Buy the same cigar, in the same size and box count, from the most expensive online store instead of the cheapest, and you pay about 29% more for it. That is the headline number in CigarFinder's Cigar Price Index.
Overall, the ATL La Carrousel 1960 Gran Toro was a solid but ultimately uncomplicated cigar. The first third offered the most complexity, particularly with the interplay between sweet tobacco, wood, chocolate and evolving pepper. The cigar never fell apart, but it gradually became more linear as it progressed, with bitterness and tannins becoming more noticeable toward the end.
I like the Patina Connecticut Copper. It has a good flavor profile that has depth and complexity. There is not a ton of transitioning, but there are shifts in the flavor profile throughout the cigar that help deliver a good experience. The body and strength match with the flavor profile, and this is a cigar that will speak to many smokers. With a great burn and draw, this is a cigar I will come back to in the future.
The CAO America Monument had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around the earth and toasted cedar. The bitter construction paper wasn't the greatest addition, but the pepper and creaminess helped to balance it out a bit. Overall, not a cigar that really speaks to me and not something I'd see myself really coming back to.
The La Aurora Family Creed Series Perseverancia Box-Pressed Robusto is a good little cigar, and I don’t think I would have this blend in another vitola. The cigar would either lose its qualities with a larger ring gauge and/or be too much for me to even smoke. Great flavors of rich earth, leather, warm spices and pepper.
The Curivari Gran Reserva Edición 2025 552 is an average cigar. It has a good start, but the second and final third don’t deliver the qualities in the first. The flavors don’t completely fall off, but they go down just enough to take away from this cigar being good. I am not sure if this is a cigar I would seek out, but depending on the blend, I can see myself picking one up to try again down the road.
The Apostate The Liahona delivered a profile built around sweet tobacco, musty wood and restrained earth, with very good balance from the outset. The first third was the most complex portion of the experience, showcasing a pleasant combination of sweetness and musty wood that closely mirrored the aromas from the pre-light inspection. While the profile was enjoyable, it never developed much beyond those core flavors.
The Don Pepín García Clásico 20th Anniversary is an average to good cigar. I enjoy the flavor profile, but with a cigar of this size, it needs more depth and complexities. The flavor profile in general would be great in a smaller offering, but with a cigar of this size I need some transitioning. I am interested in the blend and brand, but I would definitely come back to this cigar.
The EGM Ninfa managed to maintain enough flavor interest to earn a Good overall rating. The combination of unusual paper and cardboard notes with strong baking spices, black pepper, bread and sweet tobacco made this a cigar that was more memorable than its construction issues might otherwise suggest.
The Fermin Perez Classic Connecticut Toro is a dependable and well-executed cigar. It may not push boundaries in terms of complexity, but it delivers a consistently balanced and enjoyable experience, making it a solid choice when you’re looking for something reliable and easygoing.