edin508 wrote:Thanks. It seems I was correct that the box code on the bottom is pretty useless for the exception of the date these days. The label on the left of the box with the ser.# is the only way to make sure you are getting the real deal. Guessing they figured out that too many people figured out the code and were counterfeiting that too.
Actually it had nothing to do with counterfeiting. All counterfeiters would have to do is get an existing box and duplicate the codes on it and sell "aged stock". The rotating factory code was that the provincial factories had gotten a reputation for lower quality control a decade or so before and when they finally corrected that and brought things up so that the core factories and provincial factories were about equal, people were still refusing to buy provincial factory produced boxes. So now, only very few people know where stuff is actually made anymore.
Personally, I can't tell the difference with the new stuff when I've had the opportunity to smoke product from both the core and the provincial factories. It used to be a problem for some cigars/lines, and was obvious. The new stuff, someone else might be able to tell, but I really can't.
As for El Laguito, I seem to recall that they had to shut down the factory for repairs for a while a few years back, it could have been last year or the year before or maybe a bit before that, I don't really recall exactly. So there was a period where Cohibas were being rolled somewhere else. Honestly, for the flagship marque, I wouldn't worry too much about it. They have too much riding on that reputation to bork it up.
