Cigar Weekly

jpags · 01-10-2015, 08:32 AM

Is it me, or has the quality of budget (Bundled) cigars diminished over the years? I've been smoking budget cigars for nearly 30 years. Connies, Flor de Olivea's, JR Alts to name a few, they we're always great bargains , now it seems like every budget cigar, a third of the bundle has draw issues or burn issues or construction issues. All the years I been smoking budget cigars I've never had to use a poker, now I have to constantly keep one at my side. The problem goes beyond the brands I mentioned, I find most bundled cigars have these issues now. Is there anyone out there smoking these things as long as I have and feel the same way?

KatDad · 01-10-2015, 09:16 AM

As a fellow value oriented (some might say cheap) smoker, I think they definitely have declined in quality. Taxes like are likely the primary cause as manufacturers do what they can to hold prices down quality will inevitably suffer.

Also, I think the post boom glut of capacity lead to a goodly supply of well blended and well made cigars ten years ago or so that were sold as bundled brands. Sadly those days are long gone.

Rob G · 01-10-2015, 10:22 AM

I'm not a big bundle smoker, so I can't say for sure, but I've noticed quite a bit of difference between Punch cigars bought by the box and the HDM's bought as a bundle. They used to be the same. But the bundled cigars seem to not be rolled as well, and burn much quicker.

For example, a Connie #9 or HDM Roth will only last 30 minutes. But the Punch Roth will last an hour.

fvfanmc · 01-10-2015, 11:10 AM

As a bundle purchaser, I've noticed that the smaller ring sizes tend to have more construction problems than the larger ring sizes.

Briandg · 01-10-2015, 12:39 PM

Why would a bundle maker care much about quality? Guys who buy bundles cheat them out of a fair profit. Discount cigars are going to be made with the worst tobacco by the worst rollers.

Don't buy into the bullshit about seconds being slightly flawed top brands.what do you do with the worst rollers and the worst tobacco? If you can, you blend it to match a ten dollar cigar,put it in front of the worst rollers and sell it as a second. No lies,it has blemishes or color issues,and it doesn't live up to the higher standards.

Buy from trusted sources. Don't be surprised when you get screwed. Most importantly, don't believe that you can buy seconds of a twenty dollar cigar for three bucks. Nobody is that generous, or stupid,seconds of opus x will be incinerated before they are released to the public.

jpags · 01-10-2015, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briandg

Why would a bundle maker care much about quality? Guys who buy bundles cheat them out of a fair profit. Discount cigars are going to be made with the worst tobacco by the worst rollers.

Don't buy into the bullshit about seconds being slightly flawed top brands.what do you do with the worst rollers and the worst tobacco? If you can, you blend it to match a ten dollar cigar,put it in front of the worst rollers and sell it as a second. No lies,it has blemishes or color issues,and it doesn't live up to the higher standards.

Buy from trusted sources. Don't be surprised when you get screwed. Most importantly, don't believe that you can buy seconds of a twenty dollar cigar for three bucks. Nobody is that generous, or stupid,seconds of opus x will be incinerated before they are released to the public.

I understand why the quality is not there now, what I'm saying is, the quality DID use to be there. They did use to care about the quality, there use to be quite a few brands where you got a good decent smoke on the cheap.

gumby · 01-10-2015, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KatDad

As a fellow value oriented (some might say cheap) smoker, I think they definitely have declined in quality. Taxes like are likely the primary cause as manufacturers do what they can to hold prices down quality will inevitably suffer.

Also, I think the post boom glut of capacity lead to a goodly supply of well blended and well made cigars ten years ago or so that were sold as bundled brands. Sadly those days are long gone.

That makes a lot of sense.

SJ_Sharks · 01-12-2015, 08:49 AM

I always have bought the JR Alternative to the Cuban Bolivar Belicoso. Let them sit for 3 months and you have a fantastic full bodied smoke. Other bundles seem to have faded, at least the good ones, I remember seeing some decent ones at JR's last week, I just can't remember the names.

beevod · 01-12-2015, 08:58 AM

JR alts are,for me, hit or miss. I've had some great ones and some that were reminiscent of the business end of a plunger.

tonycsmoke · 01-26-2015, 09:07 AM

I would say that quite possibly they have gotten better. I hadn't smoke FDO golds for quite a few years. I recently picked up a bundle and remembered why I used to smoke them. In addition, there are ton of "seconds" out there like the NIC Ligero infused that are in a bundle, 20% of the price and every bit as good as the first. Quite frankly, It's hard to justify spending a lot on a cigar when so many other options exist.

01-10-2015, 08:32 AM	#1
jpags Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: parsippany, new jersey Posts: 950	Have Budget Cigars changed? Is it me, or has the quality of budget (Bundled) cigars diminished over the years? I've been smoking budget cigars for nearly 30 years. Connies, Flor de Olivea's, JR Alts to name a few, they we're always great bargains , now it seems like every budget cigar, a third of the bundle has draw issues or burn issues or construction issues. All the years I been smoking budget cigars I've never had to use a poker, now I have to constantly keep one at my side. The problem goes beyond the brands I mentioned, I find most bundled cigars have these issues now. Is there anyone out there smoking these things as long as I have and feel the same way? __________________ 50% of the people you know, don't care about your problems, the other 50% are glad you have them. Pags

01-10-2015, 09:16 AM	#2
KatDad Herf God Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Overland Park, Kansas Posts: 30,266	As a fellow value oriented (some might say cheap) smoker, I think they definitely have declined in quality. Taxes like are likely the primary cause as manufacturers do what they can to hold prices down quality will inevitably suffer. Also, I think the post boom glut of capacity lead to a goodly supply of well blended and well made cigars ten years ago or so that were sold as bundled brands. Sadly those days are long gone. __________________ The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it George Bernard Shaw The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it H. L. Mencken The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants Albert Camus The Land of the Free Because of the Brave

01-10-2015, 10:22 AM	#3
Rob G Contributing Editor Herf God Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Camillus, NY Posts: 16,119	I'm not a big bundle smoker, so I can't say for sure, but I've noticed quite a bit of difference between Punch cigars bought by the box and the HDM's bought as a bundle. They used to be the same. But the bundled cigars seem to not be rolled as well, and burn much quicker. For example, a Connie #9 or HDM Roth will only last 30 minutes. But the Punch Roth will last an hour. __________________ Rob If people can tell me where to smoke, I can tell them where to go, too.

01-26-2015, 09:07 AM	#10
tonycsmoke Club Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St Louis Posts: 3,135	I would say that quite possibly they have gotten better. I hadn't smoke FDO golds for quite a few years. I recently picked up a bundle and remembered why I used to smoke them. In addition, there are ton of "seconds" out there like the NIC Ligero infused that are in a bundle, 20% of the price and every bit as good as the first. Quite frankly, It's hard to justify spending a lot on a cigar when so many other options exist. __________________ "Homer, slow down you'll kill us" yelled Marge. "Or die trying" exclaimed Homer.

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01-10-2015, 11:10 AM	#4
fvfanmc Self Exiled Herf God Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Kearny, NJ Posts: 40,584	As a bundle purchaser, I've noticed that the smaller ring sizes tend to have more construction problems than the larger ring sizes.

01-10-2015, 12:39 PM	#5
Briandg CW Squirrel Wrangler Herf God Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: southwest Missouri Posts: 35,518	Why would a bundle maker care much about quality? Guys who buy bundles cheat them out of a fair profit. Discount cigars are going to be made with the worst tobacco by the worst rollers. Don't buy into the bullshit about seconds being slightly flawed top brands.what do you do with the worst rollers and the worst tobacco? If you can, you blend it to match a ten dollar cigar,put it in front of the worst rollers and sell it as a second. No lies,it has blemishes or color issues,and it doesn't live up to the higher standards. Buy from trusted sources. Don't be surprised when you get screwed. Most importantly, don't believe that you can buy seconds of a twenty dollar cigar for three bucks. Nobody is that generous, or stupid,seconds of opus x will be incinerated before they are released to the public.

01-12-2015, 08:49 AM	#8
SJ_Sharks Starting Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 7	I always have bought the JR Alternative to the Cuban Bolivar Belicoso. Let them sit for 3 months and you have a fantastic full bodied smoke. Other bundles seem to have faded, at least the good ones, I remember seeing some decent ones at JR's last week, I just can't remember the names.

01-12-2015, 08:58 AM	#9
beevod Herf God Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 20,927	JR alts are,for me, hit or miss. I've had some great ones and some that were reminiscent of the business end of a plunger. __________________ "Moderation in all things. Excess in everything else."