3-5 Packs = Bad Cigars?

[Deeks]

So I just returned from Cuba and brought a few gars.

I bought a box of R&J Churchills and was lucky enough to get a box of 10 Montecristo Sublimes.

In addition, I also bought a 3 pack of Monte 2s and 3 pack of Partagas Lusitanias.

Now before I get into it, they all came from the shop at La Corona Factory, so I think it's safe to rule out fakes.

Both the R&Js and Sublimes were pristine, but when I opened my 3 packs, each box had a bum cig.

Sure cigars have little nicks every now and again, but these were bad.

The wrapper on the monte had dark spots all over it and a few ugly snags. It was also rolled a too tightly, but smoked well in the end.

The partagas was was a mess as well. The wrapped had an inch long split in it. It smoked well until I got to the split in the wrapper, then it unraveled. I only got half a cigar out of it. I'll tell you, I've had better days.

Anyhow, I'm wondering if this was just an isolated coincidence or if anyone else has had this problem.

Could it be the factories put the less pretty cigars in the smaller packs?

[Ginseng]

I don't often buy boxes in cardboard packs but the times I have, the cigars have been just fine. This includes Trinis, Cohibas, Partagas, etc. I think the condition you see has less to do with what they select for this packaging type and more with how the packs are treated both prior to and after the sale.

Wilkey

[Deeks]

I don't often buy boxes in cardboard packs but the times I have, the cigars have been just fine. This includes Trinis, Cohibas, Partagas, etc. I think the condition you see has less to do with what they select for this packaging types and more with how the packs are treated both prior to and after the sale.

Wilkey

Makes sense.

[jquest63]

Ouch! Sorry to hear. This has never happened to me before. Although, I've only purchased 3-5 packs several times.

[El Presidente]

On balance cardboard pack cigars (and tubes) are the black sheep of the cigar family.

There are some very good, normal looking cigars which go into CP's..but also plenty of super dark ones, super light ones, slightly tight ones, onces with green or white wrapper splotches everywhere.

Think of it as cigars with attitude...they don't conform to the dress box and cab "Pack"

[cabaiguan juan]

Think of it as cigars with attitude...they don't conform to the dress box and cab "Pack"

Interesting thought.

[Ken Gargett]

only ever bought them in fives and threes on a few occasions and i think ever time has ben in cuba. never had a problem.

had a mate who i know got some in spain and also nothing untoward.

[ARRV]

On balance cardboard pack cigars (and tubes) are the black sheep of the cigar family.

There are some very good, normal looking cigars which go into CP's..but also plenty of super dark ones, super light ones, slightly tight ones, onces with green or white wrapper splotches everywhere.

Think of it as cigars with attitude...they don't conform to the dress box and cab "Pack"

Do you think this affects the taste as compared to the dress box and cab straight A's?

[shortsqueeze]

There are some who say singles, three and five packs in Cuba, basically anything w/o the official receipt are nothing but a means for the employees of the store to make a buck. In particular, these people say the boxes from which singles are sold are just reloaded with cigars that are not factory product. Because the store has no way to break a box to sell singles due to all the mandatory accounting (receipts and what not) required by the Government. Specifically they say this applies to singles, three and five packs in Cuba, not the export versions. Any truth to this?

[SamuraiJack]

Some of the best smokes I've had were from 3 packs I got from Duty Free shops. Trini Reyes and Cohiba Siglo II in particular. Tho I am not very into looks.

[Habanos2000]

Do you think this affects the taste as compared to the dress box and cab straight A's?

I recall a video review the guys did where the cigars (can't remember which) had pretty unsightly wrappers. To the point that Rob mentioned if he had seen them in a store he would have told the salesman to get them out of his face. But in the end, they smoked great.

so all in all it goes back to judging a book by its cover. Just because certain wrappers won't present well in a dress box or cabinet presentation doesn't mean they won't smoke heavenly.

[PigFish]

With all the **** ups I have seen in Cuban packaging over the years if there was some dark secret in putting the worst cigars in cardboard packs by now you would be finding only the best cigars put in them! Do you remember when people would question a diagonal cut verses a crescent cut in the wood divider? Many people would pine and consternate over their cigar purchase and money spent for weeks with regard to packaging irregularities.

A Cohiba (for example) carries the Cohiba name and reputation regardless of the presentation. Would any legitimate businessman, Cuban or otherwise, take their bellwether cigar(s) and salt them with inferiors for the small profit at the manufactures level? I think not. I don't go out of my way to purchase individually wrapped cigars. BUT, on occasion I find an offer on them that can't be beat. I have bought my share of flat 10x dress box Monte's... superb! Montes in 25x cardboard... wonderful. Cohibas in 25x cardboard... fantastic. In them I have found the same mix of dead sticks and bad eggs and sublime cigars. -Piggy

Please tell me which is/are the inferior cigars that came in cardboard?

[Guest blrrobinson21]

Cant tell you which ones are inferior but I can tell you which ones I would like to smoke........actually they all look great. Nice collection.

[Ethernut]

Cant tell you which ones are inferior but I can tell you which ones I would like to smoke........actually they all look great. Nice collection.

Yes me to, send one of each please!

[gerem]

I only had one bad cigar in a pack of 3, but it was only the wrapper. I think it's all about luck.

[smokem]

On the limited number of cb packs I have purchased the cigars were fine. I recently got a 3-pack of Cohiba Esplen that were beautiful. I’ve also heard about what shortsqueeze stated (maybe from the same place) with single fakes being very common in LCDHs in Cuba, although I honestly struggle with that. I could see some here and there, but it’s hard to get my mind around that it’s a rampant process. But since I’ve never been there, I have no practical experience.

[SmokinLightning]

As Rob said... it's pretty obvious they put the "oddballs" in the tubes and cardboard pkgs.

I've smoked a LOT of Sig VI tubos over the last 5 years... some are so narrow they rattle around in the tubes, some so large they barely squeeze in... dark ones, light ones, some minor wrapper blemishes... but I've enjoyed them all!