While smoking cigars are considered leisurely activity or special occasion treat, the market offers various cheap and expensive cigars.
The quality of tobacco, the manufacturing process, and the brand are the main differences between premium and inexpensive cigars.
However, that does not mean cheap cigars do not taste good.
Differences Between Cheap and Expensive Cigars
Expensive cigars often use quality tobacco and are rolled with extra care and attention to detail by professional rollers.
It all comes down to how a cigar is constructed. A cigar’s construction affects the way a cigar burns, the draw, and the flavor.
Also, they are typically matured for more extended periods and produced in small quantities. This makes them more exclusive.
On the other hand, cheap cigars contain more inferior-quality tobacco. In addition, they are made in greater amounts, making them more accessible.
The smoking experience differs quite significantly between expensive and cheap cigars.
Hence, the latter typically has a smoother and more complex flavor profile.
To provide better insight, let us compare two qualities of cigars and see how each affects the smoker’s experience.
Long Filler Cigar vs. Cuban Sandwich
Every cigar consists of three parts. The first you see visually on the outside surface is the wrapper leaf.
It gives the cigar the character of its flavor and plays a big role in its presentation.
Oftentimes, the wrapper indicates the flavor profile and strength of a cigar.
The second is the binder leaf. It is underneath the wrapper leaf.
It holds the cigar together. Inside the binder, leaf are filler leaves.
Every cigar has different sizes of filler leaves that determines its taste.
A Cuban sandwich is constructed on chopped leftover leaves bound in some long filler leaves. You can find them at gas station shops.
The short-chopped leaves burn the Cuban sandwich faster and inconsistent than cigars with long filler leaves.
The stacking pattern it’s going to be messed up and some areas will be thicker than others.
Therefore, while smoking you get that jagged edge of flavor pattern.
All this making the Cuban sandwich a comparatively cheap cigar.
A long filler cigar is thicker and way more consistent when compared to a Cuban sandwich.
These cigars have hard tobacco leaves in the middle that adds up to the taste, which allows a long filler to burn a lot better and evenly compared to a Cuban sandwich.
Note: Most fake Cuban cigars are made this way.
Quality of Tobacco and Aging Process
Some people believe cigars and cigarettes are made of the same tobacco, but this is not true.
Many manufacturers blend a mixture of different tobaccos to give each cigar distinct characteristics and give the person a unique smoking experience.
The tobacco’s aging process is a key component in the production and the cost of a cigar.
The tobacco goes through many stages before it lands on a cigar roller’s table to determine which leaf will produce a perfect handmade cigar.
After a leaf is picked, it is cured of all impurities. Then, the green leaves are sorted concerning size and texture.
Later they are banded and hung in a drying barn to dry.
It takes three to nine weeks until a leaf is cured and brown.
Once dry, the leaves are fermented. The process takes six to twelve weeks as the leaves are exposed to heat.
This decreases the amount of acids, nicotine, and tar.
After fermentation, the leaves are sorted to determine whether they can fill, bind, or wrap.
The tobacco leaves are then packed and stored to age up to 1 to 7 years, depending on the cigar’s quality.
Craftsmanship is a Factor in Determining the Cost of Cigars
A cigar is useless if it is not appropriately rolled.
A poorly rolled cigar leaves room for air and other impurities to enter, damaging the cigar and its taste.
It also lets the cigar burn quickly. Unfortunately, a badly rolled cigar can crack any time while smoking which can cause a mess, and you end up wasting your money.
A lot of focus and years of skills are required to roll a cigar perfectly.
As a result, many cigar makers invest a lot of money in hiring the right person to roll a premium cigar.
An expensive cigar has consistency in flavor and a flawless burn. This ensures a premium smoking experience and maximum enjoyment.
Expensive Cigars come with Luxurious Packaging
Nobody smokes a cigar box, then why spend so much on packaging and branding?
A product’s packaging reflects its worth, and attractive boxes and bands represent pride and high quality.
The best quality cigars must be treated well, dressed, and presented in minimal, attractive packaging.
The band’s quality and the box also add up to the cost of a cigar.
A cigar package doesn’t need to be highly decorated to represent good quality.
However, the quality of the cigar’s band tells a lot about the taste and price of a cigar.
Vrijdag, in the Netherlands, has been in the cigar-making industry for centuries, prints top-quality cigar packaging, and is hired by all the popular cigar companies.
Other Reasons that Affect Cigar’s Cost
A cigar’s shape and size can also impact its cost. Long cigars require more tobacco, which makes them more expensive.
Standard cigars like Toros, Churchills, and Robustos are easy to roll compared to Figurados, Torpedos, and Perfectos, which require a more skilled person to roll.
The climate also affects the cigar’s price. Extreme weather, drought, or heavy rainfall can affect tobacco production.
This results in higher cigar prices.
The Rareness of Cigar
Like expensive cars, bottles of wine, and watches, expensive cigars are rare.
Exclusively blended cigars such as Ashton ESG, Arturo Fuente Opus X, limited cigars from My Father Cigars, and Pardon Family Reserve are not manufactured on a large scale.
Such cigars cost a lot to produce.
A specially blended bundle of leaves is used to make these cigars, and the makers spend a lot of money on the band and the box.
These boxes carry an aroma of stature, and those who buy these cigars do not care about the price.
Taxes Build-Up the Price
One factor that has no impact on the taste but can still affect the price of a cigar is taxes.
Tobacco and sale taxes add a considerable percentage to the price of a handmade cigar, and each area has a different percentage for tobacco tax.
It can go up to 60% of the retailer’s price. Some states, like Florida and Pennsylvania, do not have tobacco tax.
Marketing Costs
Marketing plays a crucial role in determining the price of a cigar.
Although marketing plays a vital role in manufacturing a cigar, it is known how much ads and social media postings cost these days.
Still, it does not entirely decide the cost.
Some brands choose expensive techniques such as banners and hoarding boards to create awareness about their newly released cigar.
At the same time, most cigar makers use more straightforward techniques such as social media posting and PR packages to tell the public about their new cigar and save money.
Price Isn’t Always an Indicator of Quality
A cigar’s quality cannot always be determined by its price. In 2008, Casa Magna Robusto, sold for $2.25, was awarded the #1 Cigar of the Year.
Some people did not accept it, claiming that a cheap cigar company won the award because cheap cigars bring in more production value.
But this is not true. There are many cheap cigars like AJ Fernandez, Alec Bradley, and Rocky Patel, which Cigar Aficionados love.
Lower price cigars can bring a rise or drop in production depending on their quality.
