10 Great Cigars to Take to the Links

For cigar aficionados, the golf course is a patch of sacred green. It remains — in spite of the irony of tobacco smoke billowing into the fresh air — one of the few places where it’s not anathema to smoke, and there’s a longstanding and celebrated connection between a good cigar and a round of golf. Perhaps it comes from the inherent frustration of the game — that sinking feeling following a brutal slice is cut with a puff from a good cigar (or Bloody Mary).

While any cigar on the golf course is better than none, there are some better fit for the links. These stogies offer flavor that’ll keep your palate entertained over the hours, and a bigger ring gauge and length so you’re not constantly lighting up or cutting a new cigar every half hour. They’re good for a personal golf outing or, if you’re the supply guy for your foursome, a nice offer that’ll likely get a few payback drinks at the 19th Hole.

Perdomo Reserve Champagne Noir Super Toro

Perdomo knows how to make a great cigar, as made clear by their Reserve 10th Anniversary. The Noir follows in those footsteps, as this lightly veined big-ring-gauge cigar boasts excellent draw and an even burn (in spite of construction gaps apparent at the foot). It’s a bold, dark cigar that doesn’t hit you hard in the palate, but grabs attention for the duration. The Champagne Noir is not a cigar for the newbie — rather it should be reserved for the seasoned cigar smoker at level of golfing skill.
Flavor Notes: Coffee, chocolate, cedar, a hint of licorice and a welcomed earthiness, all of which are consistent from first light to last puff.

Origin: Nicaragua
Ring Gauge: 60
Length: 6 inches
Body: medium-full
Wrapper/Binder/Filler: Nicaragua Cuban Seed Maduro/Nicaragua/Nicaragua

Padrón 4000 Maduro Toro

Everyone swears by the Padrón Anniversario cigars, which are decadent and priced accordingly. But Nicaraguan standout Padrón doesn’t hold back when it comes to their regular line, either, and the 4000 Maduro Toro is a cigar I’ve been smoking for 15 years without a hint of disappointment. Padrón uses its very own Maduro wrapper, a rare practice. Once constructed with care, they age the cigars for a minimum of three years before boxing. They’re slightly on the bumpy side and only a tad darker than the naturally wrapped Anniversario, but the flavor profile is richer. Burn is slightly uneven, but the flavors trump any errant runs.
Flavor Notes: After the initial bite within the first half inch, the 4000 Maduro quickly turns into a smoke rich with raisins, leather, pepper and some fruity sweetness. A flavorful cigar that belies its somewhat rustic look.

Origin: Nicaragua
Ring Gauge: 54
Length: 6.5 inches
Body: medium-full
Wrapper/Binder/Filler: Nicaragua Maduro/Nicaragua/Nicaragua

Camacho Ecuador Churchill

Like heavy-hitters on the golf course, Camacho never seems to do things lightly. The Ecuador is a full-bodied beast with some subtle and welcomed nuances in the background. The concoction — of Ecuadorian Habano wrapper leaf, Brazilian binder and a robust mix of fillers from Honduras and the Dominican Republic — delivers full-blown flavor and a fantastic, even burn.
Flavor Notes: Citrus notes, spice and pepper at the start, along with leather and mint shortly after. Later, the surprise of noticeable black tea and some hints of chocolate and spice play in the background.

Origin: Honduras
Ring Gauge: 48
Length: 7 inches
Body: medium-full
Wrapper/Binder/Filler: Ecuador Habano/Brazil/Honduras-Dominican Republic

Arturo Fuente Casa Cuba Doble Cinco

Arturo Fuente just doesn’t make bad cigars, and even their cheap Curly Heads are flavorful and worth more than their asking price. The Casa Cuba is their first new release in over 20 years (after the acclaimed OpusX line), and cigar smokers have waited for these limited-release stogies to emerge on the market for at least a full year. That said, they’re pretty tough to find, so don’t hand them out to the duffers in your group.
Flavor Notes: Cuban earthiness at the outset transitions to spice and cream on the palate after the first inch or so. There’s a good draw and very even burn despite a somewhat un-Fuente construction that’s angled at the cap. The flavor is so good you ignore the visual flaws.

Origin: Dominican Republic
Ring Gauge: 50
Length: 5 inches
Body: medium
Wrapper/Binder/Filler: Ecuador Colorado Maduro/Dominican Republic/Dominican Republic

Monte by Montecristo Jacopo No. 2 Habano Torpedo

Dominican Montecristos tend to be on the light side, albeit on the tasty light side. Montecristo takes a turn here with a bolder cigar that uses Ecuadorian Havana wrappers in place of their usually mild Connecticut shade. Adding more punch are two binder leaves, a Dominican Olor and a Nicaraguan Corojo. It’s marketed as Montecristo’s most potent stogie, easily eclipsing the rest of their mild-medium line. Mark this one for seasoned smokers who will appreciate great taste, ever-improving draw and excellent burn.
Flavor Notes: The torpedo shape channels strength to the tip where you can taste oak, dried fruit, cinnamon and bits of leather. There’s even a hint of spiciness that’s a pleasant backdrop.

Origin: Dominican Republic
Ring Gauge: 54
Length: 6 inches
Body: medium
Wrapper/Binder/Filler: Ecuadaor Habano/Dominican Republic-Nicaragua/Dominican Republic

Arturo Fuente OpusX Perfecxion X

If you haven’t put an Opus X iteration to your lips, it’s time. Here, their proprietary shade-grown Cuban seed wrapper is used in a smaller ring gauge (toro size) but imparts the kind of complex flavor that their Dominican (Chateau de la Fuente) tobacco is known for. Good burn, great draw and some nice light gray ash come through on this superbly constructed stogie. It’s not for the novice smoker, and it can be a tough cigar to find.
Flavor Notes: Initial black pepper yields to spicy red pepper within the first inch. Leather, spice, oak, black pepper and even bread dough and dried fruit flavors are present at various points throughout the smoke.

Origin: Dominican Republic
Ring Gauge: 48
Length: 6.25 inches
Body: medium
Wrapper/Binder/Filler: Dominican Republic/Dominican Republic/Dominican Republic

Gran Habano Limited 2004 Toro Connecticut

Gran Habanos are the kind of cigar you give your friends to make them feel spoiled without the spoiled levels of pricing, so they’re perfect to dole out on the links. Their Limited Toro 2004 Connecticut uses Nicaraguan long fillers and binders, along with a gorgeous Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. The draw is a bit on the tight side, and you do have to relight from time to time, but the flavor of the smoke makes it worth it. The ridiculously affordable price means you can burn through cigars like mulligans over the 18 holes.
Flavor Notes: Smooth creaminess and medium-bodied taste that’s consistent from front to back.

Origin: Honduras
Ring Gauge: 50
Length: 6 inches
Body: mild-medium
Wrapper/Binder/Filler: Connecticut/Honduras/Honduras

Herrera Esteli Toro Especial

Willy Herrera, the newest Drew Estate team member, takes his Cuban heritage and imbues this cigar with a truly Cuban-looking smoke. The smooth, oily brown wrapper is gorgeous, as is the simple band that follows in the footsteps of Havanas. If your golf game is hurting, your enjoyment of this cigar will easily make up for it.
Flavor Notes: Spice, cedar and black pepper show up early, adding black tea, cedar and citrus midway through, until a creamy coffee dominates towards the end.

Origin: Nicaragua
Ring Gauge: 52
Length: 6 inches
Body: medium-full
Wrapper/Binder/Filler: Ecuador Habano/Nicaragua/Honduras

Graycliff G2 PGX Toro

Graycliff is known for high-priced, high-quality cigars that are out of reach for the average buyer. In their G2 line, Graycliff forays into the more affordable tier of stogie-dom. Though the construction doesn’t come close to the top-tier Graycliffs, the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Nicaraguan and Cuban-seed Dominican binder and filler deliver flavor that will last for a good portion of your round.
Flavor Notes: Spiciness at the outset give way to a creamy and fruity beginning and some fantastic nuttiness. There’s a bit of harshness in the background, but that can disappear with a couple months of aging.

Origin: Nicaragua
Ring Gauge: 50
Length: 6 inches
Body: mild-medium
Wrapper/Binder/Filler: Ecuador Connecticut/Nicaragua/Dominican Republic

Cusano 18 Gordo

The Cusano 18’s humble appearance belies its remarkable flavor and complexity. The virtually un-veiny Cusano 18 is made with an 18-year-old Dominican Olor filler tobacco combined with Cuban seed Dominican fillers. The Connecticut shade wrapper is nearly flawless, as is the burn. Unlike other cigars with the same wrapper, this one’s got muscle behind it.
Flavor Notes: Creamy vanilla and mild wood shows up immediately, followed by caramel, leather and a nice smokiness. The finish is long, but the strength in the back layer of the cigar is far from overpowering.

Origin: Dominican
Ring Gauge: 54
Length: 6.2 inches
Body: medium-full
Wrapper/Binder/Filler: Connecticut shade/Connecticut shade/Dominican Republic

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