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Discussion: What Do You Look for in a Cigar Sampler?

Discussion: What Do You Look for in a Cigar Sampler?

Happy Tuesday folks!  I hope everyone’s having an amazing start to your week.  Pretty sure there should be an exclamation point in there again, but two in a row sounds crazy!  (Two out of three ain’t bad though.)

We were combing through the samplers yesterday, and it got me wondering: 

What do YOU look for in a Cigar Sampler? 

At first glance, this seems like an over-simplified question.  We all look for the good stuff that we’ve been wanting to try that just happens to be in a ballin’ sampler, right? 

But if you look at our Sampler section, you’ll see that we’ve got a large variety of different packs going on.  Here’s a quick breakdown from what I see: 

  •      Overall Brand Samplers
  •      Thematic Samplers
  •      New Line Samplers (precision Brand Samplers)
  •      Curated Samplers
  •      Big / Little Samplers
  •      Expensive / Inexpensive Samplers 

Myself, I can’t help but try a sampler when a new line comes out.  That’s probably my preferred type of sampler, one that allows me to try the different nuances between sizes and pinpoint a favorite within the series. 

After that, the second type of samplers that I purchase are usually curated with expensive sticks that are harder to try with just five-packs and box options.  Sometimes these are thematic, sometimes they’re smaller in number, and sometimes they’re huge like the Davidoff Master Selection samplers.

 

Cigar Samplers

 

One of the most recent samplers that I've picked up was the Casdagli Club Mareva Sampler, featuring four cigars that have been created for several years of the Cigar Smoking World Championship in Croatia.  I plan to do a breakdown of the cigars for the Daily Batch, but I’m super excited just to smoke them in succession regardless.

What about you – what are your preferences? 

DISCUSSION CONTEST DETAILS

One of the comments below will win a $25 gift card.  The gift card will automatically be sent to the email address that you login to comment with, so please use your regular sign-in.   

I’ll be randomly selecting a comment below this Sunday after sending out the Weekly Newsletter. The winner can expect a comment with his or her name in it, a congratulations email, and an email with the $25 gift card information.  The actual gift card email takes some time to generate from the system and may lag behind by up to 48 hours. 

Only available to U.S. customers. 

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Comments

9/17/2019 10:10 AM
I don't tend to purchase a lot of samplers but the ones I do are what I feel curated to be similar-ish in one way or another and contain something I really want to try or has been suggested to me.
9/17/2019 10:42 AM
I am huge fan of Small Batch’s brand samplers. Whether it be across the full brand or a particular series (such as the Club Mareva Sampler mentioned above). I find the main reason I like samplers is because I like a grand introduction to a brand to determine if, in general, I like or dislike the stuff coming from that company and to see if they have one thing or multiple things that I absolutely love. I think it’s a great way to find out who’s cigars you’ll be on the look out for later on.
9/17/2019 11:18 AM
I think its important to have a theme to samplers. If you have too much diversity in the selection you are bound to have something someone does not enjoy. Just like when you buy the mix cases of beer, there is always the one nasty shandy that they cant sell so they pawn it off in the sampler so people are essentially forced into buying. Samplers that feature maybe one growing region, one type of wrapper or one producer are good.
9/17/2019 11:19 AM
I personally look for something unique, hard to find, and truly exceptional. I like being able to try what I could not afford in a box or 3-5 pack. Or even to just try before I make a big purchase it’s nice to have a sampler or even single stick option.
9/17/2019 12:42 PM
I normally look for a sampler when it’s a brand I haven’t tried before. Just like the dissadent sampler that was just released. I’ve never had a dissident cigar but I want to try them because they’re made at James Brown’s factory.
9/17/2019 2:55 PM
I look for diversity.  Shade color, brand, size. If its a brand sample I'd like to see different types of cigars film the same brand. If its the same cigar from the same brand of like to try the different shades it comes in so I can compare
9/17/2019 7:47 PM
When a brand I like introduces a new line with many different sizes, I hope that a sampler is put together. I, also like the idea that SBC uses behind their curated and thematic samplers and find it refreshing and informative.
9/17/2019 8:21 PM
I love samplers, what's even better is when you get a sampler that has a cigar in it that you like so much you buy a box. If I'm getting a sampler I don't want it to have any 60rg in it and it has to be all medium or full bodied sticks.
9/18/2019 1:59 AM
I like samplers that have a higher end smoke and some mid range stuff. Small batch super samplers I’ve gotten have been great. Also buy them when trying new things. I’ve been burned a few times buying fivers and wound up disappointed.
9/18/2019 10:18 PM
Typically when it's for a new line that I'm unsure of but still trust the maker. Other times a sampler works as a 5 pack in that maybe the size I'm after is already sold out. Other times it's to just and branch out and see how my tastes have developed and if something I previously thought wasn't for me now might be.
9/19/2019 8:15 AM
I prefer samplers that provide the most bang for the buck. Personally, I’d rather buy a sampler that comes with four to five smaller vitolas than one that comes with a three or so larger vitolas.
9/19/2019 3:46 PM
I look for samplers of new brands and styles that are hard to find in my local cigar shop.  It's nice to discover a new cigar you love and can then get a 5 pack or a box without the guesswork.
9/19/2019 8:57 PM
The type of sampler I most often watch for is a high end sampler that allows the experience of limited run davidoff, fuente, atabey, etc at an affordable price point. The average person can't drop $300-500 on a box regularly.
9/20/2019 10:18 AM
I usually buy singles before a fiver so I really like the Small Batch curated samplers.  After that I will buy a sampler based on size so I have a winter smoke sampler resting now for the miserable weather to come.
9/21/2019 10:49 AM
I look at samplers two different ways, value and variety. I will typically buy them for two different reasons. The first and foremost, is to try new things. When I find samplers with a selection of cigars that I have not tried and want to, that is a score! I like to buy boxes and samplers are a great way to try a variety, from different or the same manufacturer before making a box buy.
The other is to fill the humi with singles. There are almost always a good variety of samplers or great cigars, at reduced prices. These are an awesome way to fill your humidor with cigars you know and love, and a price that leaves you money to buy more cigars!!
9/22/2019 1:44 AM
I think you hit the nail on the head for this guy. Brand samplers are perhaps THE smartest way to get ahold on the tastes of a brand for your palate. But secondly rarity/price break samplers are also perfect for those of us that either don’t want to spend the money and take the chance on a full box just based on rarity. Great content!
9/22/2019 8:14 AM
Congrats to David, and many thanks to everyone for participating!  Cheers to a wonderful week folks!
9/22/2019 1:13 PM
I like either brand specific samplers. Where the sample pack has several cigars from one company so you can try the brand out and see what you like from them. I use the small batch cotm club to try those rare and expensive cigars so I kind of like my samplers to be different if that makes any sense.