Boutique cigars are a doorway into another world of tobacco smoking, whether it's a signature blend by a world-renowned master tobacconist, a painstakingly hand-rolled stick wrapped in fine vintage leaves, or just a limited edition cigar from your favorite studio.
The best boutique cigars have something special, something almost indescribable. It's not always about the ingredients, or even about the artistry and craftsmanship in their construction. Sometimes it's just about the way they make you feel when you take a drag.
In this guide, we've rounded up five of the best boutique cigars that are often overlooked, which we think are well worth considering next time you're ordering cigars online. You can find out more about five of our favorite boutique cigars below.
What makes a boutique cigar a boutique cigar?
It's hard to define the qualities that make the best boutique cigars. The French might call it 'je ne sais quoi' ('I don't know what'), and in English you might hear it called 'the X factor'. All we know is, it's a feeling you get when you inhale and spark the sense of satisfaction and appreciation for a really well-made cigar.
A boutique cigar might offer any of the following:
- Limited production run
- Rare or vintage tobaccos
- Other rare/desirable ingredients
- Handmade by artisans/masters
- Special recipe or signature blend
Not all boutique cigars will offer all of the above, but generally speaking, if a stick contains rare ingredients or extra craftsmanship in its construction, even if it's from a big factory, it probably qualifies as a boutique cigar.
Here are some boutique cigars you may have overlooked
Your idea of what makes the best boutique cigars will depend on personal tastes, whether you prefer soft and mellow strength profiles or more punchy heavy-hitters, your preference of length and ring gauge, and so on. But here's five of the most popular boutique cigars to get your search started.
Warped Flor Del Valle
Warped Flor Del Valle ('Flower of the Valley') is a Nicaraguan puro that's likely to stake a claim as your favorite Warped cigar. In fact, it could be love at first sight, even before you light the thing, with a triple cap Nicaraguan Corojo 99 wrapper that gives the closed end of the stick a refined appearance.
The journey of smoking this boutique cigar starts at a sprint with heavy pepper flavors that last for several inches.
Beyond that, the complexity of coffee, toast and graham crackers makes it a perfect smoke for misty mountain mornings or sun-up in the desert. Medium body and a medium-full strength profile mean there's plenty to love about this carefully hand-rolled cigar.
Check out our full review of the Warped Flor Del Valle.
Oscar Valladares Super Fly
Super Fly is a retro 70s-inspired stick from Oscar Valladares Cigars and instantly recognizable with its deep purple and gold color scheme, and swirling disco-style font.
Super Fly is more than just a cute logo though, and is hailed as the strongest Oscar Valladares cigar to date, with a filler blend of Nicaragua, Honduras and Dominican Republic tobaccos, a Honduran binder and a Mexican San Andres wrapper.
This slow-burning smoke has a complex flavor profile that includes hints of dark fruit, cocoa, leather and peppery notes, with plenty of sweetness.
Full-strength flavor and a strong body help it to stand out in a crowd as any good boutique cigar should. Available sizes range from 5.25" to 6.5" and ring gauge 45-60. Try the Oscar Valladares Super Fly Gordo for the longest-lasting ride, topping the line at a hefty 6.5" x 60.
We wrote a full review of the Super Fly not so long back, check it out here.
Adventura The Explorer
Adventura The Explorer by Robert Caldwell Cigars is a line of premium handmade cigars that contain seven-year aged tobaccos from Ecuador and the Dominican Republic, with a vintage Ecuador Sumatra binder and a Cuban-seed Habano wrapper.
Sizes range from the short but stubby Short Robusto at 4" x 50, up to the Gran Toro Box-Pressed at 6" x 54. The Robusto Grande is a good middle-ground option too, with all the girth of the Gran Toro but an inch less length.
Expect a cold draw with grassy and woody notes, followed by cedar and leather when you light the cigar. Retrohales deliver more of the creaminess of the tobacco to round off the smoking experience. Available in boxes of 19, The Explorer is an adventure you can enjoy again and again.
If you want to know more, check out our full review.
Esteban Carreras Unforgiven
Unforgiven from Esteban Carreras cigars is a line of two-year aged Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos with a Nicaraguan binder and Ecuador Sumatra wrapper.
The rum barrel aging process enhances the flavor of the tobacco, creating an unusually rich smoking experience. But Unforgiven is not overwhelming, with a medium body and medium-full strength profile.
On the palate, the barrel can be detected as woody, spiced rum notes, combining with the leathery coffee flavors of the tobacco itself.
Esteban Carreras Unforgiven was the company's first barrel-aged product, using 18-year-old Flor de Cana barrels not only to age the tobacco, but then to mature the finished cigars.
For a truly unforgettable boutique cigar, take a look at Esteban Carreras Unforgiven Wrecking Ball, the fattest stick in the range at a ring gauge of 70 and a length of 6".
Find out more in our full review of the Unforgiven.
RoMa Craft Intemperance Whiskey Rebellion 1794
RoMa Craft Intemperance Whiskey Rebellion 1794 pays tribute to the rebellions against Alexander Hamilton's unfair whiskey tax that took place in 1791-94.
The cigars combine tobacco from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic with an Indonesian Bezuki binder and an Ecuador Habano wrapper. The result is a strong-body, full-strength smoke with a smooth draw and tastes of espresso, earth and cedar.
Whiskey Rebellion 1794 is available in lengths from 4" to 5.5" and ring gauges from 46-56, and in box sizes of 24-30 sticks. Beautifully wrapped with a tantalizingly tempting cold draw, it's a true delight for all the senses.
Find out more about this amazing cigar in our expert review.
In summary
That's our shortlist of five of the best boutique cigars, but there's a whole world of artisan tobacco out there to explore, so don't feel limited to our suggestions.
You can find more inspiration in our article Boutique cigars to try in 2021 or just take a look at the boutique, artisan and handmade cigars on sale on Cigars.com to find your perfect match.
