10 Standout Smokes To Enjoy On The Fourth Of July
Independence Day calls for gathering with family and friends, meat on the grill, drinks in hand and plenty of fine cigars. We looked through our extensive database of more than 23,000 cigar reviews to find 10 highly-rated smokes with a patriotic theme. Some are rolled in the United States, many have American-grown tobaccos and each provides a superb smoking experience. Happy Fourth of July.
Ashton Cabinet Selection No. 8 (94 points, $14.45)
Connecticut shade is the best-known mild wrapper in the cigar business, but today most cigars made with Connecticut-seed wrappers feature leaf from Ecuador, rather than the United States. The Ashton Cabinet Selection brand is made using Connecticut shade grown and harvested in the Connecticut River Valley, just a couple of hours north of New York City. Despite its mild profile, there is plenty to savor with roasted chestnut and cocoa powder notes preceding a finish with hints of créme de menthe. See the full tasting note.
E.P. Carrillo Pledge Sojourn (93 points, $13.25)
This dark, box-pressed toro from Ernesto Perez-Carrillo is the big brother to the Pledge Prequel, the See the full tasting note.
Padilla Miami 8&11 Churchill (93 points, $20)
The Padilla Miami 8&11 brand is one of the few cigars rolled in the United States, even though it has not always been an American-made cigar. Over the years it’s changed factories and countries, but now it’s being made at El Titan de Bronze in Miami. The change of venue seems to have paid off as its scores are high, making it See the full tasting note.
Tatuaje Miami Havana Cazadores (93 points, $12)
In the American market, thicker cigars tend to dominate retailer shelves but this elegantly slender cigar might make you reconsider the next time you visit your favorite tobacconist. Produced at Florida’s El Rey de Los Habanos factory by the Garcia family, this lonsdale shows a full spectrum of flavor with black pepper, earth and coffee and is sweetened by hints of nutmeg and chocolate. It’s not only a highly-rated cigar (See the full tasting note.
Aksum Claro Corona Gorda (92 points, $14.50)
Nick Melillo loves the state of Connecticut so much that he chose a tobacco field as the headquarters location of his Foundation Cigar Co. His Aksum brand includes some tobacco grown near those headquarters, in the dark, Connecticut broadleaf binder. This toro from the Claro line has a spicy core of pepper and cinnamon accented by touches of coffee bean and nuts that turns hearty on the cocoa powder finish. See the full tasting note.
La Palina Goldie Laguito No. 5 (90 points, $25)
This flagtailed toro is made in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood at El Titan de Bronze using a mix of Ecuador Habano wrapper, Ecuadoran binder and a mix of Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. According to the company, the Nicaraguan fillers include some medio tiempo—a sprouting of small leaves that infrequently appear on the highest part of some tobacco plants and is prized for its strength and flavor. It kicks off with a note of ion fruit before cedar, root beer and leather enter the fray and culminates in a finish that has a boozy, rum-barrel quality to it. See the full tasting note.
CAO Flathead Resonator (89 points, $12.79)
Measuring an imposing 8 by 60, this box-pressed cigar is the biggest on our list, yet surprisingly affordable with a retail price of less than $13. Half of its blend consists of American-grown tobaccos with a dark broadleaf wrapper and Habano binder–both from Connecticut–atop Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. Despite its size, it draws and burns evenly, layering the palate with impressions of chocolate and earth with touches of raisin and pepper preceding an herbal finish. See the full tasting note.
Liga Privada Único Feral Flying Pig (89 points, $21.50)
Connecticut broadleaf wrapper is the signature calling card of Drew Estate’s Liga Privada brand. This stout perfecto is made with a tightly coiled pigtail and a near-black wrapper. Inside is a Brazilian binder and a mix of Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers that combine with the cover leaf for a medium-full smoke that is both woody and toasty after some initial oiliness and turns nutty on the finish. Despite its thick 5 5/8 by 60 dimensions, it burns evenly. See the full tasting note.
The American Churchill (89 points, $20.30)
For those who like to buy American, this 7-by-47 Churchill is as patriotic as you can get. Made by the Newmans at their El Reloj factory in Tampa, Florida, the blend for this star-spangled brand hails from three different states (Connecticut, Florida and Pennsylvania). In addition, every aspect of its packaging is done entirely in the U.S. with sustainably-sourced, native materials. It’s a woody, earthy smoke with a spicy backbone of black pepper, cumin and cinnamon. The finish is nutty.
E.P. Carrillo Pledge of Allegiance 2023 (88 points, $20)
Ernesto Perez-Carrillo released this box-pressed toro last year to honor both immigrants (he came to the United States from Cuba at seven years old) and America’s independence. The blend is heavy on American tobaccos, with Connecticut broadleaf serving as the wrapper and part of the filler, which also contains some Pennsylvania broadleaf as well. The Pledge of Allegiance is limited, and returned earlier this year in two sizes, a toro and also a Salomon, limited to just 1,776 and 248 boxes respectively. See the full tasting note.
