Inflation Buster – Cigar Snob Magazine

INFLATION BUSTER: 9 Excellent Smokes From $10 to $16

Erik Calvino — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 20:00:00 +0000

Tax cuts have been promised, but so have tariffs. Either way, prices are still in the stratosphere, so here are six highly rated smokes that won’t break the bank. We dove back three years to find cigars rated 92, updated their prices to today’s MSRP, then grouped them; under $10, $10 to $13, and $13 to $16.

Cigars Under $10

Aladino Classic

Honduras

MSRP: $7.50 Rating: 92

Wrapper: Honduras; Binder: Honduras; Filler: Honduras
Vitola: Corona; Length: 5; Ring: 44

Impeccably balanced with a combination of cedar, nuts, and sweet cream complemented by a touch of spice. This mild to medium strength short corona is covered with a thin, light brown wrapper showing slight veins.

La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor

Nicaragua

MSRP: $9.50 Rating: 92

Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Magnifico; Length: 6; Ring: 52

An ultra-flavorful, box-pressed toro covered with a medium to dark brown wrapper with excellent oils. Delivers a medium strength core of pepper, oak, and earth accompanied by a hint of vanilla on the finish. Consistently draws and burns exceptionally well.

Plasencia Reserva Original

Honduras

MSRP: $9.60 Rating: 92

Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Corona; Length: 6 1/4; Ring: 44

Impeccably blended and consistently well-constructed, this medium strength corona delivers a profile of sweet cedar, pepper, and marzipan complemented by a touch of tanned leather and a floral note. Draws perfectly and leaves behind a solid, compact ash.

Cigars $10 to $13

Umbagog

Nicaragua

MSRP: $10.25 Rating: 92

Wrapper: USA; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Robusto Plus; Length: 5; Ring: 52

Beautifully pressed and finished with a flawless, milk chocolate colored wrapper, this medium plus toro delivers a well-balanced core of roasted nuts, cinnamon, and smooth pepper accompanied by subtle touches of caramel and sweet cream.

Romeo y Julieta Res. Real Nica

Nicaragua

MSRP: $12.05 Rating: 92

Wrapper:Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Magnum; Length: 6; Ring: 60

A beautifully balanced blend with notes of pepper, roasted almonds, cocoa powder, and cinnamon accompanied by hints of sweet spice and earth. Impeccably constructed and covered with a clean, medium brown wrapper. Draws and burns perfectly while leaving behind a solid, compact ash.

Black Label Trading Last Rites

Nicaragua

MSRP: $12.80 Rating: 92

Wrapper:Ecuador; Binder: Honduras; Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua
Vitola: Robusto; Length: 5; Ring: 54

A neatly pressed robusto covered with a dark, oily wrapper with a velvet feel. This medium plus strength blend is smooth and flavorful with a core of roasted nuts, mocha, caramel, and soft pepper complemented by a subtle earth note in the background and a creamy textured finish.

Cigars $13 to $16

Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Res. Mad

Nicaragua

MSRP: $14.75 Rating: 92

Wrapper:Mexico; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Toro; Length: 6; Ring: 54

Firmly packed and covered with a dark, evenly colored, oily wrapper with a toothy feel. This balanced and complex blend builds to full strength along a firm draw and slow burn producing notes of sweet pepper, cedar, molasses, and mocha cream.

Rocky Patel A.L.R Second Edition

Nicaragua

Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Robusto; Length: 5 1/2; Ring: 50

Flawlessly box-pressed and covered with a dark, reddish brown wrapper with minimal veins. This firmly packed robusto produces an excellent smoke output loaded with flavors of cocoa, deep pepper, and oak complemented by notes of roasted almonds, caramel, and a hint of cream.

Villiger Miami

Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Dominican Republic; Filler: Dominican Republic
Vitola: Laguito No.1; Length: 7 1/2; Ring: 38

Click HERE to check out more cigars!

INFLATION BUSTER: 9 Excellent Smokes Under $12

Erik Calvino — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Not all Inflation Busters were created equal. This one is a compilation of 92 and 93 rated cigars with an MSRP of $12 or below. The kicker is that all but 3 of these blends have appeared in our annual Top 25 list at one point or another in that exact vitola and one of them, the Espinosa Laranja Escuro, was Cigar of the Year.

Laranja Reserva Escuro

Nicaragua

MSRP: $11.45 Rating: 94

Wrapper: Brazil; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Toro; Length: 6; Ring: 52

Opens with a flavorful core of espresso, dark chocolate, and smooth pepper accompanied by notes of molasses, oak, and subtle vanilla. This impeccably box-pressed toro produces an excellent output of thick, aromatic smoke. Medium plus strength.

LFD Double Press

Dominican Republic

MSRP: $10.20 Rating: 93

Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Dominican Republic; Filler: Dominican Republic
Vitola: Toro; Length: 6; Ring: 52

Impeccably pressed and covered with an oily wrapper with a velvet feel. This medium bodied toro delivers a profile of nuts, cedar, and sweet cream balanced by notes of smooth pepper and a touch of baking spice. Draws and burns exceptionally well.

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos

Dominican Republic

MSRP: $10.80 Rating: 93

Wrapper: Cameroon; Binder: Dominican Republic; Filler: Dominican Republic
Vitola: Robusto; Length: 5; Ring: 50

Balanced and creamy with a profile of nuts, sweet cedar, and soft spice complemented by a touch of cinnamon. This medium strength robusto draws and burns beautifully while leaving behind a solid, compact ash.

Fonseca by My Father

Nicaragua

MSRP: $11.30 Rating: 93

Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Cedros; Length: 6 1/4; Ring: 52

An impeccably balanced blend covered with a clean, supple wrapper with excellent sheen. This smooth, medium strength robusto delivers a core of cedar, almond, cocoa, and smooth pepper accompanied by notes of caramel and cream on the finish.

Aganorsa – Rare Leaf Reserve

Nicaragua

MSRP: $11.50 Rating: 93

Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Robusto; Length: 5 1/4; Ring: 52

A powerful and flavorful robusto with a complex profile of cedar, roasted coffee, cashew, cocoa, and smooth pepper accompanied by a hint of honey on the finish. This slow burning, thick robusto leaves behind a solid, darkish gray ash.

Cavalier Genéve White Series

Honduras

MSRP: $9.25 Rating: 92

Wrapper: Honduras; Binder: USA/Connecticut; Filler: Paraguay, Nicaragua, & DR
Vitola: Elegantes; Length: 4 1/2; Ring: 52

A consistently well-constructed, short robusto covered with a clean, light brown wrapper and finished with a tight pigtail. Produces an excellent smoke output and leaves behind a solid, compact ash while delivering a medium bodied profile of nuts, spice, and cedar with a creamy finish.

Rocky Patel Number 6

Honduras

MSRP: $9.85 Rating: 92

Wrapper: Honduras; Binder: Honduras; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Corona; Length: 6; Ring: 44

Creamy and rich with a profile of cedar, cinnamon, roasted almonds, and a touch of smooth pepper. Delivers an excellent output of thick, aromatic smoke with a bright, clean finish. Medium strength.

Gurkha Nicaragua Series

Nicaragua

MSRP: $9.95 Rating: 92

Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Toro; Length: 6; Ring: 54

A flavorful blend that opens with smooth pepper and cedar accompanied by notes of cocoa, toasted oak, and a hint of salted nuts. This medium-plus strength toro is finished with a clean wrapper with a velvet feel

Herrera Esteli Norteño

Nicaragua

MSRP: $10.25 Rating: 92

Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Honduras; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Toro Especial; Length: 6; Ring: 50

Finished with a soft box-press, this flavorful blend is covered with a dark brown wrapper with a slightly toothy feel. Medium bodied with a balanced profile of earth, soft pepper, and wood accompanied by notes of cocoa, roasted nuts, and a hint of coffee.

Click HERE to check out more cigars!

INFLATION BUSTER: Nine Great Cigars Under $7

Erik Calvino — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 14:00:00 +0000

The White House can deny it all they want but your bank account balance at the end of the month doesn’t lie. Therefore our Inflation Buster series rolls on with a group of smokes that garnered ratings of 90 or higher with an MSRP of $7 or below. For obvious reasons, state taxes were not taken into account.

Oliva Serie G

Nicaragua

MSRP: $6.56 Rating: 91

Wrapper: Cameroon; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Torpedo; Length: 6 1/2; Ring: 52

Opens with tons of dark chocolate, earth, and smooth pepper complemented by notes of roasted nuts, cedar, and a rich, leather aroma. This square-pressed torpedo draws and burns impeccably while producing a excellent smoke output. Medium strength.

Joya Black

Nicaragua

MSRP: $6.70 Rating: 91

Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Nocturno; Length: 6 1/4; Ring: 46

A well-balanced blend with a flavorful profile of earth, dark chocolate,
black cherry, and roasted nuts accompanied by a touch of spice.
Produces an excellent smoke output and leaves behind a beautiful,
compact ash.

Epic New Wave Connecticut

Dominican Republic

MSRP: $6.95 Rating: 91

Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua & DR
Vitola: Brillantes; Length: 5; Ring: 50

Creamy and ultra-flavorful with a profile of white pepper, wood, and caramel accompanied by a rich aroma of leather. This consistently well constructed robusto provides a firm draw and leaves behind a light gray ash. Medium bodied.

Diesel Sunday Gravy

Nicaragua

MSRP: $4.99 Rating: 90

Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: San Marzano; Length: 6; Ring: 54

Delivers a flavorful medium bodied profile with a combination of sweet and savory spices including cayenne pepper, cardamom, and cumin balanced by subtle notes of sweet cedar, molasses, and a touch of dried fruit. Consistently well-constructed delivering a flawless draw and burn.

Charter Oak Connecticut

Nicaragua

MSRP: $6.10 Rating: 90

Wrapper: USA/Connecticut; Binder: Indonesia; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Rothschild; Length: 4 1/2; Ring: 50

Covered with a thin, light brown wrapper with a velvet feel, this mild to medium bodied robusto provides an easy draw with an excellent smoke output. Delivers a core of earth, smooth pepper, cashew, and a touch of cocoa powder.

Zino Nicaragua

Honduras

MSRP: $6.50 Rating: 90

Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua & DR
Vitola: Robusto; Length: 5 ; Ring: 54

Covered with a clean and neatly applied light brown wrapper. This medium bodied robusto delivers notes of red pepper, savory spices, earth, and subtle hazelnut complemented by a sweet almond cream finish. Impeccably constructed leaving behind a solid, compact ash.

Crowned Heads Juarez

Nicaragua

MSRP: $6.95 Rating: 90

Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Ecuador; Filler: Nicaragua & DR
Vitola: Jack Brown; Length: 5 ; Ring: 56

Well-constructed and flavorful, this medium strength robusto provides a perfect draw producing an abundant smoke output with notes of bitter cocoa, molasses, and earth balanced by a ripe fruit sweetness on the finish.

JFR Corojo

Nicaragua

MSRP: $6.99 Rating: 90

Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Super Toro; Length: 6 1/2; Ring: 52

Consistently well constructed, this medium plus bodied blend is covered with velvet smooth wrapper, topped with a tight pigtail, and finished with a covered foot. Delivers flavors of sweet cedar, soft pepper, baking spices, and roasted nuts.

HVC Pan Caliente

Honduras

MSRP: $7.00 Rating: 90

Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Double Corona; Length: 5 5/8; Ring: 46

A flavorful thick corona with a balanced core of earth, smooth pepper, and roasted nuts complemented by a subtle note of sweet wood. Draws and burns impeccably while producing a generous smoke output and leaving behind a light gray ash.

Click HERE to check out more cigars!

INFLATION BUSTER: 9 Cigars under $9

Erik Calvino — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 14:00:00 +0000

With prices skyrocketing across the board, we thought we’d throw you a lifeline by showcasing 9 of the best bargains from the last 3 years of our ratings. Only cigars that were rate 91 or above with a size of 5 by 50 or larger we chosen. All prices are based on current MSRP. Taxes are not taken into account.

AJ Fernandez Dias de Gloria

Nicaragua

MSRP: $9.00 Rating: 93

Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Short Churchill; Length: 6 1/2; Ring: 48

Consistently delivers a flavorful combination of roasted nuts, cocoa powder, and tanned leather balanced by deep pepper and a touch of wood. Impeccably constructed and covered with a reddish brown wrapper with excellent oils. Full bodied.

Casa Magna Jalapa Claro

Nicaragua

MSRP: $7.42 Rating: 92

Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Toro; Length: 6; Ring: 50

Delivers a classic profile loaded with nuts, spice, cedar, and cream complemented by a rich aroma of tanned leather. Box-pressed and covered with a light brown wrapper with excellent sheen. Medium strength.

My Father La Gran Oferta

Nicaragua

MSRP: $8.10 Rating: 92

Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Robusto; Length: 5; Ring: 50

Loaded with intense flavors of dark chocolate, dark roast coffee, and pepper complemented by sweet earth and a ripe fruit sweetness in the background. This full strength blend is impeccably constructed and covered with a dark, toothy wrapper with excellent oils.

Curivari Ciclope

Nicaragua

MSRP: $8.50 Rating: 92

Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: 652; Length: 6; Ring: 52

A beautifully made, soft-pressed blend, covered with a dark, reddish brown wrapper with excellent oils. This medium plus strength toro is flavorful and rich with notes of dark chocolate, sweet cedar, and almond cream balanced by a touch of wood and spice.

Oliva Serie V

Nicaragua

MSRP: $8.61 Rating: 92

Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Lancero; Length: 7; Ring: 38

Loaded with flavors of chocolate, smooth pepper, and espresso accompanied by a rich aroma of cedar, nougat, and leather. This medium plus strength lancero draws and burns flawlessly while leaving behind a solid, compact ash.

Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut

Nicaragua

MSRP: $8.75 Rating: 92

Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Robusto; Length: 5 1/4; Ring: 50

Complex and perfectly balanced with a core of pepper, caramel, cedar, coffee, and a bit of cinnamon spice. Features superb construction and a velvet textured wrapper neatly finished in a pressed format. Medium plus strength.

Padrón Series Natural

Nicaragua

MSRP: $7.83 Rating: 91

Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Churchill; Length: 6 7/8; Ring: 46

H. Upmann 1844 Añejo

Honduras

MSRP: $8.38 Rating: 91

Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: USA; Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua & D.R.
Vitola: Magnum; Length: 6; Ring: 60

A well-balanced blend covered with a clean, milk chocolate colored wrapper with a velvet feel. This medium strength gran toro has notes of wood, sweet spice, and leather complemented by a rich, almond cream flavor throughout.

A. Fuente Magnum R

Dominican Republic

MSRP: $8.75 Rating: 91

Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Dominican Republic; Filler: Dominican Republic
Vitola: R 52; Length: 5; Ring: 52

Covered with a supple, light brown wrapper with only the slightest veins showing, the blend delivers a beautifully balanced profile of cedar, nuts, cinnamon, and soft spice with an excellent draw and an even burn. Medium strength.