As a newby I was hoping to find a decent, low-priced everyday cigar. I bought a bundle of 20 Quorum Shade cigars for less than $2/each. I thought it was a good find - the description said it was made with premium filler and binder tobaccos wrapped in a smooth shade grown Connecticut wrapper.
After smoking a few, here's what I found. Bland taste, inconsistent construction, uneven burn requiring corrections and hard to keep lit. Two of the three I smoked had soft spots and were hard to draw. I know all of the re-lights required aren't due to me being a newby. I've smoked Montecristo, Oliva, Undercrown and Punch cigars to a nub past the ring without a re-light or burn correction.
Yesterday's Quorum Shade went out - again - with about an inch and half left. I gave up. Then I cut the cigar open lengthwise. I found the premium filler wasn't longleaf - it looked more like cigarette tobacco. I'm guessing it's the leftover odds and ends from premium cigar rolling. Lesson learned.
I guess it's my fault by starting out with premium cigars in the $7 - $10 range, then expecting to find a bargain basement stick that satisfies.