Here is the sales pitch... I mean story:
To say these are value cigars is an understatement. That phrase sounds like the cigars are basic, economy, or even low-quality. This is the Holy Grail of cigars - a top-quality, factory-direct handmade first made by one of the finest factories in Nicaragua. The brand is Class 34 and this blend is called simply Maduro Blend No. 9. It's medium-bodied, slightly sweet with some spiciness. Gorgeous maduro wrappers, slow burners with ample flavor from head to toe. Basic branding, factory-direct.
Here's the Class 34 story:
Why do some good cigars cost so much – and why so much variation in costs between blends? The answer, which may be obvious, is brand name. I’ll acknowledge there’s some art to cigar making but at this day in age the production itself is more science. Established, accepted processes for growing tobacco, fermentation and pre-industry, and cigar production are more uniformly followed than at any point in history. Innovations are only incremental at this point, as fewer barriers exist with less hidden knowledge than ever before. So any factory that wants to meet the threshold of making quality cigars can.
To make an analogy: there are some objectively bad or inexperienced micro-breweries (not simply makers of beer that doesn’t suit your taste). But these low quality brewers don’t last. Meanwhile quality brewpubs and craft brewers are ubiquitous and you'll find them in every town from Dubuque, IA to Tampa FL to Oxford, MS to Albany, NY. Likewise, there are bad or inexperienced cigar makers, corner-cutters, or factories who choose to specialize in cheap cigars for the “barely premium” value market. Set those aside for a minute. For the rest, with any volume it costs a dime more at the factory level to make a good premium vs. basic handmade…which after taxes landed in the states call it a 20-cent difference. With each additional cent of cost put into the production of a cigar, there’s a quickly diminishing - if not vanishing - incremental increase in quality.
Back to cost, why is it $10, $12 or more a cigar on the shelf? 75-cents might be import taxes and shipping cost. There are middlemen markups. There is often pricing policies where brands mandate that retailers double the price. There are also sales taxes. But mainly, some brands can simply command more – as they count on their marketing spending to capture that premium price, not because it’s any better. These brands often pay retailers co-op and other fees for placement in their store. These costs and markups are all passed to you, and what you get in return is zero. Hence the old saw: “what’s the difference between a $2 cigar and a $12 cigar?” Answer: “10 bucks.”
Today, there is no reason for that. Better cigars need not cost more. Class 34 cigars are straight from factory to you. No middlemen, no inefficiencies, no needless markups.