An occasional cigar smoking friend recently asked me how many cigars come in a standard cigar box. My answer was there isn’t a standard. 20-count boxes are common, but I’ve seen enough boxes between holding between 21 to 25 sticks to make me wonder if 20-counts are really the most common. And then there’s been the growth in 10-count boxes in recent years. We really should call those “half boxes”, but the increased accuracy probably doesn’t help sell “boxes”. (I don’t have a beef with 10-count “boxes”. In fact, I like them.)
The variation in box-counts lead me down the track of all the unusual boxes I’ve seen over the years. Not just unusual in number of cigars the boxes hold, but in the appearance, and even the function of the box. Especially cigar boxes with an identity crisis- they may hold cigars, but they’re really something else. An art piece perhaps. Or something functional like a humidor or an ash tray. Perhaps a combination of things in addition to being a delivery vehicle for premium tobacco.
Of course there’s the annual Tatuaje Monsters series in decorative coffin boxes. There’s also the recent AVO 90th Classic Covers with a box that looks like a record player and doubles as an ashtray. And La Flor Dominicana has a couple of really solid entries with their 1994 Beer Stein and the incredibly detailed curing barn aka “Casa de Tobaco” box/humidor. (Which reminds me, I still want that beer stein, I never got around to buying one.) But my all time favorite unusual cigar box is the Sancho Panza “Branch of the Tree Cabinet” humidor from the 1970’s. It’s such a gloriously impractical eyesore that I can’t help but love it. (My wife would never, ever let me have one, even if I could find one.)
But what do you think? What’s the most unusual cigar box you’ve ever seen? And more practically, when it comes to “normal” boxes, what’s your preferred box count?
One of the first that come to mind is the Hammer and Sickle cigar company in which all their cigar boxes are made of all different types of material, but the usual wood box. Very unique, and good cigars too.
I recall glass boxes, but weren’t they also the ones that put cigars in ammo boxes too? I remember someone doing that, but not sure who.
Ya, I have seen metal, stone, plastic, glass boxes from Hammer and Sickle; they seem to put in a good amount of effort into their boxes. Collectible in that way.
Gurkha has used some fairly elaborate packaging as well, with cigars coming in what looks like a “treasure chest”
LFD, had the cool Beer Stein, but I recall from 2011 or 2012 LFD came out with the “Casa de Tobaco” cigar box for the La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Maduro, that was definitely a unique cigar box.
Some of the high-end Cohibas from Cuba come in what would be better described as a beautiful humidor, rather then a cigar box. Those are always a box you keep.
JR did the ammo box.
You’re right- but I am right too. JR’s La Finca comes in an ammo box, but the ORTSAC 1962 also used to come in an ammo box: https://stogiereview.com/2009/06/05/ortsac-1962/ with picture here: http://www.acigarsmoker.com/2009/05/20/cigar-review-ortsac-1962/
I really don’t have a favorite box. I did finally get a Tat dress box last year and that’s supposed to be worth some cash so that’s cool. Don’t really plan on selling it though.
Just make them all 25. The more the merrier 🙂
Yours,
B.S.
Here are a couple:
La Flor Dominicana Casa De Tobacos humidor – saw it mentioned previously, but it’s pretty cool
Sopranos car trunk
Forgot about the Sopranos box. Heck, I forgot about the cigar too, for that matter.
Wish I’d have snagged one of these – w the cigars. I did horde up a large supply of the 2011 limitadas that keep improving. But a cool box
http://m.ebay.com/itm/2010-Limited-Edition-HUGE-5-Vegas-Limitada-Cigar-Box-Humidor-Poker-Rockabilly-/371003038729?hash=item5661811c09:g:3~QAAOxyRhBS9SiK
First time I’ve seen that one. Pretty cool.
The coolest box I’ve seen so far is the ghurka warlord box. Looks like a treasure chest. I wanted to buy it from one b&m and they said no I’m not selling it to you. Another said they would for 50$ but I was below broke.
Gurkha does make some nice looking boxes.
I bought the CAO white humidor you pictured years ago (I think they were clearing them out) and have been quite surprised at the excellent job it has been doing with my cigars. It is very durable and came with a cover/carrying case. I took the batteries out. Didn’t need the alien light show…
I tried using my CAO Vision humidor for a while, but mine would never hold the humidity. I think that was a common complaint. But I hung onto it because it was unique. Nice to hear some of them did work well.
As to the 5 Vegas box, the description says its over 17 lbs. That, is a lot of resin….
More a tabletop ashtray than a humidor worthy box per se…
Limitadas are Quesada blends btw
I’m a fan of the la nox box that is a cool one. How big of an impact does the look of the box have on your decision to try a cigar?
Not much usually. But an unusual box does draw your attention when you walk into a humidor, which I think is the point.