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Cigars in Scarface

One of Al Pacino’s greatest performances comes in the fast, feisty, and darkly humorous gangster classic Scarface (1983). Pacino plays the title character Tony ‘Scarface’ Montana — a Cuban refugee who builds a powerful drug empire in Miami alongside his friend Manny (played by Steven Bauer).

A film that revels in excess, it delivers a sea of brutality, graphic drug usage, foul language, and some iconic lines of dialogue. The sight of Tony Montana with a cigar is also a constant to show off his power, respect, and wealth.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, say “hello to my little friend(s)” as we try to decipher the type of cigars hot-headed Montana lights up in the film.

What types of cigars are smoked in Scarface?

As a Cuban refugee living in America, it’s safe to assume the character Montana would have had access to some of the best Cuban smokes around. However, Scarface was filmed in Los Angeles and is set three years after the Mariel Boatlift of 1980. This was the mass emigration of Cubans to the United States by boat, following communist leader Fidel Castro’s rise to power.

Consequently, the real-world filming and the fictional world depicted will have been subject to the US embargo on Cuban tobacco. It’s worth noting that the original novel makes several references to “black” cigars ­— Pacino (Scarface) smokes dark, intimidating cigars throughout the movie. The cigars become a hallmark of his character and aggressive swagger.

It's unlikely illegally imported Cuban stogies were used during production, so we’ve picked out four cigars that veer towards the dark side. A stick from Cohiba Cigars is included — a brand created in 1966 exclusively for Castro and high-level officials at the then top-secret but now world-famous El Laguito factory.

Four dark cigars to smoke during Scarface

We suggest picking the Churchill size in each of our silver screen-worthy recommendations to satisfy you for large parts of Scarface’s nearly three-hour runtime.

Partagas Black Label

Partagas Black Label

Partagas is one of the original Cuban brands from before the US trade Cuban embargo. The Partagas Black is one

Partagas is one of the original Cuban brands from before the US trade Cuban embargo. The Partagas Black is one of the bolder blends in the brand’s profile with its two-nation ligero filler and La Vega Especial binder grown in the Dominican Republic. Cloaked in a gloriously dark and oily sun-grown Connecticut Medio Tiempo wrapper, it wouldn’t look out of place in the dark underworld of gangster life.

While the wrapper provides some delicious sweetness, this potent smoke throws heavy punches of black coffee, chocolate, and pepper, with earthy and spicy hints floating in the background.

Ramon Allones by AJ Fernandez

One of AJ Fernandez’s many blends with a classic Cuban name, the Ramon Allones triumphs the hearty profile of Nicaraguan tobaccos in all their glory. Dressed in an extremely dark Habano Oscuro Medio Tiempo wrapper with its cedar and earthy aroma, even the mob couldn’t fail to be impressed by this rich and complex blend.

The Ramon Allones features Nicaraguan Corojo 99 from Jalapa, Criollo 98 from Condega, Pueblo Nuevo, and a hybrid leaf grown in Estelí for filler. This medium to full-bodied slow-burner delivers notes of coffee, earth, spice, and a tangy cedar hit.

Montecristo Classic Series

An iconic smoke from an iconic brand, the Montecristo Classic Series is handcrafted using the finest blend of Dominican binder and filler tobaccos. Finished in a silky golden-blond Connecticut Shade wrapper, this refreshingly mellow stogie has a floral aroma with whispers of honey and toasted nuances of almonds, butter toffee, fresh hay, and vanilla.

Despite its mellow guise, this cigar is slightly darker and oilier than the original Montecristo blend. You can imagine Montana turning to the Montecristo Classic Series on a rare quiet evening of relaxation, contemplating his actions between draws.

Cohiba Black

With its jet-black stare, this rich and powerful smoke from Cohiba sports an oily and robust Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper. The blend of Dominican and Mexican long-leaf fillers delivers luscious Maduro flavors of black pepper, chocolate, leather, and toasted nuts, with an earthy core and subtle sweetness with each puff.

Another key element behind the decadent aroma and flavor is the unique, sun-grown Dominican Piloto leaf, aged in tercio (an air-tight bale of tightly wrapped palm leaves) for three years. Perhaps the definitive Scarface cigar with its dark-as-the-night hue, this black beauty is the ultimate expression of indulgence and luxury from one of the cigar world’s most notorious brands.

If you’re keen to start or add to your cigar empire, don’t hesitate to speak to one of the gangs at cigars.com.

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