Why are El Septimo cigars cheap compared to what you get? Zaya explains.

Are El Septimo cigars cheap or expensive?
You may think I’m crazy or downright stupid now, but I think $50 for a great premium El Septimo cigar is cheap.
Let me explain why.

I’ve been wondering for a long time how come their cigars taste “clean” compared to other brands on the market and how it is that despite their quality are sold cheaper then in my thought they should be. I’ve been disappointed time and time again by some premium brands (I won’t mention names out of respect for them), I’ve given them a chance after chance only to have the result all too often be the same to my disappointment.
I compared with many major premium players and just felt I wanted to get an answer. When the chance came, I took the opportunity to write to Zaya my thoughts and he explained about their process and low price.

This is the explination i got.

Table of Contents

The Art of Crafting the World’s Finest Cigars: Why El Septimo is Truly Exceptional

Cigars are often described as an art form, but at El Septimo, they are elevated into a masterpiece. Every El Septimo cigar is the result of decades of innovation, precision, and an uncompromising pursuit of excellence. Unlike other cigar makers who rely on shortcuts or tradition alone, El Septimo has reinvented every step of the process—from seed to ash—to create the most luxurious, refined, and unforgettable smoking experience in the world.

The Best Terroir in the World

Great cigars begin with the soil. El Septimo plantations are strategically cultivated in some of the most unique environments on Earth. Our fields rise from mineral-rich mountain terroirs, where the rocky soil and cooler air contribute to stronger, more complex flavor development. Some of our exclusive tobaccos are even grown in lush rainforests, where the rich biodiversity and natural humidity add layers of depth and character that cannot be replicated elsewhere. This combination of terroirs provides a complexity of flavors found only in El Septimo cigars.

Precision Farming: Science Meets Tradition

While many cigar makers depend solely on traditional farming, El Septimo has pioneered a new era of precision farming. Using the latest technologies and scientific instruments, we monitor every stage of growth—from soil composition and leaf health to moisture and nutrient balance. This modern approach ensures that every leaf achieves peak quality, free of inconsistencies, while maintaining the artisanal traditions that define true cigar craftsmanship.

Only the Finest Double Grade Tobacco

El Septimo is one of the only cigar companies in the world to exclusively use Double Grade A tobacco—the highest classification available. We source tobacco from the most prestigious regions across the globe and hand-select only the rarest, finest leaves. These are then blended together with meticulous care to create a single, magnificent cigar that offers harmony, balance, and complexity unmatched in the industry.

The Longest Fermentation in the Industry

Fermentation is where good tobacco becomes great. It is the stage that breaks down ammonia, nitrates, and other impurities that create bitterness and harshness in lesser cigars. While most cigar makers ferment tobacco for just 1 to 2 month, El Septimo ferments its tobacco for 12 months to breakdown all of the impurities and remove them. This patience allows the natural sugars to rise, enriching flavors of cocoa, coffee, spices, and dried fruits, while also creating a smoother, cleaner, and healthier smoke.

Aging Beyond Tradition

After fermentation, cigars must age to develop maturity and depth. In most of the industry, Tobacco is aged 1 to 3 years. At El Septimo, our cigars are aged for 5–15 years, a standard no other company matches. This long aging produces an elegant aroma, uniform color, and a flawless burn, delivering a smoking experience that is consistently superior and deeply refined.

The band around the cigars have a deep meaning

When it comes to detail, there is no part that doesn’t have a meaning. To make the cigars extra special, take a look at the bands. Each cigar is named after either a great artist, king or inventor. A meaning that you can either learn from or be reminded of historical events that have in some way had an impact on the world. For me personally, Da Vinci is a great cigar, not just for the taste but for Da Vinci’s way of thinking and seeing into the future. A cigar that reminds me that anything is possible, if you dare to dream. Which of the El Septimos cigar names has the most meaning to you and why?

A Cigar Unlike Any Other

The result of this relentless commitment is a cigar that transcends luxury. Each El Septimo cigar is alive with complexity, rich yet smooth, powerful yet balanced. From the first draw to the final ash, the smoker experiences layers of evolving flavors that few cigars in history have achieved.

This is why El Septimo has become the benchmark of excellence in the cigar world. It is not just a cigar—it is a symbol of passion, innovation, and the pursuit of perfection.

With all This work put in to El Septimo cigars, the knowledge, inovative thinking and premium Tobacco, do you feel they are expensive? I dont.

I also didn’t understand why he didn’t raise the price and give the cigars their true value.
The explanation was that he wants to give more people the opportunity to smoke an ultra premium cigar and not just the wealthy. While others raise their prices, El Septimo keeps theirs.

El Septimos cigar lines

El Septimo cigars has 7 lines of cigars. Click on the images to read more and get to the cigars.

I want to give you some advice.

Now I also want to take the opportunity to give you some advice. On both Youtube and Instagram you can read and hear about his story. A story that touches if you listen and shows that dreams can come true and you should never compromise on who you are. The next time you light an El Septimo try to see it as a reminder to follow your dreams.

Zayas story ranges from being poor and getting stabbed in school with a pencil 11 times, working to save money at 13 and moving to the US from Iran. Not being able to afford turkey on Thanksgiving to becoming one of the world’s most successful businessmen. He didn’t have luck, but a dream and the will to fight for it. Realizing Dreams is not about luck, dreams are something you fight for. Take a lesson, most people who don’t follow their dreams have a better start than Zaya had when he started. Nothing is impossible as long as you are willing to put in the time, passion and energy.

The time you spend not following your dreams is wasted, if you spend the time chasing your dream, however, it will remain as a memory, a lesson and the happiness you deserve.

Mr. Zaya, thank you very much for your time and explanations. I hope more people see the true value of your cigars and the meaning behind them. Your journey from Iran, the setbacks and where you have come to today is inspiring and I hope people around the world take the time to learn from it.