For some reason, the end of summer and fall seems to be the time when I need cigars either to hand out to friends that are not experienced smokers, or to have a cigar on the golf course or boat that I wont regret losing. My yard-gar/mooch price point is about $2 per cigar, so that is what I look for. If you have the same issue, CI has a couple of deals going on right now.
Grand Habanos, especially the Corojo Vintage 2002, have always been a good "mooch" cigar. Easy smoking, good flavor, nice looking (especially with the cedar sleeve on the 2002's) and don't last a super long time. Perfect for the non-or-occasional-
cigar smoking friend or guest that wants to "join in" and something that is not a tragedy if lost on the links or the lake.
CI is having a sale on a number of GH's right now, including free shipping on your entire order if you buy a box of several of the blends. If you are planning an order of other cigars at CI that do not include shipping, then grabbing a box of these might be a good deal for you. They are ranging from $1.75 to $2.50 a cigar when you buy a box, some blends with free shipping, some not, so check before you buy.
Also on sale is this board's infamous friend, La Perla Habana. The once noble Marado is $60 for a box of 20 (robusto) plus for $5 dollars you get 12 more LPH cigars. That's just a hair over $2 per which is what I used to pay for them here with shipping the last time I ordered any.
I know the violent reaction many have to the Marado since what they sell now is not the same cigar that earned the "93 Rating" they boast about, and it is not anywhere near as good as its predecessor. But I always accepted them for what they are (now) - a decent long filler yard-gar that doesn't explode or crumble and gives a decent - if not terribly long lasting - smoke.
This price does not include shipping (its $7) so if I were to grab this deal, it would only if I were getting free shipping some other way.
If you prefer to bid, there are 15 of the Belicoso size Marado's up right now on "free-fall" that I have seen go as low as $27 with $5.50 shipping (before any combined shipping discount). Again, if you had another order you were planning on anyway, then that would take these below the $2 price point. There are standard auctions going on for the Marado with a higher per-cigar bid price and some of the other LPH blends going for under $2 as well.
For me, I am stocked up pretty well and will be going to Italy for a month soon so not needing to order any of these, but thought I would pass it along for others facing the mooch-season
