana |
DDE |
Esperanza |
DIT |
Manicaragua |
DEC |
Placetas |
DGC |
Quemado de Gaines |
DAI |
Ranchuelo |
DOD |
Remedios |
DCO |
Santa Clara I |
DTA |
Santa Clara II |
DAT |
Santo Domingo |
DNC |
Vueltas |
DUN |
January |
UN |
February |
UE |
March |
UT |
April |
UA |
May |
UG |
June |
UI |
July |
UD |
August |
UO |
September |
UC |
October |
NU |
November |
NN |
December |
NE |
1 |
N |
2 |
E |
3 |
T |
4 |
A |
5 |
G |
6 |
I |
7 |
D |
8 |
O |
9 |
C |
0 |
U |
Briones Montoto, formerly Romeo y Julieta |
BM |
Carlos Baliato, formerly El Rey del Mundo |
CB |
El Habanero |
EH |
El Laguito |
EL |
Francisco Pacrez German, formerly Partagas |
FPG |
Miguel Fernandez Roig, formerly La Corona |
FR |
Juan Cano Sainz, formerly Por Larranaga |
JCS |
Jose Marti, formerly H. Upmann |
JM |
Habroes de Moncada |
HM |
Las Mambisas |
LM |
Cienfuegos region (same as CFGS) |
CFG |
Cienfuegos region (same as CFG) |
CFGS |
Francisco Donantien, Pinar Del Rio region |
FD |
Las Villas region |
LV |
Ricardo Donatien, Pinar del Rio region |
RD |
Sancti-Spiratus region |
SS |
Tobacos Lazaro Peata, San Antonio region |
TLP |
Granma, Bayamo region |
TTB |
Holguin region |
TTH |
Villa Clara, Santa Clara region (same as VSC) |
VC |
Villa Santa Clara, Santa Clara region (same as VC) |
VSC |
1 |
N |
2 |
I |
3 |
V |
4 |
E |
5 |
L |
6 |
A |
7 |
C |
8 |
U |
9 |
S |
0 |
O |
FPG |
Francisco Perez German |
OCSC |
07/97 |
BMNNSA |
Briones Montoto 11/96 |
JM-N0SV |
Jose Marti 10/93 |
NISC-TLP-02 |
12/97 Tobias Lazaro Pena 02 |
VC1-ISU |
Villa Clara 1 2/98 |