When it comes to finding the perfect cigar it’s hard to deny that a bigger price tag is often a marker of quality. But what truly makes a better-quality cigar? And do cheap cigars always mean a worse smoke?
The truth is, when shopping for cigars, or smoking one, you don’t need to see the price to tell whether you’re holding a cheap cigar or something more premium. From the way a cigar looks and feels to how it burns and tastes, the differences are often immediate, especially once you know what to look for.
So how can you tell if you’re smoking a quality cigar or something from the bottom draw even without looking at the price tag? Well, in this blog we’ve broken it down into three simple stages.
Read on to find out how you can tell a quality smoke from a cheap cigar with a few simple steps.
Understand the cigar
Before you even pick up the cigar there are a few things you can learn just from its description, it’s brand and the tobacco it’s made from. Here are a few things you should know even before you set eyes on the cigar.
Tobacco quality
Not all tobacco is the same, and the quality of the leaves makes a huge difference in how a cigar tastes.
More luxury, expensive cigars use long-filler tobacco, where each leaf is careful harvested, aged for months or even years and runs the full length of the cigar. This helps the cigar burn evenly, draw smoothly, and develop richer flavours as you smoke. Cheaper cigars often use short-filler tobacco made from chopped leaf pieces or scraps, which can lead to uneven smoking and harsher flavours.
While you can’t always tell this from the sight of the cigar, the vendor should always be able to tell you and brands are easy enough to research.
Burn time and smoke quality
A cigar is designed to be enjoyed over time; no cigar smoker wants to rush the experience.
Depending on the length and thickness a premium cigar such as The Romeo y Julieta Linea de Oro Hidalgos (5 inch x 57 ring gauge) has an average burn time of 55-75 minutes. This cigar will set you back over £55 for a single smoke. Expensive cigars burn slowly and evenly, producing cooler smoke and steady ash, which signals proper aging and construction.
An entry level cigar such as a Charatan – Senorita 4 ¾ costs around £3 but only burns on average for 15-20mins. Once lit, cheap cigars tend to burn unevenly and may need frequent relighting. The smoke can feel hot or harsh, sacrificing that smooth experience of its premium counterpart.
Hand rolled vs machine rolled
As the old saying goes, time is money. Cheap cigars are often machine-rolled. This process is fast and efficient, allowing large numbers of cigars to be produced in a short time. While this keeps prices low, it’s not quite the artisanal process that many cigar smokers expect.
Premium cigars are hand-rolled by skilled craftsmen known as torcedores. Rolling a single cigar by hand takes time and experience. Each leaf is carefully selected, positioned and packed to ensure good airflow and an even burn. Because this is done by hand, fewer cigars can be produced each day, but the end result is far more refined.
Assess the cigar
So now you know what to look for in the tobacco, it’s burn time and construction, it’s time to actually look at that cigar because, believe it or not, there are some telltale signs that tell you whether your next smoke is a premium or cheap cigar.
Trust your first impression
Before you even touch the cigar, the packaging offers clues. Lower quality, cheap cigars are often sold loose, in basic bundles or wrapped in thin cellophane with minimal branding. This is a great indicator that you may not be looking at the most premium cigar. The focus is on protection and cost-efficiency rather than experience.
More quality, and more expensive cigars, on the other hand, will come boxed or individually sleeved or tubed. The focus is on your experience well before you can see or light the cigar. Even when cellophane is used, it’s typically thicker and cleaner, with branded bands and consistent labelling.
The presentation reflects the time, craftsmanship and value of what’s inside.
Feel the cigar
One of the quickest giveaways of a lower quality cigar is the feel. By gently squeezing them, it’s easy to feel the difference. Cheap cigars often feel uneven or spongy to the touch, with soft spots that suggest poor construction. On the other hand, expensive cigars tend to feel firm and consistent from head to foot, a sign of carefully packed long-filler tobacco.
Do judge the book by the cover
The wrapper is the outer leaf of the cigar and it plays a big role in both flavour and appearance. But it can also hold small signs as to whether you’re looking at a luxury or lower quality cigar.
Cheap cigars often have dry looking wrappers with visible veins or small cracks. Higher-quality cigars tend to have smoother wrappers that look slightly oily and even in colour, which is a sign the tobacco has been properly aged and handled.
Get smoking
Now you’ve made your judgement, it’s time to get smoking. This is where you’ll truly find out if you’ve chosen a luxury cigar or an every day smoker. Here’s what you should look out for.
The Draw Before You Light
Before lighting the cigar, take a few gentle intakes of breath through it, this is known as a cold draw and will help you check how easily air flows through the cigar.
Cheap cigars often feel tight or blocked at this stage, needing more force to inhale. This can make them hard to smoke once lit. Premium cigars usually have smooth, easy airflow and a clean, neutral taste before lighting, which is a good early sign of quality construction.
Flavour development
Cheap cigars often taste the same from the first puff to the last, with little variation. As they burn down, the flavour can become bitter, sharp or uncomfortably hot on the tongue, which often points to lower-quality tobacco and uneven burning.
Higher-quality cigars develop as you smoke them. They may start out light and smooth, then gradually deepen into richer flavours like wood, spice or coffee, finishing with more warmth and intensity without turning harsh. These changes add depth and make the experience far more engaging. Paired with a robust, well-aged Scotch, it delivers a truly luxurious sensory experience.
Is the price difference worth it?
Cheap cigars are affordable and accessible, but premium cigars justify their higher price through better tobacco, aging, consistency and overall experience. If you value flavour, reliability, and craftsmanship, the difference is clear even without the price tag.
Cheap cigars and expensive cigars serve different purposes. Knowing how to instantly spot the difference helps you choose the right cigar for the moment, your budget and your expectations.
Guest Article written by GQ Tobaccos
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