Bands & Presentation

[loose_axle]

Was having a cigar and a few rums with some mates tonight and the topic came up of cigars and their presentation. How important is the band/ and the look/ feel of the cigar. 80% of us were no band, no box and no presentation = no buy. The others were don't care as long as the cigar is great. 

I'm personally in the 80% bracket but curious as to how others feel. I wasn't buying in the 50 cab no band era and have no nostalgic ties to it and to me, a cigar without a band is a 'no frills' cheapo, no touchie item, unless I'm dead set broke (and I acknowledge that's a me problem and also why I won't buy Nudies and Mofoh but will buy anything under the BR banner, and will also avoid Non-banded Cubans on auction, and the Non-Cuban brand items that aren't banded [thinking LFD cabinet no 6]) and some of my mates were very strongly the same. Weird...the psychology of marketing. But the 'it must have a band crowd' were of the mindset,"well if you can't be arsed to put a band and make it appealing, plus put it in a cedar box to age in, it it is a lesser product and not worth smoking." (Again not saying that is the case just giving perspective.) The non band crew were. "if it keeps costs down, who cares what it looks like or what its packaged in?" (Which makes so much sense, but I very much struggle to get on board with.)

[99call]

I'm a traditionalist. 

- Love a simply branded SLB cab and ribbon. Everything is functional and has a purpose 

- Love old school simple  Sancho, Monte, and RGPC paper bands

- I think its quite a UK thing to do, but I always rip a band off before smoking a cigar...so I think we have a bit of an anti-show-pony culture here. 

- Hate, any design work that looks like its been done by a teenage boy high on energy drinks. (Pretty much all NC cigars)

- Hate, anything on the boxes or bands that is likely to off-gas and breakdown and contaminate my cigars. Coloured paints/varnished etc.

If a cigar has to be adorned with ridiculous advertising and garb, I just assume its a terrible cigar, and it needs that much bullshit to actually get it sold. 

[my happy place]

15 hours ago, 99call said:

- Hate, any design work that looks like its been done by a teenage boy high on energy drinks. (Pretty much all NC cigars) 

I know I shouldn't judge a cigar by its band, but this one really hits me for some reason.

[griller]

15 hours ago, 99call said:

I'm a traditionalist. 

- Love a simply branded SLB cab and ribbon. Everything is functional and has a purpose 

- Love old school simple  Sancho, Monte, and RGPC paper bands

- I think its quite a UK thing to do, but I always rip a band off before smoking a cigar...so I think we have a bit of an anti-show-pony culture here. 

- Hate, any design work that looks like its been done by a teenage boy high on energy drinks. (Pretty much all NC cigars)

- Hate, anything on the boxes or bands that is likely to off-gas and breakdown and contaminate my cigars. Coloured paints/varnished etc.

If a cigar has to be adorned with ridiculous advertising and garb, I just assume its a terrible cigar, and it needs that much bullshit to actually get it sold.

Absolutely LOVE your comment on "...design work done by a teenage boy high on energy drinks"! Hilarious and not too uncommon these days, unfortunately. This phenomena is a big turnoff for me and I cringe at what some of these companies are passing along as "marketing" for their product.

I fall into the traditionalist camp 90% of the time, but have to admit that I like attractive art & design at both box and band level. I think the Cubans have hit the sweet spot when it comes to presentation, and their bandless cabinet selections remain appealing to me regardless of the lack of cosmetic additions. 

I do differ in that bandless/no box/bundle presentation only is not a negative to me. I love the Nudie/MOFOH and Cuban "Farm" rolls that are bandless and minimalist in presentation. Their flavor & quality speak for themselves and I'll reach for them over a banded cigar if that's the experience I'm looking for.

[Lucas Buck]

There are few things more beautiful in this world than an unbanded SLB of Havana cigars. Bands are ok too and I do love the look of the old Cohibas especially. If the cigar is great I don’t care if it’s banded or not. I can do without the newer large bands that cover half the cigar along with the foot bands. 

[David8406]

I like the bands while in the box or humidor, but when it’s time for smoking, don’t care much for them.  If I can move them around a bit, they are coming off before lighting… otherwise I leave it alone until burn-line gets there.   

[Fugu]

Speaking of presentation (taken to extremes)…

Latest HSA coup:

 

Given the cigar single here is b&m EUR 540 (a joke in itself already), that makes 320 € for that little box. I am lost. I mean - bring on those fakers! 👍 🎉 🍾🥂

[KCCubano]

1 hour ago, Lucas Buck said:

There are few things more beautiful in this world than an unbanded SLB of Havana cigars. Bands are ok too and I do love the look of the old Cohibas especially. If the cigar is great I don’t care if it’s banded or not. I can do without the newer large bands that cover half the cigar along with the foot bands. 

Agree 100%. Some of my all time favorites came unbanded in SLB or Cabs-BCE, SS2, Partagas Lonsdales etc. 

[joeypots]

I'm a regular production guy. Cigarmegeddon and the advent of double extra super bands and boxes that hold varying #s of overpriced cigars turn me off. I like a nice band and a nice box, no doubt. I'm particularly fond of the Punch Punch Punch boxes. But I'm fonder of the cigars.

I've smoked enough Cuban Cigars to know that presentation is not a great indicator of great tasting cigars. More and more it feels like Cuba is selling sizzle, not steak. I like Partagas packaging because its tasteful with no frills. Semi boîte nature box and a red and gold band. It's a classy presentation that let's the cigars  speak for themselves.

[Ford2112]

When I can't see a cigars wrapper because it is completely covered by stupid huge bands it pisses me off.  And some bands are hideous to me. Camacho comes to mind. I am not concerned with packaging as much as the contents within. 

[SUP8333]

Unbanded for sure...from fresh rolls to vintage cabs. I could care less for marketing.

[riderpride]

I love simplicity as well. A nice SLB and ribbon is good enough. That being said, I did mix up some pre -05 Mag46s and Punch RS11 that were loose one time. I wasn't happy with myself, so maybe a simple band is a good thing - nothing gaudy.

Man, I miss the RS11...

Cheers!

[Nevrknow]

Sooooo, I'm guessing I'm the only one that has put little music players in all of my boxes that plays Gregorian chants when it opens? Just me? Ok.

[Lucas Buck]

6 hours ago, Nevrknow said:

Sooooo, I'm guessing I'm the only one that has put little music players in all of my boxes that plays Gregorian chants when it opens? Just me? Ok.

Not just you, cuz I hear the same when I open a box.

[LordAnubis]

I specifically avoid the cigars with three bands and varnished boxes etc etc. If you’re busy making wank stuff for show, then that’s time you wasted you could have focused on making the cigars good. You can’t smoke the box. Can deliver the cigars in a plastic bag for all I care, as long as the cigar is good.

[Montezüma]

18 hours ago, loose_axle said:

... and also why I won't buy Nudies and Mofoh but will buy anything under the BR banner, and will also avoid Non-banded Cubans on auction, and the Non-Cuban brand items that aren't banded [thinking LFD cabinet no 6]) and some of my mates were very strongly the same. 

Nudies Queen Coronas are amazing cigars. I too share doubts regarding unbanded cigars but kinda understand that Nudies are marketed by way of BOTL fellowship. Sharing them with a bit of story-telling and the cigars speak for themselves. I strongly recommend to anyone who have NW cigars in their rotation.

12 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

And some bands are hideous to me. Camacho comes to mind.

Camacho bands are just awful, not useful and makes a passable cigar look unrefined. But their lacquer boxes look quite nice though.

[Fugu]

10 hours ago, riderpride said:

I love simplicity as well. A nice SLB and ribbon is good enough. That being said, I did mix up some pre -05 Mag46s and Punch RS11 that were loose one time. I wasn't happy with myself, so maybe a simple band is a good thing - nothing gaudy.

Man, I miss the RS11...

Cheers!

Haha, had the same problem with some SS1 and des Dieux (well, you know what you got once lit.. 😄).

Bands serve a purpose for me. Nothing less, nothing more.

[cnov]

I'm not fussed about fancy boxes, I think they're slightly tacky and wasteful compared to a semi-boite cab. A lot of effort goes into the likes of the Monte 1935 line, but it's probably just going in the bin once the cigars are smoked. They feel like show pieces but my cigars just sit in a coolidor out of sight and I'm not a showy person. 

I do like bands but as others have said, the cigars are the most important part. 

[Greenhorn2]

An unbanded, no box, no touchie el cheapo cigar? If Cuba took the bands and fancy boxes off and dropped the price in half, I would still be buying them. The presentation has no affect on the cigars, I couldn't care less. The 2021 Nudie Lanceros with rosado wrappers (without a fancy band or box) have been some remarkable cigars, for example. I would trade Cubans for some more of these. If Cuba took the bands and boxes away, would you quit smoking Cubans?

[El Hoze]

I have very few unbanded boxes of CC left unfortunately. I have started storing some Nudies in leftover SLBs. It always puts a smile on my face opening them and seeing the unbanded wrappers all resting in the box. 

[Ford2112]

10 hours ago, Montezüma said:

Camacho bands are just awful, not useful and makes a passable cigar look unrefined. 

They look like crayons 🖍 

[Havanaaddict]

I am of the old school, nothing prettier then a 50 Cab of naked cigars 😍 Second comes the simplicity of the band on vintage brands!