CA Report: Winter Cigars – The 10 Best Short Smokes
Top 10 Quick Smokes: Best Winter Cigars
It’s getting colder and colder out, the snow is hitting the ground, and your rug rats are begging you to push them down a snow-covered hill on a sheet of plastic so they can scream with exuberance as they barrel towards the only tree in an otherwise barren field. That’s right – it’s winter. For stogie lovers, it’s the season we pack away the Gigantes, Churchills, and even Robustos until the trees start budding. But nobody said we can’t enjoy some of the smaller offerings in the cigar world. Luckily, I broke down my top 10 small winter cigars that we can enjoy in under 30 minutes, so we don’t freeze like Han Solo in Carbonite.
Montecristo Desde 1935 #4
I’m coming out of the gates swinging, folks! Rolled with Nicaraguan and Honduran longfillers and encased in an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, this cigar is yet another home run in the Montecristo lineup. You simply can’t argue about flavor and quality when it comes to Montecristo. They are one of the leaders in the industry, and deserving of the leadoff spot in my list.
[Ed. Note: Montecristo Desde 1935 cigars are no longer in stock at Famous Smoke Shop; click the image to view other Montecristo cigar options.]
Punch Elites
You decide: Natural Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper or shimmering and dark Maduro. No matter which one you decide on, you’re getting full-bodied flavor and a strong strength profile – both staples with every line of Punch cigars. Consider it their way of offering you a taste of the larger sizes they offer. No matter if you’re a Punch fanatic or just a medium- to full-bodied cigar smoker, this is a must-have for the winter months.
Romeo y Julieta 1875 Cedro Deluxe No. 2
No cigar in this reviewer’s opinion comes closer to being the quintessential holiday smoke than the Romeo y Julieta 1875 Cedro Deluxe No. 2. Each cigar uses premium Dominican longfillers, and is packaged in a cedar sleeve for a marriage of woody flavors. When you light it up, it smells like you’re sitting next to a fireplace with a glass of damn good scotch. Not only that, but it offers a medium strength and body profile to give you a little pep in your step.
Tabak Especial Corona Dulce
Don’t think I forgot about all you java lovers out there. Personally, if I don’t get at least one cup of Joe in me in the mornings, I may as well just curl up in a sleeping bag under my desk. What better way to enjoy your morning caffeine fix than with a complementary coffee infused cigar? Each one of these winter cigars puts out a ton of sweet coffee flavor, and is a massive favorite among even the most elite coffee connoisseur.
CLE Corojo Corona
Christian Eiroa is perhaps my favorite cigar manufacturer. If you know anything about this guy, you know he treats tobacco almost like a religion – and breaking away from Camacho allowed Christian to embark on a new stogie endeavor with CLE Cigars. My personal favorite of the line? The Corojo. Almost no cigar comes this close to perfect for me: the flavor and strength is balanced perfectly. It’s flavorful without being overpowering, while Christian’s attention to detail and quality ensure a perfect burn every time. As winter cigars go, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Chillin’ Moose Corona
Bet you’ve never heard of this one, right? Well it’s time to try out this new offering by Foundry cigars. Foundry is quickly becoming the leader in off-the-cuff premium cigars at low prices. Chillin’ Moose is no different. Wrapped in a Connecticut Habano Rosado wrapper, this stogie offers nothing but creamy deluxe flavor. This is quickly becoming a staple in every wallet-conscious consumer, and is a great choice for anyone looking to get some stogies for the winter after emptying the savings account buying Christmas gifts.
Padron Londres
Did you think I was going to put out a list and NOT include Padron? That’s like going to a strip club and asking the bouncer for a lap dance. You’re just doing it all wrong at that point. The Londres is part of Padron’s coveted Thousand Series, and the same incredible flavor you love, only in Honey-I-Shrunk-the-Kids size. Perfect for a premium puff outside during the cold winter months.
La Gloria Cubana Miami Glorias
I love the classics, and it doesn’t get any more classic than La Gloria Cubana. These guys have been in the business since before the decline of the Ottoman Empire. That’s right, they outlived an entire empire. If that doesn’t allude to how much they’re loved in the industry, I don’t know what does. These tiny tasty treats offer classic Cubanesque taste, with a short size so you can enjoy premium flavor all winter long.
[Ed. Note: La Gloria Cubana’s Miami-made cigars are no longer in stock at Famous Smoke Shop; click the image to view La Gloria Cubana’s Dominican-made cigar options.]
Macanudo Café Hampton Court
For the smoker who enjoys a more mild smoke with incredible taste, Macanudo Café is right up your alley. This line is the most popular brand in America, and one of the top sellers in the entire world. That’s pretty remarkable considering you can get one of these stogies that has stood the test of time for an absolute steal.
H.Upmann Sun Grown
What better cigar to end a list with than the H.Upmann Sun Grown. This relatively new stogie is quickly becoming a seasoned veteran in the cigar world with some outstanding flavor, courtesy of an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper. If you’ve never tried one of these bad boys, it’s time you cave and try one out. You can’t go wrong with a cigar that only gets some of the highest accolades in the business at blue collar prices.
We may have to bundle up when the snow comes rolling through, but it shouldn’t take away from our enjoyment of premium stogies. Each of the above cigars may be short smokes, but they pack on the flavor so you can enjoy these winter cigars whenever you choose. In any case, stay warm, stay lit, and have a Happy New Year.