December Cigar Buying Guide

Buyer's Guide Sampler #6
11 of the best cigar values for your buck!
GARY: Why don't you just make it ten cigars and make ten be the top number and make that a great deal? HUMBERTO: [pause]. . .These go to eleven. That's right. 11 cigars - each a fantastic buy on its own - yet now you can enjoy them all in one sampler at a great price. You get cigars from the top names in the business, plus cigars from such illustrious blenders as Don Pepin Garcia, Jesus Fuego, Nestor Plasencia, Abe Flores & Juan Rodriguez, and more. Order yours now and give yourself a great gift for the Holidays.

$39.95
Everyday Price: $48.99 • Retail Price: $65.07

What makes a cigar a
"best buy?"
By Gary Korb

For this December issue of our Buying Guide, we thought it would be fitting to bring you some of the best buys, and arguably, some of the best cigars of the year. That said, you can argue ad-infinitum over what makes a cigar "the best," but it's a lot easier to agree on "value." Therefore, a "best buy" isn't necessarily the best cigar; it's a cigar that offers consistently good quality and flavor at a reasonable price.

Take this Buyer's Guide Sampler #6 for example. Five of the cigars are by Arturo Fuente, CAO, Oliva, Padron, and Rocky Patel. Most experienced cigar smokers would recognize these names instantly. Why? Because, high-rating scores and awards aside, they have proven to be companies that consumers trust to produce well-made and flavorful cigars year after year. Of the remaining cigars, five were released within the last year. They may not have instantly recognizable brands on their collars, but they've been blended by tabaqueros who have earned the respect of their peers, and some of the blenders, such as Don Pepin, Jesus Fuego and Nestor Plasencia, market cigars under their own names. That reason alone makes them at least worth trying. The point is, you don't have to spend a lot of money or go with a "name brand" to get a good or even a great cigar.

Most cigar smokers start out by choosing name brands for the reason I noted above - reputation. However, some name brands can take a big bite out of your budget, and like most consumers, cigar smokers want the most for their money, too.

By educating yourself about "alternative" cigars, you can buy cigars which, for the most part, have the same high quality tobaccos, craftsmanship and flavor with confidence. After all, when you think about it, you're getting name brand cigars without the name brand price. Plus, in this case, you're getting the best buys of both worlds. And so it goes...