Top 15 Best Cheap Cigars in A Bargain That Actually Taste Good: Updated Affordable Budget Cigars For 2022

Is there such a thing as a cheap cigar that actually tastes good? Of course! While cheap cigars may not be your goal, that doesn’t mean you will have to break the bank. We mean cheap cigars that don’t cost an arm and a leg. And there is no shortage of those.

Unless you are the most discerning of cigar aficionados, you really shouldn’t have to spend more than $5 or $10 on a cigar. You’ll have a wide array of choices, whether you prefer a milder cigar, a medium one, or a more full-bodied one. You’ll have to pick the one that tickles your taste.

But that’s enough talking. Without further ado, here is our updated list of the best cheap cigars for 2022 you can grab (that taste pretty damn good). All you need to do is choose your favorite cigar, light it using your favorite lighter, and blow smoke rings to impress others with your cool style!

Let’s jump in.

Top 15 Cheap Cigars in Affordable Price That Don’t Taste Like Coal

Affordable can mean different things for different people. While you won’t find any cigars that Michael Jordan smokes on this list (he told Cigar Aficionado that Partagas Lusitania is his favorite), there are plenty of baller options to choose from! So we’ve tried to keep this list open and included cigars of all ranges. You can go for any option you want. You won’t be disappointed with the taste.

Here are the top 15 affordable cigars I recommend you try.

1. Buffalo TEN with Maduro Wrapper


New on the top  list for 2022 is the Buffalo TEN, made by El Artista in the Dominican Republic. I don’t know how they keep the cost of this cigar in the $4 range (depending on the taxes in your state). It’s a 6″ x 50 box-pressed toro with a Maduro wrapper from the San Andrés region of Mexico, a binder from the Dominican Republic, and filler tobaccos from The Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Columbia, and right here in Pennsylvania. For the price, this hand-rolled cigar is hard to beat!

2. Arturo Fuente 858 Maduro


If you’re looking for the best budget cigars, this is the one! The 8-5-8 Flor Fina Maduro from Arturo Fuente hails from the Dominican Republic, and is a perfectly balanced cigar with a cured Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. It’s naturally sweet, and the smoke is mild and well-balanced, with a mild cedary taste – making it the perfect cigar for daily smoke, whether an occasion or just to relax. You can’t find a cheaper option than this one!

3. Manacudo Café Ascot 10/10


Macanudo Ascots are some of the most popular cigars in this price range. The Café Ascots are also from the Dominican Republic, with a wrapper from Mexico, and offer a mild, creamy smoke in a tiny package – great for when you are short of time, or just don’t want a whole large cigar. The body is mild, but the flavor is strong, and the burn is smooth and even.

4. GRAN HABANO #1 CONNECTICUT GRAN ROBUSTO


Gran Habano #1 Gran Robusto cigars are rich quality and smooth-tasting Honduran top cigars. They are blended with mild Nicaraguan fillers, with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, for a smooth, relaxing smoke. A lot of flavor for a cigar in this price range; they’re thick, burn long, and are a perfect way to relax the evening away with a glass of rum or scotch and Connecticut shade color.

5. OLIVA CONNECTICUT RESERVE CHURCHILL


Oliva Connecticut Reserve Churchill cigars prove that the best cigar doesn’t have to be full-bodied to be full-flavored. A silky Ecuadorian CT wrapper dovetails with Oliva’s hallmark Nicaraguan long-filler & binder center for a rich and creamy smoke that’s amazingly mellow. Great for new cigar smokers!

6. Rocky Patel Mulligans


Rocky Patel is the maverick of the great cigar industry. It only makes sense that their cigars will be top quality, which is exactly what this series is. Top-quality and affordable. Other Rocky Patel lines are usually more expensive, but the Mulligans line was created for more affordable options. That doesn’t mean the quality has dropped, though. The stellar reviews of this line will tell you that. I’d say this is one of the best cigars for the money you will find.

Rocky Patel Mulligans has one of the most balanced structures on this list. It is a Holt exclusive, and you can get multiple sizes of this. This cigar comes with a balanced mix of Nicaraguan, Peruvian, and Dominican long-fillers with a Dominican binder. The fillers are wrapped under a lovely and oily Connecticut shade Cuban-seed wrapper. It is a mild handmade cigar that will last around 60 minutes on average.

The taste guide of this cigar are no joke. It has a rich build of cedar, leather, pepper, and molasses. But the best part is its price. The 20-piece economic pack of this cigar comes at a $45 tag, meaning you’re getting a smoke for a bit over $2. If this isn’t affordable, we don’t know what is.

7. LA GLORIA CUBANA SERIE R NO. 6


Crafted in the Dominican Republic with an exquisite Madura wrapper and Nicaraguan binder, the La Gloria Cubana Serie R #6 Natural is hefty with some serious flavor. It’s full-bodied and robust, dark and a bit oily, but it remains a smooth, easy smoke for the evening like a pipe. It’s mildly sweet, with a nice earthy flavor.

8. FLOR DE LAS ANTILLAS BELICOSO


These cigars are some of the best you will ever find in this price range with high ratings. They are made with premium tobacco from Cuban seeds, and put into Nicaraguan Habano leaf wrappers. They have a balanced, smooth taste with leathery cedar hints. Consistent, well done, and a long, smooth draw. Good for an affordable, but still luxurious smoke any time.

9. ROMEO Y JULIETA 1875 EXHIBICION NO. 1


Romeo y Julieta 1875 cigar boxes are blended with choice Dominican long-fillers, rich-tasting Olor binders, and exotic Java wrappers. The flavors are well-balanced, slightly milder, and maintain their smoothness from start to finish, with hints of cedar, oak, nuts, and low spice. Look for some coffee on the finish, and a bit of bay leaf and spice. These are longer smokes – though not all day – and the price makes them doable whenever you’d like one.

10. OCCIDENTAL RESERVE CONNECTICUT ROBUSTO

Occidental Reserve Robusto cigars are smooth and appropriate with their strength for any time of day. A Dominican long-leaf filler is mixed with a Connecticut binder and wrapper. These cigars give a reliable, smooth smoke with buttered toast, a little bit of pepper, and a sweet finish of mint and cherry. Good for any occasion or relaxing any time of day. And they’re downright affordable for the flavor and smoke they give.

11. Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial


Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial is a blend of Nicaraguan long-fillers inside some dark, oily Broadleaf Maduro wrapper. The taste is medium-full, smooth, and layered with notes of espresso, pepper, earth, cedar, and some wine oak. It’s a bold cigar with years of Garcia family history.

12. La Aroma de Cuba

There is a reason this cigar was named the “#1 Cigar Industry Best Buy” after its relaunch. Even before the relaunch, this cigar was one of the best anyone could offer. It was good enough to be Winston Churchill’s favorite, and it does justice to that till today. The cigars come from the award-winning cigar maker Pepin Garcia. Each cigar is handcrafted and has a vintage touch to it.

La Aroma de Cuba is made of pure Nicaraguan long-fillers.

The cigar has a medium strength and is wrapped with a Connecticut broadleaf Nicaraguan tobaccos. This cigar has a diverse taste note palette with black pepper, molasses, nuts, and cocoa. After my first experience with one of these, I would have thought a cigar this good would cost a fortune. Well, no. La Aroma de Cuba cigars start from the $5 range. There are also multiple options so you can be as economical as you want. You may not see this in Cigar Aficionado, but it’s one of the best cigars for the money for real cigar smokers.

13. ARTURO FUENTE GRAN RESERVA


Blend, aroma, flavor, and consistency– if you’re looking for an all-in-one deal, this cigar is for you. Arturo Fuente is one of the common names every cigar lover will recommend and should tell you something. This cigar is one of the classics, as many would say, and a good option if you’re looking for something economical.

Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva has one of the best filler options. The cigar has a pure Dominican premium binder and fillers that give you the vintage taste people want in a cigar. The taste palette of this cigar is pretty interesting too. It has a creamy coffee blend with spicy notes like cedar, cocoa, nuts, hints of black pepper, and baking spices.

Gran Reserva sports a dark Connecticut broadleaf or a Cameroon wrapper, depending on what you’re getting. It is a mild-medium handcrafted cigar, and it lasts around 45 minutes. The price for a single cigar can go slightly above the $5 mark, but if you get a 50-piece bundle, you can get it for $135. This makes it around $3 per cigar, which is a pretty solid deal for a Dominican filler cigar.

14. Romeo y Julieta Mille Fleurs

Did someone say budget Cubans? Yes, that’s an option for a full tasting note you can get under this brand. Like the name, Romeo y Julieta’s range of affordable cigars will make you fall in love with it, and the Mille Fleurs range will blow your mind. This is one of the strong cigars on that I recommend if you like Cubans.

This is a Petit Corona vitola, so it probably won’t be the longest smoke on this list, but trust us, it is worth it. And the proof of that is the reviews it gets. There isn’t much talk about this, but the true cigar lovers know, and the reviews of this are always positive.

Romeo y Julieta comes from Cuban origin. The name means “a thousand flowers” in French, and that’s the best description of what to expect from this. It’s a light cigar that lasts around 15-20 minutes. So if you’re looking for something for your afternoon smoke, you now have a perfect option.

Mille Fleurs is machine-crafted cigars, but that doesn’t bring down the flavor. It has a rich taste note of cocoa and cedar that unfolds into black pepper and new leather. Paired with the floral aroma, it makes the perfect profile for beginners. The flavor is medium, and it has pretty good aging potential. You don’t have to smoke these right away, quite the opposite, if you want to make the flavors more complex, you can age them for three years.

Romeo y Julieta Mille Fleurs is one of the cheapest options. Depending on your currency and the shipping, this cigar can cost you around $3-$4 per piece.

15. Oliva Serie V

Oliva cigars are top sellers all around and have been on top for a while. It’s justified considering how excellent these cigars are. Oliva Serie V is a classic, highly rated cigar among cigar-loving people. This is one of the “classy” options, and if you’re looking for something on the stronger side, this is pretty much a no-brainer.

Oliva Serie V comes with one of the best filler and binders on this list. It packs an almost artistic bunch of Nicaraguan Habano Sun Grown long filler. These unique filters are wrapped under the most beautiful Ecuadorian Habano wrappers, giving this cigar a substantial flavor boost. The cigars are handcrafted and one of the best full-bodied, complex blend cigars you’ll see around.

The taste note palette of this cigar deserves mention. It sports a rich blend of spicy and bold notes but has a more creamy and chocolatey core. You’ll get the notes of rich and different wooden flavors in each one-third of this cigar, but that’s not the only kick here. The taste notes unfold into a combination of molasses, coffee beans, hazelnut, and black peppers. It reminds me of a good strong black coffee!

The double Robusto version of this is the strongest cigar flavor you’ll get. It is a long smoke and will comfortably last around 60 minutes. It isn’t the cheapest option when you’re buying separately. The single cigars have a price tag of $7-$9 each pinned to them, but if you’re picking the 24 pack, you can get them for around $6 each. Personally, I prefer the singles so I can switch it up and try new options.

Conclusion

Picking an affordable cigar can be a little tough, but that’s why we’re here. Hopefully, this will help you find the perfect affordable cigar for yourself. Whether you prefer a medium bodied smoke, sweet cigars, or something with spicy notes, there are plenty of high quality cigars that are affordable.

Make sure to check at multiple sources, and you’ll find an excellent value for sure. (Probably easiest to find cheap cigars online…you can buy in bulk for the best value once you find the best cigar brand for you!)

TLDR: My Picks

Best Inexpensive Cigar: Rocky Patel Mulligans

Best Everyday Cigar: Arturo Fuente 858 Maduro

FAQs
What are the differences between Nicaraguan, Honduran, Cuban and Dominican tobacco?

There’s a big difference between Nicaraguan, Honduran, Cuban and Dominican tobacco. For one, the soil is different. Nicaraguan tobacco is grown in volcanic soil, which gives it a unique flavor. Honduran tobacco is grown in rich, fertile soil, which makes it a bit milder. Cuban tobacco is grown in mineral-rich soil, which gives it a slightly spicy flavor. And Dominican tobacco is grown in nutrient-rich soil, which makes it very smooth.

But the difference in flavor isn’t just due to the soil. It also has to do with the way the tobacco is fermented and aged. Nicaraguan tobacco is fermented for twice as long as Honduran tobacco, which gives it a richer flavor. Cuban tobacco is fermented for four times as long as Honduran tobacco, which gives it an even spicier flavor. And Dominican tobacco is fermented for six times as long as Honduran tobacco, which gives it an incredibly smooth flavor.

So if you’re looking for a smooth, rich smoke, go with Dominican tobacco. If you’re looking for something with a bit more spice, go with Cuban tobacco. And if you want something mild and mellow, go with Honduran tobacco.

If I had to choose my deathbed cigar, it’d be something with a  Dominican tobacco

Why can’t I find any Cuban cigars in the USA?

Cuban cigars are the best in the world and everyone knows it. The problem is that they’re banned in the United States, so you can’t find them here. Well, you can find them here, but they’re illegal. And since it’s illegal to sell them, no one does. So if you want a Cuban cigar, you have to go to Cuba. But be careful, because the US government is really strict about this stuff and they might catch you. (That didn’t keep us from taking off the wrappers and hiding those “cheap” Cubans in our suitcase during that trip to the Bahamas our sophomore year in college….don’t act like you didn’t do it too!)

The difference between Cuban cigars and other cigars is that Cuban cigars are made with tobacco that’s grown in Cuba. And the tobacco in Cuba is a special kind of tobacco that’s unique to Cuba. So Cuban cigars are the best in the world because they’re made with the best tobacco in the world.

Saturated, contrasting photo of a glass of whiskey with ice, smoldering cigar on an ashtray and a smartphone on an old textured wooden table

Source:

  1. https://www.laaromadecuba.com/brand-history
  2. https://www.holts.com/clubhouse/top-lists/best-cigars-on-a-budget
  3. https://bespokeunit.com/cigars/best/cheap/#7
  4. https://www.cubanlous.com/romeo-y-julieta-cigars/romeo-y-julieta-mille-fleurs/
  5. https://blindmanspuff.com/tips-tricks-best-budget-cigars/
  6. https://www.holts.com/cigars/all-cigar-brands/oliva-serie-v.html
  7. https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/10-top-cigars-under-10

By Fast Eddie