Elements of this story are taken from The Impossible Collection of Cigars by Aaron Sigmond.

For decades, Cuba has been lauded for its unparalleled cigars, a legacy that endures with unwavering prestige. Though often considered a niche indulgence, the experience of savoring a rich, smokey cigar remains a cherished aspiration for many and a source of immense pleasure for countless aficionados worldwide. Even amid today's stringent regulations, Cuba remains the undisputed birthplace of the cigar—a place where emerging brands continually draw inspiration and delve into the rich traditions of the craft. The Caribbean island, the first to master the art of cigar-making, has upheld this storied heritage since the 1400s.

Embark on an exquisite journey through the world’s most coveted cigars—the rarest, most exclusive, and most celebrated. To explore the epitome of cigar excellence, we present a selection of our finest recommendations.

Don Carlos Fuente and Carlos “Carlito” Fuente Jr. walk the tented wrapper-leaf fields of Château Fuente. Photo from The Impossible Collection of Cigars by Assouline.

Bolívar Coronas Gigantes

Considered among the fullest-bodied of all Cubans, Bolívar cigars take the name of Venezuelan leader and politician, Simón Bolívar. The Corona Gigantes are the brand's Churchill-size cigars and exhibit earthy and spicy notes. Most Cuban cigar connoisseurs consider these to be one of the all-time great Havanas, until they were discontinued in 2017.

Cuaba 45 Salomones II Humidor

In 1982, The Cuaba line was the first new Habanos brand to join the already established market of successful cigars. To the surprise of many, this new brand was not only great, but it was a total hit amongst the locals. 17 years later, the limited edition Cuaba forty-five Salomones II humidor launched, packaging 45 special releases of double perfectos. These cigars were known for their full body with woody and earthy flavor notes.

Davidoff Dom Pérignon

Today, this coveted cigar is an auction world favorite, but back in the 90s, the slightly fruity and woodsy cigar was in the "must try" list of many aficionados. Named after the prestigious French champagne that paired extremely well with cigars, the Davidoff Dom Pérignon is a "Holy Grail" cigar. Offered as a single stick in a four-pack, the edition was discontinued in 1991.

Fonseca Invictos

Known for being light-bodied, Fonseca is a pre-Revolution boutique Cuban cigar brand, offering just three handmade models. Their salty and cedar flavor complements the one-of-a-kind Japanese hand-wrapping used to cover the cigars. The Invictos stand out for their petit corona size, which is about 5in x 46rg. This edition was discontinued in 2002.

Eduardo Rivera Irizarri seated in the Habanos head offices in Havana, Cuba, 2018. Photo from The Impossible Collection of Cigars by Assouline.

Montecristo A

"A" sized cigars, also known as a Grand Corona, are known for being slow burners, meaning, they can take up to two hours to smoke. The top selling brand, Montecristo, released the largest parejo vitola in 1971. With a size of 9.25in x 47rg, you can only find an A sized cigar in limited-edition special releases. If you're in the lookout for an A cigar, your best bet might be at an auction.

Juan López Panetelas Superba 

Extremely popular in the late 1800s, Spanish-turned-Cuban cigar brand Juan Lopez had over 100 years of success. After its popularity declined in the 1970s, the brand is now more discrete, but still remains a favorite amongst connoisseurs. The light-bodied Superba embodies strong coffee and cacao notes, but was discontinued in 2006.

Habanos 1994 Humidor

Issued to commemorate Habanos S.A, a premium Cuban manufacturing company of tobacco, the brand released an edition made up of 502 numbered humidors, each with fifty special "Habanos 1994" corona gordas cigars. Originally priced at around $2,225, many tobacconists opted for selling the cigars individually, insead of in the complete pack. Some vendors even gave customers a raffle ticket to win the humidor itself.

An aerial view from a tobacco field. Photo by: Sutiporn Somnam

Fuente Fuente Opus X 

It all started with a dream to create a world-class Dominican Republic puro, the first of its kind. In the early 1990s, Carlos "Carlito" Fuente Jr. debuted a powerful, mahogany-hued cigar that instantly became popular amongst enthusiasts. Today, the Fuente Fuente Opus X cigar is one of the most collectable non-Cuban cigars ever.

Graycliff Original

Bahamas-based Italian restaurateur and hotelier, Enrico Garzaroli, partnered up with Avelino Lara, the Cohiba cigar professional, during Cuba's post-USSR economic crisis, and together, created the Graycliff Original. Lara and Garzaroli fabricated the "Original" medium-bodied blend, sold only at Garzoli's hotel and eventually sold commercially in small quantities in 1997.

Fonseca Invictos

Known for being light-bodied, Fonseca is a pre-Revolution boutique Cuban cigar brand, offering just three handmade models. Their salty and cedar flavor complements the one-of-a-kind Japanese hand-wrapping used to cover the cigars. The Invictos stand out for their petit corona size, which is about 5in x 46rg. This edition was discontinued in 2002.

Diplomáticos No. 7 

The Diplomáticos were originally created for the French cigar market in the mid 1960s, but were discontinued in the 1980s. The original boxing included boxes of ten, Semi Boîte Nature boxes of 25 and a humidor of 100 cigars. Today, the classic medium-bodied No. 7 is a top collectible item.


Discover The World Of Cigars

The Ultimate Collection The Impossible Collection of Cigars
Regular price
$1,200
The Ultimate Collection Arturo Fuente: Since 1912
Regular price
$1,200
The Classics Collection Havana Blues
Regular price
$105

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