Judging a cigar by it's band

[Bull Moose]

Hello Brothers, so I gots a question for y'all. Has the band on a cigar ever affected your decision to purchase that stick over one that didn't look as fancy?

I ask because some of my favorite cigars (minus the Padron anniversary) have had a pretty mediocre band design. Take the Aurora Pref. Robusto for example. I'm not a big fan of the band, but man is that a tasty smoke.

Perhaps this is something that's a problem with many who are new to cigars? What do you guys think?

I can't help but think of Gurkha every time I think of well placed marketing and fancy bands that attempt to make the cigar look nicer than it is.

 

[smokingIsh]

You would probably be surprised how many buy a cigar because the band is pretty. I think you will find on here that most will tell you they do a little research before investing in a smoke, especially if it carries a decent price tag. I think the band buyers are those that come into a shop that do not smoke regularly.

 

[openendstraight]

no, look at Tatuaje. Sorry Pete nothing against your bands, but they are not an attention getter. But the smokes are great.

I am not sayinf I never did it, but not since I smoke on a regular basis.

 

[Swampfox21]

I noticed i did this alot when i first started smokin... now i know beter

 

[smokemifugotem]

no, look at Tatuaje. Sorry Pete nothing against your bands, but they are not an attention getter. But the smokes are great.

I am not sayinf I never did it, but not since I smoke on a regular basis.

I would have never tried a Tat if it was not for you guys talking about them so much...I have been to my B&M a few hundred times and never noticed them...
Now they are my current favorite smoke...And at that same token...I have purchased Acid's before because of how they merchandise, and been extremely disappointed...

 

[VillageIdiot]

I've come close to doing that. There was a deal on Oliveros El Padrino. The bands are pretty cool and the price wasn't bad, but I've only smoked one Oliveros in the past and it sucked. I couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger.

 

[smokinghole]

Speaking of fancy bands. I burned a La Aurora Puro Vintage tonight. It was okay it had a familiarity to the 100anos (version of blend from what I heard) but with a slight bitterness. That could have been due to everything else I had smoked today though. Oh the other hand the Camacho Triple maddie I'm smoking right now tastes just fine so I think the LA needs some aging time maybe. Talk about a spendy cigar with a fancy band those puro vintage thank god I in on a cheap box split for them.

 

[cigarguy71]

In my case it doesn't matter. But when my kids go to buy me b-day, x-mas and etc. my daughter 10 knows what i like. On the other hand my son 7 looks for neat bands. My wife asks what the best. So in the long run it works pretty good for me.

 

[Craig Mac]

no, look at Tatuaje. Sorry Pete nothing against your bands, but they are not an attention getter. But the smokes are great.

You know, that is exactly what I was thinking while reading the OP. I am not trying to diss either but the Tats and El T's have paper like bands that don't peel off very easily. I have never bought a stick because of the band, but I am guilty of buying a few sticks because of the "hype" involved with it.

 

[Moro]

Yes. Thankfully I have been lucky, and have not bought many bad ones out of this!

 

[BGC]

If Gurkha didn't spend so much on bands and fancy boxes their cigars would be cheaper.

You said it about the Tatuaje's basic bands great smoke.

 

[bohizzle]

I am not a band buyer. I think when I first started I may have but not now!!! I know what I like!!!

 

[njstone]

It's funny, Bull Mooose, but the two bands you mention (the Padron Anny and LA Preferidos) are both what I'd call good bands, lol. When I think of "bad" bands, I think of Tatuaje, some cheaper Rocky Patels, regular-line Padrons, most Fuentes (because you cant tell what frickin' cigar it is!!), and most Cubans.

Obviously, we all know not to judge a cigar by the band. I personally have never purchased a cigar because of a cool band, but I may have second-guessed a purchase based on a cheap/bad looking band. When a cigar I like has a crappy band, I almost feel I need to explain to someone I'm giving it to that it really is a good cigar.

I had never heard of Tatuaje before checking out this forum. Then when I went to my local, I realized that I had seen them for years, but never took notice of them because the bands looked very cheap and the smokes were pricey.

Before I smoked regularly, I judged a cigar EXCLUSIVELY by it's wrapper. I only smoked maduros then, and wanted a dark and oily wrapper with a good aroma. Sometimes this meant a good cigar, sometimes not. The best cigar I smoked before last year was a big $12 maduro from a casino...took 3 hours to smoke, was delicious, and I was totally stoned by the 2/3 mark, lol. I had to keep sitting down. I have no idea what cigar it was, sadly. I'd probably consider it a yard gar if I tried it now, lol, especially because now I know how much places like that mark up their sticks.

 

[cba191]

It's funny, Bull Mooose, but the two bands you mention (the Padron Anny and LA Preferidos) are both what I'd call good bands, lol. When I think of "bad" bands, I think of Tatuaje, some cheaper Rocky Patels, regular-line Padrons, most Fuentes (because you cant tell what frickin' cigar it is!!), and most Cubans.

what is the deal with fuentes? i got a couple that i have no idea what they are! i have some with green ribbons and some with black ribbons. and i have no idea what they are!

 

[hdroadglide]

what is the deal with fuentes? i got a couple that i have no idea what they are! i have some with green ribbons and some with black ribbons. and i have no idea what they are!

check vitolas website. the ribbons indicate the wrapper. black = sungrown, etc.

 

[CoolP]

I'm new to this, and for me I am currently going by size and hype. I didn't by the tatuaje Noella because of the size, but since 99% of brothers here rave about them, I'll probably give in and purchase some in a couple of months. I'm still experimenting.
Someones tag has a churchill quote "I am easily satisfied with the very best" I agree with that. The problem is you have to know what is bad before you know what is good.

 

[Señor Maduro]

I admit I've been guilty of buying band over cigar simply because I love the work that goes into the bands. :innocent:

 

[Bull Moose]

I can say that the reason I discovered the Padron Anni's is because I loved the band when I was still in high school. I went to a private school so unfortunately appearances were EVERYTHING during those years.

I can happily say that some cigars definitely live up to their bands. All the higher end Padrons kick some serious ass, and even though I've heard mixed reviews on the Partagas Ltd. Decadas I think that the glass tube and special banding does live up to the quality of that smoke (I'll be reviewing one soon just to see how it stacks up!).

Also, even though the Illusione sticks have a very similar band design to the Tatuaje's since it's white and black it stands out more and looks classier to me.

All in all, I consider it a nice bonus when the cigar lives up to its band design, but it bothers me when I feel like a company fancies up the design to cover for a poor quality cigar (cough cough Gurkha cough)

 

[BGC]

I don't think the Gurkhas are bad stogies although a bit overpriced sometimes you can get em at a decent price depending on shop owner.

 

[Zen Cigar Man]

Lorax and I did a little experiment on our blogs on this same subject. Check it out:

http://zencigar.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/three-blind-sticks-the-blind-review-challenge/

My post will link to all of the other posts.