Halloween cigars are some of our favorites to smoke out of the whole year. The weather is nice and crisp outside (for the folks up north), the world is settling into a dark mindset, and cigars offer a spooky and smoky escape from normal life. Sitting in the gathering gloom after sunset, your cigar tip glowing red with each pull, smoke swirling all around as you take in the moon and stars – that’s what Halloween cigars are all about.
So, what makes them Halloween cigars? Well, there are so many ways to go with it. One obvious choice would be cigars with dark wrappers – Maduro's or ideally, Oscuro's. This is a measure of fermentation, for those who aren’t familiar with the cigar tobacco preparation process. Tobacco leaves come in from the field as green as any you might find in your own yard. But as they cure and then undergo fermentation, the green color fades into a rich brown and then a color bordering on black, if the grower is making Oscuro. A satisfying earthy and sweet flavor settles into the leaf, and it becomes perfect for use as a wrapper on Halloween cigars.
What are some examples? The Victor Sinclair Bohemian Black Oscuro features a dark and oily wrapper leaf from the Dominican Republic. The E.P. Carrillo Selección Oscuro has a brooding wrapper and a 94-point rating to show it’s not just about making as dark a cigar as possible but also blending with artistry. There’s also the Punch Gran Puro Nicaragua, which has a dark Connecticut broadleaf wrapper that will have you in the mood for a midnight smoke, and the Hoya La Amistad Black.
Of course, Halloween cigars are about so much more than just darkness. What about all manner of devilry, like the Punch Diablo, Diesel Unholy Cocktail, Tatuaje Monster Series (featuring a tribute to classic horror movie monsters), Surrogates Skull Breaker, or anything from Asylum? These are all Halloween cigars in their own way – some more obvious than others. For many years, cigars have been cultivating a connection with badassery that includes fearsome names, potent blends, and frightening imagery. While the traditionalists of the industry market themselves using tradition, some of the breakout companies that are trying to get a foot in the door have to show less reverence for days gone by in order to turn heads. They are rebel cigar makers and their cigar names show it more often than not.
And last but not least, there are flavored cigars like the Nub Nuance Fall Harvest. Pumpkin, cinnamon, and spice are all found in the smoke of this Halloween cigar. If you’re not a lover of horror or scary things, this is probably the one you’re after. It’s more seasonal than Halloween-y, but there’s a cigar for everyone out there.
Whatever type of Halloween cigars you’re in the mood for, we wish you a spooky and smoke-filled All Hallows’ Eve. We’ll be dressing up as a scarecrow and sitting out on the lawn, drawing every so often from a Murcielago bat-themed cigar and saying not a single word while we stare dead-eyed at the trick or treaters.
That’ll teach'em to walk on our lawns.
Please browse our selection of Halloween cigars at your leisure.