Does a good band design increase your trust in a cigar?

If I see a cigar whose band is particularly appealing, I'm very likely to try that cigar, provided of course that the cigar itself looks tasty. But if the band doesn't really peak my interest, I can probably find something wrong with the cigar too.

Take for example Bucanero Maduro Clasico. To me that has a really attractive band. Most CAO bands I like as well.

Anyway, just wondering if that's just me or if others think this way as well.

I find myself doing this too! For some reason, the simple red-and-gold or red-and-white bands (like most of the old Cuban lines have, like Romeo, H Upmann, Punch, etc.) really turns me on to cigars. I also love La Gloria Cubanas because of the band (but the taste is awesome too), and the only reason I ever tried one was because the band liked so nice.

I just had a La Perla Habana, and the smoke was great, but I was so reluctant to try one because I didn't really like the band art.

I think we all probably do that.
I find that I tend to look at the construction and the band. If both look good, I have more of a tendancy to want that cigar.
But then again, there are ones that looked good and had a cool band, but I didn't care for.
I do like the designs of some of the old style bands and the bands that are plain, yet classy like the AVO bands.
The Bucanero is a neat, clean design, the Bolivar Habana is a nice design that looks "proper" on the cigar. Not sure why, but it just does to me.
To me, there are some that have bands that are a bit overdone. Too much flash, too cluttered.
I guess it is a personal preferance thing. 🙂

I know what you mean, Zero. I love Pirate's Gold Maduro for a good, cheap, daily smoke...but man their band is just way too flashy!

If the band enhances an already attractive cigar, it will influence me. If the cigar is gnarly looking, the band won't help, no matter how good it looks.

ikonoklast7 --- FYI, Doug Wood, who founded La Perla Habana Cigars in 1996, dove into history for his inspiration on the art work for his label and cigar band art.

“I’ve been a collector of cigar label art for awhile,” he recollects, “and the old La Perla Habana label was probably the most coveted one in history. It’s very rare, and I’d been determined to find it, and finally did at an auction in ‘96.

The label is a turn-of-the-century German lithograph, very detailed, very ornate, with lots of gold and bronzing powder, and 26 different colors. Even the hair of the girl in the illustration is embossed so you can see the waves. I registered the artwork and began production of the cigars.”

In people terms, this is called the halo effect.

People are generally more favorable to people that are considered attractive, and people that are taller.

Gotta love marketing!!!

Now I see why unbanded taste tests are a valid way to test product.

When I think of cigars I would've passed on because they don't have a particular band or box...I wouldn't have found my all-time faves!

If you like artwork, then buy a print. If you like cigars...then buy cigars you like. Confusing the two are what marketing weenies are for. Ever see a Helix? Nice band, nice wrapper, but I'd rather smoke an incense stick than ever put one of those close to my lips again!

Cresta Rey and La Aroma de Cuba have some nice art work and tasty too.......

Same goes for some of the boxes out there....very nice.

Author: DrMaddVibe Date: 09/29/2003 11:32 AM

Ever see a Helix? Nice band, nice wrapper, but I'd rather smoke an incense stick than ever put one of those close to my lips again!


^ LOL DMV

I don't know if band design makes a difference. I have picked up a number of excellent ISOMS that have rather bland looking bands except for the Bolivars.

I smoked an R.J. ISOM a couple days ago. The band didn't give me any indication that I was going to endure temporary brain damage. It should have had a radiation warning label or something.

Lone Wolf should just have a small piece of toilet paper wrapped around it.

It would be cool if band quality was indicative of cigar quality, but it just isn't the case. I sometimes think that manufacturers who spend a ton of money on design, and marketing, tend to not have invested wisely in the quality of their product.

My all-time favorite is the Monte #2 ISOM, and it has just about the plainest band in the market. So, I'd say that just like not judging a book by its cover, don't put too much emphasis on the band.

...cigman

Down with bland bands. I like La Aroma de Cuba's band, but the cigar itself is not a personal favorite. OTOH, IMHO, the greatest looking band in the world is on the Diamond Crown Maximus, and that's a great cigar.

Cigar bands can be very cool and they do attract me to a cigar, ONCE. If I don't like the cigar I won't smoke another. Actually, as I get older I try fewer and fewer new cigars anyway, unless they come highly recommended by someone who's opinion I trust. Life's too short to smoke $hitty cigars.
And La Perla bands IMHO are very classy, like the paintings you find on old porcelain.