While sorting through new releases for PCA, I came across a few brands that I admire. I also realized several are underrated. I hate the word “boutique” to describe cigar brands, particularly because it doesn’t fit. Another word that seems silly to use is “craft” for small brands, because most cigars are handcrafted. So, it’s disingenuous to use that word. But alas, there are many small boutique or craft brands that tend to fly under the radar — and they absolutely shouldn’t. They are underrated cigar brands through and through.
Maybe you came across them during your cigar journey. Or, maybe this is your first time hearing about them. At any rate, I wanted to share a few I know about, and underrated or not, you’re really doing yourself a disservice if you don’t check them out. If you haven’t tried some these brands, give them a shot when you get the opportunity.
Adrian Magnus
Billed as ultra-luxury, you better not enjoy these cigars in shorts and a tee. If you do, they’ll send a muscled guy after you. Okay, I’m just being a wiseass, but you get the idea. Skilled artisans hand-roll these cigars with precision and care. Better yet, they age most of the tobacco for five, twelve, or fifteen years.
From the 1808 and the Supremos, to the Ultra-Premium Black Black or XO Cognac, you’re getting a smooth, incredible experience regardless of which label you choose. Honing in on the Supremos, it contains seven-year-aged tobacco with Dominican origins in a medium to full strength profile. Nothing can prepare you for lighting one up the first time. But when you do, oh man, you’re in for a real treat.
ADVentura Cigars
Talk about a real uncharted or swashbuckling feel. ADVentura embodies all of that and more. Born out of a collaboration between “tobacconist, marketer, sommelier, Marcel Knobel” and a young master blender from the Dominican Republic, Henderson Ventura, these premium cigars are every bit as unique as their namesake.
Take a journey through the lineup, starting with The Explorer, and then move on to conquer Blue Eyed Jack’s Revenge, La Llorona, and Piece of Heart. Wherever your feet land, on whatever soil, you’ll be well prepared for the locals with one of these bad boys, and incredibly good times. I always try to work an ADVentura stogie into my weekly rounds.
Smooth, rich, and traditionally Dominican, the Aria Exclusives lineup includes handcrafted cigars from la ciudad corazon. With humble beginnings, this brand is an up-and-comer. Most of its lineup is simply named. Aria labels take inspiration from the tobacco they’re crafted with. Don’t let that shy you away.
The Connecticut, San Andrés, Habano, Corojo Habano Maduro, Eternal Knot Rose and Eternal Knot Gold are all designed to be smooth, relaxing smokes ranging from mild to full-bodied. I know that’s quite the range, but it also means they have a little something for everyone. I recommend the Eternal Knot Gold. It’s a medium to full-bodied smoke with flavors like earth, spices, roasted nuts, cedar, leather, and a lingering sweetness.
Black Label Trading Company
Source: Black Label Trading Company
If you haven’t seen me in person yet, and let’s be honest, most of you haven’t, I have a few skull tattoos. The macabre, especially skulls, has always fascinated me, and it makes sense since I’m a writer. So, it also makes sense that I’d be somewhat drawn to Black Label Trading Company, an Oveja Negra Brand that has marketing absolutely littered in skulls and the macabre. They’ve been around since 2015, and the brand’s tobacco is hand-crafted at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua. If and when you light one of their cigars up, you’ll see why that matters.
Between its core lines and the intermittent, limited release, Black Label Trading Company offers some stunning blends. The Royalty, Lawless, Morphine, Salvation, Last Rites, Orthodox, they’re all delicious. But let’s pick out the Last Rites to examine more closely. It features an Ecuadorian Maduro wrapper, Honduran binder and Honduran and Nicaragua mixed fillers. And it’s brimming with dark, toasty flavors, exactly what you’d expect from a macabre-inspired blend. Cedar and wood, rich chocolate, coffee, spices, and an abundance of cream await.
Black Star Line
A Chicago Firefighter by trade, a cigar aficionado by night, Adetola “Aric” Wimberly-Bey, Black Star Line’s founder, was mentored by none other than Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate. Made at some of the most legendary factories like El Titan de Bronze, Fabrica de Oveja Negra, and La Zona Factory, every release in Black Star Line’s lineup is unique and backed by years of passion and unparalleled craftsmanship.
The War Witch is made in Nicaragua by Aganorsa Leaf. Rosewood 1923 is made by Fabrica de Oveja Negra. Marun is made by La Zona. The list goes on, and, at the risk of repeating myself, every blend in the Black Star Line inventory is worth checking out. I love me some Aganorsa stuff, as you probably know, so that’s where I spend most of my smoking time. Yes, sir.
Casa 1910
Capturing the proud spirit of Mexican born tobacco, and the Mexican Revolution, the brand’s cigars and tobacco hail from the San Andrés valley in Veracruz, Mexico. Established in 2021, it didn’t take long for the brand to make a name for itself in the industry, and every release continues to leave an indelible mark. Manolo Santiago, one of the brand’s founders, was a former marketing manager for Habanos S.A. in Mexico. Point being, these guys know their shit.
From the Revolutionary Edition to the Cavalry Edition and Soldadera Edition, with individual blends in each of those labels, plus some limited releases, there’s a lot to love here. Revolutionary includes the Tierra Blanca, and the Cuchillo Parado, for instance. Words do not do this brand justice. Go take a look when you can.
Drunk Chicken Cigars
Established in 2019, Drunk Chicken cigars are handmade in the U.S.A.. The brand’s stogies mirror flavor profiles you’ll find elsewhere in the premium cigars industry. If you’re interested in how the industry works, you can read insights from the brand’s founder directly on her blog.
If you just want to smoke some delicious cigars, you can’t go wrong with the Mother Clucker, Fat Hen, Homicidal Hen, or Living the Dream. Seriously, give them a try. The brand is proof that not all the top cigars come from outside of the country.
La Galera
Dominican through and through, La Galera, or Las Galeras, offers a staple of high-end, premium smokes that don’t really buck the norm, but who cares, because they are phenomenal. The brand’s founder, Jose Arnaldo Blanco, or “Jochy,” as he’s known, certainly has the experience and chops to craft a beautiful, experiential cigar.
The core lines include Connecticut, Cojoro, Maduro, and 1936 Box Pressed varieties. Followed by the finer selection of Anemoi, Imperial Jade, and limited releases, like the 85th Anniversary. What do they all have in common? They’re one-of-a-kind experiences rolled into a tightly packed bundle of tobaccos.
Lovely Cigars
When I think about underrated cigar brands, this one tops the list. Hailing from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Lovely Cigars has revitalized a historic brand once called Ain’t They Lovely. Green Bay was a major Midwest producer of cigars, believe it or not, which were shipped via the Fox River and the Great Lakes. Back in the 60s during the Cuban embargo, quality tobacco became real hard to find, and the brand wound down.
Of course, what’s more interesting is the brand’s current lineup of cigars, all handcrafted in Nicaragua at the Tacasa S.A. factory in Esteli. Notable smokes include Ain’t They Lovely, the No. 162 and the new Bay City Cigar line — with Connecticut and Maduro versions. I have had them all and they’re delicious.
Labeling themselves a “family-owned boutique cigar company,” Platinum Nova delivers ultra-premium, limited edition cigars that not only come exceptionally crafted, but deliver a one-of-a-kind experience. Because that last part sounds like a cop-out, and something any marketing team would cook up, I implore you to give these a try. You’ll immediately understand why that’s being said here.
The Platinum Nova Park Avenue, for instance, features Dominican filler tobaccos, a Nicaraguan binder from Esteli, and an Ecuadorian 2000 wrapper. It’s a silky, smooth blend that’s fully of chocolate, coffee, and pepper notes. Or, how about the Platinum Nova Toro? It features Dominican fillers, a Dominican Piloto binder and a Mexican San Andrés wrapper. Dried fruit, leather, cinnamon, chocolate, nuttiness and lots of sweet notes await anyone who lights the Nova Toro up. They can be pricy, but I’d argue the experience is worth it.
Stolen Throne
Established in 2018, Stolen Throne offers both staple collections and limited releases, most Nicaraguan at their core. But they also feature some unique flavor notes that pair exceptionally well with hard beverages. Don’t worry, if you don’t like bourbon or scotch, they work fine with some Pepsi, too.
Take the Crook of the Crown, the brand’s original blend. It features an oily San Andrés Maduro wrapper, Indonesian binder and Nicaraguan fillers. You’ll pick up flavors like cherry, nuts, mulled wine, red spices and beyond. Trust me, you want to check these guys out.
The cigar industry is constantly evolving: More underrated cigar brands are always on the horizon
In just the last decade, the cigar industry has exploded to include a wide variety of “boutique” brands — yes, using that word made me shiver. That continues to evolve, with more and more underrated cigar brands popping up all over the place. Not just in the age-old markets we’ve come to expect, like Nicaragua and Cuba, but elsewhere.
What you should take away from all of this is that there’s a lot to explore and there will be a lot to explore going forward. Maybe the next time you come across a brand you’ve never heard of, give it a try? I always try local cigars, but I also live in Florida where there are a lot of small, local brands, too.
Briley has over 16 years in the publishing and content marketing business. He's been writing about cigars for nearly half that in various forms. What makes him a tour de force is he also smokes them.
Source: Black Label Trading Company
Source: Platinum Nova Cigars
