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Having smoked my first Por Larranaga Montecarlo (which I loved), I'm curious as to what other affordable long and skinny cigars I should be trying. I know everyone's idea of affordable is different but lets keep it under $250 a box. I can't wait to see how that caramel/buttered popcorn taste changes as they get some time down. Not sure if this should have been in the cheap and cheerful section as that price range isn't exactly cheap but what I consider affordable.

I thought it would be helpful to have a list of current production hand-made long filler skinny cigars that are up 40 ring or less (< 16mm). I was surprised how many are still in production, but of those remaining most are not cheap (which I arbitrarily set at < $4 USD/cigar). The cheapies under $4/cigar that I believe are still in production are the following: El Rey del Mundo Demi Tasse - Entreactos - 3 6/7" x 30 (100mm x 11.91mm) Fonseca Delicias - Standard - 4 3/4" x 40 (123mm x 15.87mm) Fonseca KDT Cadetes - Cadete - 4 1/2" x 36 (114mm x 14.29mm) Hoyo de Monterrey Palmas Extra - Cremas - 5 1/2" x 40 (140mm x 15.87mm) Jose L. Piedra Petit Cetros - Petit Cetros JLP - 5" x 37 (127mm x 15.08mm) Jose L. Piedra Cremas - Cremas JLP - 5 1/3" x 40 (136mm x 15.87mm) Partagas Habaneros - Belveders - 4 5/6" x 39 (125mm x 15.48mm) Por Larrañaga Panetelas * - Vegueritos - 5" x 36 (127mm x 14.29mm) Rafael Gonzalez Panetelas Extra * - Vegueritos - 5" x 36 (127mm x 14.29mm) Rafael Gonzalez Perlas - Petit Coronas - 4" x 40 (102mm x 15.87mm) Romeo y Julieta Belvederes - Belvederes - 4 5/6" x 39 (125mm x 15.48mm) Romeo y Julieta Petit Julietas - Entreactos - 3 6/7" x 30 (100mm x 11.91mm) Romeo y Julieta Sport Largos - Sports - 4 3/5" x 34 (117mm x 13.89mm) * Short Filler The following appear to be in production, but they are over $4/cigar, some are much more (estimated box prices): Bolivar Tubos No. 3 - Placeras - 4 5/6" x 33 (125mm x 13.49mm) ( ~ $130) Cohiba Coronas Especiales - Palma - 5 8/9" x 38 (152mm x 15.1mm) ( ~ $330) Cohiba Exquisitos - Seoane - Length: 4 7/8" x 33 (126mm x 13.1mm) ( ~ $230) Cohiba Lanceros - Laguito No. 1 - 7 1/2" x 37 (192mm x 15.08mm) ( ~$450) Cohiba Panetelas - Lauguito No. 3 - 4 1/2" x 26 (115mm x 10.32mm) ( ~ $195) Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo Du Maire - Entreactos - 3 6/7" x 30 (100mm x 11.91mm) ( ~ $105) Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo du Depute - Tabucos - 4 1/4" x 37 (110mm x 15.08mm) ( ~ $130) Hoyo de Monterrey le Hoyo du Prince ** - Almuerzos - 5 1/9" x 40 (130mm x 15.87mm) ( ~ $155) H.Upmann Majestic - Cremas - 5 1/2" x 40 (140mm x 15.87mm) ( ~ $105) La Gloria Cubana Medaille D Or No. 4 - Palmitas - 5 8/9" x 32 (152mm x 12.7mm) ( ~ $150) Montecristo Joyitas - Laguito No. 3 - 4 1/2" x 26 (115mm x 10.32mm) ( ~ $120) Montecristo Especiales No. 2 - Palma - 5 8/9" x 38 (152mm x 15.1mm) ( ~ $250) Partagas Aristocrats - Petit Cetros - 5" x 40 (129mm x 15.87mm) ( ~$105) Partagas Partagas de Luxe (AT) - Cremas - 5 1/2" x 40 (140mm x 15.87mm) ( ~$130) Partagas Super Partagas - Cremas - 5 1/2" x 40 (140mm x 15.87mm) ( ~ $105) Por Larrañaga Montecarlos - Deliciosos - 6 1/4" x 33 (159mm x 13.1mm) ( ~ $120) Punch Petit Coronations T.A. - Coronitas - 4 3/5" x 40 (117mm x 15.87mm) ( ~ $115) Romeo y Julieta Julieta - Panetelas - 4 2/3" x 32 (120mm x 13.09mm) ( ~$120) Romeo y Julieta Romeo No. 1 T.A. - Cremas - 5 1/2" x 40 (140mm x 15.87mm) ( ~ $130) Trinidad Fundadores - Laguito Especial - 7 1/2" Ring Gauge: 40 (192mm x 15.87mm) ( ~$400) ** Announced as discontinued There are some more, but I have not seen them anywhere in stock for quite some time (maybe discontinued?): Montecristo Especiales - Gran Panetela - 7.56" x 38 (192mm x 15.1mm) ( ~$450) I probably missed a bunch, so let me know if there are others that should be included in the list (as long as they are not more than 40 rg or < 16mm).

The proliferation of fat cigars, especially the SHORT and fat, is a trend that is evidently killing off several of my favorite vitolas. I've been a fan of the skinny formats for decades and with every passing year more and more of them are disappearing. Down here in the swampy, humid south Florida, the skinnies burn much better than the thicker cigars, especially in the wet hurricane season from May through November, so that might explain why I favor the skinnies. I've loaded up on Lonsdales and some Coronas, which are endangered species also. But now I want to focus on some of the skinny of skinnies before they turn into Dodos - here I mean those under 38 ring, and over 5.5" in length. I already have some MC Especial #2, PLMC, and LGC MdO#4, which are already staples. But I'd like to know what others are still reasonably available, either in current production or recently dropped but may still be found. I've seen the Super Partagas out there already, so I'm hoping to land some of those. What else?

Quai D'Orsay Panetelas 33 x 77" Smoking time: 1 hour, 40 minutes Thank you to Trevor, who generously gifted me this single sometime last year. I'm not one who can verbalise the flavours in a cigar, but I enjoyed this cigar immensely so I thought I'd briefly share. Most of the reviews I read of Quai D'Orsay cigars suggest that the marca is light - I find the exact opposite, these things have legs! I love this size, I find that while the ring gauge makes it not too overwhelming, there is still plenty of flavour to be had. Perhaps it's because I'm smoking it at 9am on an empty stomach. The length of the cigar affords an extended smoking time. It's almost like getting stuck in that sweet spot of flavour and stretching it out over an hour and a half. I guess I could compare it to adding some water to your whiskey, having less can help you enjoy it that much more and savour something special. It's been raining non stop in Sydney for the past few weeks, so this is the first chance I've had to lie back in the sun and enjoy. Having the great weather, a pot of coffee and some relaxing music all adds to the experience. It could just be that it feels like all the planets are aligned right now, but this cigar does feel special. The fact that it is the only one I have probably puts it up on a pedestal for me. If anyone's got a source for these, or anything in a similar size, I'd love to get a few more. Thanks again to Trevor for the opportunity to try this. -Will