The Dominican Republic is a popular vacation and honeymoon locale dotted with posh resorts, pristine beaches, and challenging golf courses. But for cigar enthusiasts, the Dominican Republic holds other treasures—like its world class tobacco varietals and legions of first-rate premium cigars originating in its many factories.
As recently as a couple of decades ago, the Dominican Republic was considered the nucleus of the premium cigar world and was renowned for its mellow and easygoing blends. Brands like Arturo Fuente, Davidoff, Montecristo, and Cohiba dominated the premium cigar landscape. However, nowadays the focus has shifted to Nicaragua, and consumers are seeking out cigars with more body, strength, and complexity.
Seeing the writing on the wall, Dominican cigar makers recognized they needed to adapt to a changing landscape. Tobaccos from Nicaragua, Honduras, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Peru (to name but a few) are now found in newer Dominican based blends that span the entire spectrum of strength and complexity. Moreover, since growers have been producing high-quality Dominican wrapper for over two decades now, there are more Dominican puros being made than ever before.
While many of the cigars listed here fall into the old-school Dominican variety, I’ve included a few bolder picks to spice things up. Most of these cigars are considered classic and the rest are on their way there. I hope you’ll try a few and see why Dominican tobaccos are considered the cream of the crop.
Drawing its name and inspiration from cigar smoking jazz musician & composer Avo Uvezian (who wrote Strangers in the Night), the Avo Classic is laid back by today’s standards, but hits every note in terms of overall performance. Rolled in an exquisite Connecticut wrapper over a Dominican binder and filler tobaccos, the smoke delivers the legendary Avo creaminess along with layered notes of cedar, nuts, and subtle spices. Don’t make Avo Classic a stranger and see why this cigar was born to top the charts.
Search for “Bestselling Mellow Cigars” and you’ll find the Macanudo Café at or near the top. Widely considered as an ideal “starter cigar” for the newly initiated, Café is dressed in Macanudo’s legendary triple-fermented U.S. Connecticut wrapper, Mexican binder, and Dominican fillers. The smoke is creamy and cedary with added notes of almond and light spices. Perfect for cigar lovers of any experience, Macanudo Café makes an ideal companion for a morning cup of coffee or as the finale to a pleasant evening.
One of the most iconic names in cigars. And what better introduction to the brand than the Montecristo Classic—a bestseller for decades and a bona fide legendary smoke. The Classic features premium Dominican long fillers and binder underneath a top-grade Connecticut Shade wrapper providing the traditional Dominican profile with a balanced subtlety offering nuances like cream, pepper, leather, cocoa, and spice. If you want the full Monty—look no further than the Montecristo Classic.
Anyone who calls themself a cigar smoker should experience the E.P. Carrillo Pledge – and not because it was awarded “2020 Cigar of the Year” either. Because it’s loaded with chewy flavors like black cherry, pepper, oak, and baking spices with a sublime and rounded ripeness that only comes from using perfectly aged tobaccos. Crafted in the Dominican Republic, six different blends were tried and repeatedly fixed before arriving at what can best be described as ‘perfection.’ Try Pledge to experience excellence in cigar form.
A flagship Fuente for the everyday fan. Topped with an aged, toothy Cameroon wrapper that hugs a mellow core of Dominican tobaccos, the 858’s flavor profile includes cream and cedar, with some coffee and a touch of sweetness at play. Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 858 was the brand’s crown jewel (before Opus X came along) and today it remains one of the best values going. You won’t regret taking this blend for a spin as it’s the perfect any time-of-day cigar for enthusiasts of any experience.
This Romeo is about to get real. Real good. The blend consists of a balanced mix of Dominican and Nicaraguan long fillers, Nicaraguan binder and a silky, Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut wrapper. The smoke is medium-bodied – definitely up a notch from Romeo 1875 – and super creamy. You’ll find flavors of toasted nuts, nutmeg, cinnamon, and caramel. The cigar also offers a clean burn, firm white ash, and an appealing aroma. Give Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real a try to experience a first-class smoke with something for everyone.
One of the biggest names in the biz and a cigar that even non-smokers know, Cohiba is synonymous with luxury and high rollers. Generations of enthusiasts—celebrities and regular Joe’s alike—have remained enamored with the smooth, sweet flavor profile of the Red Dot. With a bevy of long-aged Dominican Cuban-seed fillers, a rare Indonesian Jember binder and a savory African Cameroon wrapper, Cohiba holds the recipe for success. It’s always a good idea to stay classy and—while you’re at it—try the classic Red Dot.
Cameroon wrappers and Dominican tobaccos are a match made in cigar heaven. Arguably, no brand does this combo better than Partagas. Take the old-school Partagas—a cigar that for many was our first foray into premiums with a little more pep. The blend is medium bodied with a mix of Dominican Cuban seed and Mexican long fillers under an African Cameroon wrapper. Flavors of sweet, rich tobacco, cedar, and earth stay in balance as creaminess jumps in and out. Give Partagas a try for a spicy and fulfilling experience.
A uniquely shaped cigar, this La Flor Dominicana sports a Chisel tip—like a flattened-out torpedo head—springing from an idea by Litto Gomez. Medium bodied and dressed in an aged Cameroon wrapper over a blend of leaves from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, this cigar shows the range and versatility of Dominican tobaccos. The Cameroon Cabinet is balanced and complex, with notes of cedar, pepper, baking spice, cream, nuts, and coffee. Pick one up and watch Cameroon Cabinet chisel its way into your rotation.
Last up is a cigar from one of the most passionately received brands in recent memory. Companion is the second Warped cigar from the Dominican Republic, and they’ve applied their usual artistry with this blend. With a Grade A San Andres wrapper hugging a Dominican Criollo ’98 binder, and tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, Companion delivers black pepper notes before caramel settles in. The profile also comes to include earth, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The Companion de Warped is a trusty sidekick for your next adventure.
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Paul first fell in love with the leaf back in college, where he majored in Philosophy (yes, seriously). Upon graduating, Paul stared into the abyss and unemployment stared back. He responded by founding the ‘Pounding Fathers,’ a traveling Beer Pong team with the other Philosophy grad at UMass. Aspiring to subsist on more than Ramen Noodles and Natural Ice, Paul put down his ping pong balls and picked up a pen - and a cigar - and began working in the premium cigar industry in 2013.
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