Cohibe Behike

So, Cigar Aficionado’s #1 cigar of 2010 is a Cohiba. Cuban. Go figure. I’m sure our readers won’t have any problem picking that up from their neighborhood tobacconist.

While their top 10 list was a hit or miss for most people, we’d like to take your focus off of all these “top shelf” premiums and remind you of all the great bargain cigars out there that deserve serious consideration.

“Bargain,” remember, is a relative term. If your daily commute to work involves a Ferrari or a Helicopter, a bargain might be $25 and up. If you’re like most of us, a bargain means a great smoke for under $10. And while some of you might think that a lower priced smoke means a lower quality one, you’d be surprised how often that’s not the case.

One way cigar makers cut cost is packaging. There are good cigars that live outside of the Spanish Cedar, so don’t be afraid of going down to the $3-$4 price point. There are bargains like C.A.O, Punch, Oliva, La Gloria Cubana, even Padrón and Rocky Patel—all are priced comfortably under $6. We’re especially fond of Casa Magna. At about $5 or $6, you’d be hard pressed to find a better smoke for the price.

You can’t always smoke the best of the best. Well, you can, but you’d be missing out. Exploring the full spectrum is what it’s all about—developing a palette and being able to appreciate those cigars that are worth every penny.