Good flavor doesn’t have to be expensive.
These days, great cigars can be had for as little as $2/stick. But to smoke the “elite” cigars, we will have to shell out the big bucks. But for our “everyday” cigars, each of us have a comfort zone when it comes to cigar prices. I’m wondering what everyone spends, on average, for their cigars. Or to make it simpler, what do you consider to be a fair price for a good cigar? Please chime in…
Thanks,
Joe
First, I love cigars. Second, I’m a cheap bastard. Although I regularly pay $6 or $7 for cigars when I go to a special event at a shop, I have a real problem paying more than around $80 for a box. Some of my favorite cigars in the $2 range are Maria Mancini and National Brand, both suit me and are cheap. There are some super premium cigars that I absolutely adore, but can never seem to bring myself to spend for one what I could get a handful of less expensive cigars for.
For a everyday cigar I like to stay around the $4 to $6 range.
Well If I could have it my way (not the wifes) I would smoke my favorite Drew Estate cigar everyday. I spend alot time away from home where I can’t so I smoke Grenadiers or BlacknMilds. The price is so cheap I don’t even notice it. So around $1.
Factory throwouts # 59 claro at $21 a for a bundle of 20. Yum.
Where would I get these ?
For an everyday cigar I stay between 3-5 dollars. I watch cigar bid regularly for the opportunity to get something fine on the cheap.
Apparently, I wasn’t thinking when I trotted out the Factory Throwout thing. I’ve got a go-to stick even cheaper than that. See, I replaced a clutch on a friend’s BMW R1200C motorcycle, in return for which he surprised me with a box of Alec Bradley Black Market robustos for free. Bout to fire up one of these bad boys right now. Yeah, I’ll blow five or eight for a good stick from time to time.Sure, I’m perfectly comfortable with my Factory Throwouts at a buck a pop day to day. But you just can’t beat a free AB BM. Tickles the cheap bastard and the wannabe sybarite at the same time.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute. puff puff DAMN! That’s a dynamite smoke. Who else needs some beemer repair work done?
“Life’s too short to play cheap guitars and life’s too short to smoke cheap cigars.” JJW
That being said, really good cigar and inexpensive rarely go together. My favorite inexpensive cigars are the Cuba Libre One, the Oliveros King Havano both Oscuro and Maduro Fuerte and La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte, all about $3 each. when on sale.
I have cigars of all prices. Most of the sticks over 8-10 bucks are limited, aged or Cuban. I usually smoke those with friends and/ or special occasions. Daily smokes are all premium sticks usually bought on auction for $2-4 each. It’s not hard to get cigars that list for 6-10 bucks for 50% off or more. In the end, I probably spend more than I should, but I still feel like I’m getting great value.
My smoking of cigars started ”again” about four years ago. I also attempt to play golf, while doing that I enjoy smoking a cigar. When this happens I am always looking for that $2.00 cigar. When I have the time to sit and have a glass of wine or a scotch, then it’s time for the $5.00 to $8.00 cigar. It helps once in a while to get lucky and win those cigars on the ”cigar blogs”.
I guess, $4 to $6 is average. I look for deals, and get many from auction sites, or deals. I pretty much try to get good cigars for $2 a pop, and look for specials. But, if a great cigar sells for more, I will spend $10, $20–it just depends. I’ve learned from experience not to buy crappy cigars!
I have cigars that span practically every price range, but I still get queezy paying over $100 a box for primos. Sites like http://www.cigarmonster.com offer great deals, often close to cost, but timing is everything if you want to find the brands you like most . I’ll pay up to $10 for a single, but ONLY if it’s a cigar that is truly outstanding like a Padrón, San Cristobal, or similar upmarket brands that I KNOW are going to be great when I light-up. I’ve been able to find some excellent cigars closer to $3 a stick. The key is to experiment with enough brands in the price range you feel most comfortable, as there are plenty of lower-priced cigars offering very high quality. As that guy on TV used to say, “An educated consumer is our best customer.”
I pay about 3-5 dollars on my not so special ( Everyday Cigar ) I go thru a lot of ‘Bundled’ cigars, just about every bundle I bought I was satisfied ( One comes to mind that was terrible was these/those 1876s I got from CI ). I get a lot of my ‘Good’ cigars @ auction sites like Famous smoke shop and JRs etc… I wind up with some really nice cigars @ a cheap price. I’ll spend 5-8 or 9 dollars @ one of the B&M shops near here.(Green Bay Wi).However if I see something at a lower price I’m game, I should have stated ” willing to pay” earlier.
I get my everyday dog-walking cigars in the $2 to $5 range, though they’re “boutique” when I see them listed on the internet and mailorder and are in the $6 – $10 range. If I do pay in that $6-$10 range, its for ones with MSRP usually at or above $10. I tend only to go to B&M stores to get brands unavailable elsewhere (e.g. Lou Rodriguez cigars). I get a lot of “seconds”, i.e. quality control rejects with cosmetic issues (e.g. sunspots or wrapper blemishes) but otherwise are very very good. I’ve enjoyed a lot of Perdomo ESV ’91’s this way for about $2 per stick, one of my favorite cigars. The real problem is now I have a $10/stick palate on a $2/stick budget! Deals can be found though if one looks hard enough and is patient. I can’t bring myself to smoke machine-mades or sticks rolled with diced/chopped cheap tobacco; nothing that you can buy at a supermarket or convenience store…rather smoke nothing than that crap, may as well smoke Marlboros for all the craftmanship that goes into those.
Hey people life is just to short,to smoke crap!!! Having said that,surfing the net can get you great deals. A little homework can save you a wheelbarrow of cash.I smoke at least 10 aday,and constantly enjoy sticks in the $10 dollar and up range for 60 to 70% of that cost. then again there are some great cigars(usually a new mark/brand) that are considerably cheaper,that are well worth the time to explore and enjoy.
Larry, your the man! I agree life is too short to smoke lousy cigars. I smoke 3-4 a day. I want every draw to be a good one. My taste changes over time. Now I’m into some of the Drews. You can find decent deals on the auction sites. Seize the day! K
For everyday, somewhere around $2.50 – $4. It is sort of like a ritual for me to go to the local smoke shop every few days, pick up a few everyday sticks within that range then get 2 or 3 cigars to throw in the humidor. My “good” smokes can be anywhere from the $6 – $11 range, but once in a while I’ll ask to see some reserves and grab a $20 for that special occasion.