Not too long ago, Costa Rica was persona non grata in the premium cigar market. But now? It's synonymous with luxury cigars and a lot of that credit goes to one factory, Tabacos de Costa Rica, and one man, Nelson Alfonso. 

There are a lot of great cigars coming out of Costa Rica, but I think we safely say that these three names are among the very best as of 2026. But don't take my word for it – we also have a sampler available so that you can see for yourself. Let's begin!

Alfonso Añejos

Named after the man himself, the creator of international sensations like Atabey, Byron, Atabey Black, and Bandolero Premium, is the Alfonso Añejos! The entire series from Selected Tobaccos is worth exploring, but the Añejos is SO unique that you really have to try it to understand it. What makes this cigar exciting is that it was among the very first to introduce French oak to the aging process instead of just the traditional cedar wood.

Cedar was also used, mostly even, with different varietals for a total of FIVE years of aging before they hit are imported to the U.S. Nelson Alfonso is known as the leading authority in the world on aging cigars, and I love sharing this blend with people because you can taste his legacy. This cigar is the woodiest experience I can think of, with palpable, chewy cedar sensations that again – you just have to try to fully appreciate it. Nothing I say can really do it justice.

Lampert Oro Series

The Oro Series consists of Lampert's Costa Rican blends such as The Gatsby, Don Patron, Kingpin, and El Gringo. They're known for combining an Ecuadorian wrapper over Dominican and Peruvian filler leaves, creating something that is both gentle and naturally sweet, otherwise known as exceptional first cigars of the day.

And each size is a slightly tweaked blend for a different experience across the board.

Sadly, I'm pretty sure El Gringo – the Robusto expression – was recently discontinued but we still have some in stock and it's still part of the Costa Rica Boutique Sampler.

These are creamy, woody, nutty, and way too sophisticated for the price point. No conversation about cigars coming out of Costa Rica would be complete without talking about Lampert and the Oro series.

LH Aniversario

We've talked a lot about Tabacos de Costa Rica – every single cigar we've mentioned in this series hails from this factory – and Nick Syris of LH Cigars is a co-owner of this factory. So it should be no surprise that we're wrapping up our Best Cigars from Costa Rica series with the one and only Nicholas Syris and his brand, LH Cigars.

Nick got his start blending for royalty the world over. His preference was Cuban tobacco for decades, and everyone wanted him to blend them a cigar. His blends became so popular that he opened up several lounges across the Middle East called La Vida Habana – and that's where the LH comes from in LH Cigars.

Now, The entire LH portfolio is great. But our best-selling blend happens to be his Aniversario which came out at the tail end of 2024. This is Nick's elegy to the legendary Cohiba Siglo VI and, to be honest, I didn't quite see it when it first came out. It was a fine cigar, but it wasn't until last summer that it really began to hit its stride and take me on a flavor rollercoaster that I couldn't ignore.

Now, this blend is a legend in it's own right with delicate coffee sensations and chocolatey nuances that I just can't get enough of. It is limited edition, and I'll be sad to see it go when they're all gone, but this is what a limited edition should be. Captivating, mesmerizing, and haunting.

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