Bottom Shelf Staff Review
Be not deceived by the name. Bottom Shelf cigars represent a vital category among bargain hunters—yard ‘gars. I’m firing up a glorious 7-by-50 Churchill to offer my unabridged analysis of an unsung 20-count bundle that costs a mere pittance of the asking price of most cigars.
As the resident miser at Holt’s, it’s critical to remind our readers that my focus on price is a strict condition of my copious cigar consumption. I’ve burned through plenty of high-end, thirty-dollar masterpieces in my day. But I’d be out on the street in five seconds if I attempted to satisfy my gluttonous appetite with lofty Davidoff or Padrón cigars normally reserved for the nobility. Bargain bundles have been my niche for the better part of three decades, and I proudly brandish my frugality like a badge of honor.
Back down to the Bottom Shelf—sure, these cigars sound like they’re haphazardly stuffed with chicken feathers and floor sweepings. But you know that’s highly improbable if I’m bestowing any praise upon them whatsoever. Despite the narrow criteria I follow when it comes to a cigar’s price, my taste buds are as sharp as tacks. And my beak is legendary for its bloodhound-like scrutiny of a cigar’s room note.
Bottom Shelf cigars hail from the Dominican Republic, where skilled artisans, unequivocally dedicated to their craft, create these attractive Churchills from a cinnamon-hued Indonesian wrapper and a profound recipe of premium Cuban-sandwich tobaccos. For those familiar with my past review chronicles, you know that “Cuban-sandwich” is code for cigars that contain a mix of short and long-filler tobaccos, which makes them cheap but not necessarily poor in quality.
Once I strip a glistening Churchill from a fresh bundle of Bottom Shelf and gently squeeze it from its cellophane sheath, like King Arthur’s sword, delicate aromas of fresh hay, hickory, and brown sugar form an inviting first impression. I’m not going to lie. Mixed-filler cigars are naturally spongier than long-filler blends. But Bottom Shelf shows off excellent structure from head to foot when I pinch the cigar. The cap comes off with a fast and easy swipe between my guillotine cutter, allowing for a soft, grassy profile of nutmeg, chestnut, and oak in the cold draw.
Tasting notes of marzipan, nuts, and fresh bread permeate my palate, followed by a subtle spice as I fully ignite the foot of the Churchill. Bottom Shelf cigars possess massive appeal when consider their price. You can scoop up an entire 20-count bundle for less than $45—a paltry $2.24 per cigar, to be exact. Plus, you’re not paying a dime for excess packaging, like a fancy box with a brass clasp on the front.
Twenty minutes after lighting up, the burn meanders for a moment. But after touching up the foot with my torch a few times, Bottom Shelf is right back on track. Woody and semi-sweet notes of almond, chestnut, and grass mingle with an undercurrent of butter and black pepper. The aftertaste is mellow in between each puff. I could rattle off a dozen more tasting notes, but I know I don’t need to. Bottom Shelf cigars are a volume buyer’s dream because you can burn through one after the other without so much as a morsel of guilt crossing your mind.
By the time I’m devouring the nub, I’ve gotten over fifty minutes of unadulterated pleasure out of my Bottom Shelf Churchill. That’s a lot of time on the lawn mower, friends. I suggest you snag a bundle for the coolerdor posthaste and thank me before summer is over.
Until next time, long ashes to you!
