Top Cigars to Smoke On The Beach

Buckle up your Birkenstocks and pump up the beach ball. We’re heading to the beach for some sun, sand, and of course, cigars. When you love cigars, towing your coolerdor to the beach is as crucial as a cooler full of cold beer. But what cigars should you bring along?

Top Cigars to Smoke On The Beach

What Makes a Cigar Great for Smoking on the Beach?

While nothing is more relaxing than smoking a cigar on a sandy stretch of coastline with a mojito in your hand, some cigars are better suited for the occasion. You’re better off smoking a cigar with a thick, oily wrapper leaf because beaches can get breezy. A cigar with a resilient wrapper will burn evenly if it gets windy, and you’re less likely to have to keep relighting it while you’re smoking. Here are seven amazing smokes to pack on your vacation this summer. Top Cigars to Smoke On The Beach.

1. Ashton VSG

Ashton VSG is a bestseller in over 75 countries worldwide. Since its debut in 1999, VSG has been a sought-after gem in the legendary Ashton portfolio and is considered the epitome of full-bodied Dominican taste. A succulent Ecuador Sumatra wrapper leaf embraces a well-aged amalgam of premium Dominican binder and filler tobaccos blended by legendary cigarmaker Carlito Fuente. Notes of cedar, espresso, earth, black pepper, and leather layer the palate with a hint of sweetness throughout succulent smoke. Top Cigars to Smoke On The Beach.

2. Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente Sun Grown

As the number one maker of premium Dominican cigars in the world, it’s hard to choose favorites from Arturo Fuente. When you’re kicking back in perfect weather at the shore, however, Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente Sun Grown embodies all the qualities we look for in an ideal summer cigar. A glistening Sun Grown Rosado wrapper from Ecuador conceals a medium-bodied combination of creamy and smooth Dominican long-fillers crafted to a superb standard. Notes of fresh ground coffee, toasted nuts, earth, and spices arrive in a wide variety of classic sizes. The blend is also available in a mellower Natural wrapper, or a sweeter Broadleaf Maduro. Top Cigars to Smoke On The Beach.

3. San Cristobal Quintessence

The San Cristobal collection also hails from Nicaragua, where Pepin and Jaime Garcia blend a complex and compelling portfolio of Cubanesque cigars, like Quintessence. This 95-rated classic comes in six flawless sizes drafted from a glistening Ecuador Habano wrapper leaf and select long-fillers grown on the Garcia family’s finest estates in Nicaragua. Savory notes of cedar, molasses, coffee bean, and cocoa mingle with sweet and silky nuances before a long finish bathes the taste buds. The critics in Cigar Aficionado ranked Quintessence their ‘#3 Cigar of the Year’ for 2021. Top Cigars to Smoke On The Beach.

4. Padrón 1926 Series No. 90

The No. 90 in the Padrón 1926 Series is a 5.5-by-52 Robusto rolled in a round format, as opposed to the company’s famous box-pressed sizes. The No. 90 was blended in honor of the 90th birthday of brand founder José Orlando Padrón, who created the first Padrón cigars in 1964 and ran the company until his passing in 2017. The 1926 Series is blended in a Natural and a Maduro wrapper. A well-aged interior of premium Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos fills out the center of each blend. Tasting notes of cedar, cocoa, cayenne, coffee bean, and baking spices resonate throughout a complex, refined smoke ranked in the ‘Top 5 Cigars of the Year’ by the critics at Cigar Aficionado in 2016. Plus, No. 90 cigars come in a protective tube, perfect for bringing to the beach in your pocket without the worry that you’ll crack the wrapper. Top Cigars to Smoke On The Beach.

5. Oliva Monticello

Oliva Monticello is a rare and exclusive smoke blended from Oliva’s oldest reserves of premium tobacco. An oily Nicaraguan Maduro shimmers over a refined amalgam of Nicaraguan long-fillers matured for perfect flavor and aroma. Tasting notes of dark cocoa, cashew, coffee bean, and cinnamon emerge with hints of spice throughout an intricate profile that pairs perfectly with rum and a host of summer cocktails. Hit the beach with a universal favorite from Oliva among Holt’s customers. Top Cigars to Smoke On The Beach.

8. Perdomo 30th Anniversary Sun Grown

Nick Perdomo perfected the recipe for value, quality, and taste years ago, and every cigar he produces reflects the highest standards of craftsmanship and flavor. Perdomo 30th Anniversary Sun Grown is a phenomenal example, blended from a reddish-brown Sun Grown Nicaraguan wrapper leaf and succulent Nicaraguan long-fillers cultivated on his most fertile farms, including leaves that have been aged up to fifteen years. Delicious notes of oak, almond, cayenne, leather, and black pepper weave an approachable tapestry over the palate from the first puff to the last. Top Cigars to Smoke On The Beach.

Bring Your Cigars, Don’t Buy Them on the Beach

Bring your cigars to the beach, but don’t buy them there. It’s common to encounter vendors selling cigars at tropical beach resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Cancun, Mexico; the Bahamas; and throughout the Caribbean. Beach vendors often try to sell you “real Cubans” or cigars that were freshly rolled. However, they are almost always counterfeit Cubans. You also run the risk of purchasing dry cigars that haven’t been properly stored and humidified. Top Cigars to Smoke On The Beach

The most common fake Cuban brands you’ll come across include Cohiba, Montecristo, and Romeo y Julieta. The only place you can buy legitimate Cuban cigars is at an official La Casa del Habano store—the official cigar retail franchise partnered with Cubatabaco, Cuba’s state-controlled tobacco company.  Top Cigars to Smoke On The Beach.

Buy your cigars in the States from a reputable shop and pack them in your suitcase to smoke when you get to your destination. You’ll save money and avoid getting ripped off.