What We Actually Smoke: Everyday Cigars from the Table at A Life Well Lit
There’s no shortage of cigar content out there.
Plenty of it written by guys who light up once a quarter and write like they’re filling out a tasting scorecard for the Davidoff Olympics.
That’s not this.
This is what the crew at A Life Well Lit—the Table—actually smokes. Weekly. Nightly. With a pour, after a meeting, in the car, or right before the second pour.
These aren’t museum pieces. They’re real-world sticks—quality-forward, price-conscious, and deeply vetted. They’re the cigars we recommend, restock, and reach for the most.
🥇 Padron Anniversary 1964 Exclusivo & Diplomatico
If you know, you know. If you don’t—you will.
This is the standard-bearer. Full-bodied, box-pressed, creamy cocoa and toasted earth. The Exclusivo is the daily hitter. The Diplomatico is when the night’s running long and you want every pull to matter.
Get it at: Almost any premium tobacconist. They’re never cheap. They’re never wrong.
🔥 Oliva Serie V Churchill
Dark, oily, Nicaraguan wrapper. A strong pull and a long burn. This one pairs with coffee, bourbon, conversation—or silence. Rich leather and spice, but smooth as hell.
This is the cigar you light when you’re planning something bold.
Find it at: Most serious lounges and big online retailers. Always in stock.
🐜 Fuente Hemingway Short Story
Small. Iconic. Wildly consistent. This is the cigar equivalent of a well-cut black T-shirt. It goes with anything, lasts just long enough, and hits above its weight class every single time.
Perfect first smoke. Perfect break smoke. Perfect last smoke.
Get it: When you see it. These vanish like good tequila at a wedding.
🏠 Casa Carrillo New Wave Connecticut
Don’t sleep on this mild beauty. Creamy, clean, low-spice and high aroma. This is the cigar you hand someone who “doesn’t smoke often” but wants to hang. Also ideal for coffee pairings and Sunday mornings that feel like a silk robe.
Found at: Specialty shops, and a few well-stocked websites that actually know what they’re doing.
💣 Rocky Patel San Andreas
Bold. Dark. Peppery. Earthy. With enough sweet cocoa and cedar to keep things smooth. This is for guys who like their cigars like their arguments—strong, but reasoned.
Box-worthy. And at this price? Buy two.
Available through: Most major online retailers.
🥃 Perdomo 20th Anniversary Epicure
Grown-up flavor without grown-up markup. Medium to full-bodied with notes of roasted coffee, cedar, and a slow-burn strength that never overplays its hand.
This is the cigar version of a “third pour and still in control” moment.
Grab it at: Reputable lounges or online deals from the source.
🌺 My Father La Flor de Las Antillas
This cigar is as close as you get to “best kept secret” that isn’t actually a secret anymore. Floral up front, creamy and bold on the finish, with a beautiful Cuban-style box press.
This one made a lot of us believers in Nicaraguan blends.
Pick it up from: Most high-end retailers—online and brick-and-mortar.
🕶️ Tatuaje Unicos
Cool without trying. Strong but not aggressive. The Unicos is classic boutique energy—spicy, sweet, perfectly rolled, and never disappointing.
You light one of these when you’re not in a rush.
Buy from: Tatuaje dealers or your guy behind the counter who keeps them tucked away.
🇨🇺 Jorge Casamiro Habano
This one’s underground. Small-batch, shop-specific. If you know someone who knows someone, get on that list. It’s rich, balanced, and pairs with almost anything.
Available: At the right shops. Maybe. Ask nicely.
🏛️ Ashton Classic Churchill
The definition of clean. Mild to medium, creamy as hell, with subtle almond and spice notes. It’s a classic for a reason—this cigar makes a great first impression and a better finish.
This is what you hand someone when the evening requires something respectful.
Easy to find: At most premium shops. Buy the Churchill. Trust us.
🔥 Final Word: Buy What You’ll Actually Smoke
You don’t have to break the bank to build a solid rotation.
These cigars are trusted by the Table not because they’re trendy—but because they’re tested. Repeatedly. In real life, with real conversation, and real bourbon.
Keep a few on hand. Pass one to a friend. Light it with presence.
And when in doubt? Ask your local guy. Or just pull up a chair with us. We’ll tell you what’s worth lighting.