Why the Huge Bands These Days?

[Country Bladesmith]

It used to be that these big flashy bands were kind of a red flag for me. Maybe I’m wrong, and maybe I was wrong back then, too, but I remember thinking of them as sort of a gimmick to get you to buy mediocre cigars, but it seems even a lot of highly esteemed cigars these days are using these bands that cover up a lot of real estate on the cigar. Not a big deal I guess, but I was just curious about it. Is this a recent thing?

I guess I’m a bigger fan of garters than chastity belts...

 

[anotherbob]

I think they used to be considered tacky. Also I think people used to be more likely to leave them on so a bigger band cut down the smoke time a little bit. I don't know. I just know I hate bands.

 

[Akousticplyr]

Hahah for a second I thought you were referring to this:

 

[lawdawg]

A good smoke is a good smoke regardless of packaging, and I actually like the flashy bands if they have attractive artwork and are printed in a quality manner, like the My Father Flor de las Antillas cigars.

 

[tbradsim1]

First thing I do is take off the band, some are works of art, others you just know they don’t want you to know what you’re smoking.

 

[BROBS]

And I thought he meant shank bands

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Some of them do have classy artwork.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Marketing hype. I think Fuente started this with the incredible hype and subsequent success they had with their Opus X line back in the late 90's. It even gets carried over to the boxes in many cases. Others learned from Fuente and followed suit. I find those large and in some cases, multiple bands, to be a PITA as they need to be removed in order to smoke the cigar all the way down. If you're not careful, you can damage the wrapper.

My understanding is in the old days, it was good practice to remove the band when in the company of other cigars smokers, prior to cutting and lighting the cigar. That prevented any of the "look what I'm smoking" mentality or showmanship and avoided embarrassing those smoking cheaper cigars. I generally do that for practical reasons. It's easier to remove all the bands when the cigar is still cold and isn't lit and makes it easier to avoid damaging the wrapper.

 

[BROBS]

Marketing hype. I think Fuente started this with the incredible hype and subsequent success they had with their Opus X line back in the late 90's. It even gets carried over to the boxes in many cases. Others learned from Fuente and followed suit. I find those large and in some cases, multiple bands, to be a PITA as they need to be removed in order to smoke the cigar all the way down. If you're not careful, you can damage the wrapper.

My understanding is in the old days, it was good practice to remove the band when in the company of other cigars smokers, prior to cutting and lighting the cigar. That prevented any of the "look what I'm smoking" mentality or showmanship and avoided embarrassing those smoking cheaper cigars. I generally do that for practical reasons. It's easier to remove all the bands when the cigar is still cold and isn't lit and makes it easier to avoid damaging the wrapper.

I always figured they were meant to be removed. Like the tag on your mattress.

 

[mso489]

Like Acoustic', I thought we were talking about large musical aggregations. As long as the bands peel off easily, it seems okay. At these prices, I want my whole cigar to burn, well almost all, but not my fingers.

 

[warren]

I'm not sure why a cigar band would help decide what cigar to buy. That'd be like my wife, bless her soul, buying a wine because the label was "pretty."

 

[Perique]

My understanding is in the old days, it was good practice to remove the band when in the company of other cigars smokers, prior to cutting and lighting the cigar. That prevented any of the "look what I'm smoking" mentality or showmanship and avoided embarrassing those smoking cheaper cigars.

This. It's always in good taste.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I'm not sure why a cigar band would help decide what cigar to buy. That'd be like my wife, bless her soul, buying a wine because the label was "pretty."

Because the vast majority of higher end cigars are sold in small lots to wannabes who walk in the shop and want something to smoke while also impressing their friends. The cigar itself is almost irrelevant as long as it has the right brand name and a fancy label.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I'm not sure why a cigar band would help decide what cigar to buy. That'd be like my wife, bless her soul, buying a wine because the label was "pretty."

Just like people that buy wine based on the label, without knowing anything about what they’re purchasing. Happens all the time.

I find those large and in some cases, multiple bands, to be a PITA as they need to be removed in order to smoke the cigar all the way down. If you're not careful, you can damage the wrapper.

Yes! Exactly. That’s my biggest gripe. A small band is not much of a hindrance to smoking a cigar almost all the way down, but those big ones have to be removed. And if the person that put it on was sloppy with the pectin, or whatever they use as adhesive these days, you end up lifting a piece of wrapper. Most come off ok, but sometimes not.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I'm not sure why a cigar band would help decide what cigar to buy. That'd be like my wife, bless her soul, buying a wine because the label was "pretty."

I guess I didn’t see the second sentence in your post! ?

 

[jpmcwjr]

Long ago, at least back East, it was considered boorish to leave the band in place.

 

[danimalia]

I can be a sucker for marketing. Lord knows I've tried cigars partly because I liked the band or packaging or whatever. My Father La Duena comes to mind as one where the band really stuck out to me and got me interested. I don't think there is any correlation (positive or negative) between band size and quality. And ultimately,once the curiosity wears off, the cigar has to deliver.

One pet peeve of mine is excessive banding. Some cigars have a regular band, a secondary band, and a for band! No shit. Then they wrap the whole thing in cellophane.

 

[danimalia]

My understanding is in the old days, it was good practice to remove the band when in the company of other cigars smokers, prior to cutting and lighting the cigar. That prevented any of the "look what I'm smoking" mentality or showmanship and avoided embarrassing those smoking cheaper cigars. I generally do that for practical reasons. It's easier to remove all the bands when the cigar is still cold and isn't lit and makes it easier to avoid damaging the wrapper.

I don't think it's the biggest deal in the world but I kind of wish that was still common practice. I just think there is something kind of classy and humble about the idea of NOT showing off in public.

 

[B.Fee]

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I don't think it's the biggest deal in the world but I kind of wish that was still common practice. I just think there is something kind of classy and humble about the idea of NOT showing off in public.

I think it depends upon whether you're a poser a true lover of the leaf. The latter could care less, they just want to enjoy their tobacco.