2025 did not reinvent cigars. Maybe it clarified and pulled back the curtain on a few things. Maybe not. 

The noise got louder. The basic challenges become increasingly stubborn…bordering on absurd (looking at you, California).

Here are a couple of things we noticed this year.

Cigars Did Not Get Cheaper In 2025.

First off, let’s be honest: we didn’t expect them to be cheaper at the register, but did we expect this much of a jump? Maybe not.

Box prices above $300 became increasingly common.

Limited runs pushed past $20 a stick without our opinion.

The “Ultra Premium” category exploded with options…some of which no one ever asked for.

No, cigars are not going backwards in pricing. Why? Read on…

Tariffs and Legislation

Tariffs hovered over the industry all year as the biggest unknown. You felt it in pricing conversations, inventory decisions, and cautious production runs.

Even without clear outcomes, the threat alone reshaped behavior, with manufacturers and retailers planning a bit more defensively instead of creatively.

California weighed in, calling for cigar makers to register cigars that ARE NOT flavored. Register your product is NOT another product. Really? Next we will need to register that cigars are not cheese burgers or car tires.

What Did Continue Was Established Behavior.

Essentially, the exact change that we had going into 2025 continued pace…you bought fewer boxes, more single sticks.

Retailers who leaned into education and social media did better than those chasing hype or scarcity drops.

Quality still mattered more than scarcity. Scarcity sells fast, Quality sells twice as much*

*Except for maybe that ‘ultra premium’ category that cigar smokers are still not quite sure what to do with.

The Cigar Press Essential 30 Mattered

This year, Cigar Press introduced the Essential 30. These were handpicked cigars that should be in every humidor. Not ‘what’s new’ or ‘best unicorn to show off.’ These 10 mild, 10 medium, and 10 full cigars are standing the test of time, and we appreciate that the industry noticed.

The list will change from time to time, and yes, we still have a Top 20 of the Year, but the Essential 30 is about it not mattering what is new to the shop but what is new to YOU?

Or, at the very least, why gamble on new stuff until it is proven to earn a spot?

Cigar Sales

In the next couple of weeks, some shops will share their “best of” list based on sales.

They are fun for an overview, but as a consumer, do you really care what house blend they got a better deal on, or what stick cigar employees received kickbacks in exchange for moving those cigars?

These reports vary (often significantly) from shop to shop and region to region.

Don’t get me wrong, there is some good data in those social media boasts <sic>, but stick to your favorite reviewers when it comes to what to try next.

Accessories Took a Needed Break.

Finally, a little breathing room from the latest shiny object meant to be your EDC or sit on your coffee table.

Don’t get me wrong, some expensive lighters and cutters came about, but the everyday smoker wasn’t beaten over the head with yet another 7-1 tool that solves all your problems (Spoiler alert: It doesn’t).

As a matter of fact, I just started a “Hall of Fame” list for accessories. You can skip to that and save yourself a lot of headaches.

Education Beat Influence

Influencers still have a voice. Or at least a lot of ‘likes’ and hearts when it comes to the level of comedy or wardrobe decisions.

As someone who can’t pull off the latter, I tend to resort to the occasional off-the-wall video. They are fun, at least for me, but education is where it is at.

Educators build loyalty…and long-term following. (I doubt anyone has a friend instructed to ‘scrub’ me from their phone in the event of an accident). #ClearGoogleCache

Cigar smokers want information and are learning more in recent years than in the decades prior. Most of this is good… with some myths still out there to disprove.

In The End…

2025 was a red-hot mess, but somehow, we found a corner, lit up a cigar, and made it through.

I hope 2026 settles down a little bit… that this isn’t the ‘new normal’ for us all.

As for me, thanks for hanging with me in 2025 for this weird ride.