Are Drugstore Cigars a Good Buy?

The variety of cigars can be perplexing and many new smokers want to know if it's OK to buy cigars from their local drugstore or chain store?  What is the quality of these cigars?  Can you expect to get decent flavor from these cigars?

While the short answer of course is yes, it's perfectly OK to purchase these cigars, be aware that these packaged cigars are usually of lower quality.  Most 'drugstore' cigars contain preservatives or other non-tobacco components.  Some of the ingredients found in these prepackaged cigars include paper, glycerin, and saltpeter to enhance their shelf life.  Higher quality cigars contain only tobacco. 

To get the best quality cigars, you need to visit a tobacco shop.  While many mail order businesses do carry superior quality cigars, be aware that they usually will not sell singles, therefore you will have to purchase whole boxes. Going to a local tobacco shop allows you to try different types of cigars before settling on a whole box. 

While drugstore cigars represent the bottom of the cigar ladder, the top of the ladder has long been the Cuban cigars.  If you live in the United States, however, Cuban cigars are almost impossible to obtain so let's look a how to get cigars from Cuba