Cigar Bands

[WNYTONY]

Well I can't recall ever specifically buying a cigar just because the band or box looked pretty - I don't save or do anything fancy with either of those after the cigars are burned. (Other than toss the bands into the nice shadow box that my Secret Santa @cheaphumidors sent me last Xmas) I have heard interviews and podcasts where they discuss what goes in to designing and making the bands and it's actually something they give quite a bit of thought to. Right down to color, which to include and which to avoid.

That said I have to agree with @SoCal gunner that the San Cristobal are among the most elegant looking cigar bands out there, and that @Tombstone is a band whore with @SoCal gunner a close second (all those Ezra Zion with the machetes and hand grenades on them, come on man) Oh and while I'm at it.... that while Ave Maria bands are very beautiful the cigars don't do it for me. Not Gurkha level bad, but just not for me. Tried them because AJ but nope. Sorry Ryan

But the name on the band means a great deal and I've listened to and done for myself the blind smokes and that band does make a great difference. Without the band there is no reluctance to say a stick is not that good. But when you can see the Opus band on it you tend to give it more of a chance because they are supposed to be good. If you've never done this I encourage you to give it a try. We tested it at the Orgy and it worked to perfection, slapped an Opus band on a Bahia and Colin wouldn't put it down even though it was bad !

It's that name on the band that means everything. Tatuaje bands are small, dull and boring yet their sticks fly off the shelves. The Padron bands are nothing exciting but the Padron name itself that carries the reputation. It's almost as if you see a pretty band what are they trying to hide with it. I'm sure there are guys that go into cigar shops and see a cool band and just buy it, but at our level we're asking about the brand, who makes it, what county of origin, etc... I'd be willing to bet that even @Tombstone doesn't just grab cigars based solely on the band alone, that he looks a little deeper and then says "I'll put anything in my mouth once" LOL.

The top spot in my stash goes to Crowned Heads - love pretty much everything they have put out. And they have earned my trust so much that I've automatically bought two boxes, usually robusto and corona, of all the new releases without having tried one first. I think everyone probably has a brand or maker that they trust and can say "never had a bad stick from them".

There are also guys (and even one Southern Belle) I tend to follow and trust that if they liked a particular cigar chances are that I will too. Every once in a while they can get off track, cough, gurkha, cough, but for the most part you'll find your tastes will align with someone else out there. And the same with the shop. Typically the workers smoke cigars too, so they are a wealth of knowledge to find out what is actually good and help find the hidden gems out there.

Trades and things like the MAW here on the Bum help out as well - you don't just have to judge based on the band alone