Cigar World’s Top Special Occasion Cigars — Fall 2024 Edition

Given the many high-quality cigars available today, it’s always a challenge to identify a few “special occasion cigars” that stand out from the crowd. Indeed, this list could easily include 50 cigars and still not cover every smoke that would make an excellent addition to a wedding, birthday, or anniversary celebration. Still, for the sake of brevity, here are our top five special occasion cigars you can count on to deliver at your next big event. 

Best Cigar for an Anniversary — Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua

The cigar community loves a good anniversary cigar, and few are better than the Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua, released in 2020 to commemorate the brand’s 85th year in existence. Montecristo collaborated with AJ Fernandez to craft a bold, spicy cigar that offers a full-bodied and profoundly satisfying smoking experience. As such, it’s a fitting choice for an intimate celebration like an anniversary. 

Best Birthday Cigar — Alec Bradley Fine & Rare

Much like a birthday, the limited-edition Alec Bradley Fine & Rare release is different every year! Rather than sharing the same tobacco, Fine & Rare cigars instead have the same theme: each contains ten different, select tobaccos that two master artisans then craft. This is an ideal gift for the cigar lover in your life’s special day. 

Best Wedding Cigar — Cohiba Red Dot

Cohiba is synonymous with luxury—and for good reason. The brand consistently produces some of the highest-quality cigars on the market, and one of their flagship cigars, Red Dot, is a fantastic example of expert Cohiba craftsmanship. Acclaimed and balanced, this highly-rated three-country blend is a beautiful option for a wedding because it delivers an enjoyable smoking experience that newcomers to the hobby and seasoned smokers can both appreciate. When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with a Cohiba. 

Best Cigar for a “New Begining” — Macanudo Emissary España

Many special occasions focus on a transition; graduations and retirement parties, for instance, welcome new possibilities while celebrating the past. For such an event, consider Macanudo Emissary España. This intricate cigar includes a classic blend of traditional tobaccos, such as a 5-year-aged US Broadleaf Wrapper and a 6-year-aged Nicaraguan Condega binder. But it also features rare, 10-year-aged Spanish tobacco in the filler! Plus, three different Emissary España have received a 90 rating from Cigar Aficionado. 

Best Generic Special Occasion Cigar — Oliva Serie V Melanio

If you had to recommend a cigar to someone and didn’t know anything about them, their smoking habits or preferences, or what kind of “special occasion” they were celebrating, the Oliva Serie V Melanio would likely be a good choice, regardless. For more than a decade, the crown jewel in Oliva’s portfolio has captivated smokers. Expect notes of coffee, caramel, and wood from this expertly crafted cigar. 

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