The White House can deny it all they want but your bank account balance at the end of the month doesn’t lie. Therefore our Inflation Buster series rolls on with a group of smokes that garnered ratings of 90 or higher with an MSRP of $7 or below. For obvious reasons, state taxes were not taken into account.
Oliva Serie G
Nicaragua
MSRP: $6.56 Rating: 91
Wrapper: Cameroon; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Torpedo; Length: 6 1/2; Ring: 52
Opens with tons of dark chocolate, earth, and smooth pepper complemented by notes of roasted nuts, cedar, and a rich, leather aroma. This square-pressed torpedo draws and burns impeccably while producing a excellent smoke output. Medium strength.
Joya Black
Nicaragua
MSRP: $6.70 Rating: 91
Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Nocturno; Length: 6 1/4; Ring: 46
A well-balanced blend with a flavorful profile of earth, dark chocolate,
black cherry, and roasted nuts accompanied by a touch of spice.
Produces an excellent smoke output and leaves behind a beautiful,
compact ash.
Epic New Wave Connecticut
Dominican Republic
MSRP: $6.95 Rating: 91
Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua & DR
Vitola: Brillantes; Length: 5; Ring: 50
Creamy and ultra-flavorful with a profile of white pepper, wood, and caramel accompanied by a rich aroma of leather. This consistently well constructed robusto provides a firm draw and leaves behind a light gray ash. Medium bodied.
Diesel Sunday Gravy
Nicaragua
MSRP: $4.99 Rating: 90
Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: San Marzano; Length: 6; Ring: 54
Delivers a flavorful medium bodied profile with a combination of sweet and savory spices including cayenne pepper, cardamom, and cumin balanced by subtle notes of sweet cedar, molasses, and a touch of dried fruit. Consistently well-constructed delivering a flawless draw and burn.
Charter Oak Connecticut
Nicaragua
MSRP: $6.10 Rating: 90
Wrapper: USA/Connecticut; Binder: Indonesia; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Rothschild; Length: 4 1/2; Ring: 50
Covered with a thin, light brown wrapper with a velvet feel, this mild to medium bodied robusto provides an easy draw with an excellent smoke output. Delivers a core of earth, smooth pepper, cashew, and a touch of cocoa powder.
Zino Nicaragua
Honduras
MSRP: $6.50 Rating: 90
Wrapper: Ecuador; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua & DR
Vitola: Robusto; Length: 5 ; Ring: 54
Covered with a clean and neatly applied light brown wrapper. This medium bodied robusto delivers notes of red pepper, savory spices, earth, and subtle hazelnut complemented by a sweet almond cream finish. Impeccably constructed leaving behind a solid, compact ash.
Crowned Heads Juarez
Nicaragua
MSRP: $6.95 Rating: 90
Wrapper: Mexico; Binder: Ecuador; Filler: Nicaragua & DR
Vitola: Jack Brown; Length: 5 ; Ring: 56
Well-constructed and flavorful, this medium strength robusto provides a perfect draw producing an abundant smoke output with notes of bitter cocoa, molasses, and earth balanced by a ripe fruit sweetness on the finish.
JFR Corojo
Nicaragua
MSRP: $6.99 Rating: 90
Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Super Toro; Length: 6 1/2; Ring: 52
Consistently well constructed, this medium plus bodied blend is covered with velvet smooth wrapper, topped with a tight pigtail, and finished with a covered foot. Delivers flavors of sweet cedar, soft pepper, baking spices, and roasted nuts.
HVC Pan Caliente
Honduras
MSRP: $7.00 Rating: 90
Wrapper: Nicaragua; Binder: Nicaragua; Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: Double Corona; Length: 5 5/8; Ring: 46
A flavorful thick corona with a balanced core of earth, smooth pepper, and roasted nuts complemented by a subtle note of sweet wood. Draws and burns impeccably while producing a generous smoke output and leaving behind a light gray ash.
