What is the significance of the 8-X-8 name given to certain cigars ie/ AF 8-5-8, Ashton 8-9-8 ?
Thanks!!

I always wondered about this too. I think I read somewhere that 8-9-8 referred to the way they were packed 25 cigars in the box with 8 in the bottom and top rows and 9 in the middle. But 8-5-8 doesn't seem to fit that logic.

Well, I know this has been discussed recently, but I couldn't find the thread. I think the 898 refers to the way they are stacked and I think 858 referred to Carlos' age (85) forwards and backwards? Could be wrong...

I believe you are correct sir.

Here's the definitive answer.

8-9-8 refers to the packaging style of the cigar. This was originally started by Partagas back in Cuba in either the late 1800's or early 1900's. It means packaging them in three layers: 8 on the bottom, 9 in the middle, and 8 cigars on top. Before this, most cigar makers just packed them all in even rows, which caused them to become slightly square-shaped (the first box-pressed cigars, meaning the pressure of having so many stuffed in a box pressed them into a square shape).

8-5-8 is a term used only by Arturo Fuente. It refers to the age of Arturo Fuente himself when he died. Carlos and Carlito wanted to make it a palindron, readable either backwards or forwards, and decided on 8-5-8.

So why the varnished and unvarnished?

Hog

Oh no! Varnish on or varnish off?

in my book 8X8=64.

So why the varnished and unvarnished?

Box reference

It's correlation is: why are some a$$e$ wiped and some not? X

I've heard that they stopped using varnish (at least in Cuba) on the Partagas 898 boxes because it got to be too expensive ...