Top Cigar Brands to Elevate Your Smoking Experience

Cigars have long been associated with luxury, tradition, and relaxation, making the choice of brand crucial for enthusiasts who seek the finest smoking experience. Over the years, certain brands have consistently risen to the top, celebrated for their exceptional craftsmanship, rich flavors, and unique blends. From legacy brands rooted in Cuban soil to emerging players offering innovative approaches, the world of cigars offers a diverse palette to satisfy both seasoned aficionados and curious newcomers. If you're eager to explore the top contenders and discover which brands have earned their place in humidor history, look below for a comprehensive list.

Illustration of cigars

Best brands of cigars in 2025

Cohiba

Cohiba, one of the most renowned cigar brands, was established in 1966 as a private label for Fidel Castro and high-level Cuban officials, before being released commercially in 1982. Known for its high-quality tobacco from the Vuelta Abajo region of Cuba, Cohiba cigars undergo a unique third fermentation process, resulting in a smoother flavor. The brand has achieved significant accolades, including a 93 score from Cigar Aficionado for the Cohiba Siglo VI. Despite facing production challenges, Cuba still exports a significant number of Cohiba cigars, although their annual production has dropped to around 45 million due to recent hardships. Cohiba's luxury status is underscored by its frequent counterfeiting, highlighting its desirability worldwide. For more details, visit the Cohiba cigar brand page.

Montecristo

Montecristo is one of the most renowned and successful cigar brands, accounting for around 50% of Havana's yearly exports and a quarter of worldwide sales for Habanos SA. The brand achieved worldwide recognition particularly during the 1970s and 1980s, with the Montecristo No. 4 being the world's best-selling cigar. Annually, over 30 million Montecristo cigars are produced, with the majority crafted in seven different factories in Havana, including the prestigious Fabrica Jose Marti. The Montecristo No. 2, a torpedo-shaped cigar, is another highly acclaimed variant, with about 1.2 million produced each year. Montecristo's global success is evident in its dominance of European markets, such as Spain and France, where it accounted for significant market shares in the early 1990s. For more information about Montecristo's history and impact, you can read The Montecristo War on Cigar Aficionado's website.

Romeo y Julieta

Romeo y Julieta is a renowned cigar brand, founded in 1875, known for its smooth and creamy flavor profile, utilizing high-quality tobacco from Cuba's Vuelta Abajo region. The brand is highly sought after, with 70% of Habanos sales coming from 14 countries, and Romeo y Julieta, along with Cohiba and Montecristo, making up two-thirds of these successes. The brand has evolved over the years, introducing full-bodied options like the Romeo by Romeo y Julieta, which was named the No. 3 Cigar of 2012. Romeo y Julieta cigars are popular globally, and in 2017, the brand tied for the No. 3 best-selling cigar brand in the U.S., according to a retailer survey. The brand's legacy includes numerous gold medals won at world cigar exhibitions, further solidifying its reputation. For more information about their exquisite cigars, visit the Romeo y Julieta page.

Padron

Padron cigars are renowned for their exceptional quality and rich flavors, having been a staple in the premium cigar industry since their founding in 1964. The brand is celebrated for its iconic series, such as the Padron 1964 Anniversary and the Padron 1926 Series, which have garnered numerous high ratings, including a 97-point rating for the Padron 1926 Series No. 9 and multiple '#1 Cigar of the Year' titles from Cigar Aficionado. Padron's commitment to using aged Nicaraguan tobaccos, some of which are aged for over 10 years, contributes to their distinctive and refined profiles. The brand's influence extends beyond its products, having set trends in the industry, such as the box-pressed format introduced with the 1964 Anniversary Series in 1994. With a legacy rooted in Cuba in the 1800s, Padron continues to be a benchmark for premium, handcrafted cigars. For more information, visit the Padron cigars page.

Arturo Fuente

Arturo Fuente is one of the most revered producers of premium cigars, with a legacy spanning over a century since its founding in 1912. The brand, now led by Carlos "Carlito" Fuente Jr., is renowned for its high-quality, handmade cigars, particularly the flagship Fuente Fuente OpusX, introduced in 1995. Arturo Fuente was named the best-selling handmade cigar brand in 2019, with nearly 47% of retailers citing it as one of their top sellers. The company produces approximately 30 million cigars annually from its factory in the Dominican Republic. Its cigars have garnered numerous awards, including Cigar Aficionado's Cigar of the Year in 2005. For more insights on their cigars, you can visit the Arturo Fuente buying guide.

Davidoff

Davidoff, a luxury cigar brand, has cemented its position as one of the best producers in the industry, reporting a record year in 2023 with a 10.5% revenue increase to 546.6 million Swiss francs (about $608.8 million). The company saw a 13.3% increase in handmade cigar production, reaching nearly 50 million cigars, driven by strong sales of its Davidoff and Zino brands, which each saw a 32% growth. This success is attributed to the brand's "The Difference" campaign and its global performance, particularly in Asia and global travel retail markets. Davidoff's expansion includes increasing its manufacturing capacity in the Dominican Republic and opening new facilities. The brand's consistent high-quality products, such as the Davidoff Signature and Black Label series, have solidified its reputation as a top-tier cigar manufacturer. For more details on their record-breaking year, visit Davidoff's success story.

H. Upmann

H. Upmann is one of the most revered cigar brands, with a history spanning over 178 years since its founding by German banker Hermann Upmann in 1844. Known for its medium strength and nuanced flavor profile, the H. Upmann No. 2 was rated as the most exceptional cigar of 2022 with a 98 rating by Cigar Aficionado. The brand, now owned by Habanos S.A., is celebrated for its hand-rolled cigars made from leaves selected from the Vuelta Abajo zone in Pinar del Rio, Cuba. H. Upmann cigars are renowned for their complex flavors, including notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and salted peanut, and have earned numerous accolades, including gold medals at international fairs in the 19th century. The brand's commitment to traditional methods has maintained its high quality and appeal among cigar aficionados.

La Gloria Cubana

La Gloria Cubana is a renowned cigar brand that has been a staple in the industry since its inception in 1885. Originally produced in Cuba, the brand gained significant popularity after Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. revived it in the 1990s, with production moving to the Dominican Republic and Miami. By the mid-1990s, La Gloria Cubana was producing over one million cigars annually, with the brand accounting for about 60% of the total production by 1997. The brand is celebrated for its rich-tasting and well-made cigars, such as the La Gloria Cubana Wavell, which received a sterling rating in Cigar Aficionado in 1993. Today, all La Gloria Cubana cigars are made in the Dominican Republic under the guidance of General Manager Yuri Guillen and master blender Leo Peraza. For more details, visit their La Gloria Cubana cigars page.

Rocky Patel

Rocky Patel Premium Cigars is renowned for its exceptional quality and consistency, producing over 7 million cigars annually, including high-scoring brands like the Rocky Patel Sixty and the A.L.R. Second Edition. The brand has expanded significantly, with plans to construct a new factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, aiming for a daily production capacity of up to 50,000 cigars. In 2018, Rocky Patel exported around 22.5 million cigars to the United States, and his Tavicusa factory has reached maximum capacity, producing over 2 million cigars per year. The brand is known for its controlled growth, focusing on blends and maintaining a production rate of 10,000 cigars per day. Rocky Patel's commitment to vertical integration includes cultivating tobacco on his own farms, such as the 170-acre farm in Esteli producing 1.7 million pounds of Criollo '98 tobacco. For more information, visit the Rocky Patel official website.

Punch

Punch is a preeminent Cuban cigar brand, renowned for its high-quality cigars since the 1840s. Known for its wide range of sizes and flavors, Punch cigars are cultivated in Cuba's Vuelta Abajo region, which gives them a distinct flavor and aroma. The brand offers popular varieties like the Punch Double Coronas and Punch Punch, each delivering complex and satisfying smokes. Punch cigars are highly sought after by connoisseurs worldwide, particularly the limited production Edicion Limitada and Edicion Regional series. The brand's consistency in body and taste has established it as a favorite among both veteran aficionados and new smokers.