Best Everyday Cigars
A List of Blends to Enjoy Day In & Day Out
Getting Started
Oftentimes, cigars are associated with celebrations and special events. We’ve all probably enjoyed a great cigar at weddings, or on vacations, or birthdays. These are times when we’re surrounded by family and friends, and we reach for a cigar as an item to mark the occasion. And if you’re anything like most cigar lovers, you probably reserve particular cigars for these moments.
But what about cigars for everyday? What if you’re just relaxing on the porch on a Sunday morning, or it’s a beautiful night out and you want to light up while you grill? What do you smoke then?
Enter our list of the best everyday cigars. These are blends that we heartily recommend no matter what the occasion, and we have a few simple criteria to define them:
- These cigars should be under $10 apiece. This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, but my wallet would empty pretty quickly if I were lighting up a Liga Privada or OpusX every day.
- An everyday cigar should be easy to acquire. Chasing down a rare or limited-edition product for daily enjoyment would simply be an exercise in frustration.
- Finally, we’re looking for cigars that are going to be enjoyable pretty much any time. What that means in practicality is that we’re excluding incredibly full-bodied, or very mellow, or sweetened/flavored cigars – there are times and places for blends like that, but I want something that I’ll enjoy every time.
With these criteria in mind, we’ve crafted our Best Everyday Cigar sampler – a collection of 10 blends that you’ll be more than happy to have on hand. Pick one up now, or feel free to read through each of our recommendations for more details.
Top 10 Everyday Cigars:
1. ADVentura The Explorer Short Robusto
- Body: Medium
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Price Point: $9.70
- Main Flavors: Dark Chocolate, Leather, Sweetness
The first cigar on the list is a selection from our friends at ADVentura Cigars, and it’s a blend we’d heartily recommend to any cigar lover. For those unfamiliar with the brand, ADVentura is crafted at William and Henderson Ventura’s boutique factory in the Dominican Republic. For their first line, ADVentura The Explorer, the team crafted a beautiful experience that’s balanced to perfection. You’ll find a medium-bodied profile with hints of dark chocolate, leather, and some woodsy sweetness flitting in and out of focus.
2. Drew Estate Undercrown Sun Grown Toro
- Body: Medium – Full
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Price Point: $9.15
- Main Flavors: Natural Sweetness, Cedar, Spice
Drew Estate’s Undercrown line has always been a hit, but the Sun Grown extension may just be the best of the lot. The original release in this line, the Undercrown Maduro, was based on the Liga Privada #9 blend – basically, it was a less expensive version of the cigar that the rollers could smoke while they worked and made cigars. The Sun Grown version swaps out the wrapper for an Ecuadorian Sumatra gem that lends a natural sweetness to the cigar to complement the spicy notes of cinnamon and red pepper.
3. AJ Fernandez New World Toro
- Body: Medium – Full
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Price Point: $7.60
- Main Flavors: Earth, Coffee, Fruit
AJ Fernandez is one of the most prolific cigar blenders and producers today, but much of this success started with New World. A dark, beautifully box-pressed cigar, New World is actually a collaboration between AJ and his father, Ismael. Many of AJ’s blends play in the full-bodied space: New World stays just a tick under full, making it perfect for this list. As you enjoy this blend you’ll find the gets progressively more flavorful and intense, delivering a gripping experience and flavor-loaded finale.
4. Crowned Heads Four Kicks Corona Gorda
- Body: Medium
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Price Point: $7.95
- Main Flavors: Graham Cracker, Cinnamon, Black Pepper
With the yearly release of Las Calaveras, their collaborations with the new Tabacalera Pichardo, and hugely popular brands like Mil Dias, Crowned Heads has earned the trust of boutique cigar lovers today. But before all that, there was Four Kicks. This blend is the original hit from Crowned Heads and E.P. Carrillo and remains just as good today as it was a decade ago. Perfectly balanced, you’ll find a deliciously sweet core of flavor baked by cinnamon spices and hits of black pepper flitting in and out of attention.
5. Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Natural
- Body: Medium
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Price Point: $6.20
- Main Flavors: Nuts and Cedar
The Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 Natural is an absolutely classic cigar. From presentation to price point to performance, this one is on points and has been for years. Fuente is often associated with rare, limited-edition cigars but the 8-5-8 is one of the best blends they offer and is available more often than not. Brimming with oils and tooth, smoking an 8-5-8 delivers a classic Fuente profile with some natural sweetness backed by rich nutty notes and a warm cedar.
6. Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut Toro
- Body: Mellow - Medium
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Price Point: $8.25
- Main Flavors: Cream, Cedar, Toffee
Typically, we associate Aganorsa with their fuller-bodied tobacco but Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut bucks the trend. This cigar is slightly box-pressed and presented with a beautiful Ecuador Connecticut wrapper on top. The profile is mellow, showcasing a rich toffee note backed by a creamy core of flavor and hints of cedar throughout the burn. Many mellow cigars only “work” as your first blend of the day – otherwise you’ll lose some of the nuance and balance. The Aganorsa Connecticut has enough going on that you can pair it with a little scotch, or smoke it at the end of the day, without hurting the experience.
7. Umbagog Toro Toro
- Body: Medium – Full
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Price Point: $9.25
- Main Flavors: Espresso, Nuts, Black Pepper
Umbagog was named after Steve Saka’s favorite fishing spot. Derived from tobacco that is deemed too rustic or rough for the Mi Querida line, Umbagog is a blend Steve describes as perfect for the outdoors: your companion while grilling, hiking, and of course, fishing. I can’t think of a better description for a perfect everyday option. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a second, though – Umbagog is a fantastic cigar that you’re sure to love. Robust and durable, this blend delivers a medium to full-bodied profile chockful of coffee and espresso notes with roasted nuts and rich black pepper on the finish.
8. AVO Classic Robusto
- Body: Mellow – Medium
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Price Point: $10.00
- Main Flavors: Herbal Tea, Cream, Woods
Topping out the price limitations on our selection here is AVO Classic. A staple blend from one of the most iconic names in the industry, AVO Classic has been delighting cigar lovers for years. Here, you’ll find the work of Hedrik Kelner and Davidoff on full display — toast the foot to reveal the classic Davidoff grass and tea notes, which are soon backed by a woodsy core and a creamy overall feel. If you love Davidoff’s white label blends but want something a little more wallet-friendly to dip into, AVO Classic is the perfect choice.
9. HVC Cerro Toro
- Body: Medium
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Price Point: $8.60
- Main Flavors: Citrus, Pepper, Chocolate
HVC is a fantastic brand helmed by Reinier Lorenzo and crafted at the Aganorsa factory in Nicaragua. The blend itself is 100% Nicaraguan, but Cerro screams Cuba in its presentation and flavor profile. Smoking an HVC Cerro will treat you to that classic earthy, “twangy” profile you’ll find in many Cuban cigars, along with hints of chocolate, citrus, and spice.
10. Room101 Doomsayer Habano Toro
- Body: Medium – Full
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Price Point: $7.50
- Main Flavors:
Matt Booth has been a staple in the industry for 13 years now. While many boutique cigar makers have come and gone, Matt’s unique personality, style and blends have kept fans coming back year after year. With the 2020 release of Doomsayer, he created a fantastic everyday blend that is a great choice to keep your humidor stocked up. Specifically we’re recommending the Habano – a medium to full-bodied treat with delicate floral notes rounded out by dried fruit and a citrusy zest.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it – our top 10 choices for everyday indulgence! We’ve got all of these cigars if you’re looking to try something new, or pick them all up in our Best Everyday Cigar sampler.
As always, feel free to share your thoughts and let us know what we missed. What are you go-to blends?
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