The Half Ashed Cigar Forum

Can someone clear up the definition of this for me?

I always thought that a "box pressed" cigar was a cigar that went into the box round and over a long time spent being "squashed, squished and/or compressed" in the box started to have flatter sides. However, it seems like most manufacturers now have "boxed press" cigars that seem to be pressed, squared, etc. in a mold before they are put in the box. Did I have my definitions wrong?

Not that it really matters, but hey I was having a deep thoughts moment.

Box pressed originally meant what you think it means. Most Cubans that end up box pressed are that way. Most NCs are "factory pressed" to get the square look. Hope that helps

I think it was Dale Roush that used to differentiate a true box press (what you described) from the what he called "square pressed" (done with molds, etc)

...sent by smoke signal from Cigar Country

Ian's essentially spot on except that no Cubans have ever been "factory pressed". They're either box pressed naturally in a paper wrapped dress box, not pressed but, rather, allowed to move around a bit in a cedar SBN (clasp) type box or not box pressed in a cab of 10,25 or 50.