No more affordable CCs?

[Earthbuddy]

What are some lower cost Cuban cigars that you all like that provide that Cuban flavor?  For instance, I tried José L. Piedra Brevas and thought it was pretty good. Low cost for sure. What do the rest of you with more experience with CCs go to that are considered more affordable than a lot of the well thought of cigars? 

[benfica_77]

Try anything from Por Larranaga either the Por Larranaga Petit Coronas or the Montecarlos; both great value smokes in my opinion. Juan Lopez is also a great option usually packing a bit more punch.

[Ford2112]

Check out the cheap and cheerful forum. Tons of information on this very subject in there.

[Tunkat92]

15 hours ago, benfica_77 said:

Try anything from Por Larranaga either the Por Larranaga Petit Coronas or the Montecarlos; both great value smokes in my opinion. Juan Lopez is also a great option usually packing a bit more punch.

This is the way. Even the Galanes has pretty good value. Really can’t go wrong with a JL1 or JL2 either. Rafael Gonzalez has a pretty good budget line too.

[LordAnubis]

I really like the JLP Petit Caballeros. My go to short filler. 

[HenryMartin]

When I was in college decades ago, cigars were synonymous with grown-ups. Dads at the leisure of their own comfort enjoying a coveted world treasure unknown to my youthful self. I still remember my perception of cigars at the time. Although fragrant, it was coarse, robust, somewhat offensive and altogether very conservative. After growing into them myself as I grew-up, I have failed to recognize that perception because there has never been quite a cigar that revived that memory. I had considered that perhaps it was due to my growing familiarity towards cigars or just quite simply a factor of experience. 

Wasn’t until very recently, one cigar had revived that memory and it was the Juan Lopez No. 2. This was that grown-up cigar. Its not for beginners, its committed in intensity and strength. A real Habano, uncompromising and true to itself. I paired the cigar with Guinness and in some ways, I felt that it was fitting. I remembered the first time I had a VR Famosos. It too was a cigar that IMO, was truly Habano. Unfortunately, it fared little in comparison as a Famosos is significantly more flavoursome. As for an affordable smoke, I would deviate towards JP Cazadores, despite its short filler, its the more enjoyable cigar. A casual smoke of many occasions that from time to time still manage to pull a surprise or two.

[chasy]

10 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

Check out the cheap and cheerful forum. Tons of information on this very subject in there.

If this isn't indicative of a future Mod, I don't know what is! #VoteFord2112!

[Ford2112]

😯

[SCgarman]

14 hours ago, benfica_77 said:

Try anything from Por Larranaga either the Por Larranaga Petit Coronas or the Montecarlos; both great value smokes in my opinion. Juan Lopez is also a great option usually packing a bit more punch.

Well, I can recall not so long ago a 50 Cab of PLPC was $250usd and a box of PLMC was $99usd. These prices were "value smokes". The current $650/Cab of PLPC is no longer "value" by definition. The only "value" Cubans in this over-priced market are likely all the short filler cigars. Now perhaps some here have had their annual salaries triple or quadruple in the past few years to stay on par with current HSA pricing. If that is the case, then Salud!!

[Earthbuddy]

2 hours ago, SCgarman said:

Well, I can recall not so long ago a 50 Cab of PLPC was $250usd and a box of PLMC was $99usd. These prices were "value smokes". The current $650/Cab of PLPC is no longer "value" by definition. The only "value" Cubans in this over-priced market are likely all the short filler cigars. Now perhaps some here have had their annual salaries triple or quadruple in the past few years to stay on par with current HSA pricing. If that is the case, then Salud!!

That’s what I was afraid of after reading some in this forum. It’s putting the C&C cost right around the cost of many NC in my area. 

[ha_banos]

I'm surprised no mods fixed the title to prepend No.

[KCCubano]

58 minutes ago, ha_banos said:

I'm surprised no mods fixed the title to prepend No.

Very surprising lol. Usually @JohnS catches these errors quickly!

[ha_banos]

1 hour ago, KCCubano said:

Very surprising lol. Usually @JohnS catches these errors quickly!

This is exactly what I was thinking. Lol Must still be in the shower.

 

Edit: I was going to say dunny. But that could well be where most of the work gets done!

[JohnS]

I have appended the title now. Thanks, guys! 😂

[Chas.Alpha]

1 hour ago, JohnS said:

I have appended the title now. Thanks, guys! 😂

I’d like to make a suggestion on the title. How about - "Affordable Cuban Cigars: NO!!!"

[VeguerosMAN]

On 2/13/2025 at 10:23 PM, Tunkat92 said:

This is the way. Even the Galanes has pretty good value. Really can’t go wrong with a JL1 or JL2 either. Rafael Gonzalez has a pretty good budget line too.

JL1 or JL2 aren't considered "budget" cigars.  They still run $500+ per box nowadays.  Even before the price armageddon they were around the same price as Bolivar RC or Partagas D4. 

[teamrandr]

Custom rolls

[La_Tigre]

Majestics fit the bill at around $10. And HUHC is still worth the price. 

[Gubbins]

RG Perlas. Quintero Favouritos / Brevas if you can live with short filler.

[Uwiik]

I thought I was too late for starting to collect CC only in late 2022, now I am glad I did.

[Yardley]

I can “afford” a $20 robusto. Is the value there anymore? I don’t know. Everything’s more expensive, I guess the term “your mileage may vary” is never more appropriate than now.

My CC buying is nonexistent now aside from a box or two to keep around for clients and superiors I want to impress. Just smoking through the old stock and buying NC’s, too many good options including our hosts Fabrica5 offerings. 

[Lucas Buck]

I don’t mind paying up to about $30 for any of my favorites. Considering the better NC’s are easily 20-25 and none of them are nearly as satisfying to me anyway it’s a no brainer. Sure it’s a bummer prices have skyrocketed but I look at it like we were spoiled rotten for the past 20+ years prior. 

[batwick]

Most RG and PL are still in the "affordable" category for now. Maybe JL1, JL2, Majestics, HUHC and PsDP. 

[SCgarman]

11 hours ago, batwick said:

Most RG and PL are still in the "affordable" category for now. Maybe JL1, JL2, Majestics, HUHC and PsDP. 

"Affordable" is a subjective term. A $600usd box may be chump change to one buyer, and out of reach/unjustifiable for the next. Prior to the pandemic, $600 would buy you 3 boxes of RASS, PSD4, BRC, JL#2. 

[BlueRidgeFly]

It’s weird how the longer you stare at current prices the more reasonable they magically seem. Self-hypnosis - and I am guilty, BUT I’ve definitely hit a ceiling on a bunch of CC’s I used to buy and probably no longer will, unless I stare a little longer.