Best Cuban Cigar Alternatives You Can Buy in the States

In the world of cigars, Cuban brands have long been considered the gold standard. "You aren't a cigar aficionado until you've tried a Cuban" and "Cuban cigars are the best in the world" are just a few things cigar lovers hear occasionally.

For many years, Cuban cigars were the top choice because they were the only kind. Cuban tobacco made its way into cigars manufactured in the U.S., in cities like Tampa, where the A. Fuente Company would roll cigars. The Castro revolution and the U.S. embargo against Cuba changed all that; with cigar makers fleeing the island, it forced them to seek new sources of tobacco compatible with the same climate in Cuba. That's how Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Ecuador, and Brazil became reliable producers of tobacco.

In recent years, a number of non-Cuban brands have emerged that give Cuban cigars a run for their money. These cigars are much more affordable and sold in the US, and some would say that they offer a better smoking experience than their Cuban competitors.

Are Cuban cigars worth the hype, trouble, and money it takes to get an original stogie? Opinions vary. What we can say for sure is that you should definitely try the cigars listed below, if only once.

Best Cuban Cigar Alternatives:

E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel Cigars
Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2020 #1 Cigar Of The Year – Rated 98

Origin: Dominican Republic
Size: 5 x 50
Wrapper: Connecticut Habano
Binder: Ecuadoran
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: ●●●●○ Medium-Full

If you're a fan of cigars, then you're likely familiar with the name Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. He's the man behind some of the world's most popular cigars, including the La Gloria Cubana and the EPC Inaugural.

The EP Carrillo Pledge Prequel is a special cigar that was released as a prequel to the EP Carrillo Inaugural. The cigar features a Mexican San Andres wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. It's a full-bodied cigar that's packed with flavor and is a hit with cigar lovers. SHOP NOW

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Maduro Untold Story

Origin: Dominican Republic
Size: 7 5/8 x 54
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Strength: ●●●○○ Medium

When the US embargo was implemented against Cuba, most of the left Cuban cigar manufacturers had to find alternative sources of tobacco. Many chose to cultivate the best tobacco in the Dominican Republic. One such manufacturer is Arturo Fuente, who has been making high-quality cigars since before the embargo. In addition to their use of Cuban tobacco, they also cultivate Connecticut leaf tobacco which imparts a unique flavor profile. This change in US policy towards Cuba has allowed cigar makers like Arturo Fuente to continue making their cigars while other brands and owners have left Cuba behind. The Fuente family continues to manufacture Arturo Fuente cigars with great care and attention to detail, using traditional methods passed down from generation to generation. The result is a cigar that is rich in flavor and extremely well-constructed, like the Maduro Untold Story. SHOP NOW

Oliva Serie V Churchill Extra
2022 #5 Cigar Of The Year - Rated 95

Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 7 x 52
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: ●●●●● Full

Their flavor profiles make Oliva Serie V Churchill Extra some of the best cigars in the world. The cigars are made with high-priming Nicaraguan tobacco, which gives them a unique flavor and immense depth. The wrapper is grown in Ecuador's Habano Sun Grown region, providing the cigars with a sweet aroma and taste.

The Oliva Serie V Churchill Extra Special has a blend of Nicaraguan Delight, Ecuador Habano Sun Grown, and Jalapa Valley Ligero tobaccos. This provides the cigar with an immense depth of flavor that will delight any connoisseur.

Oliva Serie V Churchill Extra Special stands out from the crowd thanks to its very tight draw, which provides a robust smoke that is full-bodied and intense. The cigar starts off with notes of spice and leather, which then gives way to a smooth balance of cedar and coffee. SHOP NOW

Joya De Nicaragua Antano Connecticut Robusto

Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 5 x 52
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: ●●●○○ Medium

Joya de Nicaragua Antano Connecticut Robusto is one of the most highly esteemed Connecticut cigars in recent years. Manufactured for Drew Estate in the Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua factory in Nicaragua, this phenomenal concoction is essentially one of the world's strongest cigars, Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970, draped in a Connecticut wrapper. Neither mild like a Connecticut nor strong like the original, this upscale blend of Nicaraguan filler and binder tobaccos, along with its Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper leaf, combine to make a beautiful flavor profile built to impress fans of the former and the latter alike. Even the folks at Cigar Aficionado seem to think so, as a prompt pair of 93 ratings tell the story. SHOP NOW

San Cristobal Quintessence Corona Gorda
2018 #21 Cigar of the Year - Rated 92

Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 5 5/8 x 46
Wrapper: Ecuadoran
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: ●●●●○ Medium-Full

San Cristobal Quintessence Corona Gorda is the fourth regular production cigar in the ultra-premium San Cristobal lineup from Ashton, following the original San Cristobal release, Elegancia, and Revelation. Blended by Don Pepin Garcia with more focus on flavor and balance rather than raw strength like its predecessor, Quintessence is produced in the world-famous My Father factory in Nicaragua. The wrapper leaf is a beautiful reddish brown Ecuadorian Habano, and the filler and binder blend consists of premium Nicaraguan leaves from the Garcia family farms. Since its release in 2016, Quintessence has garnered numerous accolades, including a pair of 92 ratings in Cigar Aficionado and a spot on the 2018 Top 25 list. SHOP NOW

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