Last summer I started smoking cigars. I most commonly smoke Ashton VSG's, Ashton Aged Maduro, Ashton Puro Sol, AF Hemmingways, AF 8-5-8, Rockey Patel, Padron, Padron Old World Reserve, CAO Brazil, and Romeo Y Julieta Madoro Reserve.

These cigars are putting a big dent in my wallet. Can anyone recommend cheaper alternatives that dont suck?

the 8-5-8's around here are only 3 something... are you looking for 1-2 dollars a stick?

or more choices in the 3-4 dollar range?

but yeah, most of those are pricey for everyday

well you have some high price cigars there. Ashton's are always at premium price( if they're worth it or not, is another question).
my suggestion would be the H.Upman vintage camaroon, its a great smoke for the price. if your looking for something cheaper than that you are going to have a very hard time finding anything that is the quality you are used to.

Hopefully $2-$4. i live in NJ. ashton vsg illusion is $11.95. The Ashton ESG is $25
I like Maduro, Sumatra, Natural, and Cameroon wraps.

I am a wine drinker that apprciates fine wines at high prices but I also know and often drink wines that are very affordable but don't taste cheap. There have to be some smokes that fit the same criteria.

don tomas
hoyo de monterrey, excalibur, and 1066
padron 3k, 5k, etc
joyo de nicaragua
el rey de mundo

i could go on and on. IMHO, best thing to do, if ur tobacconist is any good, give him a price to work with and how many cigars you are looking for and he'll be able to set ya up nicely!! that is...if he is any good.

1.gran habano
2.padron
3.sancho panza

all on the cheap side,but quality everyday smokes.

Seems to me most the cigars you mention are fairly mild ones, which are usually pretty easy to find in lower price ranges. I prefer a slightly stronger variety, but that is neither here nor there. I find cigars with the constituent tobaccos I know I like, then find a box price range I can afford. My personal range is $2-$3 per cigar when purchased by the box. I smoke Punch, Te-Amo, and Joya de Nicaragua, which are all within this range, and all substantial cigars.

Try the La Flor Dominicana Ligero; fuller taste, if that's what you're looking for. They run $4-6/stick.

I love the VSGs, but they are more expensive than many ccs.

Try 2 Guys (mail order/internet) Rey Supremo
or at local B&Ms look for Epicure Tubulares or Primero de Fabrica (Rosado or Maduro)
Surprisingly good sticks in the price range you seek. Where in Joisey?

cabalot, since you know wine, can you recomend where can I get some Krug (doesn't have to be vintage) for $10-$20 a bottle or Alsace Gewurztraminer for $4-$5?
I'll return the favor

For the price you cannot beat Padron 3000 series...they are a $3-5 cigar (depending on where you purchase them) and they are packed with flavor.

quote:

Originally posted by cabalot:
Hopefully $2-$4. i live in NJ.

$2-4 dollars in NJ won't buy you much at all if you're buying locally. Hell, even JR Ult at JRs in Whippany is over $4 for a Rothschild. Sometimes you can get the cigar of the week at JRs for under $4 per stick. Maybe if you find a shop that carries Flor de Olivia.

For that price, you need to buy full boxes or 5 packs on special over the internet.

If you're willing to spend $5 - $8 per cigar, your choices will be wider in NJ.

You might try this:
Go to CA's Cigar Ratings page. Screen cigars that a rated 90-94 that are non Cuban and are priced at $2-3.99. You get several including Oliva Grand Cameroon and Gispert Maduro. Then change it to $4- 5.99 or score from 85-89. You get the idea.

I did this a while back and wrote down about a dozen that I hadn't smoked and picked most of them up at the B&M I use most of the time. It's not a perfect system. I don't know where they got some of the prices from nor after I smoked some of them , where they got such high ratings.

It's a good place to start. You can read the reviews and see if you might like it and avoid those that might be too weak or too strong, etc. I don't put all my faith in the CA rating, however.

quote:

Originally posted by YaZ:
cabalot, since you know wine, can you recomend where can I get some Krug (doesn't have to be vintage) for $10-$20 a bottle or Alsace Gewurztraminer for $4-$5?
I'll return the favor

Yaz, where do you live? I don't know about the prices you are looking for but in NJ we have Canals wine beer and liquor warehouse. They are a huge store and carry just about anything you can think of or atleast order it if your state allows.

I am moving back to NJ in a few months where is Canals? Thanks for the info.

I haven't smoked one in a while but La Perla Habana's Black Pearl, Rojo used to be one of my favorite "value" smokes.
If you pick up the torpedos by the box, you'll pay about 3.00 per cigar.

Flor de Oliva cameroon and maduro, you can order them online by 25 per bundle for about 1.50 each. They are excellent smokes!

I felt the same way,but have limited myself to enjoying the one I always go back to....Fuente 858's Natural.And occaisional OpusX, and Padron Anniversay 1926/1964...Keeps thing in a manageable realm...

quote:

Originally posted by cabalot:
Last summer I started smoking cigars. I most commonly smoke Ashton VSG's, Ashton Aged Maduro, Ashton Puro Sol, AF Hemmingways, AF 8-5-8, Rockey Patel, Padron, Padron Old World Reserve, CAO Brazil, and Romeo Y Julieta Madoro Reserve.

These cigars are putting a big dent in my wallet. Can anyone recommend cheaper alternatives that dont suck?

A terrific affordable smoke is always Padron. But even cheaper is the GR specials (get the corojos) a fabulous Honduran with full flavor. They are my everyday smoke at under 2 a stick. (Atlantic Cigar has em for 30 a bundle.)

These are cheap, and the "don't suck."

Mayorga
Sancho Panza