Most cigar buying mistakes are preventable. Here are six things that make a real difference, especially if you are still building your experience.
1. Buy Singles Before Boxes
A box of 25 cigars is a commitment. Buy a single of anything you have not smoked before, even if the price per cigar is higher. If you smoke one and love it, the box is a reasonable investment. If you smoke one and it is not for you, you have saved yourself from 24 cigars you do not want.
2. Source Matters More Than Brand
A well-known brand bought from a shop with poor storage is worse than a lesser-known cigar bought from a reputable source with proper humidity control. Ask where the cigars are stored. If the answer is vague, take that seriously. In Thailand particularly, improperly stored cigars are common — the climate is unforgiving to anything sitting in a display case without humidity management.
3. Start Milder Than You Think You Should
New and returning smokers consistently overestimate how much strength they can handle. A full-bodied Nicaraguan on an empty stomach can ruin an afternoon. Start with a medium-bodied robusto. You can always go stronger once you know your baseline.
4. Have Storage Ready Before You Buy
Cigars start deteriorating the moment they leave a properly maintained humidor. If you do not have somewhere to store them, buy only what you will smoke in the next 24–48 hours. Buying a box and leaving it on a shelf for two weeks in an air-conditioned room is a waste of the money you just spent.
5. Ask Questions
A good cigar retailer should be able to tell you: where the tobacco comes from, how the cigar is stored, what the strength profile is like, and whether it is suited to your experience level. If they cannot or will not answer these questions, find another retailer. There is no such thing as a stupid question when you are spending serious money.
6. Legal Import Is Not a Minor Detail in Thailand
Thailand regulates cigar importation and taxes cigars heavily. This means legally imported, duty-paid stock costs more than grey market alternatives — and the difference is real and auditable. Legally imported cigars have Thai FDA registration, excise stamps, and health labels. Grey market stock has none of these. Beyond the legal exposure, grey market cigars often come with unknown storage histories. The price premium on legitimate stock is the cost of knowing what you are actually smoking.
At Cigar Emperor, all stock is legally imported, Thai FDA registered, and stored in climate-controlled conditions. If you have questions before buying, contact us or visit either location.
