VFM Cuban & Non Cuban

[Cigar_Addict]

I've tried a fairly fresh Partagas No 2, and whilst nice, I wouldn't consider UK prices VFM. Unless it's maybe in a lounge (still not VFM for the cigar) as there doesn't seem to be much of a premium for lounge use over the retail cost.Theres obviously a cut off point where something is subjectively worth it.

I guess my original post was not meant to be from a budgeting perspective, but to see what kind of cigars you've had which are considered quite expensive that have given you the wow factor, and others that have sadly fallen well short of expectations

[Simon Bolivar]

I've tried a fairly fresh Partagas No 2, and whilst nice, I wouldn't consider UK prices VFM. Unless it's maybe in a lounge (still not VFM for the cigar) as there doesn't seem to be much of a premium for lounge use over the retail cost.Theres obviously a cut off point where something is subjectively worth it.

I guess my original post was not meant to be from a budgeting perspective, but to see what kind of cigars you've had which are considered quite expensive that have given you the wow factor, and others that have sadly fallen well short of expectations

As an example of 'subjectively worth it'; Cohiba's used to be 30% more expensive than the other top Cubans and I thought them 10-15% better. So I was happy to pay for them for celebrations, birthdays, catching a big fish ect. But now they are way too much IMHO. I have a box of C.E & Exquisitos & x3 Tubed Piramides Extra. They'll have to see me out!
As for Trinidads, ha! The biggest joke. A nice smoke but not in the same league that they try to convince us that they are. I used to enjoy the Fundy's Gold bands & an occasional Reyes but I refuse to pay e33 for a Reyes & whatever the Fundy's are today.

At the other end of the scale I tried JLP's when they were a euro each in Spain & £5 in London! I really tried to enjoy them but sadly they didn't do anything for me.

[OtELos]

I haven't had that moment yet. Top and bottom but certainly I had more expensive cigars that were no for me than less expensive cigars or affordable that were no good, but what do I know 😎


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[Cigar_Addict]

I do find it interesting that these really high end cigars don't live up to the price tag. I mean they'd have to give you some sort of life altering experience to think that was money well spent. Some of the best cigars I've tried have been around £10-15 (mostly ordered from abroad). Even some Plasencia are bordering on being worth it for me, even if bought slightly cheaper on holiday. Yet to find that consistently nice cigar that I don't mind paying the asking price for. The ones I've liked have been just that little bit too much to be box worthy. Actually, there is one....the Crowned Heads Le Patissier. Absolutely lovely smoke that I didn't want to end. Sadly discontinued

[Adamsmokes]

I rarely spend more than £20 on a single, if I do it will invariably be an NC- not because I prefer them but because they almost always deliver, especially in terms of construction. I've been disappointed so many times by CCs I've bought for a special occasion that have been unsmokable. I'd spend money on a top-end Padron over any LE or regional. Reliably factors in my perception of value. In terms of cheaper smokes I've always found the opposite- CCs excel at those smaller 'everyday' cigars, Partagas Shorts, Habaneros, Quintero, PL Panetellas etc…

[liles]

You can spend the money and still be left wanting, that's certainly true.

When I consider "value" for cigars I'm always considering the ones that make me go "damn, this is something else". It could be that particular day, event or company I'm with but every now and then a cigar makes me stop and really understand why I smoke them, and why I put up with dud Cubans

Those sticks have (almost) always been Cuban. In no particular order I've had phenomenal Epi 2, RASS, Boli Regentes, JL no.2, Connie 2 and I'm sure others that escape my mind. The only non Cuban I've been wowed by was a Davidoff Signature No. 2 that I picked up in Belgium. I had another that I got from the forum and it just didn't have the same citrus fruit vibe the first one did

[Cigar_Addict]

I've not smoked many David off, but the few I've had have been very disappointing. One was a cheap traveller belicoso and the other was an Aniversario Special R. Because of that I'm not keen to try any others

[liles]

I've not smoked many David off, but the few I've had have been very disappointing. One was a cheap traveller belicoso and the other was an Aniversario Special R. Because of that I'm not keen to try any others

I find Davidoff generally to be very overpriced for what you get. If there's a prime candidate for poor value in the non Cuban space, I would argue it's there.

[Simon Bolivar]

I find Davidoff generally to be very overpriced for what you get. If there's a prime candidate for poor value in the non Cuban space, I would argue it's there.

They are very mild IMHO.

[Simon Bolivar]

You can spend the money and still be left wanting, that's certainly true.

When I consider "value" for cigars I'm always considering the ones that make me go "damn, this is something else". It could be that particular day, event or company I'm with but every now and then a cigar makes me stop and really understand why I smoke them, and why I put up with dud Cubans

Those sticks have (almost) always been Cuban. In no particular order I've had phenomenal Epi 2, RASS, Boli Regentes, JL no.2, Connie 2 and I'm sure others that escape my mind. The only non Cuban I've been wowed by was a Davidoff Signature No. 2 that I picked up in Belgium. I had another that I got from the forum and it just didn't have the same citrus fruit vibe the first one did

I often wonder about this Cuban dud situation, its not something I regularly encounter. I can honestly say I have ditched less than a dozen Cuban cigars as totally un-smokeable. I rarely use my Perfect draw, although of course I have & it certainly made it a more pleasant smoking experience.
Draw: Cuban draw is always going to be firmer than NC's, it always has been & if you're used to it, NC's can seem very loose. However, I have noticed some Cubans have become looser, sometimes too much, as they possibly try to steer away from plugged stix & save leaf at the same time. To me, being too loose is worse than too tight. Too tight you can work on it.
Age, aging tends to improve the draw, as the initial moisture & oils come down a notch or two. I rarely have an issue with a 5-10yo cigar.
Humidity, I keep mine at 63-65%, never higher. And skinnies <65%. I believe this makes the biggest difference to avoiding problems with Cuban cigars. Try dry boxing for 2-3days before smoking skinnies in particular, I promise you'll notice a difference.

[liles]

I often wonder about this Cuban dud situation, its not something I regularly encounter. I can honestly say I have ditched less than a dozen Cuban cigars as totally un-smokeable. I rarely use my Perfect draw, although of course I have &amp; it certainly made it a more pleasant smoking experience.
Draw: Cuban draw is always going to be firmer than NC's, it always has been &amp; if you're used to it, NC's can seem very loose. However, I have noticed some Cubans have become looser, sometimes too much, as they possibly try to steer away from plugged stix &amp; save leaf at the same time. To me, being too loose is worse than too tight. Too tight you can work on it.
Age, aging tends to improve the draw, as the initial moisture &amp; oils come down a notch or two. I rarely have an issue with a 5-10yo cigar.
Humidity, I keep mine at 63-65%, never higher. And skinnies &lt;65%. I believe this makes the biggest difference to avoiding problems with Cuban cigars. Try dry boxing for 2-3days before smoking skinnies in particular, I promise you'll notice a difference.

I don't disagree that a lot of the issues can be solved by careful planning, but it's frustrating when there's plenty of excellent construction to be found in farm rolls and certain brand NCs. I'm also not fond of the excessively loose draw, it makes it very difficult to smoke properly. I've had a fair few Cubans just packed with thick twisted stems, which means liberal use of the perfect draw, but I find they never really smoke well even when they do start puffing, probably as the filler, binder, leaf ratio becomes skewed if contents has to be removed the cigar.

For me the dud is also in the taste. As a man of many aged cigars you're probably not affected by too many green or too young cigars. I started smoking when the latest cigar craze kicked off, around Covid, and Cuba couldn't get the boxes out fast enough. I'm sure they are still throwing them out of the door before the glue has had a chance to dry, but I've learned my lesson and just don't smoke new regular production cigars.