Following on from the Cigar Myths BLOG post - lets dig into those extremely pricey cigars and cigar accessories.
Cigars - The World's Most Expensive
#1 Gurkha Royal Courtesan / US$1.36m per cigar
Every cigar is infused with exclusive Himalayan tobacco that has been cultivated using Fiji water, thereby producing a truly unique flavour; packaging has gold leaf with five-carat diamonds on the cigar band and the cigars are infused with Remy Martin's Black Pearl Louis XIII valued at around US$224,000 per bottle... the cigars are also supposably rolled blindfolded to avoid distractions...
#2 Mayan Sicar / US$507,000 per cigar
The most expensive cigar purchased is considered to be the Mayan Sicar; it cost US$507,000 at auction and is a 600 year old cigar. Found in 2012 in a village in Guatemala (we're not in Guatemala now Dr. Ropata) they were well preserved and smokeable. The cigars are considered to have originated from the Mayan civilisation circa 12th century.
#3 Gran Habano Corojo #5 El Gigante / US$185,000 per cigar
This is the world's biggest cigar ever created and was never intended to be sold, but a cigar aficionado offered US$185,000 and well, the rest is history.
Ring gauge: 1,920 (1/64th of an inch)
Tobacco weight: 1,600 pounds (725.75kg)
Length: 19 feet (5.79 metres)
Width: 3 feet (0.9144 metres)
Equivalent number of cigars: Approx. 25,000
Imagine paying the excise duty on that sucker, in 2024 it would be NZ$1,130,000
#4 Regius Double Corona US$51,634.20 per cigar
Now this one is a bit of a stretch, the cigar might be US$51k each but it includes an exclusive trip the brand's HQ in Nicaragua and Regius's CEO Akhil Kapacee will take you on a guided tour inside the factory as well as 1,000 customised rolls of your own (does that mean 1,000 cigars?)... I doubt he's sold any...
#5 Royal Danish King of Denmark US$4,500 per cigar
This is more art than cigar in my books - but it is still exceptional; a 24kt gold & Swarovski cigar that celebrates King Frederick VI of Denmark granting permission to the first cigar roller in Copenhagen in 1813.
There's a lack of information about the actual cigar itself however.
Davidoff Oro Blanco US$500 per cigar
This is more in the realms of readily available and possibly affordable to someone who might've won lotto - a worthy mention nonetheless for something that is in regular production, widely available and also rates well.
Note: Then there are collectable cigars, say Cuban cigars made prior to the revolution (Davidoff Chateau's) and the like; unlike other luxury items there isn't a huge "collectors" market where they just keep going up and up in price.
This probably has something to do with the fact that aging doesn't neccassarily make them all that much better and also the fact that new cigars (well made new cigars) are exceptional.
( as they're not actually a smokeable cigar I figure I can include this )
NFT Cigars
United Cigars (2 Guys Smoke Shop / The Cigar Authority) were the first to launch a NFT Cigar (April 2021) - the Atabey Black Ritos, 11 "boxes" produced; 10 of which were sold as individual boxes (US$1,200) and the 11th "box" was divided up into 25 single cigars.
And in another industry first for United Cigars & Selected Tobaccos, in 2023 the Atabey Black Ritos cigars began shipping to NFT owners and United Cigar lounges in the USA. Only 5,000 cigars were produced.
In August 2022 La Flor Dominicana released The Golden NFT as single 6 1/4" by 41 lonsdale versions of the Andalusian Bull Toritos. Seven were sold for a total value of US$614,779.
The project gave NFT owners a custom humidor and the ability to purchase up to 70 exclusive cigars per month; the first shipment were released in November 2022. From what I can see NFT owners can buy The Golden NFT cigars for US$15 and retailers are charging US$200 per stick (good way to recover the money you spent on the NFT).
Then in 2023 (late for the party), Tatuaje and Smoke Inn announced the launch of the Tatuaje Anarchy NFT project at US$100 per cigar or US$1,350 per box of 15.
Note: NFT for those that don't know means non-fungible token (NFT) and they are mostly unique digital art where the blockchain ledger is used to verify ownership.
Unfortunately I cannot seem to find what any of the Cigar NFTs are actually worth today...
Cigar Accessories - The World's Most Expensive
Now things go a little crazy - El Septimo debuted in 2023 a trio of ashtrays worth US$10m EACH (that's not a typo!). This was after their 2022 debut of a trio of lighters worth US$5.5m each!
The El Septimo Masterpiece Ashtrays weigh around 8kg each and contain 400-500 carats of precious stones and about 2kg of gold). They were created in Italy.
The 2022 El Septimo Table Lighters (US$5.5m each) are encrusted with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. They're between 6" to 8" tall and covered in 24kt gold (naturally).
Also from the El Septimo the limited edition Emperor Collection humidor that houses 20 of the Emperor Collection Napoleon Royal Salomon cigars and the Emperor Collection Pen that is covered in 24kt gold and designed by the French artist Michel Audiard.
Special Mention - Habanos Cabinets
For all the years I've been in the cigar industry and followed HalfWheel and Cigar Aficionado magazine I've always been amazed at the annual Festival del Habano' and their amazing cabinets - many of which of have set record prices over the years.
