Embarrassing 8-9-8 Question

[kann]

I feel kind of dumb asking this, but I can't find a definitive answer through searching or Teh Googles.
 
I get that "8-9-8" is so called due to the boxing.  However, is there any sort of flavor profile or construction uniformity to an 8-9-8 line?  What makes that particular packaging so important as to have its own identity?
 
I've had from Fuente and Ashton.  I enjoyed them both.  When discussing the 8-9-8 here, what cigar is typically being referred to?  I originally just assumed it was the Fuente... then the Ashton.  There are many 8-9-8's it seems, so which is the cigar being referred to that needs only be identified as an "8-9-8"?

 

[oke&coke]

I could be wrong, but as far as Cubans go, all of the 8-9-8 that I found are dalias with a 170x43 measurement.  Some of the older 8-9-8 I found did have a slightly different but close sizing.  Non CC's could be a whole different ballgame.

 

[Gavin]

Fuente makes most Ashton lines. The rest are made by My Father cigars. I think it's just a Fuente thing.

 

[MichaelD]

Don't be embarrassed because you aren't the only one who is clueless. I only recently just realized that 8-9-8 related to the boxing. I hadn't even made the next intellectual leap to be able to ask your question.

 

[Juanote]

Is Partagas the original?

 

[golfgar]

Not sure what the original was as the Partagas 898 is originally from only as far back as sometime in the 1970's.

 

[bucfan444]

I assumed its only related to the boxing configuration and possibly ring gauge of around 43. 8-9-8 is not an official vitola in the Habanos world as far as I know. I also do not believe 8-9-8 denotes a specific profile or construction related issue. I believe I read some years back the row of 8, row of 9, row of 8 packing came about out of a practical reason some time ago. Maybe box size, shipping restrictions, etc.

 

[MadMonk]

Keeps the cigars round.

 

[Spad31]

Keeps the cigars round.

if the Monk says it, it is so.
 
-Trey

 

[kann]

Well, that certainly answers the "why" question rather definitively.  
 
Now, which particular cigar are most referring to here when saying simply, "8-9-8"?

 

[CigSid]

One of my favorite cigars... Partagas put the 8 - 9 - 8 rows in a varnished box to allow the oils of each cigar to mingle together, for proper aging. While this was a common practice in "cabs", this was a way to allow for a more compact sized box.

 

[StogieNinja]

Fuente makes the 8-5-8, a different format (and completely unrelated to) the Cuban Partagas 8-9-8.

Fuente's is named 8-5-8 because Arturo Fuente was 85 when he died and the family wanted to honor him with something that represented him from beginning to end, so they turned his age into a palindrome.

The others are named based on box format, the Cuban ones came first; the others like Ashton and Fonseca are simply copying the packaging format (and coming close in cigar size).

 

[Spad31]

Fuente makes the 8-5-8, a different format (and completely unrelated to) the Cuban Partagas 8-9-8.

Fuente's is named 8-5-8 because Arturo Fuente was 85 when he died and the family wanted to honor him with something that represented him from beginning to end, so they turned his age into a palindrome.

The others are named based on box format, the Cuban ones came first; the others like Ashton and Fonseca are simply copying the packaging format (and coming close in cigar size).

 
Huh. Cool to know. Thanks!
 
-Trey

 

[kann]

^^  What the Mustang said...

 

[SharpNJ]

When someone says they smoked an 898, they're referring to the Cuban Partagas vitola.  As mentioned before, if a cigar's packaging is described as 8-9-8, it's 3 rows of cigars - 8 on the bottom, 9 in the middle, 8 on top, total of 25 cigars. (As opposed to 5 rows of 5 or a row of 12 and a row of 13).