Cigar Aficionado

Life seems to get more and more expensive each year, so it’s comforting to know that you can still get a highly rated, handmade cigar for only a few bucks. In 2016, we rated nearly 50 smokes that scored 88 points or higher but cost $6 or less (before taxes). Our list includes offerings from the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Cuba—even two of our Top 25 cigars. They come in a range of shapes and sizes, with a considerable number of familiar brand names. And while some of these cigars are small, like the 4-inch-long Arturo Fuente Short Story, there are a few large Churchills that made the grade, two from Alec Bradley Cigars and one from Oliva Cigar Co. Cigar fans on a budget, take notice: affordable luxury is alive and well.

—David Clough