Cigar Buying Guides

2019 CA Report: Lucky Smokes – Top 7 Cigars for St. Patrick’s Day (Reader’s Choice)

The Top 7 Lucky Cigars You Picked For Patty’s Day

Celebrated in more countries than any other holiday, St. Patrick’s Day is observed annually on March 17. The indulgent festivities that surround it are due largely in part to the long-standing tradition of lifting Lenten restrictions on food and alcohol consumption for the day. All we know is, you better have a pretty good excuse lined up when you call off tomorrow.

Most tobacco publications take advantage of this celebration by showing you Claro and Candela leaf-wrapped cigars that fit the festivity’s green theme, but I decided to put the spotlight on you. Over the course of a few days, I canvassed a handful of customers at Famous Smoke Shop’s retail store and asked them what they were smoking on St. Patty’s Day and why. I also picked two answers to the same question asked during Live with the Cigar Advisors that aired on Facebook Live back on 2/21/19.

As a bonus, John, Gary, Tommy, and I also threw our picks into the mix.

Without further delay, dive into these seven lucky cigars that readers like you will be smoking today!

Joe Bilsky Occupation: Electrician
Years Smoking: 17 years
What He’s Smoking on St. Patrick’s Day: CAO Flathead Steel Horse Apehanger
Why: “It’s reasonably priced and full-flavored – a smooth smoker. It’s always been consistent where other cigars haven’t been, so I keep going back.”

CAO Flathead Steel Horse

Size: 5 1/2″ x 58 Gordo Wrapper: CT Habano Grueso Binder: Brazilian Arapiraca Filler: Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua Body: Full

What to expect: CAO’s Flathead Steel Horse has been a hit since its unveiling and hasn’t lost momentum yet. These smokes are noted for dark, rich notes of cocoa, cedar, oak, and coffee. Don’t take our word for it…just ask Joe.

Kyle Magda Occupation: Sports Writer
Years Smoking: 6 years
What He’s Smoking on St. Patrick’s Day: Blind Man’s Bluff Connecticut Robusto
Why: “ It’s got so much flavor. It’s a good smoke, it doesn’t drag me down, and it’s very smooth all the way through. It was the first cigar that was recommended to me here at Famous and I’ve loved it ever since.”

Blind Man’s Bluff Connecticut

Size: 5″ x 50 Robusto Wrapper: Ecuador CT Shade Binder: Honduras Filler: Dominican Republic, Honduras Body: Mellow-to-Medium

What to expect: Caldwell is one of the fastest-growing boutiques in the biz, and the popularity of these cigars is proof. Creamy notes of cedar, sweet oak, and leather with just a touch of spices underscore this blend. If you haven’t tried one, it seems that Kyle knows something you don’t.

Bob Workman Occupation: Retired
Years Smoking: 30 years
What He’s Smoking on St. Patrick’s Day: Oliva Serie V Melanio Robusto
Why: “Two things. I like the flavor, and I like the strength. It’s smooth and it burns well. Normally I’d go for a regular Serie V, but for St. Patrick’s Day, it’s going to be the Melanio.”

Oliva Serie V Melanio

Size: 5″ x 52 Robusto Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Body: Full

What to expect: Melanio has been highly-rated and sought-after for many years. Black pepper, toast, coffee, and fresh bread are ready to please your palate. If you’ve been on the fence about trying one, let Bob’s 30 years of experience serve as a hint.

Tom Mowatt Occupation: Forklift Operator
Years Smoking: 3 years
What He’s Smoking on St. Patrick’s Day: Liga Privada No. 9 Petite CoronaWhy: “It’s the one cigar that’s perfect for every occasion – a great all-season smoke. It smells and tastes really good every time I light one up. They’re great!”

Liga Privada No. 9

Size: 4 1/2″ x 46 Petite Corona Wrapper: U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua Body: Full

What to expect: The flagship of Drew Estate’s non-infused blends, No. 9 is full-bodied and bold in flavor. Espresso and earthiness take the lead, and there’s a slight sweetness on the finish. If Tom keeps coming back to them time after time, that should tell you something…

Mike Kahn Occupation: Tech Sector
Years Smoking: 30 years
What He’s Smoking on St. Patrick’s Day: Padron 3000 Maduro
Why: “ They’re always consistent, they always taste good, and they’re full-bodied. They have a perfect draw and aren’t too expensive.”

Padron 3000 Maduro

Size: 5 1/2″ x 52 Robusto Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano Maduro Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Body: Full

What to expect: One of the staples in the cigar industry, Padron has been trusted for decades. With ample servings of hazelnut, sweet cream, cocoa, and coffee, these cigars smoke like chocolate bars. Mike will tell you – it’s all he buys.

MaryEllen DeSilva Anderson Occupation: Retired Benefits Professional
Years Smoking: 20 years
What She’s Smoking on St. Patrick’s Day: Padron ’64 Anniversary Maduro
Why: “They’re consistently my favorite smoke. Those and Oliva Serie V are my go-tos!”

Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro

Size: 5 1/2″ x 50 Robusto Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Body: Full

What to expect: With its trademark cocoa and coffee finish, Padron 1964 is robust, bold, and exudes flavors of cedar, nuts, and a slight sweetness. MaryEllen is showing the boys how it’s done!

Robbie Van Wyngaarden Occupation: Drafting and Design
Years Smoking: 2 years
What He’s Smoking on St. Patrick’s Day: Caldwell The T
Why: “ A couple of weeks ago, my local shop recommended these cigars to me and I really liked them. I love cigars with pepper and spice, and I love AJ Fernandez cigars, so I always grab a few of them.”

Caldwell The T

Size: 6″ x 52 Toro Wrapper: Nicaragua Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Body: Full

What to expect: When Robert Caldwell, AJ Fernandez, and Matt Booth get together on a project, you know you’re in for an amazing treat. Dashes of spice, oak, leather, coffee, and pepper combine with a sweetness on the finish. Two years in, and Robbie already knows an expert blend when he finds it.

CIGAR ADVISOR STAFF PICKS

Maybe we just love seeing our names in print, or maybe our favorite part of the job is sharing with you the cigars we love. Here are our picks for a perfect St. Patrick’s Day Cigar.

John Pullo Occupation: It’s his job to look that good.
What He’s Smoking on St. Patrick’s Day: 601 Green Label Oscuro
Why: “I took the green angle, but not as far as the Claro cliché, and if I’m going to throw back heavier beers, I want the sweet spice of an Oscuro that can stand up to it.”

601 Green Label Oscuro

Size: 5″ x 52 Trabuco (Robusto) Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Body: Full

What to expect: 601 Green Label Oscuro is a cost-friendly way to bring some big flavors to the table. Its Nicaragua Habano Oscuro wrapper cradles a Nicaraguan core to evoke offerings of nuts, sweet wood, earth, and a spicy-sweet finish. John’s only ever smoked three cigars, and this one kept his hair its bounciest. Maybe he’s born with it?

Dr. Gary Korb Occupation: He’s the guy who puts the smoke in cigars.
What He’s Smoking on St. Patrick’s Day: O’liva Serie V Double Robusto
Why: The Serie V selection has always delivered on construction, flavor, and consistency. It’s one of Oliva’s finest cigars, highly rated by our customers, and the perfect companion to a pint of Guinness or Irish Whiskey. I’ll probably go with an Irish coffee for this one.”

Oliva Serie V

Size: 5″ x 54 Double Robusto Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Body: Full

What to expect: With its dead-on balance of flavors, Serie V represents the pinnacle of Oliva’s talents. Nuances of dark chocolate, coffee, and dark tobacco spice are sprinkled throughout your experience. Gary found this cigar under his pillow after leaving his last baby tooth for the Tooth Fairy some time during the late Cretaceous.

Tommy Zman Zarzecki
Occupation: He’s the guy who notices the smoke in cigars.
What He’s Smoking on St. Patrick’s Day: Alec Bradley Black Market Filthy Hooligan
Why: “ I always smoke something special for a holiday and this cigar is hard to find in a lot of stores. It’s very well made, has a nice sweetness, and goes great with my morning coffee.”

Alec Bradley Black Market Filthy Hooligan

Size: 6″ x 50 Toro Wrapper: Candela/Maduro Binder: Sumatra Filler: Honduras, Panama Body: Medium

What to expect: Alec Bradley’s Filthy Hooligan is arguably the most popular St. Patrick’s Day cigar. With its grassy sweetness, creamy smoke, and hints of earth, leather, and nuts, it’s about as green as you can get. Tommy was handed this cigar personally by Billy Mays who appeared to him in a dream where every highway exit somehow led him back into New Jersey.

Jared Gulick
Occupation: Cream, no sugar.
What He’s Smoking on St. Patrick’s Day: Black Works Studio Boondock Saint Corona Larga
Why: “ I thought it would be fun to find parallels to the holiday that weren’t as obvious as the Candela/Claro fare that most people gravitate toward. The Boondock Saint was perfect in that regard, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s also a great smoke!”

Black Works Studio: The Boondock Saint

Size: 6 1/4″ x 46 Corona Larga Wrapper: PA Broadleaf Binder: Nicaragua Habano Filler: Nicaragua, PA Connecticut-seed Body: Full

What to expect: One of the finest small-batch blenders around, Black Label Trading Company always delivers. Loads of chocolaty goodness, notes of pepper, spice, cedar, and a slight sweetness combine for a full-fledged assault on your palate. This cigar is on a mission… Jared saw an ad for these cigars while rifling through a magazine hunting for Rogaine coupons.

What cigar will you be smoking on the luckiest of holidays? What did you think of this list? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll see you for the next CA Report!