Where are you putting your cigar money today? Personal strategies.

[El Presidente]

Many aspects of the cigar world have changed 

What hasn't changed is that we all love a good cigar at the right time. 

In terms of your purchasing strategies, what are they? How have they changed over the past 5 years?

This thread may really help out new buyers in the cigar world. Lend a hand 

[BrightonCorgi]

I am basically just buying @El Presidente brands of cigars. I am pretty set up on Habanos for a bit but have become tentative on opening new boxes.  Sucks, but that's the reality. 

If I could strike in time, I'd like to buy a few boxes of Habanos, but all ya all are too quick I never get a shot. 

[Lucas Buck]

No one will ship to me anymore so all my buying is secondary. Just as well as I’m always on the hunt for aged stock and have been lucky to score a box or partial of what I’m looking for every few months or so. I’m a bit too long in the tooth to age my own these days so it’s gotta be something pretty special or known to smoke well young for me to buy anything post 2019 or so as I like at least ten years age. Past few years has been probably 70/30 custom & farm rolls to regular production. 

[Li Bai]

As for CCs, whatever pops up at my local B&Ms. Well, not whatever but with a few friends we call and visit B&Ms and keep each others updated in case something worthy pops up and one of us is interested.

As for NCs, I keep on trying new things from time to time but what's available here is widely underwhelming and/or overpriced...Still trying to figure out a way to purchase Fabrica5 cigars here because I'm running out, they're the only NCs I'd buy consistently if I had the chance.

[JohnS]

Like a number of our members, I've supplemented my acquisitions with Non-Cuban stock including Fabrica 5. As for Cuban cigars, naturally I don't purchase like I did in the past. I mostly go for smaller box-counts (especially 10s) and I try to go for marcas and/or vitolas I have not picked up before or are more obscure by comparison. Now, for newcomers, that may not be helpful. As a newcomer to the world of Cuban cigars currently I'd just settle on simple regular production stuff like Partagas Serie D No.4's etc. You know, something reliable.

[Ruggerpgh99]

With shipping being as it is, I am struggling to get the Habanos I am looking for. I still have my NC search list going, and acquiring a few boxes and singles from that group. But most of my purchasing lately, and in the future looks to be Fab5. I made the "mistake" of ordering the sampler, and, well, I am not sure how I am going to financially recover from that choice. 

[gormag38]

8 hours ago, Lucas Buck said:

No one will ship to me anymore so all my buying is secondary.

Unfortunately, this is the boat I'm in as well. I'm not sure of a grey market retailer that will still ship to my area (Michigan, USA), so I too am mostly resigned to secondary purchasing. 

[Namisgr11]

With a relatively large backlog of cigars both Cuban and otherwise for the sporadic amount of smoking I do, and being excluded by shipping restrictions on the former, there will likely be no more box buying for some time. But getting 3 packs and 5 packs at a time, I've been branching out with NC offerings and will continue to do so going forward. I've been resting some Trinity Robustos and Ashton VSGs and ESGs, and plan to start breaking them out later this year.

[VasileDulap]

I started buying boxes in January '21 so I had a year and a few months before the crazy price hikes in '22. What changed for me is that I don’t buy EL, Cohiba and Trinidad anymore. Also, here in Romania, a box of global marcas is 200-250€ more than a similar vitola from other brands (750€ for a box of D4 or Short Churchill compared to 500€ for RASS or JL 2) so I basically buy Juan Lopez, Por Larranaga, Ramon Allones while I’m home and try to find the others when I’m on vacation in Spain. Also, I buy RE some times if I really like the vitola and if I can get them at retail prices.

edit: Also, NC selection is pretty bad here and prices are high so I don’t have a reason to go that route.

[JDoughty]

Snagging CCs when I can, there are a few reputable grey marketers still shipping and I can get a box every month or two from 24:24. Not at a very high rate since prices are horrible and selection is not great these days. Getting pretty picky about my CCs and mostly stocking up on the 'cheap and cheerful' ones I enjoy, with a few exceptions. I am not very interested in buying on the secondary market, it's gotten too ridiculous. Mostly I'm enjoying all the excellent NCs out there that are relatively easy to come by. Fabrica 005 and Bond Roberts are regular stars of my rotation, reliably delicious. Enjoying Casa Carillo quite a bit, especially Pledge Prequel, and salivating to get hands on the new Pledge Purple. Chasing the rare and tasty LFDs is fun, I do love an Andalusian Bull and managed to get hold of a Golden Bull recently. Probably not worth the price tag to be honest but it was fun to collect and I might even smoke it eventually. The LFD Solis is even better and easier to get hold of. Liga Privada is always delish, can't beat a Liga #9 and their Year of the Rat editions have been very tasty. And the good old standbys Padron and Davidoff. Managed to score a Padron 60th and considering an occasion to smoke it on. Hunting rare and limited NC's is fun when they are worthy of the chase, and some of them are. There are too many really superb NCs to explore these days, no need to be fanatic about CCs with the ridiculous price, questionable quality control and even more questionable production ethics. 

[benfica_77]

My strategy is to buy one box of CCs a year and vacuum seal it so that when my current box is gone I have an aged replacement. I've identified roughly 10 regular production CCs I will be doing this with. I just did this recently with PSD4s. 

Any left over funds will be for NCs or something different / small count box on Bond Roberts.

Willing to sell photos of my feet to fund the purchase of more CCs...

[HailState]

I’ve been using BR to buy partial boxes of rare cigars that I really want to try (Hoyo DC, Punch DC, etc.). I’ll continue looking for some partial boxes of “grails” that are on my bucket list to try I haven’t had yet (CoLa, Sir Winnie). And then I’m always on the lookout for Sig III. Living in a place where shipping has halted to a stop really makes it difficult but holding out hope one day I’ll have a CoLa and Sir Winnie in hand through BR. 

[joeypots]

I'll be on a much diminished Cuban cigar acquisition schedule. Current regular production looks to be very good so I'll probably get a few boxes a year if I can get them and I'll go for Fab 5 sticks to fill the void. 

[barrygoodvibes]

I buy my favorites whenever they pop up. I don't dabble in the unknown and I don't go anywhere near limitada. I have tried supplementing with non-Cubans with little success aside from some Davidoff, Fabrica 5, and Avowed cigars.

[Puros Y Vino]

I pretty much stopped buying in 2019'ish. I'm in a hold position. I don't smoke often enough to deplete what I've accumulated. Unless Cuba miraculously re-opens and I can go back to visit in good conscience, I'm done buying. Minus the odd NC to be able to enjoy a cigar in one of the phantom lounges in town.

[ElLoboLoco]

Kelner, Rafael Nodal, Pete Johnson, My Father, Aladino, Gellis and Saka blends keep me the happiest.

I love some Cuban Terroir but it’s no longer worth the chase. Too many good blends for my tastes.

[SUP8333]

I'm still trying to buy everything until I have enough for a 20 year stash.

[JDoughty]

This week I've been smoking almost nothing but Fabrica 005. Bought another sampler and am alternating the fresher ones from that with the ones I've had in the humidor awhile. Fresh Corta Suave, Lanceros and Lonsdales are really superb. Those won't survive long and I'll periodically pick up more fresh fivers while tasting some from past bundles as well, sometimes back to back. Taking down a fresh Lonsdale now and enjoying it a great deal. Rich, subtly complex and thoroughly delicious. No tariffs, no Customs woes and no prison labor. Unless there's something @El Presidente hasn't been telling us. 😉

[Mike Mecklenburg]

Being in the US I am looking for US trades, Bond Roberts, Friends and Travel. The grey market is out of the question. I rarely smoke New World Cigars.

[BG318]

I'm actually spending my cigar money on gas and taxes, but, with the shipping and production situation the way it is, I guess I am going to be whittling away at my stash for awhile. At two cigars a week I can make it to 80.2 years old. Hopefully things will be better then.

All things being equal I would still prefer mostly CC's, and if I had more of them I would happily raise my weekly consumption, but, with life being the way it is, I smoke less, because I enjoy CC's much more. If you don't have any CC's and are new to the game, I would suggest getting a few singles where you can, just to get a benchmark. You'll pay more than in the past, but save some dough for when the smoke (hopefully) clears. Pun intended. Meanwhile try all of the Fab 5 cigars in sample size. Stock up on the ones that hit you right. It's easy to advise when you're sitting on some product, and I feel for those trying to break in at a really difficult time. I haven't been collecting long but I feel like I caught the last boat off of the ship.

[Boss Hog]

Simple strategy. Trying to purchase as many Cuban cigars as I can find and also afford.

See myself replenishing stock in the near future with the likes of Fuente, Padrón and Davidoff.

[ElLoboLoco]

I suppose if I was a one or two a week cigar smoker that would be a major consideration in my budget.

That is a massive part of the calculus that is overlooked.

[griller]

I'm on a buying hold for Habanos rolled cigars indefinitely. Obvious shipping issues and cost. Fortunately, I'm pretty well set inventory-wise for what I like and am content to let my stash age. I may light up 2-3 a month but at that rate I'll still have decent inventory in 20 years. 85% of what I'm smoking now: Cuban custom/farm rolls, Fab5, and the occasional Illusione Epernay from boxes I picked up 4-5 yrs ago. 

[Chibearsv]

Just cracked another box - LTO JUL 21. Dang, kiss these goodbye. Friggin delicious!

[Greenhorn2]

In my pocket since I live in the land of the free.