Cigars are status symbols, exuding wealth and power. While film and pop culture effectively contribute to this narrative, it is grounded in reality. After all, a quality cigar is crafted with blends of hand-picked ingredients from different parts of the world, that are exceptionally flavoursome with lingering aromas. These blends are so rare that only a handful of the elite can gain access to them.
The World's Most Expensive Cigar
Let’s explore this exclusive industry and unveil the most expensive cigars in the world.
1. Gurkha Royal Courtesan Cigar – $1.36 million
Handcrafted in Honduras and Dominican Republic, Gurkha Royal’s Courtesan Cigar boldly epitomises opulence. Fine Himalayan tobacco is rolled in gold leaf and watered with water from Mt. Fiji. Dominican, Nicaraguan and Brazilian long-fillers and a Dominican binder are used to complete the blend. It’s infused with Remy Martin’s Louis XIII, a heritage cognac worth $24,823.50 for 175cl. Finally, it’s topped with a five-karat diamond-studded band. This cigar takes three years to age, and has “woodsy flavours”.
Deeply proud of their craftsmanship, all the artisans are made to roll cigars blindfolded in order to avoid any distractions. It is packed in a humidor, with 24 chambers for each cigar, which is further packaged in a custom Indonesian calfskin leather box. There is great attention to detail at every step of the production process. Gurkha Royal produces 12 million Royal Courtesan Cigars every year.
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2. Mayan Cigars – $507,000
The Mayan Cigars have an utterly unique blend, given that they are a relic from a civilization that was thriving 600 years ago. These cigars were discovered by archaeologists from Tampa University and were in excellent condition. They were buried deep below the surface of the earth in clay pots. A collector named Gary Liotta bought the entire collection at an auction for $507,000.
The Mayans’ knack for making good cigars has long been recognised by imperial powers – Christopher Columbus, impressed with the quality of their tobacco, had also brought their cigars to Europe. They have been described to have a spicy, peppery flavour.
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3. Gran Habano No. 5 El Gigante - $185,000
As the name suggests, the Gran Habano No.5 El Gigante, is a giant cigar. In fact, it is the world’s biggest cigar at 19 feet long, 3 feet wide and 175 kilograms heavy. It was created as a display item with 1,600 pounds of tobacco leaves – this is used for 25,000 regular cigars.
The cigar is placed on a wooden crate designed to resemble a locomotive. It was bought by an anonymous Cigar connoisseur from a dealer in Florida. Apparently, the No. 5 El Gigante bore a price tag of $200,000, but the unidentified buyer was lucky enough to get a discount.
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4. Double Corona Regius Cigars Ltd – $54,000 per cigar
The Double Corona Regius Cigars will give you your money’s worth. Not only does one get to smoke a cigar made with the best tobacco leaves from fertile soils of Nicaragua, the buyer will also receive 1,000 custom-made cigars tailored to his liking. If the buyer likes those custom cigars, Regius will add the range to their collection. The buyer also receives naming rights.
While the brand’s exact blend remains a mystery, they are unabashed about their craftsmanship. Akhil Kapacee, CEO of Regius said that he is willing to fly people in and give them a private tour of his factory. These particular cigars are known for their sweet aroma and creamy texture. It is available at Nat Sherman in New York, Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong and Davidoff of London.
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5. Gurkha Black Dragon – $115,000
Indonesian leaves wrapped in Ecuadorian Maduro, with Dominican fillers and aged Cameroonian binders, the Gurkha Black Dragon is a prime gem in the world of cigars.
It has a distinctive flavour because of its unique blend and the five-year ageing process. It has a strong creamy flavour and tastes chocolaty, with strong scents of cocoa, cinnamon, clove and leather. The Gurkha Black Dragon is priced at $1,150 per cigar and $115,000 per box.
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6. Arturo Fuente Opus X Ltd – $30,000 per box
Arturo Fuente Ltd created this Opus X line in 2003 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the original Opus X. Crafted in Chateau de la Fuente in Dominican Republic, the Opus X is the gold standard for cigars. It has pleasant aromas of raisins, vanilla and cedar.
The Fuente family also custom-made 100 humidors with this line – 10 with macassar veneer, 40 with yellow eye maple and 50 with madrona veneer. Each humidor contained 100 Opus X cigars. Its limited quantity tremendously elevated its exclusivity and value.
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7. Cohiba Behike – $18,000 per box
The Cohiba Behike is viewed as the best retail Cuban cigars in the world by cigar aficionados. Initially, only 100 humidors holding 40 Behike cigars were released. The rave reviews led Cohiba to increase its scale of production.
The blend comprises Cameroon wrapper and Nicaraguan binder, besides filler leaves from Dominican Republic. The filler also contains a specifically rare leaf called the medico tempo. Given the difficulties in procuring this leaf, the Cohiba Behike is always in limited stock. The flavour-profile is described as a smooth leathery smoke with a scent of coffee beans and hints of dried fruit and sweet spice. The Behike is retailed at $450 per cigar and $18,000 per box.
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8. Gurkha His Majesty’s Reserve – $15,000 per box
With less than 75 boxes produced per year and the company cherry-picking whom it goes to, Gurkha His Majesty’s Reserve is one of the most coveted cigars globally. His Majesty Resesrve’s blend features Connecticut maduro wrapper, 18-year-old tobacco leaves, 12-year-old Dominican binder and is infused with Louis XIII Cognac.
It has a playful flavour-profile. An overpowering chocolaty and peppery taste recedes to the background after a few puffs, with floral hints of lemon grass taking over. A hint of spice lingers throughout the entire smoke. The cost of one cigar is $750 and a box is worth $15,000.
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9. King of Denmark – $4,500 per cigar
The King of Denmark possesses a royal warrant, which is a stamp of approval bestowed by the Danish Royal Family. Its blend includes Dominican Olor (a variety of cigar tobacco known for its big leaves) and Nicaraguan tobaccos. It is sold as one cigar in a high-quality wooden box, with a piece of cedar acting as a protective shield for the cigar.
It has touches of opulence, such as a gold foil exterior with Swarovski crystals and a custom band with the buyer’s name. Only 30 cigars are produced each day. As an add-on, one can purchase a 25-karat gold humidor worth $8,500.
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10. Fuente Don Arturo AnniverXario – $7,500 per box
The Arturo Fuente Company released the limited edition AnniverXario line to celebrate its 100th anniversary. These cigars are aged for seven years. They feature wrapper leaves from Chateau de la Fuente and an AF 13 blend filler (mix of Opus, Don Carlos, Hemingway, and 858 tobaccos). It possesses an aroma of raw honey and walnuts. It has punchy sugary flavour notes, with hints of wood and a strong finish of spicy black pepper.
It was initially released with one humidor holding 96 cigars. A single cigar is apparently worth just $60 but the humidor is valued at $1,800.
It is undeniable that the art of making a good cigar is impressive. It demands patience, a keen attention to detail and an elevated taste. Cigar aficionado or not, exploring this skill is certainly insightful.
