The Best (and Worst) Websites to Buy Cigars From Online

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A couple of years ago, I wrote a breakdown of my two favorite cigar websites for great cigar deals. Over the years, it’s been one of my most popular posts, so I want to expand on the topic.

In the last few years, a number of newcomers to the online cigar market have emerged, including Cigar Federation, Atlantic Cigar, and more. And of course, you’ve got all of your traditional online retailers like Thompson Cigar, JR Cigar, and Cigars International, which for me are generally a snoozefest, offering samplers that sound great but are ultimately disappointing.

But I know what you’re thinking: “Matthias, hurry up and tell me where to buy cigars online!”

I will. But before I get to my updated list of best places to buy cigars online, something to keep in mind. Price is not the only factor I consider in this list. I’m looking price, selection, online experience, and also what a website brings to the table that is new and fresh.

So without further ado…

The Best Online Cigar Store

Winner: Famous Smoke Shop

I’m a big fan of Famous Smoke Shop. Not just because their website is easy to navigate or because they have great customer service. They have a great selection and, after ordering dozens of times through them, I find all of my cigars are shipped with packaging that preserves the integrity of the cigars. If you are looking to buy cigars for friends, loved ones, or even yourself, start there. Famous also have an innovative take on the “deal a day” fad that happened back in the early 2000’s. Yep, I’m talking about cigarmonster.com, still one of my favorites to buy cigars from.

If you want the best deals on cigarmonster.com, don’t refresh your browser once an hour. Instead, log in every Friday for the Mega Monster Mashup where they feature all of the deals that they ran earlier in the week.

Honorable Mention: Cigarbid.com

That’s right, it made the top of my list once again. Why? A few reasons. First, I’ve ordered many a box of cigars on this website, and I’ve never had any problems with availability, shipping, or cigars being mysteriously substituted for other cigars because “we didn’t have it in stock.” *cough* Thompson Cigars *cough*

Second, I’ve gotten some flat out amazing deals on this website. A few months ago, I ordered a pack of 10 Room 101 Uncle Lee cigars, which I think exemplifies the dried cedar/leather flavor profile better than almost any cigar I’ve smoked. The price? Less than $40 for the box.

So price is one thing. Third, though, this website focuses mostly on packs/boxes of cigars, not samplers. That means you do a lot less wading through crap deals and can focus more on finding awesome lots to bid on. If you find you want a different spin on cigar auctioning, you can also check out Cigar Auctioneer, which offers a similar service. 

Honorable Mention: Smoke Inn

Although this website doesn’t get many points in the web design / user experience category, it does get some big points for the sheer breadth of cigar companies that it features, including many great boutiques.  Take a look at the Smoke Inn Microblend Series, which is basically a sampler of some of the best boutique releases on the market (ok, ok, some of them aren’t strictly “boutique” companies in the traditional sense, but they aren’t General Cigar co’s either).

The Worst Websites to Buy Cigars

So now that you know my three favorite websites to buy cigars on, here are some scammy cigar websites to avoid.

Thompson Cigars

That’s right folks, one of the world’s largest online cigar retailers is getting dropped on my shit list.  Why? Because if you place an order with them, you could expect a call from a pushy sales rep trying to get you to sign up for some ridiculous cigar of the month club. No biggie though, right? Just say no!

Except even when customers say no, Thompson still signs them up. Read here and here. Unfortunately, Thompson Cigars seems to be a sad example of a company getting too big and sacrificing its integrity to maintain sales targets set by higher-ups.

Thompson isn’t the only company involved in these kind of schemes: just the one that’s gotten caught the most often. The take-away here? Be very careful to check with any salesperson on the phone that you aren’t being signed up for any additional services, and check your bank statement at the end of the month to doublecheck. Once you’ve decided a retailer is trustworthy: stick with them!

Solo Cigars

I’ve never purchased through Solo Cigars, but I’ve read on countless internet forums now that, not only do they sell fake Cuban cigars, but they’ve also been involved in creating fake accounts on popular cigar forums to try to get people to change their mind about the retailer. Just google their name and look at result 2 – 10. You’ll get the idea. Key point here is: always check the reputation of any cigar retailer you purchase from. Just google their name and add “reviews”. 

Do you have a favorite cigar retailer that should be on this list? Or, if you have a question about a cigar retailer, or a comment (good or bad), drop it in the comments section below.

P.S. Shopping for Christmas? Check out our ultimate cigar gift guide.

Disclaimer: affiliate links may be included in this post at no cost to you. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Davidoff Yamasa Petit Churchill Review

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Davidoff has a long and proud history of innovation. The company’s namesake, Zino Davidoff, not only created game-changing experimental blends during his time in Cuba, he also invented the humidor as we know it today. Davidoff led the charge amidst the game-changing Cuban embargo, experimenting with Dominican tobacco to launch a new line of fine cigars. One such experiment involved a 20-year endeavor by master blender Henke Kelner to cultivating and refining tobacco from the swampy Yamasá region of the D.R. Welcome to the first of our four Yamasá reviews! Today, we’ll be puffing on the Petit Churchill vitola; can this little fellow honor Davidoff’s proud legacy of innovation?

Form and Substance

Vitola: Petit Churchill
Wrapper: Yamasá, Dominican Republic
Binder: Yamasá, Dominican Republic
Filler: Nicaraguan Estelí, Condega
Dimensions: 50’ x 4”
Country of Origin: Yamasá, Dominican Republic

Aesthetics, Construction and Feel

The Yamasá’s distinctive nature is made immediately apparent by the cold odor of the body; it carries the velvety earth odor, a signature of Davidoff stogies, but it’s a far more strong and mature version than any other Davidoff I’ve ever had. The wrapper and the cap are both rustic, much like the swamps of the region it comes from; there are no veins, but the stems are visible from a mile away; yet, they’re also tough, the cap in particular showing no unraveling signs after the cut. The body is totally packed; there’s literally no room for soft spots. This should be good.

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Smoke and Flavor

The Yamasá nearly knocks me off my feet on the introduction with a blast of dark hardwood in the foreground and a cinnamon kick in the background. The draw is tight, and the body has a little trouble burning evenly, but the smoke clouds are nice and thick, as is the texture of the puff, and the retrohale is full and peppery.

The second third only makes the Yamasá even stronger than before. The wood remains consistent in its strength, although its taste displays signs of slight immaturity at this particular stage. The texture of the puff becomes very dense and swampy, fittingly enough, and the heat intensifies, burning the tongue with every puff. Fortunately, the cinnamon in the background evolves into straight sugar, helping to counter and therefore ease the burgeoning intensity.

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The final third is, per the usual, the best part. The harshness in the puff begins to wear off while keeping its dense and swampy texture intact. The dark hardwood in the foreground converges with the sugar in the background, maturing into a hybrid, redwood flavor. The retrohale stays peppery, though the pepper itself mellows somewhat with the addition of some sugar in the flavor.

The Final Verdict

This is definitely a cigar for the history books. The Yamasá is undoubtedly one of the strongest high-end cigars I’ve ever had. The dark hardwood was consistent, and the background notes gave the flavor the complexity and intricacy that Davidoff prides itself on. The fact that this cigar even exists at all is a miracle in and of itself; a testament to Davidoff’s efforts to continue their traditions of innovation and quality. The slight immaturity in the wood that I encountered during the second third indicate to me that the Yamasá can be improved upon somewhat. In essence, this means that there’s nowhere to go but up for this already exemplary line of cigars. Job well done, Davidoff, continue to push those boundaries!

Final Grade: A

Tips for a Perfect Smoke Experience

This cigar is one of the heaviest hitters on the current scene, so arm yourself with chocolate to eat, or something sweet to drink; it’ll help to balance the flavor, and it’ll protect your tongue from singeing during the second third.

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Whiskey Review: Westland American Single Malt (American Oak)

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It isn’t often that I get to review a whiskey from my home, the Pacific Northwest. From what I can tell, Oregon and Washington have been just as affected by the craft whiskey fever going on, and I’m thankful for it.  The Northwest has a rich tradition of craftsmanship. You could even call us the original hipsters (step aside Brooklyn). That isn’t to say every whiskey produced in the NW is amazing, but I have to say there are only a few other states that I’ve been as impressed with as Oregon and Washington.

Ok. /endrant. On to Westland Whiskey.  In my conversations in the New York City whiskey community, the name had simply come up too often as a recommendation for me to turn down. So when I saw a bottle of this Westland American Single Malt Whiskey (also known as Westland American Oak Whiskey) off of my subway stop on 30th Ave in Astoria, I knew the time was right. And now, months later, I’ve opened the bottle and am working my way through for this review.

Shall we?

Westland Single Malt Whiskey

Product Specifics

Distillery: Westland Distillery

Origin: Seattle, Washington

ABV: 46% (92 proof)

Casks: Cooper’s Select New American Oak, Cooper’s Reserve New American Oak, First Fill Ex-Bourbon

Price: ~$70

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Appearance

To start with, I’m a big fan of the way that Westland has branded themselves. Unlike many American whiskey companies that continue to play off of the (rather tired) “wild west” motif, Westland blends a number of aesthetics: a straightforward American-esque typeface, a great slogan (“Thoughtfully Made”), and a label design that speaks not only to the Northwest but — and I know I’m reaching here — is also reminiscent of the tribes native to the Pacific Northwest.

The whiskey itself is a deep golden honey color. When I swirl the whiskey in my glass, the legs are long and thick, which prepares me for the medium to full bodied texture I’m about to sip.

Nose

On the nose, I pick up malty notes along with oak, balanced fruitiness (fresh-sliced apples and oranges), and hints of caramel.

Flavor

As indicated on the nose, this whiskey is medium-full bodied in texture, yet the finish is still remarkably clean. Flavor notes include vanilla, baking spices, oak, sweet maltiness, light pepper, and a buttery finish.

Conclusion

Surprisingly, for all of the rave reviews I’ve heard of Westland in conversation with whiskey lovers and even the guys at Park Ave Spirits, I’ve seen somewhat underwhelmed reviews at some popular whiskey websites. Now, it is true that this whiskey retails for about $70, which compared to many other American Whiskeys is high. But this whiskey is unique because it combines the charisma and dynamism of American whiskey with the craftsmanship and balance of the Scottish.  Strongly recommended.

Final Grade: A

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Rum Review: Brugal 1888

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brugal 1888 close up1888: the year that Don Andrés Brugal Montaner introduced his first dark rum to market – and the also the name of Brugal’s most enthralling rum (yes, you see where this review is going).  Brugal 1888 has long been a favorite of mine, so it’s about time I finally sit down to write an organized review. This rum carries all of the hallmarks of Brugal rum (signature dryness), but is given added complexity and texture after being aged 6 – 8 years in ex-Bourbon American oak casks, followed by first-fill Spanish Oloroso casks for a total aging of 8 – 12 years.

My first taste of Brugal 1888 was actually at one of our events at the Carnegie Club in 2014. I was blown away. And I remain so.

Specifics

  • Name: Brugal 1888 (Ron Gran Reserva Familiar)
  • Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
  • Age: 8 – 12 years
  • ABV: 40%
  • Aged in: Ex-Bourbon White American Oak, Spanish Oloroso Sherry

Appearance

I don’t think I can name another spirit, perhaps with the exception of Aberlour A’bunadh, where the influence of the sherry cask finish is so pronounced.  This rum is stunning, in appearance and in flavor. The bottle, with an angled look more fitting a crystal decanter, only adds to this spirit’s sense of luxury.

Nose

The nose has a heavy texture, full of fruit, dates, molasses, and a bit of the sherry cask finish.  Intense, pungent, sweet – in a phrase, ready to kick ass.

Flavor

The mouth feel is heavy and intense. This sipper comes in smooth, turns up the flavor, and then the sipper enjoys a nice, long, sweet finish. What I find so unique, striking, and lovely about this rum is it’s ability to present a sip that is full bodied, complex, palate-saturating, yet still dry compared to many other rums which can bring great flavor but at the cost of the sipper feeling like he’s drinking cough syrup.

Finish

Long, smooth, and satisfying, leaving notes of charred wood, honeyed bread, and spices.

Conclusion

Rum sippers: finish up your current drink and make your way to the liquor store.

Whiskey sippers: put your drink down now and pick up a bottle. You will be glad you did.

Final Grade: A

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Whiskey Review: Orphan Barrel Forged Oak

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I will admit to you all, I am a tad partial to Orphan Barrel products. It was in the basement-level bar of a local brewery in a dark and crowded space that I tasted Orphan Barrel Barterhouse. This was my first taste of a “higher-end” (for me at the time anyways) bourbon. It was with the first successful hunt for a bottle with a close friend of mine that my love for bourbon really kicked-off. As such, I have successfully completed my mission to taste each of these Orphan Barrel products. So, without further delay, my review of Forged Oak for your entertainment.

Spirit Info

Distillery: ORPHAN BARREL Whiskey Distilling Co
Spirit: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 45.25%
Purchase Price: $79.99

Nose

True to the name, you immediately get a strong oaken scent. So strong in fact, you have to search for others. If you do though, you’ll find vanilla bean, caramel, and molasses intertwined.

Palate

The sip starts with a spicy kick of charred oak, dried berries, and fades into dried vanilla bean and maple. It’s a rather straightforward flavor that wood-punches your taste-buds.

Afterglow

Again, a rather straightforward flavor of orange-blossom honey plays on the tongue while a very slight woody burn sits in the back of the throat.

Conclusion

If you like woody bourbons, this one is one for your cabinet. It isn’t the easiest to find, but worth a pick-up if you’re into that sort of thing. I will admit the price is a tad high for such an on-the-nose bourbon when it comes to flavor, but with a name like “forged oak” you more or less know what you’re getting yourself into when you swipe your credit card.

Grade: B-

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