Normally I hate when any article begins with “In today’s economy…”, mostly because no matter how good the economy is for some people, it will always be bad for others. So, with that in mind, I’ll start this one off by saying: In any economy, bundle cigars can be a great way to find a premium cigar without paying the premium price. The trick is learning to pick and choose the right ones. After reading this guide, you should be able to do just that.
A Little Bit of History

Before we delve into the methods of how to choose your bundle, let’s take a quick glimpse at the history of bundles, and uncover exactly what they are, and how they began.

The origin of bundles, surprisingly, are not nearly as old as cigars themselves. In fact, the first bundles hit the market during the 1960s and were known as value cigars. Back then, bundles were mostly seconds, or cigars that were either miscolored, had blemishes, or some other issue, yet were still overall a good quality cigar.

Manufacturers began making bundles to avoid wasting product. The idea was that the manufacturer could save money by not having to sort the cigars by color and by not having to pack them in traditional cedar boxes. In turn, the manufacturer could pass on some savings to the consumer, yet still make a profit.

That, of course, has changed over the years. Many manufacturers specifically create bundle cigars now, and while you will still find seconds in a bundle, you will more likely than not find a premium cigar. In fact, some manufacturers even join teams with stores to create branded bundles.

At the end of the day, seconds are often comparable to premium boxed cigars, sans the pretty box. But even so, there are always a few rotten apples to spoil the bunch, so let’s talk about what you need to know to pick out the right bundle.