How to Buy a Cigar as a Gift

Choosing a cigar as a gift can be a daunting task, to say the least. Similar to trying to pick out the perfect bottle of wine for a loved one, choosing a cigar may require the knowledge of the smoker’s preferences when it comes to strength and flavour.

But thanks to our insightful guide, you don’t have to endure this experience alone, so you can make an informed purchase that is sure to be the best cigar gift the recipient will ever receive.

When to Buy a Cigar as a Gift

Giving a cigar as a gift originates from Native American culture, where they were used to mark important occasions, particularly when a baby was born. Now it is customary to gift a cigar for a range of events, such as the birth of a new child, weddings and graduation, as well as for annual events like birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas. 

How to Choose a Cigar as a Gift

While some cigar smokers will be happy with any cigar gift, others have more concrete preferences around brand, size, strength and tasting notes. We share a few ways to find the ideal gift for the cigar lovers in your life.

Look at the Cigars They Love

If you’re buying for someone who loves their cigars, you can take a look at the ones they buy themselves for inspiration. Take a look at the bands to discover the brands they prefer – this can give you a good starting place and can help narrow down whether they prefer Cuban or New World cigars.

Look at the colour of the wrapper – the outermost leaf of the cigar – as well as the length and width of the cigar to have more of an idea of what they like. You could even snap a few pictures of their cigar collection if you are able to get access.

Take this information to your local cigar shop, or get in touch online, and the cigar vendor should be able to point you in the direction of the perfect cigar for the person you are buying for.

Explore Cigar Selection Packs

When shopping for a present, a cigar selection pack can be an ideal gift, as it will include a handful of different cigars. Chances are at least a couple will go down a treat for your recipient!

Here at Havana House, we have a wide range of cigar selections to choose from, including brand collections, starter packs, bestsellers, and pairing gift sets.

Top Cigars

Another way to choose a gift is to look at the top-rated cigars – there’s a good reason why they’ve been so well-reviewed! Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Journal both offer annual rankings for the top 25 cigars of each year, while here at Havana House, we recommend our own Havana House Top 10 Cigars.

Tips For Buying Cigars

There are a few things to keep in mind when buying a cigar.

Choose a Trusted Vendor

Make sure you are purchasing cigars from a trusted seller. Cigars need to be kept in the right conditions, which an experienced cigar retailer like Havana House will be able to ensure, but a seller on eBay might not. A legitimate retailer will also check to ensure that the cigars imported into the UK are genuine, well-constructed and suitable for smoking.

Feel the Cigar

When buying a cigar in a shop or after purchasing online, it is always worth checking the cigar. While Havana House will always offer a premium service, we urge people to inspect the cigar they are considering purchasing.

Pick up the cigar and give it a gentle pinch up and down. This is to carry out a routine check that can help discover any imperfections or small tears that may have occurred. And while this is uncommon, we feel it’s best to carry out the checks anyway; after all, you don’t want the receiver of your beautiful gift to have any problems smoking your present once lit.

You may also want to feel over the cigar for the feeling of an irregular dip. While this may well be even more uncommon than the aforementioned imperfections, it has the potential to affect the way in which the cigar smokes in terms of its evenness. You are best off feeling a few and opting for the one that feels best to you.

Our Quality Guarantee

At Havana House, we want to make sure that the cigars you receive are in the best possible condition. We open and check every humidor, box, pack and tubos to check that the cigar is to our very high standards. If the cigar passes inspection, we are proud to apply our seal of approval.