Cheap & Delicious versus Expensive & Delicious...What Say Y'all?

[Yarddog]

I've been smokin' ceegars a buncha years, off and on...currently on, but I reckon that's obvious. I've been known to trot down to the ol' B&M and buy $10-$15 sticks, but have, in the last couple of years, have discovered a whole new world out there in the Land of Stogies!

What I've discovered is that there are a lotta great sticks that I can pick up for $2-4 from on-line sources...many but not all of those are also available in B&Ms for a higher price point...that, to me, with an admittedly unrefined palate, are the equal of many vaunted sticks costing anywhere from ten bucks on up to thirty.

Ya know, I've smoked some of the legends...Liga Privada #9...Padron 1926...others...but to me, I'd just as soon smoke one of the more 'pedestrian' sticks that I have...to my taste, them twenty buck stogies just ain't worth the extra scratch!

Some of the ones currently inhabiting my humidor that I consider to be just as good as the super premiums are...

Foundry Chillin' Moose
Man o' War Ruination
Fallen Angel Devil's Ink (got a BUNCH of those)
Puros Indios whatever was on sale a while back at CI

Coming soon are the Uncharted from JP Cigar

You might notice that I have an affinity for AJ Fernandez...guilty as charged.

But, I also have a number of 'treat sticks' too...Southern Draw Firethorns, El Rey del Mundo Nicaraguans, a coupla three varieties of Illusiones, some Camachos...Triple Maduro, American Barrel Aged, Connecticuts, JDN Gran Consuls, D'Crossier 512's...

But for my money, there are a LOT of great sticks that I'd rather buy ten of than one Padron, or Liga Privada, or Opus X...admittedly, I've never had one of the latter, but you get my point.

So, what say y'all? Are ya really getting good bang for your buck...several of them, actually...by spending more for the name, reputation, and of course, excellent quality...or are ya more prone to gravitate toward less expensive...but in all other respects equal, maybe better...sticks? In other words, are you gonna be more prone to populating your humidor with say...Liga Privadas, My Fathers, good stuff like that...or no-name stuff? Like me?

Have at, ladies and gentlemen!

[Slowpokebill]

I sure smoke a lot more sub $5 sticks with some $5-8 sticks than $10 plus sticks. I do keep some Padron 64, A. Fuente Anjos and Opus Xs in the humidor, too. There are some very good sub $5 smokes and their are some pretty boring $10 plus cigars.

Part of the fun is finding that perfect cheap cigar. It is also good and important to try some of the really great smokes just to have something to help you judge when you find that great cheap cigar. It is worth splurging once in awhile.

[Demuths1770]

im covered from one extreme to the other. i have several Joya Red, fallen angle, Nica Libre, New World, Schizo and so on to ligas, Tatuaje, crowned head, and up to unicos and opus x. i have a real soft spot for Liga Tatuaje and crowned head but i have a good verity. there are many many many great cheaper sticks out there and they are good but they dont live up to the higher end sticks

[Yarddog]

Doncha just love that variety? And there's just tons and tons of information out there these days that's easily accessed!

[WNYTONY]

I'm with ya Vance. I tend to stay more middle of the road and grab some of the baller sticks when I can get them at a decent price or as a once in a while treat.
And I like the smaller sticks like Petite Caz, Verocu 5, Bait Fish which are all usually in that lower range as well.

[Demuths1770]

Doncha just love that variety? And there's just tons and tons of information out there these days that's easily accessed!

the verity is nice but i have my go to cigars and brands now so i have been sticking with them. nice thing is most of my go to brands have a few cheaper priced cigars i can stock up on. the fun for me now is the hard to find sticks and going after them and also getting the new sticks which in a way is bad for the industry. all these new sticks keep coming out and its hard for B&Ms to keep up and have space for them

[Bruck]

Did someone mention the "perfect cheap cigar?" I'm in search of that holy grail as well, but so far what I've found, and for that matter what I mostly smoke now, is what I consider to be "decent cheapies" - ones I can pick up on the cbid in the $2-3 range. Here's my current list:

Cabo Classic
Gurkha Park Avenue CT & Mad
Nica Libre
5 Vegas Gold (not the maduro though)
Schizo
Bahia Red
Bahia Blue
John Bull
Graycliff G2
5 Vegas classic
Buenaventura
Bahia Trinidad
5 Vegas A
RP Cargo
Bahia Icon
Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte
Bahia Gold White Label
Flor de Oliva
Fonseca Arana

[jpalamar]

I'm the opposite extreme. Love higher end cigars and not much cheaper stuff does it for me. Plus I love the search for harder to find stuff. I'd rather smoke quality over quantity.

[Old Smokey]

It depends on what I am doing while I am smoking. But I have found very few cheap cigars that I truly enjoy. I only smoke on average 2 cigars a week and I prefer to do nothing but enjoy my cigar when I smoke. So having said that, I prefer some of the higher priced ($8-$10) cigars. And occasionally up to $13 if it's something I think will be really special. Fuente is my weakness.

[Desertlifter]

I'm with the quality over quantity crowd, but that doesn't mean that there aren't gems to be found among less popular marques. I love Tats, Avos, and Opus/AF products, but I also like finding sticks that just aren't as popular. I love Hammer and Sickle cigars, for instance, and I think that Punch Rare Corojo are way under-appreciated because....General Cigar. For a heavier bodied stick, I put the Espinosa y Ortega Murcielago up with the best. Room 101 are usually appreciated over all with mixed reviews, but the Daruma and Namakubi are great, and they are more in the middle range than the upper. I just don't like the really large RG stuff they (or anybody else) makes.

[Yarddog]

Some great responses so far...I too prefer quality over quantity, however, I have found that a high price point with a legend attached does not always...in fact, not too often in my experience...leads to an outstanding smoking experience.

Lemme put it to ya this way...a few years ago, I walked into the acoustic guitar room at a music store, and I played all the acoustic bass guitars (ABG) they had there. The one that played the best was a Martin. No surprise there. It was $1200. The second best was an Olympia...a second line of the vaunted Tacoma...the difference was small, in my experience. The price on this one was $400. Was the difference in performance worth $800? Oh heck no. Not even close. So I bought the Olympia, paid big bux for a hard shell case, still have both of them.

Now then, if I was at a different level of musicianship, where the small differences in the performance and sounds of those instruments made a difference, or if the world I played music in was the sort that looked down their long noses at a cheap Olympia, but accepted the Martin as being pretty much the top of the marque...which it is...well, the extra money woulda been well spent. But the difference to me simply was not worth it!

That's the way I approach cigars. Okay, I can pay almost $28.00 for a Padron 1926 at my local B&M...and it's an outstanding cigar, no doubt, one of the world's best. Nobody will look down their nose at me when I fire one of them puppies up...but I don't care. I went out a bought about fifty of them Devil's Ink on special for about $2.49 each, and man...do I enjoy them! For less than nine percent of what that fine Padron costs.

So which gets the nod in my world? Yep...the less expensive stick...Sounds like there are some folks who are with me on that, but I'd sure like to hear from some others who disagree as well...always interested in points of view...

[Billb1960]

There are several higher end brands that go for $10 plus even online but don't get the marketing that they deserve. They're really great cigars and they can be found for $3-$5 a stick or less on the auction sites. Those are the most fun to find for me. I just picked up a box of EPM La Hermandad Costa Fuertes for $44 and 10 Oliva MB3 for $3.70 a piece.

[GWBowman]

Marketing is key. As you've stated, some high dollar items are a better product and some have better marketing/following.

[Old Smokey]

While I love a good steak, sometimes I crave a hamburger.

[Bruck]

While I love a good steak, sometimes I crave a hamburger.

That's a good point, & try eating a steak while driving :) I very often have a cigar while doing something else, for example this weekend, I was working on an outdoor construction project. Had a few "yard gars" in the process. I wouldn't burn one of my better sticks while hammering and sawing. Or mowing. Or cleaning the guns I used to own before that tragic boating accident. But when I have time to chill out and really get into what I'm smoking, then I'll turn one of my Graycliffs (yeah, I know, but I like 'em) into tasty smoke.

[allusred]

This Vance (Yarddog) is really is the discussion thang that I for one most enjoy reading on Cigarbum, so sincere thanks for your post.
Clicking thanks for every entry because it's nice to read the varied takes Bums have on the subject. Gives one a chance to rethink/evaluate why you smoke what you do.
Hope see many more responses.

[Usafvet509]

I tend to live in the $2-5 range. I find it very rewarding when I find a GOOD $2 stick. Anymore, I have a (self-imposed) $10 per stick cap at the B&M's. There are some great sticks at that price, but I can't regularly afford those. I save them for when I can go to a good B&M and smoke it there. Again, Bruck, no judgment here, LOVIN' the G2 Maddy. I think eventually I will have a list of occasional $10+ sticks that rivals my $5 max list, but that'll be a long ways out

[tonyzoc]

I probably average 3 cigars a day, so I'm definitely not smoking $15 sticks exclusively. I do like to smoke a more expensive cigar and might smoke one on a weekend night or at a "cigar night" with coworkers. For every day smokes I'm always looking for that $2-$3 deal of something pretty good. Actually, it's easy to pick a good cigar, but it more... Sporting...to find the decent $3 smokes. In other words, its more of a hunt.

Aside from those mentioned, I like Sosa, My Father's Tabacos Baez, L'Altier Trocadero, My Father's Tres Reynas, a recent find is Xikar HC Habano2 or Maduro2, Sancho Panzas (a nice cigar for $60-$70 a box), the AJ Puro Authenticos (routinely grab in auction for $3 ea)... And I'm still hunting.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[WNYTONY]

I tend to live in the $2-5 range. I find it very rewarding when I find a GOOD $2 stick. Anymore, I have a (self-imposed) $10 per stick cap at the B&M's. There are some great sticks at that price, but I can't regularly afford those. I save them for when I can go to a good B&M and smoke it there. Again, Bruck, no judgment here, LOVIN' the G2 Maddy. I think eventually I will have a list of occasional $10+ sticks that rivals my $5 max list, but that'll be a long ways out

That's a different animal all together IF I had a B&M I could frequent and went with the intention of enjoying a good stick in the lounge with some other Bums and supporting the shop I'd do the same thing. Since I'm only ever smoking at home by myself or on the golf course I tend to try to stay around $3 per +/- and smoke what I enjoy in that range.

Like Old Smokey said about steaks and burgers.
When I go out I usually get a steak and at home I cook more burgers than I do steaks.

[Hardheaded]

I tend to live in the under $2 range most of the time. Never had much in the way of funds to spend on cigars until recently, and there are plenty or serviceable or even good cigars in that range. Plus I seem to be frequently doing something else while smoking.

I still keep a stash of other smokes ranging from $3-$25 or so, but don't smoke them regularly. I typically buy singles locally, which gets expensive in a tax heavy state. The rest are 5 packs from different online sources, or gifts from family or fellow bums.

[Upstatemax]

I tend to live in the under $2 range most of the time. Never had much in the way of funds to spend on cigars until recently, and there are plenty or serviceable or even good cigars in that range. Plus I seem to be frequently doing something else while smoking.

I still keep a stash of other smokes ranging from $3-$25 or so, but don't smoke them regularly. I typically buy singles locally, which gets expensive in a tax heavy state. The rest are 5 packs from different online sources, or gifts from family or fellow bums.


Agree 100%. I smoke much better "deals" from online sources almost all spring-->fall. Once winter starts to hit I head into the B&M on occasion to enjoy a smoke. But I know that I'm paying MUCH more for that cigar. I'm okay with that since they have got to keep the lights on if I want to smoke through the winter. The taxes in NYS just make it too hard to buy in bulk around here...

When I head into the B&M, I try to pick up a cigar or two that I want to try. If I like it, I buy more online.

I try and keep a B&M purchase to $10 or under, but I will sometimes stretch it to $15...

[Brimy]

I just love a good cigar! Who here doesn't!! :) :)
I'm not in the league to stay stocked with high end stuff and not sure my palate would appreciate them. But I'm not buying a $1.50 stick unless I know it's good. I've had some "cheapies" that I'll buy again and some that I won't.
My typical purchase is in the $5 - $10/stick range online. I'll go a bit higher every now and again for the HTF/LE stick. I'll go lower too, 1844, RB Genesis, Obsidian (black label) & I know that I'll have to let these sit for a bit to really enjoy them.
I'm typically not doing anything when I smoke. So I can get into the cigar.
On the occasion that I go to a B&M, I'll usually buy something I've been wanting to try so the price may reflect that. And as my fellow NY'ers have said, we get hit hard with taxes.
I said all of that to say this, it's about the cigar & not really about the price.

[allusred]

I just love a good cigar! Who here doesn't!! :) :)
I'm not in the league to stay stocked with high end stuff and not sure my palate would appreciate them. But I'm not buying a $1.50 stick unless I know it's good. I've had some "cheapies" that I'll buy again and some that I won't.
My typical purchase is in the $5 - $10/stick range online. I'll go a bit higher every now and again for the HTF/LE stick. I'll go lower too, 1844, RB Genesis, Obsidian (black label) & I know that I'll have to let these sit for a bit to really enjoy them.
I'm typically not doing anything when I smoke. So I can get into the cigar.
On the occasion that I go to a B&M, I'll usually buy something I've been wanting to try so the price may reflect that. And as my fellow NY'ers have said, we get hit hard with taxes.
I said all of that to say this, it's about the cigar & not really about the price.

Could not but agree wholeheartedly with your post...but the final line says all one needs to say on the subject.
For anyone reading this, just reread that line and think for a minute.

Regarding NY tax on Cigars.
How about this across the pond but...

"" Cadbury owner paid no UK corporation tax last year

Mondelez was able to pay no UK corporation tax as a result of a Channel Islands-based bond, despite Cadbury making £96.5m profit in 2014"

[GWBowman]

Only had the opportunity to smoke at a B&M with a nice lounge and patio once. I totally understand, if they don't charge admission or membership, they have to recover their extra expense somewhere. Very much agree with Brimy. While I will certainly smoke a good two or three dollar stick as quick as a good nine dollar stick, I generally set a top end limit, in my mind, except for special occasions. I think most people still get a kick out of finding a good smoke at a cheaper price or a really good sale.

[Yarddog]

This Vance (Yarddog) is really is the discussion thang that I for one most enjoy reading on Cigarbum, so sincere thanks for your post.
Clicking thanks for every entry because it's nice to read the varied takes Bums have on the subject. Gives one a chance to rethink/evaluate why you smoke what you do.
Hope see many more responses.
Thank ya...it's a little differently posed question than 'what's the best cheap ceegar'? than you see so often. I've just noticed that there are a lot of great sticks out there that taste just as good, or nearly so, than some of the vaunted sticks that are beyond my means for a general smoke...I'm glad this thread is getting a lotta traction!

The comments about high taxes also hits hard with regard to local B&M's. Here's a good example...I went into such a place at the local mall on Friday...I had just read a couple of reviews on-line about the Diamond Crown Julius Caeser, and they were in the $11-12 price range in the reviews. The cigar shop had all sorts new marketing stuff on the Diamond Crown all over...and the sticks were $20-22!

I get it that in addition to the taxes, there's the rest of the nut that goes along with that! Exorbitant rent, what have you...but what happened when I checked out kinda 'splained their business plan! I bought two sticks..an Illusione Epernay and a Camacho Triple Maduro, total of just under $27.00...I saw a Vertigo lighter which normally runs on line about ten bux, fifteen at a B&M...my card was charged $67.55, which I immediately thought was high, but I'm not in the habit of parsing the receipt at the counter...like a lot of local B&M's the receipt isn't itemized. Turns out that the lighter was dern near $34.50! Either that or the dude just decided to throw a twenty buck bone his own direction! Will I darken that place's door again? Not hardly, pilgrim! There are limits to my understanding nature!