I'm a casual cigar smoker, and based on some comments from a tack I posted it there are others here as well.
My limit per stick is at the most $10 (a vast number of choices thanks to the beauty of the internet), and here is my favorite:
Oliva Serie V - med-full bodied, rich and delicious all the way down to the nub. It's ~$8-$10.
I usually pick up sample packs and sale bundles to fill out the humidor, though.
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Ammon
6 years, 7 months agoGo to cigarsInternational.com and look at samplers. My fav's are anything Gurka, Rocky Patel, or Diesel. I like big fat dark ones.
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glen
6 years, 7 months agoYeah, that's a good tactic. Bundles are the way to go for price effectiveness. For example, I picked up a 20-stick bundle sampler of Oliva for about $2.50/stick. Considering their excellent stogies usually run for $8-$11 at the local humidor, that is fantastic.
Recently I set up an alert at SlickDeals for the term "cigar" and have found a lot of bundle deals at various places. Great for loading up the humidor on the cheap.
One other note: I have had the worst luck with Rocky Patel. I don't know if I've ever had a good cigar, in either taste or construction. They tend to turn at about the halfway point. Yet everyone loves Rocky... I wonder if I'm doing something wrong.
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Ammon
6 years, 7 months agoTry "The Edge" line of RP. That is what I like.
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glen
6 years, 7 months agoI'll have to give that a go. Thanks!
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brian
6 years, 7 months agoDefinitely Black and Mild. Wine flavor. Wood tip.
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glen
6 years, 7 months agoAh, and what are those running? 20 for $2? You're basically paying for the R&D that went into making the magical wood tip.
In all seriousness, I've had Swishers and the like while out golfing and fishing and they are enjoyable.
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Dhornet7
6 years, 7 months agohahaha, I never turn down a good B&M. Like you said, great for fishing and golfing.
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Dhornet7
6 years, 7 months agoDavidoff Winston Churchill Petit Panatela. An excellent smoke. Around 10 bucks a stick and worth every penny.
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glen
6 years, 7 months agoI've not had a Davidoff yet, but I've great things about them. I'll add it to the list to try ;)
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Ammon
6 years, 7 months agohttp://hiconsumption.com/2017/09/best-non-cuban-cigars/
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glen
6 years, 7 months agoI think I need to just go down the line and try these 10.
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DoctorSooner
6 years, 6 months agoAs a new cigar smoker, you should definitely try one of the Tabak Especial manufactured by Drew Estate, or possibly one of their Acid cigars. Somewhat mild and not overpowering, and very smooth.
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glen
6 years, 6 months agoI've had the Especial, and it is a lot of fun! Even my father-in-law enjoys that smoke: light, sweet, and lots of output.
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jonathanbentz
6 years, 6 months agoI know I'm late to the Parlor on this one, but you should definitely try some Arturo Fuente's. I was a similar cigar smoker to you, and never really went past the same dollar amount per smoke.
Here's a collection I started years ago if you want to check out one I apparently would have recommended at that time - http://gentlemint.com/collections/8194/cigars-ive-smoked/
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glen
6 years, 6 months agoI've been meaning to try some Fuente's... thanks for the suggestion.
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LouGirl502
6 years, 6 months agoBest bang for your buck in the humidor is a Fuente 8-5-8 Sungrown.
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skilletboy
6 years, 6 months agoPretty much anything Oliva. Of course the Serie V meliano's are amazing. I like the maduro version as well.
Other of my favorites: Guhrka Master Select, Guhkra Grand Reserve Cognac infused, Rockey Patel Royale, Rockey Patel 1990, La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amore, Montecristo Media Noche.
All fantastic cigars mostly around $6-$10 on line ...
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skilletboy
6 years, 6 months agoAlso, Thompson cigars (online) lets you buy 5-packs if you buy multiples for less than $20 per 5-pack.
I usually buy 4 5-packs at a time and get 20 cigars for around $80. Shipping is usually free over $50. $4 a stick is going to be almost impossible to beat. Any many of those I just listed are often available.
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glen
6 years, 6 months agoAh, I'll have to check out Thompson. It seems like a lot of cigar sites are centered around the 5-packs.
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barefootgreg
6 years, 6 months agoI'll throw the La Gloria Cubana Serie R into the ring. Don't let the "full" ratings fool you these are smooth and easy to smoke.
If you feel like rewarding yourself give the Atabey a try, but at $20+ per stick it is a "once in a blue moon" smoke. Cigar.com has always been my go to online shop.
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glen
6 years, 6 months agoWow, definitely a splurge stick. But it sounds incredible.
Yeah, it seems like when cigars are anywhere from medium to full, it's pretty subjective. It's more about how smooth of a smoke it is (for me, at least). The Oliva Serie V is like this.
You'll see two different reviewers give the same stick anywhere from medium to full... there are just too many different subjective variables.
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barefootgreg
6 years, 6 months agoI tried the Byron Reserva 5 Años (same company that makes the Atabey) while on vacation. Again, too expensive $32 but I treated myself and my dad to one. It was a cigar night at the shop and the cigar rep and the owner of Byron Cigars (or founders son, I didn't quite get the broken English) were there and they gave me two more, so $16 each for four. I like the Atabey better.
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LouGirl502
6 years, 6 months agoLa Gloria Serie R is great!
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Bim310
6 years, 6 months agoIt's not my favorite, but my everyday. I smoke 2 or more cigars a day, which is too many to smoke a $10 cigar on my budget. I smoke Montesino Napolean Grande Maduro. They're a Dominican cigar made by Fuentes. They come in a soft package rather than a box and they're not pretty, but they smoke as well as a Fuentes and I can buy them 100 at a time for about $2.70 a stick including tax and shipping. A great value cigar. When I'm splurging, I usually smoke Cohiba's.
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glen
6 years, 6 months agoNow this is useful info. I'll have to check out the Montesino line. I love me some maduros, and at $2.70 a stick that's a stellar price.
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barefootgreg
6 years, 6 months agoAnother one I like that most consider a "golf stick", a cigar you smoke while you are doing something else, is the Fonseca Arana. I will usually go for the robusto size and they are typically $5.50 each but you can get them in a mazo of 20 for $40 ($2 per stick)
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glen
6 years, 6 months agoFor those playing along at home, here's a link to the Fonseca Arana.
For the "golf stick" (I use for frisbee golf as well... I think it counts), I like a Swisher or Black & Mild with wood tip. I realize that's cigar heresy, but it works!
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barefootgreg
6 years, 6 months agoWell, I don't play golf. Not that I haven't tried.... My "golf sticks" usually end up be consumed while tinkering on the car or working on the cabin or hiking, playing corn hole, or pretty much whenever I am doing something other than sitting. So, yes, Frisbee golf counts.
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barefootgreg
6 years, 6 months agoOh, oh, oh. I would be amiss if I didn't mention the Blood Red Moon mini perfectos (4.7” x 44). For those times you just don't have an hour and a half to give to a cigar. They are 30 to 45 minute cigars that come in Habano, Maduro, or Connecticut wrappers.
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glen
6 years, 6 months agoYou are wise in the ways of the tobacco, barefootgreg. I like to keep a few of the lil' guys on hand, so these would be a nice addition to the humidor. The Maduros look great.
https://www.cigarsinternational.com/p/blood-red-moon-cigars/1466954/
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LouGirl502
6 years, 6 months agoTatuaje Red Label, Liga Undercrown, La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor, Umbagog by Steve Saka, All Out Kings Give Me Your Lunch Money, Alec Bradley, Warped, L'Atelier
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glen
6 years, 6 months agoWow, thanks! Great list.
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LouGirl502
6 years, 6 months agoYou bet! Cheers!
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