Best NASCAR Cigars
A sport that was born out of bootlegging during Prohibition deserves a stiff cigar. Back in the 1920s, scofflaws tuned their cars to go ever faster to outrun the law with loads of illicit booze or moonshine onboard. Even when Prohibition ended in 1933, many in the South continued distilling their own moonshine, as they had for decades, to avoid paying taxes. In 2019, federal excise taxes from alcoholic beverages totaled $10 billion. Today, you need a pretty fast car to get away from the fuzz with that kind of dough at stake. Fortunately, the thrill of escaping when you hit the county line lives on in professional drivers who blast past the checkered finish at speeds over 200 mph in NASCAR races around the country.
NASCAR celebrates our need to go faster with over three hours of roaring engines, peeling rubber, high-performance exhaust, and the occasional, blistering crash. Science and horsepower meet head-on on a banked speedway where endorsements equal big bucks for the top drivers. Racing stock cars is as American as apple pie. Hundreds of thousands of fans pack into sprawling tracks to watch NASCAR’s top races like the Daytona 500, GEICO 500, Coca-Cola 600, and the Southern 500.
Whether you’re tailgating in person or camped out in front of a flat screen in your man cave, NASCAR is best served with a grill full of meat, ice-cold beer, and premium cigars. Hit the gas at the checkout with the top five cigars to fire up during your next NASCAR race.
1. CAO Flathead
You can’t talk about fast cars and cigars without CAO Flathead, the ultimate cigar for gearheads. Following its release in 2015, Flathead scored 95 points and a ‘#3 Cigar of the Year’ ranking in Cigar Aficionado. An oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper encapsulates a robust blend of Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Connecticut long-fillers in a collection of beefy box-pressed shapes. A complex, full-bodied profile of walnuts, cocoa, vanilla, and wood layers the palate with potent taste before a sweet and savory finish kicks in. Smoke it on a full stomach.
2. La Aroma de Cuba
The original La Aroma de Cuba has everything going for it: amazing flavor, consistent quality, and unrivaled value. Award-winning cigar-maker Pepin Garcia blends La Aroma de Cuba from a premium recipe of well-aged Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos under a succulent Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper in several classic shapes. Notes of nuts, brown sugar, earth, and leather meet in a versatile finish you can easily indulge in with a craft beer or bourbon in your hand.
3. San Cristobal Elegancia
Renowned father-and-son cigar-makers Jose ‘Pepin’ Garcia and Jaime Garcia achieve the pinnacle of approachable taste with San Cristobal Elegancia. A golden-blond Ecuador Connecticut wrapper leaf conceals a zesty core of premium Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos in a collection of ultra-popular shapes. Creamy notes of almonds, cashews, cedar, and white pepper converge with plenty of balance before an alluring finale. Fire up this flexible profile with your favorite beer on a hot summer day without the worry it will be too strong.
4. Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne
Perdomo brand founder Nick Perdomo is no stranger to the NASCAR crowd. His Southern roots are a genuine reflection of his patriotism and love for his fellow cigar smokers. His bestselling blend, Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne, is an excellent choice when you’re invested in a race that goes on for hours. A glistening Connecticut-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador covers a well-made interior of premium Nicaraguan long-fillers. Tasting notes of cedar, nuts, and earth entice before a creamy, medium-bodied finish blankets the palate. Because it’s not too strong or too spicy, and it’s tough to put down, you can smoke a bigger shape like the Churchill all afternoon.
5. Macanudo Cafe
If you’re craving a basic, mild cigar with a mellow finish, Macanudo Cafe is your ticket to shangri-la. A silky Connecticut Shade wrapper hugs a sumptuous blend of Dominican and Mexican long-fillers in several classic formats. Tasting notes of cashews, cedar, and coffee with cream exude a touch of signature Dominican spice in every puff. Because Macanudo Cafe is among the easiest-to-find cigars in the world, you should have no problem procuring a box to crack open with an icy cooler full of Bud Light before your favorite car rounds the first lap.
