Top Cigars to Smoke On The Beach
Buckle up your Birkenstocks and pump up the beach ball. We’re heading to the beach for some sun, sand, and of course, cigars. When you love cigars, towing your coolerdor to the beach is as crucial as a cooler full of cold beer. But what cigars should you bring along?
What Makes a Cigar Great for Smoking on the Beach?
While nothing is more relaxing than smoking a cigar on a sandy stretch of coastline with a mojito in your hand, some cigars are better suited for the occasion. You’re better off smoking a cigar with a thick, oily wrapper leaf because beaches can get breezy. A cigar with a resilient wrapper will burn evenly if it gets windy, and you’re less likely to have to keep relighting it while you’re smoking. Here are seven amazing smokes to pack on your vacation this summer.
1. Ashton VSG
Ashton VSG is a bestseller in over 75 countries worldwide. Since its debut in 1999, VSG has been a sought-after gem in the legendary Ashton portfolio and is considered the epitome of full-bodied Dominican taste. A succulent Ecuador Sumatra wrapper leaf embraces a well-aged amalgam of premium Dominican binder and filler tobaccos blended by legendary cigarmaker Carlito Fuente. Notes of cedar, espresso, earth, black pepper, and leather layer the palate with a hint of sweetness throughout succulent smoke.
2. La Aroma de Cuba Noblesse
La Aroma de Cuba is an iconic Cuban-legacy brand, once a favorite of Winston Churchill. Today, it’s handcrafted by award-winning cigarmaker Jose ‘Pepin’ Garcia in Nicaragua, and Noblesse is the rarest, most exclusive blend in the collection. This robust edition comes in four meticulous sizes blended from a San Andrés Oscuro wrapper leaf and vintage Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos following a thorough triple fermentation. Luxurious notes of dark chocolate lava cake, espresso bean, and Turkish fig mingle over a complex foundation with hints of salt and pepper. This hearty smoke is perfect for a relaxing special occasion, such as your vacation.
3. Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente Sun Grown
As the number one maker of premium Dominican cigars in the world, it’s hard to choose favorites from Arturo Fuente. When you’re kicking back in perfect weather at the shore, however, Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente Sun Grown embodies all the qualities we look for in an ideal summer cigar. A glistening Sun Grown Rosado wrapper from Ecuador conceals a medium-bodied combination of creamy and smooth Dominican long-fillers crafted to a superb standard. Notes of fresh ground coffee, toasted nuts, earth, and spices arrive in a wide variety of classic sizes. The blend is also available in a mellower Natural wrapper, or a sweeter Broadleaf Maduro.
4. My Father The Judge
The critics in Cigar Aficionado rated My Father The Judge an outstanding 98 points. They proclaimed it their ‘Cigar of the Year’ for 2024, marking the third such title for world-famous father-and-son cigarmakers Pepin and Jaime Garcia. Robust notes of leather, cedar, earth, and spice resonate throughout a long, toasty finish. An oily Ecuador Sumatra wrapper surrounds a mature core of aged Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos, guaranteed to burn slowly and easily while you’re watching the sun set from the sand.
5. San Cristobal Quintessence
The San Cristobal collection also hails from Nicaragua, where Pepin and Jaime Garcia blend a complex and compelling portfolio of Cubanesque cigars, like Quintessence. This 95-rated classic comes in six flawless sizes drafted from a glistening Ecuador Habano wrapper leaf and select long-fillers grown on the Garcia family’s finest estates in Nicaragua. Savory notes of cedar, molasses, coffee bean, and cocoa mingle with sweet and silky nuances before a long finish bathes the taste buds. The critics in Cigar Aficionado ranked Quintessence their ‘#3 Cigar of the Year’ for 2021.
6. Padrón 1926 Series No. 90
The No. 90 in the Padrón 1926 Series is a 5.5-by-52 Robusto rolled in a round format, as opposed to the company’s famous box-pressed sizes. The No. 90 was blended in honor of the 90th birthday of brand founder José Orlando Padrón, who created the first Padrón cigars in 1964 and ran the company until his passing in 2017. The 1926 Series is blended in a Natural and a Maduro wrapper. A well-aged interior of premium Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos fills out the center of each blend. Tasting notes of cedar, cocoa, cayenne, coffee bean, and baking spices resonate throughout a complex, refined smoke ranked in the ‘Top 5 Cigars of the Year’ by the critics at Cigar Aficionado in 2016. Plus, No. 90 cigars come in a protective tube, perfect for bringing to the beach in your pocket without the worry that you’ll crack the wrapper.
7. Oliva Monticello
Oliva Monticello is a rare and exclusive smoke blended from Oliva’s oldest reserves of premium tobacco. An oily Nicaraguan Maduro shimmers over a refined amalgam of Nicaraguan long-fillers matured for perfect flavor and aroma. Tasting notes of dark cocoa, cashew, coffee bean, and cinnamon emerge with hints of spice throughout an intricate profile that pairs perfectly with rum and a host of summer cocktails. Hit the beach with a universal favorite from Oliva among Holt’s customers.
8. Perdomo 30th Anniversary Sun Grown
Nick Perdomo perfected the recipe for value, quality, and taste years ago, and every cigar he produces reflects the highest standards of craftsmanship and flavor. Perdomo 30th Anniversary Sun Grown is a phenomenal example, blended from a reddish-brown Sun Grown Nicaraguan wrapper leaf and succulent Nicaraguan long-fillers cultivated on his most fertile farms, including leaves that have been aged up to fifteen years. Delicious notes of oak, almond, cayenne, leather, and black pepper weave an approachable tapestry over the palate from the first puff to the last.
Bring Your Cigars, Don’t Buy Them on the Beach
Bring your cigars to the beach, but don’t buy them there. It’s common to encounter vendors selling cigars at tropical beach resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Cancun, Mexico; the Bahamas; and throughout the Caribbean. Beach vendors often try to sell you “real Cubans” or cigars that were freshly rolled. However, they are almost always counterfeit Cubans. You also run the risk of purchasing dry cigars that haven’t been properly stored and humidified.
The most common fake Cuban brands you’ll come across include Cohiba, Montecristo, and Romeo y Julieta. The only place you can buy legitimate Cuban cigars is at an official La Casa del Habano store—the official cigar retail franchise partnered with Cubatabaco, Cuba’s state-controlled tobacco company. La Casa del Habano stores can be found in Cuba and around the world, excluding the U.S., of course, due to the longstanding trade embargo.
It’s also worth pointing out that bringing Cuban cigars back to the U.S. is still illegal. The restrictions have changed numerous times over the past decade. Under President Obama, travelers were permitted to bring small amounts of Cuban cigars into the country for personal consumption only. However, President Trump closed any loopholes allowing goods from Cuba to enter the U.S.
Buy your cigars in the States from a reputable shop and pack them in your suitcase to smoke when you get to your destination. You’ll save money and avoid getting ripped off.
