One of the trends I have been personally following is “cigar style” bourbons and whiskeys.I have been doing research on different tobacco blends in cigars and how they compare to various bourbons. If you’ve spent any time looking at new bourbon and whiskey releases lately, you’ve probably noticed the words Cigar Blend, Cigar Batch, or Cigar Cut appearing on more labels. But what exactly does Cigar Blend mean? I have tried to do a deeper dive on this very subject.
Here’s the first thing you need to know: Cigar Blend is not an official category of American whiskey. Unlike terms such as Straight Bourbon or Bottled-in-Bond, there are no federal standards that define what a producer must do before putting “Cigar Blend” on a whiskey label. So why are we seeing so many of them?
Where Did Cigar Blend Whiskey Come From?
The concept is fairly simple. A Cigar Blend whiskey is generally created with enough richness, body and flavor to complement a cigar without being overwhelmed by it. The idea isn’t entirely new. Scotch whisky producers experimented with richer “cigar malt” expressions long before the term became popular in American whiskey.
One of the most important bottles in establishing the modern American interpretation was Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon, introduced in 2016. The brand now calls Holland Michigan home since 2020. It is based in the Craftco Distillery and Social House which used to be known as Coppercraft prior to 2025.
Created by master blender Nancy Fraley, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend combined mature bourbon with Armagnac, Cognac and Sherry cask finishing. The result helped establish what many whiskey drinkers now associate with Cigar Blend Bourbon: bold flavor, dark fruit, spice, oak and a heavier mouthfeel. I remember being able to sample this bottle before it ever hit the marketplace. It was groundbreaking. Other producers soon began developing their own interpretations.
What Makes a Bourbon a Cigar Blend?
That’s where things become interesting because there isn’t one recipe. Many producers use secondary barrel finishing. Sherry, Cognac, Armagnac, Port and Rum barrels can introduce dark fruit, sweetness and spice. Others rely on blending different ages, mash bills or types of whiskey.
Higher proof is also common, although certainly not required. More important to me is the mouthfeel. If a whiskey is intended to accompany a cigar, it needs enough richness and staying power that the flavors don’t simply disappear. And some producers take an entirely different approach.
One of my personal favorites is Buzzard’s Roost Double Oak Cigar Blend Bourbon, bottled at 105 proof. Instead of relying on wine or brandy barrels, Buzzard’s Roost uses additional oak maturation to build its flavor profile.
That bottle also happens to be the whiskey I sample in my latest Bourbonfool video. The video can easily be listened to as if it was a podcast.
Cigar Blend, Cigar Batch and Cigar Cut
Today you’ll find several variations of the idea. Joseph Magnus uses Cigar Blend. Other producers have used Cigar Batch. Old Elk calls its version Cigar Cut.
You’ll also find cigar-style releases from producers including RY3, Barrell Craft Spirits and a growing number of others. Don’t get too hung up on the terminology because none of these names creates a legally defined whiskey category. Instead, look at what’s inside the bottle.
What whiskey was used? How old is it? What’s the proof? Was it finished in another barrel? Was it double-oaked? What was the blender trying to accomplish?
Is Cigar Blend Bourbon Just Marketing?
That’s the question I find most interesting. I think the answer can be yes and no.
Some Cigar Blend whiskeys represent very thoughtful blending and finishing. They deliver exactly what the name suggests: a rich, complex whiskey designed to stand up alongside a cigar.But because there are no official standards, Cigar Blend can also become another marketing phrase. Ultimately, the words on the label aren’t enough.
The whiskey still has to prove it.
In my latest Bourbonfool video, I take a closer look at where Cigar Blend whiskey came from, what the terminology really means, and several different approaches producers are taking today.I also pour and sample one of my favorites, Buzzard’s Roost Double Oak Cigar Blend Bourbon.
[WATCH THE VIDEO: WHAT IS CIGAR BLEND WHISKEY?]
If you’ve tried a Cigar Blend, Cigar Batch or Cigar Cut whiskey, leave a comment on the video and let me know which bottle you think does it best. Also, please comment whether you enjoy informative content like this and the accompanying video. Cheers!