Choosing a cigar distributor, honestly.
Every wholesaler says they're the best. Useful comparison requires admitting where each one actually wins - including where we don't. Here's the straight version, from a distributor who competes with everyone on this page.
Updated July 11, 2026
The comparison, side by side.
| Criteria | MDC Wholesale Cigars | Alliance Cigar | Meier & Dutch | Cigars International |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Curated wholesale + venue programs | Full-line wholesaler | Mega-wholesaler (STG-owned) | Consumer retailer at scale |
| Catalog | 60+ brands, ~5,000 SKUs, curated per venue | 80+ brands - one of the deepest | 5,000+ SKUs - the biggest | Huge, but consumer-priced |
| Unsold inventory | No-risk exchange - swap what doesn't sell | Generally final-sale | Generally final-sale | Retail return policy only |
| Service model | Named rep + founder involvement, staff training | Self-serve signup, house accounts | Reps + inside managers + ecom | Ecom + call center |
| Typical wholesale box price | $80-$300; venue staples $120-$250 | Comparable | Comparable; volume tiers | Retail pricing (bulk deals exist) |
| Best for | Venues + retailers who want the category run FOR them | Experienced shops wanting breadth | High-volume retailers, self-serve | Consumers; small shops in a pinch |
Where each one honestly wins.
Alliance Cigar wins on raw breadth and regional speed. If you're an established cigar shop that knows exactly which 200 SKUs you want and you're in their next-day delivery footprint, Alliance is a strong pick. What you won't get is much hand-holding - their model assumes you already know what you're doing.
Meier & Dutch wins on catalog size and self-serve scale. As Scandinavian Tobacco's distribution arm they carry more SKUs than anyone, ship everywhere, and their ecommerce is built for volume buyers. If you're moving serious cases weekly and want a supply chain more than a partner, they're hard to beat.
Cigars International wins on consumer pricing - which is exactly why they're the wrong wholesale partner. They're a retailer. Buying your inventory at retail (even on a bulk deal) means your margin was someone else's already, and there's no rep, no venue program, and no exchange when a box doesn't move.
MDC wins when cigars are a category in your business, not the whole business. A casino floor, a steakhouse bar, a golf pro shop, a liquor store adding a humidor - our model is built for operators who need someone to pick the right 20-40 SKUs for their clientele, train the staff, and take the inventory risk off the table with the no-risk exchange. That last part is the honest differentiator: most wholesale cigars everywhere else are final-sale. Ours can come back.
The five criteria that actually decide it.
Ask any distributor these five questions before you open an account: What happens to cigars that don't sell? Do I get a named rep or a login? Will you tell me what NOT to buy? What's the real minimum for my first order? And how many venues like mine do you serve today? The answers separate a supplier from a partner faster than any brochure. Our complete wholesale buyer's guide walks through each one in depth.
If curation and zero inventory risk matter, talk to us.
MDC serves 500+ venues including The Four Seasons, The Broadmoor, and Caesars Entertainment - with a curated humidor, staff training, and the no-risk exchange on every account. If you're a better fit for a mega-catalog wholesaler, we'll tell you that too.
Every month with the wrong distributor is margin left in someone else's warehouse.
P.S. This is a qualification process. If MDC isn't the right fit for your venue, we'll tell you - and we'll point you at a better option. That's been our rule since 2012.