What is Metal Gear Solid?
Despite its groundbreaking stealth gameplay, the Metal Gear Solid franchise has made plenty of noise with video gamers worldwide since its original release in 1998. Its humble beginnings slither back to the first PlayStation console, where we were introduced to its legendary protagonist Solid Snake. Eight more major releases have followed — the latest being Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
At its core, the original tactical espionage action game has always retained its same covert gameplay principle, rather than all-out blood and thunder. Each series entry builds on Konami’s attention to detail, incredible graphics, outrageous plot twists, and innovative ideas. For example, The Phantom Pain is the first game in the universe to have a completely open world.
Another recurrent theme throughout the Metal Gear Solid franchise is smoking. In the original, Snake lights up cigarettes to help him see infrared lasers, which are more visible in the smoke. While many of the supporting characters in the series chastise Snake for smoking cigarettes, they serve several purposes throughout the video game series. These include steadying the player’s aim in first-person view and replenishing Snake’s psyche.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) was the exception, as the FOX operative nicknamed Naked Snake (who later takes on the title of Big Boss) prefers cigars. He famously stamps out his stogie before commencing the HALO Jump at the beginning of the Virtuous Mission chapter. This is in response to the controversy surrounding Solid Snake flinging his still-lit cigarette into the Hudson Bay in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty (2001).
Naturally, this got us wondering — what kind of cigars does Big Boss smoke?
What kind of cigars does Big Boss smoke in Metal Gear Solid?
We can pick our three distinctive features by visually examining the cigar Big Boss smokes at the start of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
- It has a pyramid shape — note the sharply tapered head.
- It’s of Cuban origin.
- It has a classic-looking cigar band similar to the H. Upmann No. 2 (a popular and sought-after Cuban cigar).
Cigars to smoke while playing Metal Gear Solid
It will take devoted gamers over 16 hours to obtain 100% competition of the first Metal Gear Solid game alone, so we’ve decided to base our selections around Metal Gear’s stealth element.
Ashton Estate Sungrown 22-Year Salute
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dominican Republic
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Length: 6
Ring: 52
Strength: Medium-Full
Smoke Time: 55-60 minutes
In true Metal Gear style, the strength of the Ashton Estate Sungrown 22-Year Salute sneaks up on you, hence its nickname, “the Velvet Hammer.” This Dominican puro was crafted to commemorate the brand’s 20th anniversary in 2007. It’s cloaked in a rare, high-grade Dominican Rosado wrapper that’s sun-grown on the Chateau de la Fuente farm.
A mellow start fills with rich, nutty flourishes of almonds, cashew, and cream, but the intensity heightens as you smoke. The spicy, earthy tobacco comes to the fore in the second and final third against a backdrop of earth, leather, and molasses.
A touch of almond is detectable on the finish, but the centerpiece of this stunning cigar is its extremely subtle and complex wrapper.
Curivari Buenaventura Picadores BV 500
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5.25
Ring: 50
Strength: Medium
Smoke Time: 55-60 minutes
Given Metal Gear Solid’s emphasis on stealth, throwing in top-notch smoke that goes under the radar seems appropriate. The Curivari Buenaventura BV 500 was released at the 2012 IPCPR show and delivers a remarkably high flavor-to-price ratio.
A Nicaraguan puro with a combination of tobaccos from Condega, Estelí, and Jalapa, it sports a retro Cuban-inspired brand, which complements the oily, sweet-smelling dark caramel-colored wrapper.
Once lit, the Buenaventura is an explosion of flavor. Hefty nuances of cedar, creamed coffee, pepper, and sweet spice all purr on the palate, illustrating that Nicaraguan puros don’t always have to be about power.
CAO Colombia Bogota
Country of Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Honduras (Jamastran Rosado)
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Brazilian Matafina / Colombian Ice Mazinga
Length: 6
Ring: 60
Strength: Medium
Smoke Time: 60-85 minutes
CAO’s World line pays homage to different regions of the world. The CAO Brazilia and CAO Nicaragua usually hog the limelight, but CAO’s first cigar to be blended with Colombian tobacco is a hidden gem.
This isn’t any ordinary leaf — it uses a varietal of Cuban seed tobacco grown in Colombia called Ice Mazinga (alongside some Brazilian Matafina).
Taking the company 15 years to perfect, it has a hint of muskiness to it, similar to a classic Cuban. Completing the blend is an aged Cameroon binder and a creamy, light tan Honduran wrapper from the Jamastran Valley.
Ensure you’re equipped for the mouthwatering notes of coffee, citrus, and nuts, with subtle traces of cocoa navigating their way into the retrohales.
If you have a cigar mission of your own to complete, cigars.com will be happy to take action and help you (and Snake) complete your objectives.
