Cheap Bastard, Funny Name, OK Smoke

I know for certain that I would never have bought this cigar.  That is until after I smoked it.  I was given this cigar, one each in the maduro and sumatra at a recent trade show.  And, I’ll admit to being skeptical.  I heard the story of how it came about from the cigar makers, some people from southern California who own a retail shop.  they told me that several of their customers would come in looking for a ‘cheap’ cigar.  They always referred to those folks as cheap bastards.  But, since business is business they went looking for a cigar that would be good value for the short money.  When they couldn’t find just the right cigar, they had it made.  And, of course, named it Cheap Bastard.

When you first look at the cigar the thing that sticks out is that it is pre-punched.  While that is something usually found in machine made cigars, I’m assured that this is rolled by hand.  I smoked the maduro, and it had a single dark wrapper that while not perfect was more than serviceable.  The cigar lit easily and drew well.

The cigar was hot when I first lit, but cooled down quickly.  The first flavors were a woodsy hay or barnyard taste, not unpleasant but not refined or subtle.  I would call this a breakfast or mild cigar.  The ash held fairly well even though I was smoking this as I was driving and looking for alligators.  (Probably appropriate for the cigar.)

These cigars come in a box of 50 for around $100.  That’s just two bucks a stick, making it a real value.  There was a consistent flavor and nice smoke.  If someone is looking for an inexpensive cigar to smoke while playing golf or doing yard work this just might be it.