A Decade of Maker's Mark Cigars

Though Maker's Mark has been making high-quality bourbon whiskey for over a half century, only within the last decade did the company move into the tobacco market with the introduction of bourbon-seasoned cigars. Produced by Emprise Cigars in Louisville, Kentucky, about miles from the distillery in Loretto, Emprise has also made flavored sticks for Courvoisier cognac, and special cigars for both the Indianapolis 500 and Kentucky Derby, "without compromising the integrity of the tobacco," according to the manufacturer.

In the case of Maker's Mark cigars, each stick is made of long-leaf Cuban seed tobacco grown in the Dominican Republic and hand-rolled into one of two shapes: a larger "robusto," with a ring gauge of 50, and a second shape with a ring gauge of 38, slightly smaller than a standard "petit corona." A ring gauge measures the circumference of a cigar, a factor which can influence taste. For instance, because the tobacco wrapper is often spicier than the filler tobacco, a stick with a smaller ring gauge (and thus a lower ratio of filler to wrapper tobacco) will be somewhat spicier than a larger cigar. A robusto shape and ring gauge lend a certain mellowness to these cigars, which, in a way, excellently complements the bold flavors of most whiskeys to be drank in unison.

Concerning taste, Maker's Mark cigars are imbued with a very unique characteristic that cannot be replicated by other companies: the taste of tobacco seasoned to perfection with American bourbon whiskey distilled in Loretto, Kentucky, where Maker's has been in business since 1953. Also characteristic of the cigars is their packaging, which includes a glass tube dipped in a red seal wax, akin to how Maker's Mark finishes each bottle before shipping. Both cigars are about five inches long, which will take some time to smoke, but not burn out too soon nor take an hour or more to fully enjoy. Ironically, the cigars are imbued with bourbon taste through a process that never actually brings the tobacco into contact with spirits. The aroma and flavor of bourbon are still very present, however, in addition to hints of cedar, citrus, and honey.

Maker's Mark bourbon-seasoned cigars are available in three types of packaging, including single glass tubes, sets of three, or a box of twenty-five sticks. Individual cigars range in price from $6 - $10, while a pack of three will cost about $25, and an entire box $150. Almost every online retailer of cigars will carry Maker's Mark sticks by the box, and it would be unusual for many American tobacco stores to not have at least a few in stock.

Now in the tenth year of cigar production, Maker's Mark bourbon-seasoned cigars have become known as sticks of unique taste and constant quality. Whiskey lovers will be sure to enjoy with a glass of Kentucky bourbon, and cigar aficionados or the simply-curious may be quite pleased as well; as Maker's has now been in production for more than half a century, lovers of both fine bourbon and fine cigars can look forward to the pair being present at the company's centennial celebration in 2053.