Ryan330 wrote:I was into cigars maybe 20 years ago and there were a handful of brands and all were somewhat reasonably priced. I cannot believe how much Fuente's and Davidoff's sell for...are they that amazing? Also, it seams that brands all got bought out by the big guys...like CAO being bought by International, are they the same or has the quality changed now that they're mass produced?
Are these boutique brands really that good...Warped, Caldwell...etc?
I took about a 12 year break from buying cigars, wasn't keeping up with what was happening, and yeah, things changed a lot. In the mid 2000s, there just weren't a bunch of boutique brands at all. Warped, Caldwell, Crowned Heads, Stolen Throne, Ezra Zion, etc., etc. have all come out. Fuque, I remember when Drew Estate made their first unflavored cigars. I think the quality of the newer boutique brands is generally much better, much more interesting.
They're also a LOT pricier. I was shocked when I saw what had happened to prices, and that was before this latest round of inflation. Today's cigars are richer and fuller bodied too. I remember when JdN Añtano and Rocky Patel The Edge were really strong cigars. Ring gauges have also skyrocketed.
So, even though cigars are a lot more expensive overall, there are still some deals, and I think the market is much better. I wouldn't want to go back.