In response to the thread on AF raising their prices, I mentioned to the group here I posted a list of cigars a while back I thought were better buys for the money. I spent some time today looking for my post in the archives, what a laborious process! I figured it would be easier just post a new list. I started to review my cigar collection pulling out the smokes I felt were just as good as Bauza & AF including the (Hemingway series). I poured myself an espresso and lit up a smoke to guide me through my little challenge. I will list my selection for you to debate but I do want to focus on a new cigar I find to be an outstanding match to AF’s best (less the Opus X which in my opinion is a unique and very distinguishable taste). I’ll get to that in a moment. My selection criteria was simple, List the cigars I felt were as good if not better than AF’s line in 4 critical areas: Taste, smell, quality of construction and price. While all of this of course is subjective, I will tell you price may and will undoubtedly vary for many of you based on your local and access to some of these smokes. With that said I am confident I had comprised a list of cigars that will help the dedicated AF connoisseur find some additional cigars that will not only please the palate, but will please the wallet as well.
Ok, ok enough let’s see the list. Well, I thought about just posting the entire list here, but I wanted to include a summary as to why I felt a particular cigar was selected (and frankly that would have made this already lengthy post even longer). I will post a brief write up on each cigar I’ve selected every day over the next week. This will give this group a day to debate over my choice and crucify me along the way :) I will conclude my selection with the one cigar I feel is the best match up to the Hemingway line by week’s end. Stay tuned.
