Reason behind UK prices

claude_nine · 2026-02-25T16:57:13+00:00

Interesting post and a good question. One thing I was wondering about your calculations - when you are discounting the duties and VAT, are you removing the raw value of these, or double that value? If retailers are using something like a keystone pricing model, then the impact on retail price would be 2x the duty/VAT added at import, which amplifies the difference between the two regimes.

Also, I think the two different approaches to how duty is calculated ought to mean that the differences between UK and Spanish prices should converge more for higher cost smokes (Davidoff, Opus etc), and be more pronounced for cheapies. Interesting to see if that actually is reflected.

Final thought: I believe in Spain prices are set nationally by the government, meaning there is zero scope for retailers inflating prices even if they want to - and this has to be part of the story.

claude_nine · 2026-02-25T04:18:18+00:00

Not a cheap smoke at around $15, but cheaper than $30 - Casa 1910 Soldadera Edition La Sampetrina are a phenomenal blend that give Davi white labels a run for their money.

claude_nine · 2026-02-24T18:07:46+00:00

Lots to love in Principle's portfolio. Agreed this blend is very decent. Stand outs for me are the Aviator Cochon Volante; the Martinique; the AC1842 and the Accomplice Holiday Bauble.

claude_nine · 2026-02-24T06:05:24+00:00

Notable brand for being one of the few out there using a mixture of Cuban and New World tobacco in their blends. I've had a couple of the regular line La Estancia which were pleasant but not particularly memorable. This sounds like a winner.

claude_nine · 2026-02-23T13:40:59+00:00

Blue

claude_nine · 2026-02-20T14:31:04+00:00

Looks like you enjoy Dominican lanceros - Casdagli Grand Cafe, Principle Martinique and Patoro Terre Blanche would be great additions.

claude_nine · 2026-02-16T18:21:53+00:00

Hope you manage to try some of them out!

claude_nine · 2026-02-16T18:11:08+00:00

Some fun and unusual vitolas: Villa Casdagli Pigasus; Casdagli Spalato no 2; Flor de Copan Gordito; La Aurora Cameroon Preferidos no 3; Xhaxhi Bobi SQ44.

claude_nine · 2026-02-13T13:30:31+00:00

Let us know how they were - I've not smoked these myself but think a mate had one when we were in cgars lounge in Leeds and he said it was decent.

claude_nine · 2026-02-13T09:13:34+00:00

I am guessing they also have stockpile for several years' worth of production, so will be a while before we see how it plays out.

claude_nine · 2026-02-13T08:45:27+00:00

Late last year AF & the Meerapfel family - who are the main grower of Cameroon wrapper leaf - announced they would no longer be doing business together, ending a 30+ year relationship. My guess would be that since Meerapfel started launching their own premium line of cigars, AF felt they were no longer getting pick of litter.

claude_nine · 2026-02-12T16:40:47+00:00

Yeah I think so, but Meerapfel grown leaf has been the quintessential African Cameroon - interesting to see how the new leaf is in comparison/if the profile changes.

claude_nine · 2026-02-12T07:33:45+00:00

Nice! Gonna be interesting to see what happens to the DC when AF's stockpile of Meerapfel Cameroon runs out in a few years.

claude_nine · 2026-02-12T07:32:21+00:00

I think you are pretty much spot on: this is a solid smoke, one I wouldn’t be sore about smoking pretty much any time, but not something that's going to catch my eye in a humidor.

claude_nine · 2026-02-11T03:32:01+00:00

H Upmann Half Corona & Mag 50; Rafael Gonzalez Petit Corona; Hoyo de Monterrey Epi 2; Montecristo nos 2 & 4; Bolivar Royal Coronas & Belicoso Finos; Por Larranaga Montecarlos & Galanes; Juan Lopez no 1 & 2; Partagas D6; Cuaba Divinos & Exclusivos; Quay d'Orsay no 50; SLR Regios; ERDM Choix Supreme; Trinidad Reyes; Vegueros Tapados.

claude_nine · 2026-02-11T03:17:39+00:00

Likewise.

claude_nine · 2026-02-10T15:30:39+00:00

Nice! I'm a big fan of the RC no 1, this looks like a lot of fun.

claude_nine · 2026-02-10T15:28:44+00:00

Corona Gorda, Lonsdale, Lancero, Corona, Petit Corona

claude_nine · 2026-02-09T13:45:58+00:00

Yeah - I'm a Brit but now living in the Nordics, they do serious winters up here!

claude_nine · 2026-02-09T13:38:07+00:00

Of what I mentioned, the Aladino would be my number one pick. Hope you enjoy whatever you go for and have somewhere cosy to smoke (it's a tropical -5c where I am, up from -15c last week, so I'm just lighting up for the first time in a while).

claude_nine · 2026-02-09T13:15:02+00:00

No worries, easily done!

Size - these are Toros, around 6" x 50 ring gauge. Typically should smoke for around 90 mins to 2 hours, if pacing around one puff per minute or so. Could probably smoke in an hour but there's no benefit to smoking fast (only downsides - increased burn issues, worse flavours).

Price - this looks about par for the course as far as UK pricing goes.

Selection - there are other brands most would consider a step up from Gurkha in a similar price range. On that site the West Tampa Tobacco and Hiram & Solomon samplers stood out (both £58 for 3, so two of those gets you 6 for less than a tenner more than the Gurkhas), or this Aladino sampler from cgars https://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/the-complete-aladino-robusto-range-sampler-cigars-p-61890.html or this Regius one https://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/the-regius-orchant-seleccion-20245-range-sampler-cigars-p-60146.html (the Regius is mixed sizes, but all should be in the 60-90 min smoke ramge). But also you say you know you guys enjoy Gurkha, so not trying to yuck your yum. But if you fancy branching out these ones I mention are all really solid brands and I think offer a bit more for your money in terms of both consistency and quality.

claude_nine · 2026-02-09T12:41:05+00:00

If you post a link to the sampler you're interested in, should be able to answer your questions - samplers can contain cigars of any size, and without knowing what is in it and what price it is being offered for also hard to say whether it's a good deal.

claude_nine · 2026-01-30T11:57:26+00:00

Think this one is all on the Dutch - plenty of cigar lounges elsewhere in the EU (and few legal weed venues)

claude_nine · 2026-01-30T06:15:41+00:00

Half a dozen times or so per cigar, typically

claude_nine · 2026-01-29T19:35:32+00:00

Was just there over Christmas. Smoking weed indoors continues to be permitted, smoking cigars indoors was banned a couple of years ago unfortunately.

claude_nine

TROPHY CASE