Sitting just a short drive from La Romana’s city center is the world’s largest handmade cigar factory. The Tabacalera de Garcia was established in 1971 and manufactures many of the Dominican Republic’s award-winning cigar brands, including Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta.

Although extremely difficult to generalize, Dominican cigars are historically known for offering an approachable and pleasurable smoking experience. This is mainly down to their mellow character and creamy sweetness, not forgetting some of the finest, full-flavored tobacco leaves.

Of course, not every Dominican stogie lover craves a gentle blend, which is why Dominican cigars have evolved with the times. The rise of darker wrapped cigars has seen Dominican smokes shed their “light” reputation, meaning there are many stronger Dominican cigars and a fantastic selection of tasteful and complex blends.

A great introduction to the cigar-making capital of the world is our Dominican Master Sampler, comprising 10 premium cigars, all handcrafted in the country’s most prestigious factory.

Montecristo Original

A standard bearer in cigar circles, the Montecristo Original (or Montecristo Yellow as it’s known) is a must-have for any humidor. Expertly crafted with select Dominican binders and filler tobaccos, this steely, medium-bodied stogie has a rich aroma and alluring notes of white pepper, roasted almonds, and sweet coconuts.

Masked in a silky Connecticut wrapper, it delivers a smooth and satisfying taste, both in the morning and when paired alongside a hearty meal.

Montecristo White

Packaged in its distinctive, glossy white double cigar bands, the Montecristo White is one of the brand’s flagship cigars. It’s dressed in a silky golden-brown Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper and has a meticulous blend of select Dominican and Nicaraguan long-fillers.

Enjoy a well-rounded smoke with rich, creamy flavors of cocoa, peanuts, and vanilla bean, as well as a little tanginess throughout. Perfect for lighting up at any time of the day, it offers something a little stronger and more complex than the original without overwhelming the senses.

Montecristo Platinum Series

With its intriguing four-nation blend of tobaccos, the Montecristo Platinum Series combines leaves from classic cigar countries (Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Mexico) with a more obscure source (Peru). It’s cradled in a gloriously oily chocolate San Andres wrapper grown in the valley of Mexico out of exceptionally fertile volcanic soil.

Expect medium-to-full-bodied intensity with bold tones of earth and wood. There are also some cocoa and spice flavors that become richer as you puff your way down the stick.

Romeo y Julieta Star Crossed

Inspired by one of the famous opening lines from Shakespeare’s tragedy, it’s impossible not to fall in love with this cigar’s harmonious sweet, and spicy profile.

A golden-blonde EMS Ecuador Connecticut wrapper conceals a medium-bodied Dominican and Nicaraguan blend that proves opposites can attract. Typical notes associated with this type of wrappers, such as white pepper, leather, and nuts are prevalent after putting fire to foot.

The pepper will zing the back of your mouth while the underlying nuttiness picks up throughout, thus changing the complexity of this medium-strength stogie.

Romeo y Julieta Cabinet Seleccion

Standing out from the pack with its vintage dark and toothy Cameroon wrapper, the Romeo y Julieta Cabinet Seleccion is ideal for those fond of stronger cigars. Its unique blend of Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian tobaccos is pleasant, rich, and lightly complex.

Notes of exotic spices and grass intensify and become fuller in the middle part of the smoke, working in motion with nuances of cocoa and nuts.

Romeo y Julieta 1875

Another ever-popular cigar in the Romeo Y Julieta line-up, 1875 is made with a blend of the best Dominican binder and long filler tobaccos. This medium-bodied smoke complements a wide range of palates with a flavorful profile of coffee and oak.

Subtle notes of cedar and hazelnut poke through every few puffs, but it’s the delicate, shade-grown Indonesian wrapper that really helps balance this slow-burner. Providing an ever so slight but aromatic hint of sweetness, it counteracts the rich taste with silky-smooth finesse.

Romeo y Julieta 1875 Reserve Maduro

In the play, Romeo expresses Juliet’s beauty in shades of dark and light. Likewise, we can describe the beautiful mystique of this dark and delicious offering from Romeo y Julieta. Encasing a bold blend of aged Dominican, Nicaraguan and spiced Peruvian fillers, the Romeo y Julieta 1875 Reserve Maduro gives off a compelling woody aroma.

Cloaked in an oily blackened Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, this hearty smoke is loaded with bountiful hits of leather, dark-roasted coffee, nuts, and spices. The classic flavor profile and satisfying finish have and will always appeal to seasoned connoisseurs.

Casa Blanca

Hailing from Santiago in the Dominican, the Casa Blanca is widely considered one of the best mellow-bodied blends to come out of the island. Featuring a Mexican binder with the choice of a silky Connecticut Shade or Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, it’s a creamy delight with cocoa, vanilla, and nutty notes.

Casa de Garcia Natural

A wonderful everyday smoke thanks to its light and creamy flavor, the Casa de Garcia Natural is a decadent blend of Dominican and Honduran fillers. Wrapped in a golden-hued (natural) Connecticut shade wrapper, its affordable price point and impeccable construction accompany a mellow cigar in body and strength.

Watch out for notes of caramel, sweet tobacco, and leather rolling off your tongue. 

Casa de Garcia Maduro

Sporting a dark, valiant Broadleaf wrapper that brings rich coffee notes to the table, the Casa de Garcia Maduro is a robust smoke with charming hits of deep cocoa and espresso. There’s also a subtle spice element that trundles along as you toast this medium-bodied smoke from beginning to end.

Made with long leaves from the Dominican Republic and Honduras that are bound together by a Connecticut binder, it’s yet another outstanding cigar from the house of Altadis USA.

Available now at cigars.com for just $59.95, you can experience a taste of what the Dominican has to offer with this impressive variety of top-notch Dominican cigars.