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How do I know when I buy a box of cigars when it was packaged? I read that a box of cigars should not be left closed for more then 6 months. I have not found any dates or codes on 15 major top brands.

Hmm, major brands huh?

Which ones?

For S&G, I did a cursory check on some boxes I have on hand.

All the Tatuaje boxes I looked at (6) have a date on them.

So do Jaime Garcia boxes (2). My My Father boxes are buried a little deeper so didn’t check them but if the JG boxes have dates then I’m guessing MF boxes have dates too. Same with my Padron boxes. They’re buried deep but iirc, they have something printed on the bottom.

Guardian of the Farm Claude Le Chien boxes are mixed. The OR is dated but the 6th is not.

I don’t necessarily consider Pier 28 a major brand but on the two boxes I have, both have dates printed on the bottom.

Although not physically on hand, I know Fuente boxes have a code on theirs but has denied that the last 3 numbers + 80 = the year they were boxed.

The following brands were not marked:

Alec Bradley
Camacho Corojo (OR - but there is a handwritten note inside with the crop and production dates)
Oliva
RoMa Craft
Crowned Heads

Yeah, I've never heard this about opening boxes periodically.

I have read that, if you have long-term storage, you should open the humidor/coolerdor/tuperdor every several months to let the air exchange a little. Cigars give off gases (can we say they pass gas?), and the gases build up, sposedly can effect the flavor. This is not a problem for me because I'm often digging around in one humidor or the other.

But the actual box the cigars come in is not airtight, and I see no reason they would need to be opened periodically except to be adored by a loving consumer.

With Padron there's little white pieces of paper placed in with the cigars with the rollers name inspectors name and a boxing date.
Habanos code, month & year stamps every box.

Had a cigar a few days ago that had the month & year on the inside of the band on each stick.
Can't recall what it was but I wish they all did that

Did Jonesy teach you that?

mish welcome aboard! Great question, the man to ask is named Dave. You seem like a good egg so I’ll let you in on our secret. Dave is the owner of CBid and when we occasionally run into questions or problems the long time members here can’t resolve we turn to Dave. He loves the forum members and takes great care in helping us out.

Call (214) 914-3337 9-4 central time and ask for Dave, let him know what question you have and he’ll get you squared away in no time!

been meaning to ask, whose number do you give to bad eggs?

I heard it was yours.