In the world of fine cigars, discussing “value for money” might seem unnecessary. Cigars are inherently luxury items—indulgences that represent sophistication and refined taste. However, even within this exclusive sphere, there are limits, and some cigars surpass the usual expectations when it comes to pricing.

The Selection By Meerapfel – La Estancia

Price: £53.00

Starting this list off with a rather tame choice, we have the La Estancia cigars from Meerapfel. These cigars aren’t really that pricey, and they are in fact very good, but they just about meet the criteria, so here we are. Presentation-wise, these cigars are beautiful with their triple band, and the boxes are well-made too, so on the surface, you’d think, “Why on earth is this cigar on here?”

Well, it’s because although they are Meerapfel cigars, they’re not really Meerapfel cigars in a sense. They used to be called Meerapfel a little while ago, but then they changed the branding to “The Selection,” and they’re supposedly more of a budget brand compared to what Meerapfel cigars usually are.

When you look at Meerapfel cigars, they can be considered a luxury brand. This is down to the presentation, craftsmanship, and heritage. The Meerapfel family has been in the tobacco industry for arguably around 400 years, with historically strong ties to Cuba and stockpiles of vintage Cuban tobacco at their disposal. Put that all together, and you have a luxury brand that produces beautiful cigars.

The Selection, on the other hand, mostly produces more budget-focused cigars, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. The problem is that La Estancia sits in an awkward place: it’s priced a lot higher than many of the cigars The Selection produces, without truly bearing the Meerapfel name. In fact, a Meerapfel Robusto costs around £55, while a La Estancia is roughly £53—so the difference isn’t huge. Personally, I’d rather spend that little bit extra and purchase a proper Meerapfel cigar, or spend a more appropriate amount on something like the Maestranza.

Plasencia Alma del Fuego Ometepe Edición Limitada 2024

Price: £80.00

The first Plasencia cigar I ever bought was on August 1, 2018, and I fell in love with the brand almost immediately. Since then, I’ve tried many of their cigars, and almost all have been fantastic. Up until recently, they were never expensive in my experience, but Plasencia has started releasing more and more pricey options. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, the problem is that their less expensive cigars are already among the best ever produced.

Take the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Salomones, for example. It’s probably one of the best cigars anyone has ever made for a number of reasons. First, it’s objectively beautiful—this cigar is just gorgeous. It has a unique box-pressed body, but the head is a conventional pyramide shape, so you get the box-pressed benefits without the awkward feel of a rectangular shape in your mouth. Plus, it’s a complex, well-crafted, flavor-intense smoke. It has never disappointed me, and ever since I purchased my first one back in 2018, I’ve been in love with it.

This is where the problem arises. When you start out with such an incredible cigar, it’s really tough to top. So when Plasencia releases new cigars that cost significantly more, I can’t help but wonder why. The Alma Fuerte series is already near perfect, so anything beyond it basically requires you to forget how good these are in order to justify paying more. Once again, I don’t think Plasencia is doing anything wrong, but for the same price as their latest limited-edition cigar, I can buy two—maybe even three—Alma Fuerte cigars, which are already some of the best cigars on the market.

Fuente y Padrón Legends

Price: $178.00

The Fuente y Padrón Legends collaboration is a fascinating project born out of mutual respect between two of the most iconic families in the cigar world. Priced at $7,115 per box—or roughly $178 per cigar—it’s undeniably a cigar for those with deep pockets.

However, unlike some of the other high-priced cigars on this list, this one comes with a compelling caveat: all profits go to charity. Both the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation and the Padrón Family Foundation will benefit directly from sales of the Legends, meaning your purchase is supporting schools, healthcare, and community programs in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. There’s a genuine argument here for value beyond the cigar itself.

But let’s not get carried away. For the same price, you could simply buy a top-tier Fuente and Padrón cigar separately and still have plenty left over to donate generously to charity. You’d enjoy two world-class cigars and make a difference—while keeping your finances more intact.

The Legends collaboration is undeniably significant, representing a heartfelt tribute to the late patriarchs of these storied families. The cigars themselves, split evenly between Fuente and Padrón craftsmanship, are bound to impress even the most discerning aficionados. But is it worth paying $178 per stick for a box of 40? Maybe—if you value history, charity, and exclusivity over practicality.

Cohiba Behike

Price: £300 – £600

The Cohiba Behike cigars were first introduced at the Habanos Festival almost 15 years ago, in February 2010. They were always meant to be an exclusive line of the flagship brand, so it’s understandable that they’d cost more than standard Cohibas. However, in recent years, their prices have ballooned to ridiculous levels. For instance, the smallest in the series, the Behike 52, is now going for around £300 a cigar. Don’t get me wrong, these cigars are indeed very good, and they continue to have a loyal fan base that absolutely loves them. The problem is that they’re not limited in any way.

Every year, Habanos produces Behike cigars without a hard production cap. Sure, there can be temporary shortages, but it’s not like they’re going to run out forever. So we have a cigar that is, effectively, standard production, yet it’s priced higher than many truly limited cigars. Take the Gran Reserva releases, for instance—they have an actual hard limit because they use properly aged tobacco from a specific year, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. Those can justify their high price tags, but Behike cigars? I disagree.

This is especially clear when you consider two points. First, when Behikes launched, they cost around £30–£40 each. To pay £300 (or more) now makes no sense because it’s essentially the same cigar it was in 2010. Second, if you look at how much these cigars typically fetch at auctions, it’s generally less than half the current retail price, and that’s for boxes with a fair number of years of age on them. Even rare and sought-after 2010 Behike 52 boxes don’t go for as much as today’s retail prices.

All in all, the Behike series of cigars in recent years has just become far too expensive for what it is, to the point where even the market doesn’t truly accept that price. These are cigars for people with more money than sense—especially when you consider you can often find aged Behikes at certified auctions here in the UK for half the cost of new ones.

Davidoff Oro Blanco Special Release 111

Price: £680.00

At around £700 per cigar, the Davidoff Oro Blanco 111 is definitely not your everyday smoke. It’s meticulously crafted, and Davidoff’s reputation for quality is second to none. Still, this kind of price tag puts it more in the realm of a collector’s item than a practical treat.

What really draws attention, though, is the claim that the Oro Blanco features “111 years worth of aged tobacco.” While it sounds impressive, it doesn’t quite hold up under scrutiny. It’s like visiting a museum exhibit and declaring it’s a thousand years old just because the artifacts are centuries old, the display cases were built last year, the paint is six months old, and the lighting was installed this week. It just doesn’t add up. It’s the kind of bad maths that reminds me of that famous Anchorman line, “60% of the time, it works every time.”

That’s exactly why the whisky industry makes sure only the youngest component sets the age statement—so there’s no confusion about how old the product really is. A similar guideline in the cigar world would probably spare us all from these kinds of puzzling number claims.

If you’re set on spending £700 per cigar, there are other historical Davidoff options worth considering. The Davidoff No. 1 cigars from the 1980s, for example, were some of the first Cuban Davidoff cigars. They carry a rich legacy, offer exceptional craftsmanship, and cost a fraction of what you’d pay for an Oro Blanco. And if we’re adding up ages of each leaf—those No. 1s, being over 40 years old, could easily hit 250 years of “combined age.” By that logic, they’re practically antiques, yet still significantly less expensive.

Of course, the Oro Blanco might represent the pinnacle of Davidoff’s artistry, so there’s no doubt it’s special. But for most people, it’s more of a showpiece than an everyday indulgence—something best suited for those who truly value exclusivity or collectibility above all else.

Final Thoughts

If it’s not already obvious, this article is a bit tongue in cheek and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Truth be told, every single one of these brands is among my personal favorites, and each produces some of the absolute best cigars on the market. Yes, the prices can get absurd—but at the end of the day, cigars are an indulgence, and how much you’re willing to spend is entirely up to you. Whether you lean toward everyday value smokes or splurge on special editions, the key is savoring the experience. After all, isn’t that what truly matters?