A cigar order is easy to get wrong. Reach for the biggest box or the boldest wrapper and you can end up with twenty-five sticks you don't want. The better starting point is how you actually smoke: a single after dinner, a sampler to figure out what you like, or a full box of something you already trust. This collection spans singles, cigarillos, samplers, and boxes across a range of origins and strengths, alongside the bourbon-and-cigar sets that come with the territory at a liquor shop.
How to Choose Cigars That Fit How You Smoke
Strength is a preference, not a grade. A mellow, Connecticut-wrapped cigar like the Macanudo Cafe Portofino is not a lesser smoke than a fuller one like the Montecristo Platinum Churchill. They suit different moods and different times of day. Size works the same way. A Toro or a Churchill runs longer than a cigarillo, so the choice is less about intensity and more about how much time you have to sit with it. If you are still narrowing things down, start milder and shorter and work up from there.
Cigar Formats: Singles, Samplers, and Boxes
Buying the right format saves money and regret. Singles like the JM's Dominican Churchill or the Buffalo Trace Churchill let you test a cigar before committing. Samplers such as the CRA Freedom Sampler spread the bet across several blends at once. A box, like the Macanudo Cafe Portofino Box of 25, makes sense once you know what you like and want the better per-cigar price. Cigarillos, like the Buffalo Trace Explorers, cover the shorter smoke when you do not have an hour to give.
Pairing Cigars With Bourbon and Whiskey
This is where a liquor shop has something a cigar-only store does not. Several sets here pair a bottle with the smoke, like the Buffalo Trace Bourbon Churchill Cigar Gift Set or the Eagle Rare Toro Cigar Travel Combo. The general rule is to match weight with weight: a mellow cigar with a lighter pour, a fuller cigar with a higher-proof bourbon that can hold its own. These sets also make straightforward gifts, since they take the guesswork out for whoever is buying.
Cigars FAQ
Are Cuban cigars available to buy online?
No. Cuban cigars cannot be legally sold in the United States, so any cigars you buy here are non-Cuban. That is not a downside. Dominican and Nicaraguan cigars from makers like Macanudo and Montecristo are well regarded on their own terms.
What are good cigars for beginners?
Milder, Connecticut-wrapped cigars are the usual starting point because they are smoother and less likely to overwhelm. Buying singles first, rather than a full box, lets you find your preference without overcommitting.
How should I store cigars?
Cigars keep best in a humidor held around 65 to 70 percent humidity. If you are buying singles or a small pack to smoke soon, short-term storage is less of a concern, though boxes are worth keeping in proper conditions.
What is the difference between a Toro and a Churchill cigar?
Both are cigar sizes, known as vitolas. A Churchill is generally longer and thinner, while a Toro is shorter and thicker. The practical difference is smoke time and how the draw feels, not strength.
Do any cigars come with a bourbon pairing?
Some do. Several gift sets in this collection pair a cigar or a tin of cigarillos with a bottle of bourbon, which is a convenient way to match a smoke with a complementary pour or to give both together.