Top 5 Puro Cigars

The 5 best cigars made with tobacco leaves from a single country

In this guide to the Top 5 Puro Cigars, we’re going to define what makes a cigar a puro, list the best puro cigar choices from Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic, and answer frequently asked questions. Dive in now!

Puro Cigars Defined:

Puro (Spanish for ‘pure’) is a common cigar term that gets kicked around the lounge…usually by an experienced cigar smoker—or at least someone pretending to be. But what is a puro exactly? The answer is pretty simple: though it’s sometimes incorrectly used to describe all cigars (like stogies), a puro is a cigar whose leaves—wrapper, binder, and filler—are all grown in the same country. Bonus points if said cigar is manufactured in that country, too.

The easiest place to find a puro cigar is in Cuba and that’s because every single cigar rolled there is made from 100% Cuban tobacco. The problem with smoking Cuban cigars is twofold: availability and price. Since neither is advantageous to smokers like you and me, we’re going to instead focus on puros from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Dominican Republic.

Let’s explore these selections together and unveil our top picks for puro cigars below!

The Best Nicaraguan Puro Cigars

Padron 5000

While Padron’s Anniversary cigars get all the hype and hoopla, it’s the Thousand Series that brings home the bacon. The 5000 is a Robusto-sized vitola in the line, box-pressed in those oily Nicaraguan Habano wrapper leaves that are aged a minimum of two and a half years. Each leaf in the 5000’s blend is grown in Esteli, Nicaragua (the country’s most popular growing region) making for a very robust, rich, and spicy smoke. Heavy notes of espresso, earth, spice, and dark cocoa are mainstays—a signature of this beloved brand. It’s the quintessential Nicaraguan puro cigar. Full stop.

Romeo y Julieta House of Capulet Nicaragua

Romeo’s House of Capulet is not just the best-selling of their ‘House’ series, it’s the best-selling Romeo at Famous Smoke Shop, period. Maybe even the best mild cigar our friends on the retail side sell…but that’s just a guess. It goes without saying, then, that House of Capulet Nicaragua has some big shoes to fill. Here's a case where, even though it's made in Honduras, the all-Nicaraguan tobacco recipe still qualifies it as a puro. And with an appetite for stronger cigars on a meteoric rise—especially those with punchier tobaccos—this blend brings the muscle. Reinvigorate your senses with hints of sweet tobacco, oak, spices, and coffee with a satisfyingly spicy kick that won’t break the bank.

The Best Honduran Puro Cigars

CLE Cororo

From Christian Eiroa, the man who put the Camacho brand on the map—and saved authentic Corojo tobacco from an early grave—comes C.L.E. And for this who’s who of puro cigar lists, C.L.E. Corojo is a shoo-in. Its all Honduran-made Corojo recipe is a full-bodied blast of sweet, creamy flavor. The first thing you’ll notice is its unusual shape: 48 ring gauge at the head, bulging out to 54 in the center, and back down to 48 at the foot—this is Eiroa’s signature size, called 11/18. Earth, floral notes, and dark coffee are followed by a vanilla oakiness that smokes smooth from toast to nub. If you’re like me and dig Corojo’s natural sweetness, then I can’t think of a better tobacco ambassador to represent Honduras.

Baccarat

Baccarat ain’t just one of the best top Honduran puro cigars. It’s one of the top cigars. As in…of all time. A sweetened cap and a mild, easy-smoking appeal have kept this popular premium in the game for the long haul (pun intended). It’s kinda like a root beer float: creamy and sweet, with a hint of gentle spices. As far as best sellers go, you won’t find many cigars flying off the shelves faster. And the scores of peeps smoking them can’t all be wrong. Pair one with your next cup of coffee and hit me up with the results.

The Best Puro Cigars from The Dominican Republic

Ashton Estate Sun Grown

Dominican puro cigars are much harder to come by. Demand isn’t as high for Dominican cigars because the country still faces a ‘mild cigar’ stigma, even though plenty of full-bodied examples exist. One such example—maybe the best—is Ashton Estate Sun Grown. Called ‘ESG’ for short, the blend has earned accolades aplenty, including an incredible 94 rating from Cigar Aficionado and a threepeat in their top 25 cigars of the year lists. That’s, undoubtedly, thanks to a mouthwatering array of flavors like cedar, baking chocolates, citrus, and spices. These are a few of the reasons ESG is atop a very short list. Consider adding it to yours.

Frequently Asked Questions: What are Puro Cigars?

If you have questions or want to learn more about puro cigars, check out the answers to our most frequently asked questions for more insight.

What are the differences between puro cigars and regular cigars?

A premium cigar contains tobaccos from a number of countries in the wrapper, binder, and filler positions. Puro cigars will contain tobaccos entirely from one country of origin. Additionally, an even higher tier of puro cigar can be attained if the cigar is not only made with tobaccos from a single country but is manufactured there as well.

Are Puro Cigars better than regular cigars?

The simple answer is: no. A cigar’s quality depends on the ability of the cigar blender to combine tobacco leaves together for taste. Simply being made with tobaccos all from the same country is not a reliable indicator of a cigar’s stature or quality.

Are Cuban Cigars Puros?

Yes. All Cuban cigars are puros. The Cuban government regulates their cigar industry and only allows their blends to contain domestic tobaccos.