When you take that tentative first step into the wonderful world of cigars for the first time, you’ll find yourself on the cusp of something luxurious, indulgent and, yes, just that little bit mysterious.
There’s a reason, after all, that so many people over the years have been drawn to these intriguing fat-bellied torpedoes… and once you’ve taken your first puff, there’s no turning back.
Before you know it, you’ve curated the perfect humidor that would put even the most arden of cigar aficionados to shame!
And speaking of cigar stalwarts, you’ll find yourself in most excellent company indeed as you embark on your own personal smoking journey… so here are just a few of the famous faces out there also known for their cigar collections to serve as inspiration for your next fantastic find!
Sigmund Freud
One man with a serious passion for cigars who we’re all no doubt familiar with was Sigmund Freud, renowned for his somewhat intense smoking habit (20 a day!) that continued right up until the day he died.
Proclaiming his love for cigars to a friend, he said: “Cigars have served me for precisely 50 years as protection and a weapon in the combat of life!”
Now, perhaps if one of his patients lay down on the therapy couch and made similar statements, Freud would have had a field day delving into the psychoanalytic possibilities of being stuck in the Id stage of life… but we say, let’s take him at his word and stock our smoking arsenals full to the brim with our own preferred weapons of choice.
Cuban cigars were among Freud’s particular favourites and, as luck would have it, we have some incredible Cubans in stock at this very moment, including:
The Montecristo No. 4
Famed for its beautiful construction and smooth medium-bodied flavour profile, you’re sure to appreciate the Montecristo No.4, with its hints of spice, cedar and creamy tobacco.
The Romeo y Julieta Petit Julieta
This is a very intriguing and complex little cigar, with lots of flavours to look out for – so a brilliant choice if you’re looking to develop your palate as a smoker.
The Bolivar Belicosos Finos
One draw on this Belicosos and your life as a cigar smoker will never be the same! The dark chocolatey wrapper houses a beautiful smoke, combining exotic notes of fruit, spices and wood. Strong, complex and utterly delicious.
We’ve also got a dazzling array of different Dominican smokes from none other than the Freud Cigar Company, a relative newcomer to the cigar world but one that’s already making a solid name for itself.
Their first cigar, the SuperEgo, made its debut in 2022 and it’s been onwards and upwards ever since!
Marlene Dietrich
It’s perhaps strange to think, in the 21st century, that a woman wearing trousers and having a smoke would be a massive deal… but, back in 1932, that’s exactly what it was – and you can just imagine the uproar when none other than Marlene Dietrich rocked up to the LA premiere of The Sign of the Cross wearing not just a pair of trousers but a whole tuxedo!
Add to that one of her favourite cigars and you’ve got the makings of an actual scandal, darling!
But, of course, that wouldn’t stop our Lene (in fact, no doubt, it would have spurred her on!) and her love for the masculine pursuit of smoking cigars was well known to all, a little treat to enjoy at the end of a long day on set.
As for brands to consider in pursuit of channeling your own inner Marlene, feminist icon that she was, what about stocking the humidor with the likes of:
Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour Robusto
For sophisticated luxury, look no further than the Davidoff Late Hour Robusto, a blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos that delivers spicy earth, chocolate and caramel, alongside the complex notes of dark tobacco. Fabulous!
The Hoyo De Monterrey Epicure No.2
This medium-bodied Cuban boasts a wonderful flavour profile, featuring wood, leather, cream, coffee and the earthy smokiness of tobacco. You’ll never regret having this one close to hand.
The Davidoff Signature Ambassadrice
We’re big fans of this Davidoff offering at Havana House, thoroughly enjoying it for its creamy earthiness that works beautifully with a milky coffee. An excellent morning smoke.
Tom Selleck
If there’s one man out there who enjoys universal popularity, it has to be Tom Selleck. Our main man Tom is cool, charismatic, commanding, charming… any other words that begin with C? Ah, yes, cigars… of course!
Mr Selleck is yet another celebrity stogie enthusiast – so much so, in fact, that he even graced the cover of Cigar Aficionado way back when in 95/96. Quite the feat!
A cigar fan both on screen and off (check out old episodes of Magnum P.I. to see him in action), Tom’s pick for his favourite brand is a top-notch choice and something that every single cigar smoker worth their proverbial salt should have in the humidor… Arturo Fuente.
Now one of the best-known cigar brands of them all, Arturo Fuente had relatively humble beginnings, launched in 1912 with the first cigars rolled and blended in the back of the Fuente household.
Quality craftsmanship and quality tobacco are the hallmarks of the brand, something that Tom Selleck certainly seems to appreciate, with his two favourite smokes the Don Carlos Robusto and the Short Story… both of which we have in stock!
Elsewhere, if you want to really invoke the Tom Selleck spirit, look out for other medium to full-bodied cigars that reflect a classic sense of sophistication, with unparalleled construction for a smooth and consistent draw, with rich flavour profiles taking you on a journey through spice, coffee and notes of cedar.
What about one of these:
La Gloria Cubana Turquinos
This lovely Cuban has been getting rave reviews ever since its debut in Havana at the XXIII Festival del Habano – so it’s definitely one to consider giving a go.
The Davidoff Aniversario Special T
Take your time with this delicious cigar, as it truly is one to be savoured… preferably with a glass of your favourite champagne in hand, or an aged single malt whiskey.
The Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Flor Fina 8-5-8
This Arturo Fuente offering is a most nuanced smoke indeed, delivering notes of cocoa, spice, leather, roasted nuts and cedar. In just 40 minutes, you’ll go on a smoking journey like no other.
Whoopi Goldberg
Now, while cigars have long enjoyed the reputation of being a traditionally masculine pursuit, associated with status, power and rites of passage to manhood, these preconceptions are increasingly being challenged – with more and more women tempted by the luxurious self-indulgence that cigar smoking represents.
And who better to break the mold than the one and only, the incomparable, the hilarious Whoopi Goldberg?
She was, in fact, instrumental in driving the huge cigar boom that was seen in the 1990s, alongside the likes of Linda Evangelista and Demi Moore (the first two celebrity women to feature on the cover of Cigar Aficionado!), Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
A cigar enthusiast since her teenage years, Whoopi first cut her teeth on cheap cheroots, gradually working her way up to cigarillos before finding her favourites in chunky Cohibas, Davidoffs and Habanos.
The Cohiba Behike 56 is reportedly one of her go-to smokes, as is the Cuban Davidoff 80 Aniversario, so if you can get your hands on either of these, you’ll be doing very well indeed!
As luck would have it, we do have the Cohiba in stock, prized for its rare Ligero leaves from the Vuelta Abajo region and its delicious flavours of spices, wood, leather, roasted nuts, dark chocolate and vanilla. There’s a reason why it’s got Whoopi’s stamp of approval.
And, although we don’t have the rare Davidoff 80 Aniversario available, we do have excellent alternatives that would all make for top-notch additions to your cigar collection, including:
The Cohiba Panetalas
This particular cigar was a favourite of Fidel Castro, first handcrafted in 1969 and initially only available to Cuban top officials! So you’re smoking a little piece of history when you give this one a go.
La Galera Maduro Vitola
Whoopi enjoys a smaller smoke, so channel your inner Goldberg with this tasty offering from La Galera, a stogie that packs a serious punch!
Davidoff Mini Gold Cigarillos
For an exquisite smoking experience, give these Davidoff cigarillos a try, blending premium tobaccos from the Caribbean, Brazil and Indonesia. Can we get a “whoop whoop!”?
Arnold Schwarzenegger
No matter what Arnie does, he does it with a certain element of unreplicable swagger – and cigars certainly seem to suit him particularly well, resting oh-so naturally between his thumb and forefinger.
And this is perhaps unsurprising, given that he’s been enjoying all sorts of delicious smokes for over 40 years as a way to kick back and relax with friends.
Fun fact! Arnold apparently likes to dip his cigars in tequila, which might be something worth trying the next time you’ve got one in hand.
Give it a go by dipping it directly into the glass before lighting up, or dip a piece of cedar wood into the spirit before gently rubbing it onto the cigar wrapper. Take care not to soak the cigar, however, as you’ll make it hard to light and it won’t pull as well.
Another option, one to up the ante even further, is to infuse the cigar with a shot of tequila in a sealed container over a couple of weeks for an even deeper and even more delicious flavour. Let us know how you find this!
As for Arnie’s favourite cigar brands, look out for the likes of the Partagas Serie D No 4, the Arturo Fuente Opus X, the Punch Punch, the Cohiba and the Romeo Y Julieta.
Or take it to the next level with other cigars along the same lines, such as:
The Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona
A true-blue Cuban classic! You’ll appreciate this for its grand size and unparalleled craftsmanship, boasting notes of toasted almonds, spice, cream, cedar and smoky earthiness.
The Montecristo No.2
Often cited as being Arnie’s first-ever cigar, the Moncristo No.2 is a must-try for any cigar enthusiast. Trust us. You’ll be back!
The Cohiba 55 Aniversario
Cohiba 55 Aniversario Cigar (2021 Limited Edition) – Single
In Stock
This fabulous vitola was created to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the foundation of Cohiba, delivering a full-bodied smoke that boasts notes of leather, woodiness, roasted coffee, dried fruits and dark chocolate. And we’ve got it on sale right now!
Rihanna
And last, but by no means least, we look to Rihanna for cigar smoking inspiration!
Does anyone remember the video for Shakira’s Can’t Remember to Forget You, back in 2014? Well, take a little look and you’ll see both these fantastic singers relishing the cigar-smoking experience.
Outside of making music videos, Rihanna herself is regularly spotted smoking panatella cigars, characterised by elegant slim lines and delivering an intense smoking experience full of flavour – so a great addition to any humidor and ideal if you want a quick 30-minute smoke.
But her interest in cigars certainly doesn’t stop there and she too finds favour in Cuban Cohibas, the Arturo Fuente Exquisito and the Hemingway Short Story, one of her favourite go-tos, in fact.
If you’re looking for a new Cohiba to try, what about the Black Corona? This is a little on the smaller side but represents excellent value for money, so a brilliant choice for anyone just embarking on their smoking journey. It’s also very tasty, with notes of anise, licorice and coffee.
And if you can’t get your hands on one of these babies, here are some excellent alternatives to consider:
The Oscar Valladeras Altar Q
Oscar Valladares Altar Q Toro Cigar – Single
In Stock
Rihanna loves a vitola, so get your hands on this full-bodied medium-to-full cigar that offers a smooth experience featuring bold notes of earth, spice, dark chocolate and wood to smoke it up like a rock star!
The Partagas Legados
You’re sure to appreciate the flavour profile of the Partagas Legados vitola, boasting subtle sweetness, woody tones and delicious earthy smoke, all blended to a slightly lighter body than you might usually expect.
The Arturo Fuente Natural Brevas Royale
Rihanna is a big fan of Arturo Fuente smokes, so why not give the Natural Brevas Royal corona a go, with notes of cedar, toasted nuts and gentle spice to enjoy.
Get in touch!
Of course, these are just six of the many, many famous faces who love nothing more than indulging in their favourite cigars from time to time.
We’d love to hear if you’ve tried any of the smokes we’ve featured, so drop us a line to share your smoking stories and let us know your next favourite finds.
