I am always looking for a "value" cigar. To me this means one that is a pretty good experience all the way around for less than $2.
One of my favorites is the La Finca "ammo can" cigar. These come in a cedar lined ammo can with 96 of them for about $60. For less than $1 each these are pretty good.
They are not great delivered, but after 6 months in your humidor, they turn into a pretty good smoke.
I do a lot of my purchasing on line, and have found that Famous-smoke.com has some great deals. I've tried some of their sampler packs and have found that most of their house cigars a terrific. I like the La Floridita and the Bayamo Superiore lines. They are more like $2 a ciger, but still reasonable for a great smoke.
My favorite cheap cigar is the Drew Estate La Vieja Habana. Its a sandwhich filler with a slight sweet tip,that burns and taste like a big money cigar. I think its the best bang for your buck.
I bought a bundle of Don Kiki green label. They are not bad and the cost is right at a $1.00. They don't have a ton of flavor to them but there is small amount. So far its my everyday cigar.
c100bie:
I agree w/ you. "La Finca" Parejos can taste great if laid up for a few months. I've got to say that they've given me a lot of burn problems, so much so that I overdrag the cigar - trying to straighten it up and the last 3rd can get pretty skanky. Great when I hit one that burns well, though. I'm trying my first LVH's (R-Luxos) soon - they're in the mail - so I'll be interested in seeing how well they fair in comparison.
My everyday is St. Luis Rey Coronas - but they're $2.25 a stick by the time they're in my house.
I've only been smoking 'gars for a couple of years so I'm far from an authority - but I think we might be talking about 2 different sticks here. Camancho SLR (standing for Special Ltd. Reserve?) are undoubtedly made by Rancho Jamastran. St. Luis Rey's are an Altadis USA, but I know it's one of those names that's been resurrected - so anythings possible.
I agree with CrackerJoe,,, I use Famous-Smokes.com allot as well. Their "Famous Exclusive" selection isnt bad for cheap smokes. Also try registering on Cigarbid.com. Excellent source for purchasing well under MSRP. Just like E-Bay,,, but better, its all cigars. 5 packs, samplers, boxes,,, you name it. Gotten some truly unbelievable deals on there,, i should be in jail :)
I agree that Famous is a good shop. There are others as well and some less known. Since I am currently researching cheap cigars this is a subject that I like very much. (Don't get me wrong I have some very good cigars in my limited H. Upmann humidor, but you can only say so much about good cigars. Most of us have tried them and know that we are going to have a good smoke. Right?
My favoritte cheap smoke at current is believe it or not and offbrand that is called South Hampton. They are available in the toro size (My preferred size.) they are sandwich filler, cuban seed and piloto cubana with a sumatra wrapper and nic. binder. They cost $3.81 plus 7-3/4 sales tax for a pack of 4. They are available of all places at RiteAid!!!! They come fresh and ziplocked bagged with a humidipack. The flavor is toasty and nutty. I have never found them to be hard to draw or keep lit. Wondeful light gray ash that will stay put. The only drawback is that at about the last 1 & 3/4" they will burn crooked. They are decent right from the shelf, but flavor reaches zenith at about a week. By the way in the small print it says that it is a product of .............I know it is killing you guys. Try them and read the print.
I like the Punch Elite. I bought a box of 25 from JR online for 41 dollars. They are surprisingly good, maduro wrapper, nice flavor, and well constructed.
I like the Punch Elite. I bought a box of 25 from JR online for 41 dollars. They are surprisingly good, maduro wrapper, nice flavor, and well constructed.
I too have to agree with some of you, I believe that LVH are great for the price along with Sancho Panza Double Maduro. I recently bought some Cuesta-Rey Centenario for 40$ Box. Great everday smoke.
I guess I should introduce myself, new to this board, been smoking cigars for 12 years now and can finally admit that I have a problem.
I have been purchasing my smokes from 8 different suppliers and have found many, many bargains.
CI has a few that I really enjoy. I like the Perdomo "Overrun" bundle cigars. Get the coronas, they are just excellent. I also really enjoy the La Vieja Habana "fumas" cigars. You get 25 of them for about $23-28.00 a box and they smoke very well. The flavor is absolutely excellent on these, I haven't had a bad one and I've purchased about five boxes during the past year. Thompson's has the Iguana maduro which runs through the $30.00-$40.00 range. Others swear by the Consuegras, but they are a bit too peppery and harsh for me.
I suggest a few items: 1. JR's weekly specials have some very good cigars at good prices. 2. For a quick smoke with lots of flavor very cheap: Marsh wheeling machine made (100% tobacco). 3. JR's Consuerga's - they are seconds/overruns from the Villazon factory (makers of Punch, Hoya De Monterey etc.) in Honduras. These sticks are excellent after cooking in your humador for a couple of months. Thats my choice, enjoy!
Best "cheap" smokes: Sancho Panza, La Aurora Principes, Famous Smoke house brands are great also. There are tons of great deals out there, you just have to look for them. Online auction have saved me 30-60% on my purchases. Try cigarbid or famous smoke auctions.
Bargain basement cigar...Perfecto Garcia. My local store has them in several shapes, both Ecuador-grown and Connecticut wrappers. I don't recall seeing them online anywhere.
In British tobacconists and newsagents, there are a variety of cheaper cigars and cigarillos that can be enjoyed as a 'breaktime' smoke with coffee. The most popular are Hamlets, a smooth, though some would argue quick, cigar, although Castells and Classics are two panatellas that are readily available, being on sale for around $3.50 per packet, approximately. In the UK currently, there is a growing market for miniature cigars, the very thin, 4" smokes that are usually quite smooth and flavoursome, with European influences. Such miniatures as Cafe Creme, Hamlet miniatures and also the Cuban and Dominican ones such as Monty' and Davidoff are a finer smoke, at a competitive price. As for me, I don't really have a favourite cheap smoke, but always try a different stick depending on the occasion and my mood.
I got a brick of Don Kiki Green Label when I ordered my humidor. The first time I tried them with some buddies, and wasn't too impressed. But after about a month in the humidor they are great! They have a pretty mild flavor, but everything about them is excellent! $30 for a good humi and a brick of great cigars...amazing deal :)
Remedio Clemenceau ...a very consistent 7 x 54 cigar for $2 each through 1-800 JR CIGAR. Am planning to check out JR Cigar in Detroit next weekend and hope to replenish my supply.
Quorums are my favorite cheap smoke. They can be had for just over a buck at the local smoke shop. This summer at Myrtle Beach, I picked up a bundle of 20 from Nick's Cigar World for $21. Holt's has the robusto (my preference) for $21.95 (http://www.holts.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/BrandDisplay?cgmenbr=76&cgrfnbr=174904)
It is a mixed filler but still a good smoke for the money.
My favorite cheap smoke is Consuerga #17 maduros. About a buck a stick, medium-full bodied, and enough complexity to keep you interested to the nub. As they are seconds, some are less than beautiful to look at, but most are a pleasure to smoke.
Life is too short to smoke cheap cigars....can't recall if that is a Frued quote or someone else.
Anyway....
The Remedios are still my pick for overall value, but for $3 each I recently bought a box of Casa Blanca Reserve Cameroons .... No1 ... approx 7 x 50 I guess, maybe a 52. I'll be buying another box of these and perhaps another humidor to keep them in. Worth a try.
My favorite cheapies lately are the Rocky Patel Sun Grown seconds now offerred at Famous. I ordered the 4.5x44 for those times when a 30 to 45 minute cigar is just the ticket. A very good short smoke, medium bodied plus IMHO, for $1.60 each when ordering 20. I had been paying $5 each at a local shop for the boxed ones (firsts). Free shipping now. Other sizes are also available.
Having been out of circulation for quite some time, I recently purchased a smapler set from the Thompson Cigar Co. I recieved a nice humidor, a cigar tube, and 25 of their house cigars. These were the Empressario Toro, 6" long and a size 50. Its a decent smoke and you can pick up 50 for about $69.00 It averages out to about $1.38 per cigar. They can be had in either the natural or madura wrapper. Again, I'm just now getting back into my cigars and haven't quite found a cheap one I like yet, still looking, and glad I found this forum to get some ideas.
Now then when I have a few extra $$ I like the Fuente 8 5 8, with the maduro wrapper. Pleasant aroma, good flavor, burns evenly. If ever I can find somewhere to find them at a decent price, (here $5.30 apiece) I would like to get a box. But for now I stick with the Empressario, next time tho it will the maduro.
Anything in the Quorum line, ringing in at about 1.60 a peice, distributed by J.C. Newman same as the Fuente line, an awesome burn and beautiful white ash with a flavor that is makes you want to take a bite.
I am a big fan of CI's seconds...Rocky Patel's signatures 15 sticks for $39! Excellent! another great buy -when they have them are Gran Habano 3 Sigelos Fumas. I understand that fumas are made with the cuttings of the original, just not long leaf...but they tase the same and I didn't notice a difference in the ash falling sooner due to shorter cuttings. Now the price.....20 sticks for $19.99!!!!!!
Someone mentioned the Perdomos...I'm going to try the ESV 91's if they still have them.
True. You can't beat a Rocky Patel second especially the vintage 1992's. They are exactly the same as the primos without the ring or the big price tag. Definitely my favorite "cheap" smoke.
I've smoked a bunch of Maroma coronas (a Famous brand) and I think they are swell. Retail for under $2, knocked off a box at auction for $17.
Punch is great economical line.
Holt's sells a load of different labels for $1 each or under. You pays your money, you takes your chances. Their Winthrop line is a value
I have to disagree with the touters of RP Vintage Seconds. For one, they are almost $3 each (39.95 bundle 15) for a cigar that is admittedly faulty, not good enough to sell as usual.
I picked on up at auction, still over $20, and I have had a lot of construction/burn/draw problems.
That's how I feel about most seconds - overpriced for problem cigars.
I've smoked a lot of the RP 92s and their factory seconds. Never had a problem with either. The price has gone up over the past year but they are still a good buy IMO.
I have never had a burn or draw problem on seconds...the reason they don't "make the cut" is usually a spot or color problem. I just purchased a bundle of Rocky Liga "D" (for Decade), they are a lighter color but taste just as good...great stick! Yes they are just over $3 but better than $5-10 each.
Another real decent smoker is the corona in the Flor del Todo line out of Cigars Int'l.
Here's a great way to try some cheap brands. Check out Holt's Miser's Collection (look under "Catalog Specials" on their website).
15 house (or national) discount brands, 30 cigars, $35.
Collection includes a variety of sizes/shapes from robustos through Presidentes with a torpedo. Wrappers from candela through ordinary maduro (no, real dark oscuro)
I highly recommend both the Rosa Cuba Govenors and Flor De Oliva (any size). You can get both of these brands for under $35.00 (shipped) for a bundle of 20 and in my humble opinion you can't go wrong. I started smoking the Rosa Cuba's many years ago from JR Cigars and it is a great Nicaraguan blend. Everytime I've given one to someone, I hear "what a great smoke", even my "cigar snob" friends aka "Opus whores" and they've went on to buy some for themselves. The Flor de Oliva comes in a few wrappers and all are great, but I really enjoy the Maduro and Corrojo. Another great smoke that turns heads and has inquiring minds wanting to know where they can get 'em.
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