Cigar Aficionado

Cuba's cigar stores boast low prices, ample supply and superior selection. But there is good and bad to be had in Havana. We point you to 10 cigars that are sure to please, show you how many you can bring home for $100 and alert you to a few that are better left on the shelves.

Montecristo No. 2
Cigar Aficionado's Cigar of the Year for 2013 remains in plentiful supply in just about every top-tier Havana cigar store. If you see boxes stamped with early 2013 dates (April 2013 in particular) grab them.
Rating: 96 points
Price: 9.65 cuc ($11.09)
How many you can buy with $100: 9

Bolivar Super Corona Edición Limitada 2014
Most of Cuba's newer cigars are quite fat, but this 5 1/2 by 48 Bolivar is dialed down in thickness. It's a robust smoke with clove, earth and bittersweet chocolate notes—classic Bolivar flavor in a classic Bolivar size.
Rating: 90 points
Price: 9.25 cuc ($10.63)
How many you can buy with $100: 9

Cohiba Esplendido
The Churchill-sized member of the core Cohiba line, stronger than the Siglo series, is smoking better than it has in years. It placed No. 11 on our Top 25. One of Havana's most expensive cigars, but worth it.
Rating: 93 points
Price: 23 cuc ($26.43)
How many you can buy with $100: 3

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial (Tubo)
If you're looking for a three-pack of cigars, we have the ideal smoke. This 5 1/2 by 50 cigar comes in tidy packs of three, and ranked No. 4 on our most recent Top 25 list.
Rating: 94 points
Price: 8.60 cuc ($9.88)
How many you can buy with $100: 10

Cohiba Behike BHK 52
Cigar Aficionado's Cigar of the Year for 2010, this cigar consistently outperforms its thicker cousins, the BHK 54 and BHK 56. Even pricier than normal Cohibas, Habanos justifies the pricetag with some medio tiempo leaves in the blend. It has been in short supply in Cuba of late, so if you see one, don't hesitate to buy. They come in boxes of 10.
Rating: 97 points
Price: 22 cuc ($25.29)
How many you can buy with $100: 4H.

Upmann Half Corona
This small 90 pointer (it's all of 3 1/2 inches long by a mere 44 ring gauge) stands out for its value. It's one of the few quality boxes of 25 you can bring home for $100. They also come in sleek tins of 5.
Rating: 90 points
Price: 3.50 cuc ($4.00)
How many you can buy with $100: 25

Montecristo Double Edmundo
A longer, thinner version of the Montecristo Edmundo, this oaky, leathery cigar is not only smoking very well right now (it's Cigar Aficionado's No. 15 cigar of 2014) it can be found on store shelves all over Havana.
Rating: 92 points
Price: 9.70 cuc ($11.15)
How many you can buy with $100: 9

Partagás Lusitania
Sometimes a situation calls for a double corona, and the Cuban double corona smoking beautifully right now is the Partagás Lusitania. Abundant in most fine Cuban cigar shops, you will sometimes find them in tidy boxes of 10, and (rarely) in cabinets of 50.
Rating: 93 points
Price: 11.35 cuc ($13.00)
How many you can buy with $100: 7

Vegueros Entretiempo and Mañanita
The redesigned, reblended and resized Vegueros brand can be a fine cigar for a great price. The Entretiempo (4 3/8 by 52) and Mañanita (4 by 46) were named Best Buys by Cigar Insider. They come in stylish tins of 16.
Rating: 90 points (Entretiempo), 90 Points (Mañanita)
Mañanita Price: 3.70 cuc ($4.25)
Entretiempo Price: 4.70 cuc ($5.40)
How many you can buy with $100: 18 to 23

Two To Avoid

Guantanamera
This brand beckons with low prices—but don't be fooled. These aren't cigars of quality, and in no way represent classic Cuban tobacco.

Cohiba Behike BHK 56
It has consistently disappointed in Cigar Aficionado ratings, yet is paradoxically the most expensive regular-production cigar in Cuba's portfolio. It doesn't compare to the fine BHK 54, and the consistently superb BHK 52, one of the best cigars Cuba has ever made.