What is a “premium cigar?”

Q. What makes a cigar a “premium?” Is it related to price alone?
– Lee B.
A. What distinguishes a “premium” cigar from a “non-premium” is, premium cigars are made entirely by hand with long leaf tobaccos, although some mixed filler (long and short leaf) handmade cigars would qualify. This is also why many premium cigars cost more.

Machine-made cigars, like those sold at most discount drug and food store chains, fall into the non-premium category. Some local convenience stores sell both, premium and non-premium cigars.