There’s something beautifully anachronistic about lighting up a premium cigar in 2026. In an era of optimised everything and instant gratification, the ritual of selecting, cutting, toasting, and savouring a fine cigar demands the one thing we’re all supposedly short on: time. And that’s precisely the point.
For the uninitiated, stepping into the world of premium cigars can feel overwhelming. The humidor is lined with names that sound like Spanish nobility, wrappers ranging from Connecticut blonde to maduro black, and price points that make you wonder if you’re paying for tobacco or shares in a tobacco plantation. But certain cigars transcend the hype and the mystique. These are the ones worth experiencing at least once, whether you’re a seasoned aficionado or someone who’s finally ready to understand what all the fuss is about.
Cohiba Behike 56
Let’s address the elephant in the humidor first. The Cohiba Behike 56 is ridiculously expensive. We’re talking several hundred dollars for a single smoke. But if you’re going to try one genuinely elite cigar in your lifetime, this Cuban legend deserves consideration.
Released in 2010 to commemorate Cohiba’s 40th anniversary, the Behike introduced medio tiempo leaves to the blend, a rare tobacco found only in the uppermost part of the shade-grown plant. The result is complexity that unfolds over 90 minutes: leather, coffee, dark chocolate, and a subtle sweetness that never overwhelms. It’s the cigar equivalent of driving a perfectly restored E-Type on an empty coastal road, completely unnecessary but utterly sublime.
Padron 1926 Serie No. 9
If the Behike is the aristocrat, the Padron 1926 Serie is the successful entrepreneur who made his fortune through genuine excellence rather than inherited wealth. This Nicaraguan masterpiece offers world-class quality without the Cuban premium.
The No. 9 torpedo delivers a full-bodied experience with remarkable balance. You get rich cocoa, espresso, and black pepper notes wrapped in a dark, oily maduro that practically glistens in the light. What sets Padron apart is consistency. Every single one smokes beautifully, burns evenly, and delivers exactly what you expect. In a world where premium often means pretentious, Padron just quietly gets on with being exceptional.
Arturo Fuente Opus X
The Dominican Republic’s answer to Cuban prestige, Opus X caused a sensation when it launched in 1995 by proving that world-class wrapper tobacco could be grown outside Cuba. The result is a cigar with a cult following and occasional availability issues that make finding one feel like a minor victory.
The Opus X is powerful but refined, offering layers of cedar, leather, and spice with an underlying sweetness. It’s a cigar that demands your attention and rewards it generously. The wrapper has a reddish hue and texture that feels almost like fine leather, and the construction is flawless. This is the cigar for when you’ve closed the deal, finished the restoration, or simply want to mark an occasion as genuinely significant.
Davidoff Nicaragua
For those who appreciate subtlety and refinement over raw power, the Davidoff Nicaragua represents Swiss precision applied to Nicaraguan tobacco. Everything about Davidoff screams understated luxury, from the pristine white band to the impeccable construction.
The Nicaraguan line offers more body than Davidoff’s traditionally mild offerings while maintaining the brand’s signature elegance. Expect creamy coffee, almonds, and white pepper with a smoothness that makes this an exceptional morning or early afternoon smoke. It’s the cigar equivalent of a perfectly tailored suit, nothing flashy, just impossible to fault.
My Father Le Bijou 1922
Sometimes a cigar delivers such immediate satisfaction that you wonder why you’d bother with anything else. The My Father Le Bijou 1922 is that cigar. It’s bold, it’s flavourful, and it’s absolutely no-nonsense in its approach to excellence.
This Nicaraguan powerhouse delivers pepper, dark chocolate, and espresso in waves, all wrapped in a gorgeous dark wrapper that burns perfectly. The Garcia family knows tobacco, and this blend showcases Nicaraguan leaf at its finest. It’s a cigar that announces itself without apology, perfect for after a proper steak or alongside a well-aged whisky.
Montecristo No. 2
No list of essential cigars would be complete without the Montecristo No. 2, arguably the most iconic cigar shape and blend in the world. This Cuban classic has introduced more people to premium cigars than perhaps any other, and for good reason.
The No. 2’s torpedo shape concentrates the smoke beautifully, delivering the classic Cuban profile: earthy, woody, with hints of coffee and cocoa, all balanced by a natural sweetness. It’s medium-bodied, approachable, yet complex enough to keep experienced smokers engaged. Think of it as the gateway cigar, except it’s also the destination.
The Australian Context
Enjoying premium cigars in Australia comes with its own considerations, primarily the eye-watering tax situation that makes these luxuries even more luxurious. But the flip side is that Australian cigar retailers and lounges tend to maintain exceptional storage conditions, crucial for preserving these investments.
Melbourne and Sydney both offer proper cigar lounges where you can enjoy your smoke in climate-controlled comfort, often paired with a decent whisky selection. The ritual becomes even more deliberate when you’re paying Australian prices, which perhaps isn’t entirely a bad thing.
Making It Count
Here’s the thing about premium cigars: they’re designed to be savoured, not rushed. You’re not smoking to satisfy a craving, you’re engaging in a ritual that dates back centuries. The best cigars deserve your full attention, a proper drink, and ideally, good company or at least good solitude.
Start with one of these classics. Take your time with it. Notice how the flavours develop, how the smoke changes from the first third to the last. And don’t worry about getting it “right”, there’s no wrong way to enjoy a premium cigar, only your way.
The beauty of these particular cigars is that they’re all genuinely worth the experience, whether you end up making them regular indulgences or once-in-a-lifetime treats. They represent the pinnacle of what tobacco can be when grown with care, blended with expertise, and rolled with skill.
In a world that increasingly values speed and efficiency, taking 90 minutes to do nothing but smoke a cigar feels almost subversive. That’s exactly why it’s worth doing, at least once.
