We’re proud to announce that we are restocked and rolling out a host of La Flor Dominicana cigars! Some of the best boutique smokes to ever grace the market are back and better than ever. The bands may look different, but the blends are as delectable as ever!
Anyone who has smoked one of La Flor Dominicana’s joyous sticks knows that they sport some of the most powerful tobacco ever grown. We’re not just talking full-bodied, this is fuller than full-bodied. This is herculean-bodied tobacco that invigorates the senses as it pleases the palate.
Part of the reason La Flor Dominicana was founded was to showcase the incredible properties of Dominican tobacco. The founders were tired of the discourse surrounding Nicaraguan tobacco’s supposed superiority. They decided to champion the cause of Dominican-grown tobacco to stellar results.
Since they launched, multiple blends from La Flor Dominicana have reached the yearly Top 25. The La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull even managed to get a 96-point rating, one of the highest scores ever awarded. It’s no surprise that it won Cigar of the Year for 2016!
If you’re curious about the brand, we recommend the Double Ligero blend. Practically a thesis statement for the brand powerhouse, the blend received a 94-point rating. Or try any of the many samplers to get a feel for their flavors
There are a lot of reasons to smoke cigars. To savor the unique tastes, to clear your head, to soothe the spirit. But what if you could help others by smoking cigars? Well, you’re in luck! League of Fat Bastards Serie L is on a mission to make the world a better place.
This mission comes from the experience of brand founder Adam Levine. No, not that Adam Levine. It’s not the singer. This Adam Levine has spoken candidly about his struggles with depression and mental health in general. A topic that is unfortunately taboo among many adults.
This is a true shame because mental health issues are like any medical problem. They have tangible effects, require treatment, and one of the best things for it is the support of those around you. Yet so many people suffer in silence, convinced that voicing their pain would be a weakness.
An all too familiar and flawed way of thinking. Levine has firsthand experience in how asking for help makes us stronger. This is why he created League of Fat Bastards Serie L. Well aware of how tobacco can bring people together and foster conversation, Levine hopes that by discussing these issues he can break the taboo around mental health.
Not only is he trying to raise awareness, but 40% of all profits for the blend go directly to charities that address mental illness. It’s rare for any company to put the greater good above its bottom line, but League of Fat Bastards is the true exception.
Speaking from personal experience, I’m glad someone is trying to address this issue. Struggles with depression and anxiety can force people to the fringes, convinced that they are somehow weaker than others. It’s only by externalizing these problems that you can begin to treat them. Keeping it inside only turns the pain inward. If you struggle with feelings of hopelessness, obsession, anxiety, or pain, please seek help from a mental health professional.
Oh, faith and begorrah! It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day! One of the most festive days of the year. Grab your favorite brew and some drinking buddies, but don’t forget your cigars. Anyone can tell you that cigars are a natural complement to whiskey, but there are boundless blends that pair well with all types of drinks!
If you’re looking for some top-notch smokes for yourself or your loved ones, we’ve got a massive selection that is sure to please!
A cigar designed specifically for St. Patrick’s Day revelry. The unique, combination design makes it a jack of all trades smoke. Ideal for any draft you decide to pour throughout the night. Features a blend of Honduran and Panamanian long-fillers, a Sumatran binder, and a Candela and Nicaraguan Jalapa barber pole wrapper. The unique pairing of the Candela wrapper with a sweet Jalapa leaf offers a treat both in appearance and in flavor; with distinct tastes of spice, pepper & coffee throughout.
A somewhat lighter version of the original. The Shamrock sports a whole new premium mix with a smoother profile. Its specialized blend of Honduran and Panamanian tobacco immediately kicks off the smoke with the scent of fresh-cut grass, and the taste of vanilla, earth, wood, and just a hint of black pepper. At six inches and a fifty-ring gauge, you’ll have a festive and lively forty-five minutes smoke with the shamrock.
Don’t like having your hands full when you’re smoking and drinking? Why not combine the two? That idea helped launch The Glen, a fusion of single-malt scotch and premium tobacco. Inspired by a time-honored quote from the great Winston Churchill, “My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol.” Who are we to argue with such an esteemed figure? Truly a wise man.
It wouldn’t be St. Paddy’s Day without a lot of green in honor of the Emerald Isle! No need to dye these cigars though, they’re naturally green and wonderful. Built from a secret recipe of hyper premium, expertly aged, and fermented long-fillers. A cigar that’s as aromatic as it is delectable. Full-bodied and loaded with the taste of florals, spice, and sweet cream. Perfect for a night out this March 17th!
So you want to smoke cigars! Congratulations! You’re about to enter a world of incredible tastes! But getting into something as varied and complex as cigars can be intimidating. We decided to put together a little guide to help newcomers!
Cigars vs Cigarillos
A common question. It’s usually easy to identify a cigar or a cigarillo just by size. Cigarillos are considered small cigars, but the difference is deeper than size. Most of what we call premium cigars use whole tobacco leaves in their blending and are rolled by hand. Cigarillos use cut tobacco, sometimes from the blending process of regular cigars, as filler and are usually machine-made.
Cigars vs Cigarettes
While both use tobacco, they are worlds apart. Cigarettes, like cigarillos, are made using finely cut tobacco and tightly rolled. The largest difference is in what’s added. Cigarettes are often chemically treated and filtered to add flavor and aroma, using additives to change the tobacco. Cigars are created using whole tobacco leaves, which are fermented to bring out a host of natural flavors. The lack of a filter allows the smoker to experience the more full-bodied aspects.
Cigar strength
Speaking of full-bodied, new smokers often wonder about the power of a cigar’s profile. The technical definition comes from the actual amount of nicotine within the blend. What’s considered mild often has very little nicotine. Medium-bodied ones usually contain an average amount of nicotine. While full-bodied tobacco has large quantities of it. As someone who was once a beginner with cigars, believe me when I say you should start with mild. Full-bodied cigars can be very overwhelming if you’re not used to the strength, and can make one a little nauseous. Those who become accustomed to it enjoy the way the nicotine mingles with the distinct taste of each cigar.
Cigar Flavors
This one can be tricky, as most cigars do have flavors, but not all of them are “flavored” cigars. We’ll make it simple, flavored or infused cigars have an extra step in the process where unique flavors and aromas are specifically added to the tobacco through a variety of methods. Regular cigars acquire natural flavors through the soil it was grown, the conditions of the growth process, the harvest, the blending, the aging, and fermentation.
Cigar Wrappers
One of the biggest factors that can influence a cigar’s flavor profile is its wrapper. It’s a common misconception that the darker a cigar wrapper, the more powerful the tobacco. While there are plenty of dark shade cigars will full-bodied profiles, the two are not directly related. For simplicity, let’s split wrappers into four main types. Habano, Connecticut shade, Corojo, and Maduro. Habano might be considered the in-between wrapper that’s used for a large amount of complex blends. Connecticut shade is golden in color and associated with milder blends. Be careful though, a Connecticut shade does not mean it’s going to be mild. A Corojo wrapper is slightly darker than a Connecticut, with a reddish brown hue, and can have a certain peppery spice to it. The Maduro wrapper is a darker brown or blackened hue and comes from fermenting the leaf for a longer period. The extra aging often adds even more intricate tastes
What Cigar is Right for me?
Maybe the toughest question of all, because there isn’t a right or wrong answer! If you enjoy a cigar, then it’s the right one for you! Experiment, try different blends to see what catches your eye. A lot of new smokers often try infused cigars first to sample more familiar tastes. It’s pretty common to search for a chocolate or coffee-flavored cigar. There are quite a few brands that meet that description, enjoy!
Go to some of the finest establishments in the world, and you’ll find Gurkha cigars. Gurkha has become synonymous with luxury and with good reason. They manage to imbue every cigar with a sense of opulence not seen anywhere else in the tobacco world.
Gurkha, for those who aren’t familiar, is named after the famous Gurkha soldiers of the Indian subcontinent. Known as fierce fighters with an indomitable will, the cigars strive to maintain the same level of dedication when it comes to their tobacco’s quality.
Their latest creation only solidifies their already sterling reputation. Gurkha Year of the Dragon is the first blend made to commemorate the Chinese Zodiac. This is more than just a limited release, although only 1000 are being produced. This is an event of momentous proportions!
Don’t believe us? This blend isn’t just limited, it’s top secret! Gurkha is keeping the exact tobacco used in Year of the Dragon under wraps but has disclosed that it uses a savory Maduro wrapper. If you’re curious about the tasting notes, you’ll have to take a draw and find out for yourself. Gurkha wanted to keep every aspect of the blend a wonderful surprise!
Produced in the Dominican Republic at the Tabacalera El Artista S.R.L., Gurkha Year of the Dragon is the first event cigar for 2024. Other brands are going to have a difficult time topping this one!
If you need a reminder, February 14th is right around the corner. The day we show the ones closest to us how much we care. You don’t want to be caught without a present for your loved one on the most romantic day of the year. We’ve all heard stories of someone forgetting the holiday and facing the wrath of their spouse upon arriving home. Here’s a chance to avert that doomsday scenario, we’ve picked out some incredible presents that are sure to please your special someone.
Give the gift of luscious premium tobacco this season with Mike’s Valentine’s Gift Box! The perfect expression of affection for the smoker in your life. Arriving right on cue for the most romantic time of the year, it’s an assortment of our finest house brands with accessories to match. Whether you’re shopping for that special aficionado in your life, or simply giving yourself the gift of top shelf taste, we’ve got you covered. Our special Miami Deco blend is designed to offer the same kind of Cuban inspired flavors that once enthralled our founder Mike Mersel. You won’t even need to wait a moment to spark up, as the box includes a cutter and lighter! Happy Valentine’s Day from Mike’s Cigars.
If you have a passionate love for Romeo y Julieta Cigars, then you’ll fall head over heels for our Bed of Roses Cigar Combo! We stacked this combo with some of the best sticks Romeo has ever rolled. Including the exclusive Romeo y Julieta Bed of Roses Chruchill, a limited release blend previously only available as part of promotional items. Now you can enjoy the full flavor of this mysterious blend, along with some of the classic staples of the brand. Makes for an exquisite present for any longtime aficionado this holiday season. Taste one of the quintessential brands of premium tobacco with our Bed of Roses Cigar Combo!
EP Carillo Triumph Trilogy brings together three of the finest cigars ever released into one package, offering a buffet of rich sumptuous savory flavors. There’s a reason this sampler bears the name triumph, as every single cigar in this collection was named one of the top two cigars of the year upon its release. Starting with the incomparable EP La Historia E-III, named the #2 cigar of 2014 for its oily, dark chocolatey tastes. Up next is the EP Carrillo Encore Majestic, voted cigar of the year 2018; the Majestic is a puro that lives up to its name with perfectly balanced spices and sweetness. The grand finale for this sampler is none other than the one and only EP Carrillo Pledge Prequel. The Prequel Pledge has earned untold critical acclaim since its release, easily taking cigar of the year 2020 as it practically redefined the luxury smoke with its symphony of flavors in every draw. The EP Carrillo Triumph Trilogy is the sampler for those aficionados who settle for nothing less than the best.
A gift designed for the cultured aficionado, the Montecristo White Toro Cigars & Whiskey Gift Set is guaranteed to put a wide smile on any smoker’s face. Besides four magnificent Montecristo White Toros, an already critically acclaimed cigar known for its smooth, creamy taste, this gift includes two whiskey glasses proudly emblazoned with the Montecristo logo and four whiskey stones for those who take it neat. An excellent gift for any long-time and brand new aficionados alike!
The My Father Limited Edition Humidor is every dedicated aficionado’s dream come true. Featuring a fully furnished interior to preserve your cigars. Sporting a polished wood finish with the artful My Father logo emblazoned on the top. Inside you’ll find a full cedar interior along with a built in hydrometer and humidifier to keep your stick in perfect smoking condition. If you’re worried about security, this humidor comes with its own lock and key!
Once the ball drops to mark the new year, our thoughts often turn inward. As tradition dictates, a new year means resolutions. More than goals or hopes, a resolution is a promise of ambition. It’s our desire to improve and live fully combined. But as anyone can tell you, keeping a resolution past February can be next to impossible.
As a way to motivate any smokers out there, we’ve got something special in mind. Part of any resolution is the belief that what you’re doing essentially improves your life. There’s only one cigar that sets out to do just that. Alec Bradley Project 40. Based on studies that claim 50% of one’s happiness comes from genetics, 10% from circumstance, and 40% from one’s own decisions. Alec Bradley hopes to carry the weight of that 40%, hence the name.
Their efforts are already bearing fruit, as Project 40 has already made it to Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25. So this year, whenever you’re struggling to motivate yourself, reach for a Project 40 and let the flavors wash over you. If that 40% of happiness is really in our control, then every so often you’re entitled to a little indulgence. Working hard is only worth it when you’re working towards something, so you need to relish every moment of leisure to make it count.
The moment that Thanksgiving dinner ends, the clock starts ticking on Christmas! Everyone is scrambling to find the right gift for the right person. If you know any cigar lovers, we’ve done the work for you. We searched high and low but finally found the ideal gifts for any aficionado.
The Macanudo Holiday Gift Set is loaded beyond the wildest imagination with the absolute finest cigars the quintessential brand has ever offered. Along with a selection of accessories so smokers can light up from the moment they open the box!
My Father Cigars as we all know is an amazing brand of cigars producing exceptional smokes! This amazing gift sampler set is for any lover of the My Father Cigar line or for anybody who just wants to try an array of cigars from the line!! Also, a free lighter and cutter will have you smoking in no time!
Oliva Serie V Melanio 2023 Figurino is the latest victory lap from the champion blend that soared to Cigar of the Year back in 2015. Cigar Aficionado rightly awarded the Serie V Melanio blend a near perfect 96 point rating, complimenting its deep and thoughtful profile.
Davidoff Aniversario No. 1 Limited Edition Cigars bring back the beloved blend that defines premium tobacco for many smokers. Originally released to celebrate Zino Davidoff’s 80th birthday, the revival is a brilliant gift to the cigar lovers of the world.
When it was first released, the Aniversario No. 1 was groundbreaking. Complimented for its innovation and craftsmanship when first released, the revival captures all the nuance of the original, Davidoff has decided to revive it as part of its White Band Collection. Resurrecting hallowed blends is a treat for new and old smokers alike.
Arturo Fuente Queen B Hands Of Time Red Gift Set is a regal present that features one of the brand’s most iconic sticks in all its flavorful glory. The Chateau Fuente Queen B is a sumptuously sweet smoke bursting with the lavish taste of earth and cedar that’s sure to please the recipient of this gift set. In addition to the lovely Queen B, this gift set includes a stunning crimson red ashtray emblazoned with Arturo Fuente art. The ultimate choice for the holidays or any smoker’s birthday.
For those who want to gift those close to them an authentic classical smoking experience, we humbly present our Montecristo Christmas Cigar Gift Box. Montecristo has long been one of the signature brands of the entire cigar market, as its always created nuanced sticks that run the full gamut of flavors. We collected four of their finest stogies and packaged them together to make the perfect present for the smoker in your life!
The limited edition cigar line is always a treat for aficionados. Sometimes it’s a surprise. A new blend that tests the waters for a full release. But sometimes it’s an annual event. Like Christmas or Thanksgiving, it doesn’t make it any less special just because we know it’s coming.
Case in point: Davidoff’s Year of the Dragon. A culmination of annual releases that have only become better with each version. Year of the Dragon tastes like each Zodiac-inspired blend was building to this. It took eight strains of tobacco to build this magnificent beast. Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Mexican tobacco for the long filler. Followed by an impressive Dominican binder, and finished with a flawless Ecuadorian wrapper
Davidoff even added an uncut foot, an exceptionally difficult feat when producing a cigar. The goal was to add an untold depth to the flavor profile. The results speak for themselves. While we all wish we could taste the decadence, Davidoff is only releasing 5160 boxes of this masterpiece. If you want to try it, you need to act now!
In the pantheon of famous American cigar aficionados, Ulysses S. Grant stands above the rest. His vast accomplishments are only equaled by his voracious appetite for cigars. Anyone who with even a cursory knowledge of American history knows Grant’s role in fighting the civil war. But Grant’s incredible story starts long before the Civil War and continued long after. Entwined with that story was his burning passion for premium cigars.
Born in 1822, Hiram Ulysses S. Grant was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio, to his parents Jesse and Hannah. From a young age, Grant set himself apart from others. Showing an incredible ability for horsemanship from the early age of two, Grant was soon proving so adept he assisted his father’s business. Famously, when he was eleven, a traveling circus came to town with a trick pony that was trained to buck and throw off any rider. Offering a five-dollar (3700 dollars today) prize to whoever could tame it, men from all over the town lined up to try.
After so many had failed, Grant stepped forward and simply said, “I believe I can ride that pony.” With no reigns to clasp, and its mane cut short, Grant wrapped his arms around the pony’s neck. After a long and frenzied attempt by the pony to buck him off, Grant emerged victorious when the animal finally settled and let him ride.
That indomitable spirit would serve Grant for the remainder of his life. Seeing in his son the beginning embers of greatness, Jesse Grant wrote his local congressman asking that he nominate Ulysses to attend the prestigious Westpoint Military Academy. The congressman evidently saw the same in young Ulysses and followed through with his nomination.
After four years at West Point, Grant began the mandatory term of duty in the United States Army required of all West Point graduates. During that, he quickly gained a commendable service record during the Mexican-American War. Rising from quartermaster to first lieutenant, for his continued acts of bravery during battle.
It wasn’t till after his first war that Grant became an avid smoker, and it’s no wonder why. Grant soon found himself under constant stress from seemingly endlessly poor luck. Finding the leisurely pace of peacetime difficult and his superiors disagreeable, Grant left the military and settled on an eighty-acre farm with his wife Julia.
Civilian life only worsened his luck. The farm languished and Grant’s attempt to find employment as an engineer and a clerk didn’t go any better. He even attempted to start his own real estate business but to no avail. Grant was so forlorn during this period, it’s said he smoked up to twelve cigars a day to relieve his constant stress.
Things would change for Grant and the whole nation on April 12, 1861, when Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter. Lincoln quickly called for seventy-five thousand volunteers for the Union Army. Grant was quick to answer the call, forming a local volunteer militia to assist the war effort.
Denied a recommission to his old rank by the man he would ironically replace as commander of the entire Union Army, General George B. McClellan, Grant worked his way back up through the ranks. Starting as a military aide to Ilinois Governor Richard Yates, Grant’s proven ability as a soldier soon had him promoted to Colonel.
The turning point for Grant’s life, and the entire Civil War, came with the battle of Fort Donelson. A strategic position that was key to advancing further South. Grant’s plan was dismissed by his superiors, who insisted he conduct the attack in tandem with a navy operation. Grant knew Donelson could turn the tide of war, and immediately set out to capture the fort.
After several probing attacks, Grant has a strategic retreat to meet with reinforcements. The remaining division was soon attacked by the Confederates, but Grant personally rode through miles of frozen wilderness with reinforcements to defend their position. Blocking the supply lines for the Confederate troops, the enemy retreated back into the fort only to face bombardment from the Union Navy.
The commanding Confederate Generals fled, leaving Fort Commander Simon Buckner to face Grant. When meeting to discuss an end to hostilities, Buckner asked what terms of surrender would be acceptable. Grant replied there would be “no terms but an unconditional and immediate surrender.”
Buckner complied, and Grant’s actions were the first major victory for the North in the early days of the Civil War. Grant was soon promoted by Lincoln to Major General before later being promoted to head of the Union Army. Earning the nickname “Unconditional Surrender” Grant, newspapers described Grant smoking a cigar when victoriously capturing Fort Donelson.
Becoming an instant national hero, everyday people from across that nation showed their thanks by sending Grant cigars. Legend says he received up to ten thousand before the end of the war. Now that’s a reward! Considering his achievements and love for cigars, it’s strange Grant is as closely associated with them as say, Winston Churchill. Maybe we should start calling extra-large cigars Grants?
Do you have a famous historical cigar smoker? Let us know in the comments.
