Let's Talk: Bang for Buck cigars for 2024

[Ciscojohansson]

Any one smoke Hupmann Majestic? Very cheap and corona lenght. Never had one myself so cannot say anything about the blend.

[Li Bai]

4 hours ago, Ciscojohansson said:

Any one smoke Hupmann Majestic? Very cheap and corona lenght. Never had one myself so cannot say anything about the blend.

I do, I like this cigar, a bit stronger than other Upmanns but still with this nice copper-ish taste ( his is how I see the marca's signature).

Haven't seen one in a while though and the last box I had was half packed with plugged cigars so I could live without ever smoking one again but when it's good, it's really enjoyable. If you come across them, choose them with great caution.

[LOMTL]

I found that '22 RGPE have been great, considering it's 2.50€ per stick. I only sampled 4 different boxes though.

[Skm672]

I would be leaning towards Rio Seco (thick) amd Partagas Shorts. I wanted to include the Specially Selected but not for this cut.

[Nocoins]

I'm not sure if I can go on with the concept of bang-for-the-buck Cuban cigars much longer. I think it used to mean the group of better quality (not C&Cs), thoroughly satisfying cigars at a great price point that could be higher and thankfully wasn't. The Upmann Noellas, in the before times, was one of these. I'm not sure how many cigars still fit that description. I think the PLPC still is, and I think it still is one of the most affordable and best quality Cuban cigars at the per cigar price these days. 

But now . . . it's starting to seem like this is mainly the group of relatively average quality and relatively inexpensive cigars that are okay to smoke, but which 10 (even 5) years ago we didn't really think much of -- it's just that our perspective is changing. Some of these cigars were only discussed in the C&C forum back in the day, and now they've moved up in the world. And here's my hangup on the concept right now -- I smoke plenty of cigars from Illusione, Padron, FOH, and others that I enjoy at least as much and that cost less than a lot of the Cuban cigars we're now considering.

For example, Majestics and Regalias cost about the same (or more) as some non-Cuban cigars that I really enjoy and would rather smoke, while I pass by the Magistics and Regalias for the Connie 1. So does that make the Connie 1 a bang-for-the-buck contender?  I just don't think so.  For what Connie 1 (or Epi 2, RASS, etc.) cost now, I think I should get a very good quality, well constructed cigar, and when I do, then I consider HSA and I to be square at best. But I don't consider any of these much of a good deal anymore.

[PigFish]

[Mr. DD]

My best value list at the moment includes Bolivar CJs and PCs, Partagas Petit Coronas Especiales, JLP Petit Caballeros and Quinterro Favoritos.

[jazzboypro]

I have no interest in cigarette size cigars and anything smaller than a corona. My best bang for the buck is not in the CC world anymore.

[Ford2112]

Bang for buck is getting harder and harder in the CC world. Even Party shorts 😞

[hangten]

Considering that most NC cigars I would pick up are in the $20 range and then add the Illinois tobacco state tax, Chicago tobacco tax, Chicago sales tax and the Cook County tobacco tax - I still find most CCs a fair bang for the buck.

[BoliDan]

I'll die on this hill.

Arturo Fuente Spanish Lonsdale. $4.50 USD a stick, better than a Hemmingway (to me). 

[ubiquito]

9 hours ago, BoliDan said:

I'll die on this hill.

Arturo Fuente Spanish Lonsdale. $4.50 USD a stick, better than a Hemmingway (to me). 

Do you have a preference between the natural and maduro?

[BoliDan]

5 hours ago, ubiquito said:

Do you have a preference between the natural and maduro?

I like natural for these. They are heavy on the cinnamon if you retrohale. Don't want to muddy that up.

[LOMTL]

On 2/2/2024 at 8:50 AM, Nocoins said:

Some of these cigars were only discussed in the C&C forum back in the day, and now they've moved up in the world.

That's probably the only good thing about this situation, revisiting disregarded habanos.

Reminds me when I immigrated from EU to Canada. The shocking price of wine got me standing in the SAQ in disbelief. Got to rediscover more in depth some AOC like Brulhois and cepage like gamay 😂. Truly, for the best.

[eaglebear29]

Great stick for the price. Around $4.50 a stick 

https://www.fohcigars.com/forum/topic/157974-plasencia-reserva-original-aug-23-febw1/

 

[TacoSauce]

By my calculations, the top 5 best deals (ranked by $/gram) in long-filler CCs are the following 5 boxes (lowest at the top):

The Partagas petite coronas especiales stand out as best bang for the buck in that list.

[eaglebear29]

This has been mine, so much so that I got 8 boxes in the last few months 😁

https://www.fohcigars.com/forum/topic/157961-hupmann-half-corona-mar-22-febw1/

 

[BG318]

I enjoy the RASCC, as well as the JL 1&2, I could throw Monte 4 &5's in there as well as the Punch Short.

Almost all of the NC fail to hold my interest for an entire cigar. I have tried for years and stopped smoking completely as a result. The exception being Davidoffs, which are similarly priced to CC's.

[Puros Y Vino]

Habanos has severely limited the "bang for buck" candidates in their portfolio since the increases. Monte 4's used to be a good value for instance. All the Panatelas that were around, PL, RG, Quinteros were/are good value too. Not anymore. I've found Quintero Petite Quintero to be a banger. It's replaced the HUHC for me.