3-5 packs vs. Boxes

[Walt69]

Hello there. I'm relatively new to the world of CCs and was wondering if there was a difference in terms of quality and flavor when trying out 3 and 5 packs vs. purchasing a whole box. As I understand it there can be different levels of quality among the same brand and line "PSP, HQ, etc..." Is there a tendency to have the higher quality sticks in the 3-5 packs, so people will be more tempted to purchase a full box later? Or is there no real rhyme or reason to it?

[Natedog]

I am not an expert on this but when you see psp, hq etc those are cigars hand picked from Rob to let you know the quality is there. psp being the highest quality. If its a 5er labled as psp the quality will be there. The question I would be curious to find out is if habanos tends to put higher quality of a marca in lrg boxes ie. cab of 50 vs box of ten.

[CaptainQuintero]

Average 2013 RASS 50-cabs certainly seem to be 'better' than average 25 boxes, wether it's a conscious decision or just a peak on a trend I've no idea. Rob pointed out the trend I think and others have seen it around Europe too

3 and 5 packs, I think the nature of the packaging can make it difficult for retailers to check quality effectively/ time heavy so depending where you buy, there maybe a slightly higher chance of getting duds in them.

There is a school of thought that says the untubed cardboard packs takes away flavours from tobacco over time

[cigcars]

I just look at that 3 to 5 pack buying option as an offer of more convenience for traveling, sharing, etc., than having to slip singles out of a box, risking wrapper damage, and so on when you want to do the above on a semi-regular basis*

[Smallclub]

As I understand it there can be different levels of quality among the same brand and line "PSP, HQ, etc..."

This classification is not a standard; it applies only on cigars sold by our host.

[subport]

There is a school of thought that says the untubed cardboard packs takes away flavours from tobacco over time

While the tobacco can pick up some unwanted taste from the cardboard.

I used to buy 3/5ers at airports. They were great after 6 months or more in the humidor. But before that I always felt some cardboard kinda taste on them. Nowadays only tubed ones I would take. But its all personal. This is just me I guess. Some of us doesn't like tubes at all so hm?!

[PapaDisco]

I started out buying the 3/5 packs for the very reason you state. It was an easy way to sample broadly. The Epi2's in cardboard I never noticed as picking up a cardboard flavor, nor the Cohiba Robustos. I also bought tubed Cohiba Siglo VI's, Paragas Series D 4, Romeo & Julieta Churchills and #2's and Mille Fleurs. They all smoked fine, but when I started acquiring whole boxes it seemed like flavors stepped up a notch, on par with the tubos. I'm guessing that cigars in boxes and 'cabs' have more exposure to each other and less exposure to air and that helps retain flavors a bit. That's all just my conjecture though.

It's tough to live by the sampler; you find something you like and try to get a whole box but then you don't know the date and code, or if you do know the date and code by the time you've sampled and then ordered that stock is gone. So now I just buy whole boxes (mostly) and take a chance on Lady Luck! If you're worried about beating up the cigars when you travel, then get a proper case (and store it in your humidor so the cedar is humidified) or save your aluminum tubes. I think we've all got a healthy stock of robusto, corona, corona gorda and churchill tubes that we use as temporary transport. And anyway, it's fun to have whole boxes resting in the humi. Gives you something to plan with . . .

[Walt69]

Interesting. I guess I never thought about inspecting the tubos one at a time instead of a whole box at a time. Seems like a huge time-suck that most wouldnt see worth doing. I am wanting to try a bunch of different sticks, so maybe doing box splits with friends will be the way to go then. Ive got my travel humis and full size humidors already, so im not to worried about keeping them in top shape. Thanks everyone for the responses!

[subport]

Good to see HdMEp2 here. The last 3 were out of cardboard box and well nothing but paper came through. Damn sad but true Hated them so much. Hm bad luck maybe

[Duxnutz]

I'm going to slightly disagree with the masses. I understand the cardboard packs picking up some of the cardboard after a while but think this must be several years down the track, 3+ IMO. I've personally smoked outstanding Monte 2s and Cohiba Lanceros from cardboard.

Regardless of what you buy, being able to pick your own cigars or have someone do it for you does increase your chances considerably!

[stogieluver]

If you have doubts about the 3 & 5 cardboard packs, and you are buying these to sample, then you might want to consider buying some singles from Rob. *****INT has a mimimum dollar order amount, but you will exceed it with just a few sample CC's.

[markmurase]

You may lucky and get good cigars in 3 or 5 packs, but in general I think the better cigars go into boxes. If I was a cigar manufacturer, I would certainly be putting my best stuff into the fancy boxes and put the 2nds into cardboard packs.

Of course buying boxes blind can also be a lottery, so that's why many of us on this forum prefer the hand-picked boxes from Rob. Every box Rob sells has been checked, so the chances of good quality and flavour are much better than you could expect in random 3 or 5 packs.

[maxcjs0101]

There is a school of thought that says the untubed cardboard packs takes away flavours from tobacco over time

I havent come across this because i havent smoke my cardboard packs of 5 which i've kept for like 2 years but they do seem to have lost quite a significant amount of smell..

[DrunkenMonkey]

If I was a cigar manufacturer, I would certainly be putting my best stuff into the fancy boxes and put the 2nds into cardboard packs.

Why?

[Smalls]

If you have doubts about the 3 & 5 cardboard packs, and you are buying these to sample, then you might want to consider buying some singles from Rob. *****INT has a mimimum dollar order amount, but you will exceed it with just a few sample CC's.

I think this is a good way to go. I'm sure Rob would be more than happy to help you find some sticks you like as well.

Personally, I like to buy at least 10 count boxes for a couple of reasons. First, I haven't found too many CC's that I really absolutely hate. Second, a lot of the enjoyment for me comes from slowly smoking cigars from a box as they age. I have found a few cigars that I wasn't sure about change into an enjoyable smoke within a few months to a year or more.

[subport]

If I was a cigar manufacturer would definitely put great quality stuff to the 3/5 packs. Only because they are the samplers/teasers before you put a trigger on a box. I suppose

Sadly this is why I have never bought Hdm ep2 box in my entire life.. So disappointed in the 3/5ers