2020 Cigar Retailer Survey: The Hottest Cigar Brands In America

[El Presidente]

I always find the US domestic market fascinating. Interesting reading and a good article by David Savona. 

 

 

In a cigar world turned upside down by a pandemic, some things remain constant. Consumers continue to buy fine cigars, and in top-tier cigar shops, Arturo Fuente and Padrón reign supreme. The two brands, each of them made by family-owned companies with a long reputation for making exceptional cigars, took the top spots once again on both our hottest brands and best-selling brands list.

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[MrBirdman]

Interesting read. The top choices aren’t surprising - they’re consistent brands and reflect the current popularity of strong/very strong NC sticks. The days of Americans preferring milder cigars are gone, though I’m not sure I’d consider it a positive development considering most of them are overwhelming pepper bombs to my palate. 

[CountingStogies]

Also no surprise for the top selling brands. I have plenty of Padrons and Fuentes in my humidors but I get most excited about the boutique brands: RomaCraft, Illusione, and anything Steve Saka makes. 

[lovethehaze]

Agreed standard fair choices. I have been liking warped, illusione, stolen throne as of late and diamond crown Maximus #2 and tatuaje for years. Liga seems to be on a downfall to me but that’s me. 

It would be interesting to see what @El Presidente sells the most of CC wise .... or maybe based on limited stock what is the most wanted and asked for besides punch double’s lol. 

[Uncle00Jesse]

I encourage all Cuban diehards to try Curivari, especially the Buenaventura line. They are amazing

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, lovethehaze said:

It would be interesting to see what @El Presidente sells the most of CC wise .... or maybe based on limited stock what is the most wanted and asked for besides punch double’s lol. 

FOH is a little unique in terms of channels/cigar demographic.

From the hip:

BBF

High end Cohiba

Monte 2/4/Petit Edmudo and Especial when available. 

Partagas D4/898

Por larranaga Petit Corona

QD 54/50/Corona

Punch DC/HDM DC/SLRDC always asked for

R&J Churchill

Trinidad Fundadores/Trova

 

 

 

[eldude]

I have a couple of bulls in my humidor, but haven't tried one. Mostly cause I don't have the time, but I also haven't heard anything great about them. The people I've talked to all say they are flat on flavor and a bit boring. 

I have been on a Roma Craft kick though, those Mode 5s have been great. 

[Wookie]

I wonder what advertising revenue to CA has to do with that survey? Most people cannot afford opus and Padron 1964. Also, AF are a bit over priced in general. Not to mention Andalusian bull and Liga privada. Don't get me wrong, ,any of them can be very good smokes...but I have a tough time believing they are the best sellers. 

[Cairo]

A lot of folks who shop at cigar shops don't even own boxes of cigars, and are just stopping by for the occasional single or a few smokes, so they can spring for expensive sticks.

One guy I knew smoked one cigar a year on New Year's Eve.    It was always a Davidoff, same vitola, always bought a day or two in advance from the same cigar shop. 

He knew the name, was happy with it, so the high price was no concern.

(I always thought they were overpriced for what they were, but I managed to keep my big mouth shut.)  ?

[Cigar Surgeon]

The survey is a bit disingenuous. It asks the retailers to name 3 brands they thought were the hottest, or most often requested by consumers. 

If you sit down with any B&M owner in the US the #1 style of cigar sold is Connecticut / Ecuador Shade. And it's going to be #1 by a very large margin.

[DaBoot]

In top tier shops, in high end communities ,these might be near the top. but if a B&M has these sticks, over $25 each without question. No way are they top selling across America. Maybe top rated, or reviewed. A lot of good sticks for 1/3 price of these sell more

[Carrie Nation]

On 7/29/2020 at 7:46 PM, Wookie said:

I wonder what advertising revenue to CA has to do with that survey? Most people cannot afford opus and Padron 1964. Also, AF are a bit over priced in general. Not to mention Andalusian bull and Liga privada. Don't get me wrong, ,any of them can be very good smokes...but I have a tough time believing they are the best sellers. 

Bestseller list is different from the hottest brands list. Two different lists. They explain this and show the findings. And this was a retailer survey. Advertising is not involved. Just a reporting of the numbers. Pretty straightforward. They do it every year for as long as I can remember.