In online forums I have often seen comments that say something to the effect of, “That’s a good budget stick.” I never make a retort to those statements despite the fact they annoy the fuck out of me. Why? Simply because that word implies that it’s somehow lacking; that because of its relatively low price that it cannot compete in quality and taste compared to more expensive sticks.
Yet here I am smoking an Every Day Is Cigar Day Core Line Maduro and I will take that over many many cigars that cost five times as much. The quality of this stick is impeccable. It is complex and strong while remaining smooth with a clean finish, reminiscent of how many much more expensive sticks smoke. And it’s only $5.56/cigar!!!
The cost is low because EDICD has chosen to not spend on fancy packaging and has eliminated the middleman, opting to sell direct. As a result, they’ve been able to sell their excellent cigars for over half of what we’d have had to pay had they chosen to do what almost everyone else does in the industry. That breaks the calculus of how a “budget” stick would be defined.
Then there are “budget” production lines that kick the shit out of much higher-end cigars. Look at Diesel Vintage, H. Upmann 1844 Añejo, or Room 101 Payback Maduro, La Gloria Cubana Classic, Montecristo White Label, or even Foundation Charter Oak. Based on their prices, they shouldn’t be as good as they are. But they are that good and thank goodness they’re all very accessible.
At least for me, all the sticks I mentioned, plus several others I’ve smoked aren’t sticks I’d feel fine about just smoking half then chucking. I nub all those fuckers! They’re that great to me! And it’s hard to argue that they’re “cheap” or “yard-gar” cigars. I’d never relegate them to that status. To me, that designation can go to Toraño Dominico, Rocky Patel Cargo, or Roly. Those are great-tasting sticks that are fairly one-dimensional.
Would I put them in the same class as a Padron 1964 Anniversary? Hell no! But then very few cigars, even more expensive ones than the ’64 match it. Behike? No fuckin’ way. It’s good, but not as good as a Padron ’64.
Look, I know everyone has different tastes. I get it. But for those who judge the quality of a cigar purely on price you can kiss my ass.
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