Mixed-filler cigars, which are also referred to as a Cuban sandwich or simply a sandwich-style cigar, typically stand in the vast shadow of their more sought-after, premium long-filler counterparts.
Unlike premium cigars, which are comprised of a wrapper, a binder, and exclusively long-filler tobaccos, sandwich-style cigars are stuffed with mixed-length filler which is essentially scrap tobaccos left over from the production of premium, long-filler cigars.
Visually, sandwich-style cigars often appear as a little more bumpy and rustic-looking than premium cigars and are generally packaged with a little less pomp and pagentry as well.
Despite often seeming like an ugly duckling, sandwich cigars are handmade and generally feature the same quality filler leaf as premium cigars do, only with mixed-filler sizes. Thus, in comparison to a premium cigar, sandwich varieties can potentially serve as an incredible bargain as they are equally capable of delivering a highly enjoyable smoking experience.
Given their value, sandwich-style cigars serve as a great daily cigar for many aficionados.
Because we feel that many sandwich cigars are wildly underrated and don’t often get a fair shake, we’ve assembled a list of 10 big value sandwich-style cigars to try. Of the 10, exactly half are Cuban in origin and the remainder are New World cigars.
Before you splurge on your next long-filler premium cigar, give one of these great bang-for-your-buck sandwich numbers a whirl.
1. Arturo Fuente | Curly Head Deluxe
Curly Heads are affordable Cuban sandwich-style smokes that are made by critically-acclaimed cigar maker Carlos ‘Carlito’ Fuente. These mild-medium-bodied Lonsdale-sized cigars provide the opportunity to enjoy an authentic golden-brown Connecticut Shade wrapper along with the rich, nutty flavors of this legendary Dominican brand.
Available at a fraction of the cost of Fuente premium long-filler releases.
2. Por Larrañaga | Panatella
They say not to judge a book by its cover and the Por Larrañaga is the perfect example of when to employ this thinking.
Apart from its attractive gold band, the cigar is a short, medium-bodied Cuban sandwich that features a blemished and bumpy exterior but delivers a delightfully smooth and creamy smoking experience nonetheless. Flavors of natural tobacco, stone minerality, rich leather and a pinch of barnyard tie this value-priced Cuban togther nicely.
3. My Father Cigars | Tobacco Baez Serie SF
A Cuban sandwich-style cigar that has been crafted in Estelí, Nicaragua by the legendary cigar maker of Cuban origin, Jose ‘Pepin’ Garcia. The Serie SF (Short Filler) is an oily, Nicaraguan puro with a rich profile that exhibits coffee bean, leather and delivers a big, chewy smoke.
A value-priced cigar meticulously crafted by one of the world’s most respected and award-winning companies, My Father Cigars.
A QUICK NOTE ON SANDWICH-STYLE CIGARS: With shorter fillers, sandwich-style cigars generally burn easier than long-filler ones. This means having to touch up the cigar less frequently but also means that they can burn hotter, so it’s best to take your time and enjoy them slowly to avoid any bitter finish.
4. José L. Piedra | Petit Caballeros
“For decades, Piedras have consistently ranked among our customer favorites when it comes to Cuban sandwich cigars” says Trae Zammit, owner of The Smokin’ Cigar in Toronto, Canada who has been selling Cubans since 1997. “They do job they are intended for, which is provide a great smoke at a value price”.
José L. Piedra is a Habanos Cuban sandwich cigar with a blend is that is composed of filler tobaccos grown exclusively in the Remedios tobacco region of Cuba. Don’t let the wrapper color fool you, the Jose L. Piedras Petit Caballeros unleash a medium-full-bodied flavour.
Despite recent global price hikes for Cuban cigars, the José L. Piedra still serve as an excellent value for a Cuban cigar.
5. Arturo Fuente | Brevas Royales
The Arturo Fuente Natural Brevas Royales are handmade in the Dominican Republic. They are smooth, mild-medium-bodied Corona-sized cigar with a sweet and spicy profile that’s perfect for any day, at any time of day. Its Natural Merrapfel-produced Cameroon wrapper cloaks a binder and fillers comprised of premium Dominican leaf.
An excellent opportunity to enjoy a cigar from one of the world’s best – Arturo Fuente – at an affordable low price.
6. Quintero | Favorito
The Quintero cigar brand was established in Cuba in 1924. Each cigar is handcrafted in a little town called Cienfuegos.
Quintero Favoritos are a medium-bodied smoke that exhibits ample bready, woody, and earthy notes. Featuring the Conchas No.2 vitola, it is comprised of tobaccos from the famed Vuelta Abajo and delivers approximately 45 minutes of pleasurable smoking time.
Yet another great option for an affordable Cuban cigar.
7. Tatuaje | Serie P Robusto
Tatuaje Serie P cigars offer the same rich-tasting, medium-bodied, Cuban-style flavor as the Tatuaje Havana VI, only in a value-priced sandwich-style format. Handmade in Estelí, Nicaragua for Pete Johnson under the guidance of renowned master blender, Jaime Garcia, the Tatuaje Serie P cigar features the same Ecuadorian wrapper leaf as the Havana VI, only with a mixed-filler blend of the same Nicaraguan filler and binder tobaccos.
Series P is a full-flavored sandwich cigar layered with notes of peppery spice, earth, cocoa, cedar, and hints of orange citrus.
A QUICK NOTE ON SANDWICH-STYLE CIGARS: Mixed-fillers translate into a looser ash, so don’t try to grow it as long as you would with a long-filler cigar unless you want it falling in your lap. Tap more often.
8. Drew Estate | Liga Privada Único Serie Papas Fritas
The Liga Privada Papas Fritas cigars are carefully crafted for the smoker who seeks a Liga Privada cigar at a great price. Handcrafted at a 4 1/2 x 44 size format, Liga Privada Papas Fritas (which translates to “French Fries”) are little pigtailed sandwich cigars that deliver big on flavor with sweet cocoa, leather, earth, and bread notes with building pepper spice.
9. Rafael González | Panetelas Extra
Rafael González cigars contain a light tasting blend of filler and binder leaves from the famed Vuelta Abajo zone. Unlike the other Rafael González vitolas which are long-filler, the Panatelas Extra is the only one that is assembled with mixed-filler.
As with the other Cuban cigars listed here, they are made by using the “Tripa Corta, Totalmente a Mano” – short filler, totally hand made – technique. The mildest of the Cuban cigars on our list, the taste is floral, herbaceous, sweet and elegant.
10. J.C. Newman | Quorum Classic Robusto
Quorum cigars were launched by J.C. Newman Cigar Co. in 2002 as a premium handmade Nicaraguan mixed-filler cigar.
The Quorum Classic blend begins with an oily Ecuador Sumatra wrapper leaf and Nicaraguan binder is completed with mix-filler tobaccos from Nicaragua. The Robusto imparts notes of coffee bean, earth, and spices throughout a woody, medium-bodied smoke.
An excellent value cigar from J.C. Newman.
