These Are The 10 Best Cigars Under $10

by Brian Adee  |  in Lifestyle

Picture this: A businessman in a well-tailored suit is headed to his favorite leather armchair, with a glass of 20-year-old Scotch whisky in hand. To complement this smoky spirit, he reaches for a fine cigar.

It’s obvious that this man has refined tastes — and expensive ones, at that.

While the tailored suit, leather chair, and aged whisky would likely put a serious dent in your wallet, take heart: even fine cigars can be surprisingly affordable . In fact, a majority of popular cigars are easily available for under $10 a stick.

In this article, I’ll be putting my 10+ years of cigar selection, service, and smoking to use by introducing you to my 10 favorite cigars under $10 a piece.

Whether you’re an absolute beginner or experienced tobacco enthusiast, I hope to help you explore your tastes in pursuit of discovering your new go-to smoke.

“What’s the most popular cigar size?”

Since the Corona is the “standard” size benchmark that most cigar manufacturers start with, it’s a perfect place for beginners to focus on.

Alternatively, a Robusto will offer a fuller-bodied flavor with a similar smoking time, and is an excellent pick when Coronas aren’t as readily available.

So let’s get into the sticks!

Macanudo Cafe: Best for Beginners

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Coming from the Dominican Republic, Macanudo’s Cafe line might well be the perfect cigar to introduce beginners into the joys of fine tobacco.

Their Corona, the standard size and shape, smokes for around 45 minutes with a pleasantly bright and mildly nutty flavor. It’s the top-selling cigar in the world for good reason.

macanudo cafe - image via cigars international
Macanudo Cafe

Macanudo’s Cafe line might well be the perfect cigar to introduce beginners into the joys of fine tobacco.

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PROFILELight
SHAPECorona
WRAPPERConnecticut
PAIRS WELL WITHMedium-bodied lagers and ales, young bourbons, or gold rum

Romeo y Julieta 1875 Petit Bully: Best 30-Minute Smoke

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Originally a Cuban brand, Romeo y Julieta now resides in the Dominican Republic. Their 1875 is easily the most esteemed offering in their collection, offering a medium-bodied and earthy smoke with a heady aroma of toasted cedar wood.

Go for the Petit Bully if you want a short but interesting smoke with an easy draw.

romeo y julieta - image via cigars international
Romeo y Julieta 1875 Churchill
$170.99 / Box of 25

Their 1875 is easily the most esteemed offering in their collection, offering a medium-bodied and earthy smoke with a heady aroma of toasted cedar wood.

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PROFILEMedium
SHAPEPetite Corona
WRAPPERIndonesian
PAIRS WELL WITHRye whiskey, medium-bodied red wine, or Añejo tequila

5 Vegas Classic: Best Value

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Made in Nicaragua with a dark and oily Sumatran wrapper, the 5 Vegas “Red Label” (pronounced “Cinco Vegas”) is a gentle and medium-bodied hand-rolled cigar that’s available at crazy reasonable prices.

At less than $5 a stick, it’s a pleasantly complex treat that can easily become your go-to weeknight smoke.

5 vegas classic - image via cigars international
5 Vegas Classic

Made in Nicaragua with a dark and oily Sumatran wrapper, the 5 Vegas “Red Label” is a gentle and medium-bodied hand-rolled cigar that’s available at crazy reasonable prices.

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PROFILEMedium
SHAPERobusto
WRAPPERSumatra
PAIRS WELL WITHSingle origin coffee, amber ales, or an old-fashioned

CAO Brazilia Samba: Best Full-Bodied

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One of only a handful of cigars under $10 to use a Brazilian wrapper, the long-aged CAO Brazilia cigars offer stunning complexity with a long and full smoke.

Go for the “Samba”, their torpedo shape, because of its long burn time, intense flavor, and mellow draw.

cao brazilia - image via cigars international
CAO Brazilia
$124.99 / Box of 20

One of only a handful of cigars under $10 to use a Brazilian wrapper, the long-aged CAO Brazilia cigars offer stunning complexity with a long and full smoke.

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PROFILEFull
SHAPETorpedo (corona pictured)
WRAPPERBrazilian, Maduro
PAIRS WELL WITHIslay scotch, stout beer, or a full-bodied Shiraz

CAO Black Churchill: Best Long Smoke

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Before sourcing and producing the Brazilia listed above, CAO was already famous for their Black cigars. Hailing from Honduras, each smoke with a CAO black is a treat — from the creamy vanilla top notes to a long, mellow burn and curiosity-provoking complexity.

I prefer the Churchill, their 7-inch offering that will easily smoke for 90 minutes or more.

CAO Black Churchill - image via cigars international
CAO Black

Hailing from Honduras, each smoke with a CAO black is a treat — from the creamy vanilla top notes to a long, mellow burn and curiosity-provoking complexity.

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PROFILEMedium
SHAPEChurchill
WRAPPEREcuador Connecticut
PAIRS WELL WITHAged bourbons and ryes

La Aroma de Cuba: Most Consistent Draw

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Handmade in Nicaragua from Cuban-seed filler tobacco, La Aroma de Cuba cigars have an almost unbelievably smooth and consistent burn that speaks highly of their craftsmanship.

Drawing evenly throughout the entire smoke, their Corona is a medium-heavy cigar that makes a great daily smoke for anyone that wants a cigar with a little bit more character and flavor.

la aroma de cuba - image via cigars international
La Aroma de Cuba
$140.99 / Box of 24

Handmade in Nicaragua from Cuban-seed filler tobacco, La Aroma de Cuba cigars have an almost unbelievably smooth and consistent burn that speaks highly of their craftsmanship.

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PROFILEMedium to Full
SHAPECorona
WRAPPERConnecticut Broadleaf
PAIRS WELL WITHBelgian ales and dark rums

Rocky Patel Decade Corona: Best Splurge

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Just like fine wine and spirits, cigars are often rated on a 100-point scale by juries in yearly competitions. Honduran producer Rocky Patel already has plenty of 90+ point cigars in their repertoire, but the Decade easily outclasses them all with its rich, complex, and unforgettable flavor.

At just under $50 for a pack of 5 coronas, it’s the priciest cigar on this list.

rocky patel decade - image via cigars international
Rocky Patel Decade
$189.99 / Box of 20

Honduran producer Rocky Patel already has plenty of 90+ point cigars in their repertoire, but the Decade easily outclasses them all with its rich, complex, and unforgettable flavor.

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PROFILEMedium to Full
SHAPECorona
WRAPPERSumatra
PAIRS WELL WITHSingle malt scotch or XO cognac

Ave Maria Immaculata Gordo: Best Large Cigar

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Golden-brown and loaded with rich caramel notes on the smoke, Ave Maria’s Immaculata seems tailor-made for smoking as a big, fat cigar.

It displays a surprising range of flavors from start to finish, with everything from fresh cedar to toast and burnt sugar. With every cigar in this line being hand-rolled, each tasting experience will be subtly different, always keeping you coming back for more.

ave maria immaculata - image via cigars international
Ave Maria Immaculata

Golden-brown and loaded with rich caramel notes on the smoke, Ave Maria’s Immaculata seems tailor-made for smoking as a big, fat cigar.

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PROFILELight to Medium
SHAPEGordo
WRAPPEREcuador Connecticut
PAIRS WELL WITHFull-bodied white wines, VSOP cognac, or Pedro Ximenez sherry

Cohiba Black Pequenos: Best Cigarillos

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Though cigarillos are more commonly associated with low-quality, flavored tobacco products, smoking a small cigar like Cohiba’s Black Pequeno may change your mind about cigarillos altogether.

They’re made with the Black line’s signature espresso-dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers, which impart a rich, sticky, and oily taste and aroma. Excellent for a short smoke any time of day.

cohiba black - image via cigars international
Cohiba Black

Made with the Black line’s signature espresso-dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers, which impart a rich, sticky, and oily taste and aroma. Excellent for a short smoke any time of day.

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PROFILEMedium to Full
SHAPECigarillo
WRAPPERConnecticut Broadleaf
PAIRS WELL WITHDark rum, stout beer, or barrel proof whisky

Diesel Unlimited Maduro Robusto: Best Maduro

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Maduro, meaning “mature” or “ripe” in Spanish, refers to the lengthy aging process necessary to achieve an even, rich texture and color for a cigar’s outer wrapper.

Diesel is an amazing brand all-around, but their Unlimited may be my favorite thanks to its incredibly rich flavor. It’s filled with notes of coffee, chocolate, pepper, and oiled leather, and is a slam dunk for anyone who’s taken a liking to richly flavored cigars.

diesel unlimited - image via cigars international
Diesel Unlimited Maduro

Diesel is an amazing brand all-around, but their Unlimited may be my favorite thanks to its incredibly rich flavor.

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PROFILEFull
SHAPERobusto
WRAPPERMaduro, Pennsylvania Broadleaf
PAIRS WELL WITHMedium-bodied red wines (as a palate cleanser)

Final Thoughts on our Ten Favorite Cigars (Under $10)

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Which of these cigars caught your attention the most?

I’ve personally enjoyed each and every one of them in different settings, and would be happy to smoke any of the 10 cigars in this list at a moment’s notice.

If you have any questions or comments about these cigars, hit us up on Twitter. You can also find join other readers on Effortless Gent’s Facebook page, or DM me on Instagram!

All cigar photos via Cigars International