Bargain Hunting

A friend of mine recently asked me what my criteria was for choosing cigars because he noted that it seemed I didn’t have a particular favorite. I replied in the affirmative that while I gravitate towards certain brands and blends, or am attracted particularly to Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers, I smoke a bunch of different cigars.

I explained to him that with all the fantastic cigars out there, I didn’t see any reason to limit myself to a particular stick. And I added that though I have several premium sticks that I only smoke on occasion, most of the cigars I smoke – that include some premiums – are from bargain hunting. Take, for instance, my last batch of Oliva Master Blends III. I got four 5-packs for around $60. I got a 20-count box of Oliva Serie O Maduro for $70, and got my latest batch of twenty Ave Maria Argentum for only $50!

My thinking is that fantastic, high-quality cigars can be acquired for great prices if you’re willing to hunt for them. They may not be the latest rage or ultra-boutique sticks, but they’re premium-level sticks nonetheless.

So, I tend to frequent sites like CigarPage.com or CigarBid.com because I know I can score great deals. I’d never pay full retail for cigars I know I can get a deal on.

That said, I must admit that some of my purchases have been in the blind, and I have paid the price for that with some duds. But hey! That’s the beauty of having so many choices! But I have learned that if I’ve never had a particule cigar to only buy the minimum like a 3- or 5-pack. That was the case with the Cohiba Red Dot 5-pack I got or the Fuente Curly Head Candelas. These weren’t bad sticks at all, but just not all that inspiring to me. You win some and you lose some.