2015 CA Report: Moocher Cigars You Won’t Want to Share

Moocher Priced Cigars That Are Just WAY TOO GOOD for the Moochers

By Tommy Zman

Like the good cigar lover you are, you like to share your prized hand rolled happy sticks with those who undoubtedly appreciate the fine smokes in life. But then there are the moochers – you know, the tobacco grubbing sloths that never bring their own cigars to an outing because they know very well they’ll be able to glom some goodness from the benevolent types like you and me.

So, when attending a barbecue or an outdoor gathering where you know that the moochers will be in full force, you bring along a bundle of lesser priced sticks that they will gladly accept, mainly because they wouldn’t know the difference between a Davidoff Churchill and a barn floor robusto.

Now, as I’m sitting here putting together a recommendation list of ten cigars that would be the perfect smokes to thrust upon any moocher, I made an amazing discovery. While these cigars I’ve chosen are all affordable… I mean really inexpensive… okay, let’s call a spade a spade: pretty damned cheap – I realize that these particular sticks are well made, tasty as all hell, and quite frankly, way too good for the moocher among us!

So, check out my list of ten cigars below that are surprisingly good and really low priced. If you wanna give ‘em to the pan handlers, hey, it won’t break the bank whatsoever. But, if you wanna smoke ‘em for yourself, you’re in for a damned tasty little surprise because these are what I refer to as “Value Smokes” in every sense of the word!

Chillin’ Moose

I don’t know how he did it, but General Cigar mastermind Michael Giannini has created a cigar that is so damned tasty and crazy stupid cheap at the same time. Made from a deliciously complex 5-nation blend of tobaccos, this medium bodied stick is proof that you don’t need to take out a 2^nd mortgage to buy a box of quality hand rolled cigars.

Perdomo Lot 23

Nick Perdomo is another man who makes some of the world’s very best cigars and the Lot 23 is one of them – but trust me when I say that they won’t burn a hole in your wallet. Medium bodied and made from bale aged Corojo and Criollo tobaccos on a virgin plot of land that Nick discovered (hence Lot 23), they have continued to sell like mad here at Famous.

Padron 2000 Maduro

Padron is yet another family of cigar makers who are known for their stellar, and rather pricey smokes. But they also make the “Thousands” line of full-flavored cigars, square pressed from aged Nicaraguan tobacco. Sporting notes of cocoa and coffee bean these cigars are loved by so many because of the quality and a really nice price.

Torano Loyal

Let me say it right here that this is one hell of an underrated premium hand rolled cigar. It is medium bodied, made from tobaccos hailing from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic with a gorgeous, oily Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. A spicy and peppery start gives way to a smooth coffee and woody flavor profile. When you factor in the moocher friendly price, I think you’ll become a loyal follower of this stick.

CAO CX2

CX2 means Cameroon times two as this gem utilizes deliciously aged Cameroon leaf for the binder and the outer wrapper. Inside is an interesting blend of Nicaraguan and Columbian longfiller tobaccos. It’s a medium bodied, toasty smoke that gives off woody and earthy flavors along with a really nice natural sweetness. And again, sells at a very nice price.

Inferno 3^rd Degree

The 3^rd Degree is a wickedly flavorful full bodied taste treat from the renowned tobacco growers at Oliva. But wickedly full doesn’t mean overly strong as the tobaccos are triple fermented for extra smoothness. It’s packed with Nicaraguan tobaccos and has a Habano seed wrapper that hits your taste buds good and hard, and…unbeknownst to your moocher friends, is pleasantly oh-so affordable.

J Fuego Heat Corojo

This new offering from master blender Jesus Fuego is making a name for itself and for good reason: it tastes and smokes great! First there’s that unique inner blend of Nicaraguan Criollo and Ecuadorian Sumatra tobaccos, then it’s wrapped in a silky reddish-brown Corojo leaf that is sweet and satisfying. Low on price and high on flavor!

Gurkha Wicked Indie

These are some seriously full bodied beasts made from 100% aged Nicaraguan tobacco. An oily Nicaraguan Habano wrapper leaf surrounds tobaccos that have been aged for a minimum of three years. The blend produces both a spiciness and a sweetness and lets off just a wonderful aroma. Moocher priced, too. What’s not to like here?

Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 2

This is a cigar you may not have heard a lot of people talking about, but in my opinion you really should. It’s very dark, very rich, very tasty and best of all, very inexpensive! The tobacco is square-pressed and all Nicaraguan for the filler, binder and wrapper. It’s beautifully rolled and lets off a ton of sweet smelling smoke. May be the sleeper in the lot!

Punch Rothschild

These incredibly tasty little treats have been the staple of many a cigar lover’s diet for decades. At a size of 4 ½ by 50, the Rothschild is short, stout and packed with a ton of intense flavor. The blend of Honduran, Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos whacks your palate with a pretty hearty dose of oomph the entire way thru, hence the name of Punch!

Now how about sharing your thoughts on the list, or some of your favorite value priced cigars?