Words by Dion Peyre
Our dude Dion Peyre is an outstanding individual repping Belize to the fullest as an accomplished businessman, promoter for the highly respected Brotherhood Promotions and general connoisseur of cool. When he brought me (DJ Gravy), Federation Sound and Easytime Sound out of Italy down to Belize last Spring for his brother Mike’s birthday bashment, we got major love everywhere we went with him. The whole time he was smoking some of the finest cigars so it seemed only right to tap him for our long-awaited Top 10 Caribbean Cigars. I thought this would be a great intro for LargeUp readers to get familiar with our Belizean general. Salute!
It is amazing to me that a global phenomenon like cigars is almost entirely produced in the Caribbean (kinda like reggae music). The majority of cigars are produced in the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Nicaragua (although Nicaragua is technically in Central America, it has a Caribbean coast–like Belize–and is a part of the Caribbean world, in my opinion). The following is a list of 10 of my favorite BRANDS of cigars. I will not get into specific cigars because each brand produces many different types/styles/flavor,s from very mild to extremely robust. Several of these cigars are not available in the US because of the embargo with Cuba, but if you can get your hands on them (legally of course) you will see why Cuba is considered the motherland of the cigar world.
1. Partagas (Cuba)
Two companies that are not affiliated in any way produce Partagas cigars (one in the Dominican Republic and one in Cuba). The Cuban Partagas is, by far, my favorite cigar. Although I would like to say that they obviously “taste” the best (which I actually think they do), the fact that they are so hard to find adds to the overall smoking experience. Partagas is not as easily recognizable as Cohiba and Montecristo so they are not readily available even in places where Cubans are legal. Whenever I smoke a cigar and it is not a Partagas it is because I don’t have any left.
2. Davidoff (Dominican Republic)
If you’re smoking a Davidoff Cigar rest assured you are smoking a very high quality cigar. Davidoff makes many different types of cigars (all produced in the DR) but each is incredible in it’s own right. There is a Davidoff for every individual taste and of course budget (they are typically pricey) but they are probably the most consistent cigar brand. They also have many cigar lounges all over the world, so whenever you walk into a Davidoff lounge and order any one of their cigars, you are guaranteed to enjoy the cigar and the experience.
3. Montecristo (Cuba)
There was a time when the Habana Montecristo was my ultimate favorite cigar. It has a very smooth flavor and aroma and I still enjoy them a lot. These are probably the Cuban cigars I smoke most often and pretty much always have on hand. Whenever I grab a few cigars to go out with friends I ALWAYS make sure to have a couple Montecristos in the bunch.
4. Cohiba (Cuba)
The Cohiba brand is arguably the most recognizable Cuban cigar brand. This is also an issue because Cohibas are the most counterfeited cigar as well. If you’ve ever been on a cruise and bought a Cohiba at one of your ports of call, there is a very high probability that your Cohiba was not produced in Cuba. That being said, an authentic Habana Cohiba is one of the smoothest cigars I have ever smoked and whenever I smoke one I am reminded why they are so popular. Just make sure you get them from a trusted source!
5. Ashton Cabinet Series (DR)
Ashton is one of the biggest producers of Dominican cigars, but the Ashton Cabinet series is the only one of their line that I really enjoy. Whenever I’m in the mood for a two-cigar night I tend to start with an Ashton Cabinet because it is a bit milder than the cigars I typically smoke and they are extremely smooth. Perfect appetizer for any other cigar, even another Cabinet!
6. Oliva (Nicaragua)
Oliva is a boutique cigar brand out of Nicaragua that has been getting very high praise recently in all the cigar publications. I tried one to see what the hype was all about and it quickly became one of my favorite cigars (definitely my favorite Nicaraguan cigar). Oliva makes many flavors, but they are one of the only producers that can make a robust cigar still taste very smooth.
7. Padron (Nicaragua)
Padrons are produced in limited quantities, which makes them one of the most sought after cigars on the market. These cigars are smooth and flavorful and are known for being a bit more robust. Padrons are my favorite robust cigars–definitely not for the novice.
8. Montecristo (DR)
Although I prefer the Cuban version of the Montecristo much more than the Dominican version, these are probably the cigars I smoke the most. They are available in most cigar shops but are definitely high quality cigars.
9/10. Arturo Fuente (DR)/ Romeo y Julieta (DR)
These two brands are interchangeable but definitely worthy of being in the top ten. They are some of the most popular cigars and I always have these on hand. The only issue with these cigars is that they are so popular that they are available in many small stores and are not stored properly. However, these cigars, when well cared for, are always quality smokes.
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