Cigar Gifts For An Effortless Gent: 9 Of The Best Gift Ideas for Cigar Aficionados

If you’re looking for a gift for the cigar aficionado in your life — or hey, even for yourself — then check out our ideas for the best cigar gifts below (these are our top picks!)

You know what might be the most rewarding part of smoking cigars as a hobby? The variety. From the dozens of notable producers, to hundreds of signature smokes, to specialized tools and equipment, there’s always something new to explore.

So when we decided to put together this guide to the best gifts for cigar lovers, we looked high and low for the most unique cigar gifts. But we also looked for ones that would please any smoker, from total novice to experienced aficionado.

The Cigar Gifts On Our List

Chosen with cigar smokers of every level in mind, we’re happy to present the sticks and accessories on our wish list.

1. A Cigar Sampler Set

If you’re looking for gifts for cigar aficionados or beginners, you can’t go wrong with any sampler set of cigars. One of our favorites is from Oliva, the famous Nicaraguan producer of top-quality tobacco from Cuban seeds. 

Featuring two of their cult classic Serie G cigars, two full-bodied Serie O, a single of their high-end Serie V, and the rich and heavy Connecticut Robusto, this sampler set really covers the full spectrum of cigar smoking preferences.

For seasoned smokers, it’s an awesome introduction to a well-respected producer; beginners will appreciate the opportunity to try such a wide variety of styles.

Check out the Oliva 6 Cigar Variety Sampler here.

You may also enjoy our article on the best cigars under $10.

2. The Best Zippo for Cigars

Zippo lighters are iconic: Clean lines, that smooth flick-open action, and a classic design that’s barely changed in decades. The only problem? For cigar smokers, they’re just not as effective at getting an even burn as a torch lighter.

But there’s a clever solution that not many cigar smokers know about: Zippo makes butane lighter inserts.

Yup, these inserts can convert the humble classic into a perfect torch for lighting cigars.

This gift really gives the best of both worlds: The refined aesthetic of a classic Zippo, and the performance of modern torch lighters.

For the Zippo lighter itself, check here; the inserts for conversion to a butane torch lighter can be purchased separately, here.

3. An Ashtray Built for Cigars

Any cigar will smoke at its best only if it’s left to burn evenly in between puffs. The longer you can leave the ash cap on, the smoother and more flavorful the smoke will become.

The kind of ashtrays you’re most likely to find, though, are really only meant for cigarettes — not cigars. And short of holding onto your cigar the entire time you’re smoking it, you’ll be out of luck for trying to lay it on just any flat surface.

That’s why we’re advocates of every cigar smoker having an ashtray built specifically for their hobby. Cigar ashtrays allow you to balance your smoke. How? By including wide notches on the side of a shallower tray with a wider rim. You can say goodbye to fear of it getting ground out or knocked onto the ground.

We’re thinking a heavy hardwood ashtray like the one pictured above will make for the nicest gift you could imagine. It’s made of solid walnut and weighs over a pound, and looks great on a patio table.

4. The Coolest Cigar Notebook We’ve Found

We got turned on to 33 Books Co.’s super cool, kinda nerdy notebooks while living in Portland, Oregon. I’ve since become devoted fans of their journals.

The company is a one-man operation that focuses on making the best, most useful tasting notebooks for everything from scotch to cheese to sake — and yes, cigars too!

Every page of their “33 Cigars” tasting notebook includes fields for the cigar’s name, producer, ring size, and more. Our favorite part, though? The unique visual aid: The cigar flavor wheel.

Dark fruit, vanilla, oily, and earthy make up just a portion of the different categories that this wonderful little notebook will prompt you to think about it.

5. A Cigar Magazine Subscription

Do you still enjoy getting magazine subscriptions? We sure do. And we think most cigar smokers, appreciative of fine goods, will enjoy their monthly deliveries as well.

Of course you could go for online-only subscriptions. But it’s kind of the same thing as reading all of your books on a Kindle. Could you? Sure. But do you really want to?

In many ways, Cigar Aficionado is the voice of the fine tobacco industry. And while you’ll find tons of cigar-specific information in a subscription to it, Aficionado goes out of its way to include lifestyle advice and articles that fit in perfectly with that of the Effortless Gent.

6. Villiger Leather Travel Case

Not only does Villeger serve up some rich Cuban tobacco, but they’ve got some pretty classy merch too. This leather travel case can fit up to five cigars and has pockets to keep cutters or mini lighters.

I like that it’s like a more structured toiletry bag, so that it can sit flat on its back or front. Not only does this help with the storage factor, but the presentation situation too.

Imagine heading to cigar night with the guys and pulling this out and putting it on the table. It’s just so sophisticated. And speaking of, the Villiger logo is beautifully embossed on the front.

7. The Ultimate Cigar Book

While you might want to save Assouline’s The Impossible Collection of Cigars for once-in-a-lifetime milestones, The Ultimate Cigar Book is a reasonable and impressive present for any gifting occasion.

This classic is now in its fourth edition, and explores not only the how-tos of cigar smoking, but lifts the curtain on the cigar-making process—from the hand-made to the machine-made.

Beyond that, there’s a whole history in there, written less like a textbook and more like a readable fun facts sheet, and an exploration of cigar accessory innovations.

And with any coffee table book, this guy is as informational enough to sit in your bookshelf, and beautifully-bound enough to be a design object.

8. Military Glass Top Cigar Humidor

As its name suggests, the Military Glass Top Cigar Humidor treats your cigars with the respect and protection given to highly classified military documents (except you get to look at them in a stylish presentation showcase).

A good humidor can keep the flavor of your cigars intact for up to five years.

With this unit, the sliding storage trays are super user-friendly, while the humidity measurer is digitally controlled. Moreover, the rubber stoppers are like an O-ring gasket of a dive watch, keeping the entire facility airtight.

Plus, the Spanish cedar inlay and polished gunmetal accents provide protective practicality and a handsome aesthetic.

9. Xikar Envoy Single Leather Cigar Case

For quicker commutes, or in-case-of-impromptu-celebration situations, the Xikar Single Cigar Case is a reliable solution for just one great cigar.

The interior is made out of Spanish cedar, just like a good humidor is, which keeps that tobacco fresh and potent. It’s built with a telescope structure, which provides easy action, while the metal caps ensure the roll doesn’t get flattened and ruined inside your bag or pocket.

And finally, it’s pretty darn attractive, with its leather exterior and always fun contrast stitching.

Parting Thoughts: Choosing the Best Cigar Gifts

Between the nine gift ideas presented above, we think you’ll be able to find at least one perfect gift for the cigar lover in your life.

And hey, if one of the items really caught your attention, all the better. The more fine cigars you have to smoke, the more you’ll have to share.

Feature Photo by Jon Tyson