Let's Talk: Bang for Buck cigars for 2024

[JohnS]

I know, I know...it may seem that we've been discussing this topic 'ad nauseum' since the middle of 2022 (you now, when Habanos S.A took stock of things post Covid-19 lockdowns and dramatically re-structured their pricing of Habanos cigars), but as El Pres intimated or suggested this week, Habanos S.A. outlook for 2024 doesn't look like it's going to improve from the consumer point-of-view. In other words, from a Return on Investment (ROI) perspective, they're looking to increase prices where they can to recoup costs. Now, this may have reached its peak on the so-called luxury brands, Cohiba and Trinidad.

So, One, please kindly suggest some Habanos cigars that you are smoking presently that represent better return for value than other cigars below. Secondly, are there other Habanos cigars that you smoke on a consistent basis that you will hold out on? In other words, if the price was to move upwards, would you still acquire the cigar?

As for me...I'm happy to get this started. Due to Australian taxes my 'bang-for-buck' option may not seem as good value in other countries but if there's one Habanos cigar that has resisted too much of a price change, in the last few years, and continues to perform every time I somewhat rarely smoke it, it would have to be the mercurial (on account of its shape) Partagas Culebras.

The one cigar that I would continue to purchase and have in my humidor, that would have a more 'inelastic' price-point, would be the San Cristobal de La Habana El Principe. Sure. I will most probably raise my fist, just like Charlton Heston at the end of the 1968 classic film, 'Planet of the Apes', and scream "damn you to hell" but I'd do it smoking a SCdLH El Principe!

[Chas.Alpha]

All of the Bolivar CJ, PC’s have been pretty much lights out since 2019. Juan Lopez has been performing well recently as well, though I know many of us are used to seeing CORO at about the same price point as the JL2 today.

”Grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

I am in no way suggesting anyone seek sobriety…

[GVan]

I'm with you @JohnS.  The box I keep watching is the ScdlH El Principe.  I've yet to pull the trigger because I have 2 boxes left.  I have yet to find a morning coffee NC cigar that stands up to this one despite multiple attempts.

[puromaniac]

All I know is I get twitchy when I run low on Juan Lopez and Monte PE; both are smoking well. And a recent find of a 2018 box of PEs only reinforced my happiness and desire for this cigar.

[rcarlson]

JL 1 and 2; Connie 1s.  Definitely the maligned-by-some RASS.  I may have hit the Motherload in terms of quality, but the last few boxes have been killing it.  

[targa88]

The great ironies of time...if we only knew....

The Batch of Connie #1 from 2011/2012 that were sold at a "plume" discount.....

In today's environment....Por Larranaga wins for me: either PC or Montecarlo

[Ford2112]

Party shorts and PLPC still deliver at their price point and punch above the belt. I like JLP for a real cheapie. They scratch an itch. 

[JohnS]

10 hours ago, GVan said:

I'm with you @JohnS.  The box I keep watching is the ScdlH El Principe.  I've yet to pull the trigger because I have 2 boxes left.  I have yet to find a morning coffee NC cigar that stands up to this one despite multiple attempts.

Indeed, I'm with you there!

9 hours ago, targa88 said:

The great ironies of time...if we only knew....

The Batch of Connie #1 from 2011/2012 that were sold at a "plume" discount.....

I remember that like it was yesterday. Every time these 2011 H.Upmann Connoisseur No.1s with 'plume' were offered on 24:24 they would sell out in veritable seconds. It was all quite unbelievable!

[Çnote]

Straight math: CC constantly outperforms NC in small format. The small formats I bought most often have 'only' almost doubled as compared to 120ish% hike on the big stuff, not thinking about Trin and Cohiba. There's still some value even at the higher price, but really only with patience regarding humidity aclimation and a perfectdraw to reduce the inherent inconsistency of CC to a couple per box.

I'm still buying SdH El P & QdO50. I still think about buying HUHC, PLPC and PLMC. I'm out on Rio Seco, MC#2 and E2 like I used to occasionally indulge in. 

I'm at the top of my price for CC given what can be found out there in the NC discounted. I see plenty of CC-style aged stock on disco, lots of oppurunity for high value bulk deals, and more mild profile but full flavor cigars being released, if you look at the smaller companies that seem to be pivoting anf acknowledging the bloodbath in the CC world.

All that said, I'll still buy boxes of SCdH El P and QdO50 as nothing else I can find consistently captures the magic of those two. 'Inelastic demand' is a pretty good term on these @JohnS

I'd be interested in some of the ~$200ish Upmanns and Partagas I see on 2424, but I've been either not fast enough or underfunded on the day of offer, alas.

[MrBirdman]

2 hours ago, Çnote said:

Straight math: CC constantly outperforms NC in small format.

Agreed; high-quality small format NC are relatively rare given how small the market is for them, so CC could almost win by default. Fortunately they haven’t gone completely hog wild with prices - for the most part. I think $10 for a half corona is hard to justify. I’ll buy Monte 4 at the current price though, love ‘em too much.

[Çnote]

13 minutes ago, MrBirdman said:

Agreed; high-quality small format NC are relatively rare given how small the market is for them, so CC could almost win by default. Fortunately they haven’t gone completely hog wild with prices - for the most part. I think $10 for a half corona is hard to justify. I’ll buy Monte 4 at the current price though, love ‘em too much.

There's honestly about as many top NC small format in my wheelhouse as small format CC total, I'll start making a list. They are all about the same price as CC now $8-12, but I usually prefer the CC. For the USA market, the problem is federal tax per cigar coupled with state tax per cigar or by % of price rather than by weight, but let's keep the current system even if it's slanted against the 'little guys.'

My problem with a box if MC#4 in particular is that at $11ish each there's a world of larger NC I'd rather spend on, get some variety, aquire older stock, have immediate gratification and not deal with the inconsistency of MC#4. 

MC#4&5 used to be my go-tos as they were usually aged stock and didn't matter if 8-10 of 25 were subpar, but in today's environments it's different calculus for me.

[99call]

Strangely although still an expensive cigar. I will go recent Punch Punch.  The have blown me away. Whether it be REs, LEs vintage etc etc they have destroyed everything in their path. 

 

[Çnote]

46 minutes ago, 99call said:

Strangely although still an expensive cigar. I will go recent Punch Punch.  The have blown me away. Whether it be REs, LEs vintage etc etc they have destroyed everything in their path. 

Hey

If it's worth the price, I won't argue. I had a Punch earlier this month that turned my head. I keep my eyes open and thank you for the reminder. I often find the points you make interesting!

[BoliDan]

I'd say all the shortys CJ, Princpe, shorts, Rascc are all premium blends in a less desirable format. I believe these were intended to be a more affordable good cigar for countries that tax on weight, but their popularity have transcended those markets because they are great blends for the price. I like them better than all of their PC counterparts (if available) I just hate the size.

[Kaips1]

I am just coming back to the fold, long story short, I got priced out before the hikes happened and am now adjusting to things like others but a bit more bluntly. The cheap and cheerfuls has always been my sweet point for multiple reasons but none the lease, price. What used to be an easy economical everyday for most is my first and on my list of favourites if for nothing but nostalgia, it's what got me hooked on all the flavors of the twang. The cigar in mention is Partagas Aristocrats, now I was getting back then like 2 yr old boxes as in stock so things were tasty to say the least, I've had some more expensive stogies but nothing seemed to due it like the aristocrat. Needless to say I recently had 2x10 of the Cohiba shorts and boy oh boy I know why everyone says they are worth it on sale.

Everything Cuban you would want in a 15-30 mins smoke. So toothy. I want to try Partagas Chicos partially due to El Pres saying it's the one he would choose and the fact its my favorite marca, so that's on the list but as prez and others have said El Rey del Mundo Demi Tasse due to multiple factors, one being; its a real cigar but I'm torn between going to a Quintero or JLP, just cause its so much cheaper. I guess I need all of the above and leave my Partagas Serie cigars to age. 

[Rushman]

I’ve been buying PC formats heavily - think those are good value and outperform NC. Also RASS is a must for me.



rushman

[JY0]

RASS, RASCC and PLPC for me.

[joeypots]

I’ve long felt that high quality regular production Cuban cigars suit me better than the special releases. I suspect that I will buy RASS, PPP, and MC #1 and 2 when I feel the need. I'll treasure the cigars in my stash that now seem too dear to replace while I fill in my rotation with NC cigars.

[Perla]

PL MC, MC Media Corona, HUHC and RASSC for a under 1 hour smoke. 
Still in the boat of MC Esp 2. 

 

[Lt4-396]

So I tend to break the bang for buck into two categories.

1.  Pure affordable low dollar smokes, anything in the sub $5 range. This includes ones like the JLP Petite Cetros, RG Panatelas/Perlas, some Quintero.

2. Cheaper cigars that are still top notch blends. This includes BPC, RASCC, PLPC, RGPC, SCDLH EP, HUHC, Party Shorts. Normally the Monte #4 and #5 would be at the top of this list but for whatever reason the Monte prices are heavily skewed and are just no longer worth it. These can all be had for $10-$12 and are phenomenal, to my tastes at least.

The cigar/s I would probably continue buying would be my all time favorites and of course just happen to be tougher to find. Punch Punch and Choix Supreme, maybe throw in the Regios and Presidentes as well. Having said that everything has a ceiling and the prices on those are nearly at it for me.

[Bijan]

Haven't looked at the most recent prices but PLMC would probably be close to the top of best bang for the buck for me.

Low end of the price spectrum and a rare skinny format.

They seem to sell out instantly on 24:24.

[Capn_Jackson]

JL1 and 2, Punch Short, and Party Shorts. If the metrics change even more, I’ll have to re-think.

[gionnelli]

JLP Cazadores and Petit Cabarellos are my go-to cheapies. Just love that light woody salty flavor

[JohnS]

With the impending price rises of Habanos cigars, is it worth going over this topic again? It's probably more relevant than ever right now!

For me, the one bang for your buck cigar I have been enjoying of late has been the Partagas Presidentes.

[Li Bai]

5 hours ago, JohnS said:

For me, the one ,bang for your buck, cigar I have been enjoying of late has been the Partagas Presidentes.

Unfortunately I couldn't tell as I've never come across one of these. My take on this would be the PL Galanes, incredible robusto with aging potential AT a really fair price point. As I heard @El Presidente say, this cigar makes no damn sense (considering HSA price policy) but damn is it good 😍

I would also consider the Party Short, the Super Partagas, the Punch Coronation, the Punch Short, the Rasc and the JL 1 and 2.