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There are quarterbacks who celebrate with a fist pump. Some point to the sky. Joe Burrow sits down, crosses his legs, and lights a cigar. It started as a viral photo after a national championship. It became a tradition. And somewhere along the way, it turned Joe Burrow into the most recognizable cigar smoker in American sports since Michael Jordan. This is the full story behind the Joe Burrow cigar tradition, what he actually smokes, and what to buy if you want to celebrate the same way.
How It Started: LSU National Championship, 2019
The cigar tradition began on January 13, 2020, in the Superdome in New Orleans. LSU had just beaten Clemson 42-25 to win the national championship, capping off one of the most dominant seasons in college football history. Burrow had won the Heisman Trophy, broken every passing record in the SEC, and delivered a performance that announced to the country exactly who Joe Burrow was. Then he sat down on a couch in the locker room, in full uniform, crossed his legs, and started smoking a cigar. The cigars came courtesy of KJ Malone, an intern on LSU’s strength staff and son of NBA legend Karl Malone, who has his own line of cigars made by La Aurora in the Dominican Republic. KJ brought 150 cigars stuffed in plastic bags, but forgot one small detail: no cutters and no lighters. So Burrow bit the cap off and borrowed a lighter from Superdome staff. Problem solved.
The Part Where He Almost Got Arrested
Here’s where the story gets better. The Superdome is a non-smoking facility. While the victorious LSU team was celebrating in the locker room, Burrow and several other players lit up anyway. When police showed up to address the situation, Burrow later recounted on the Full Send Podcast: “We were going to smoke all the cigars in the locker room. We started smoking them, and the cops come in. I guess you’re not allowed to smoke inside or whatever, and they started trying to arrest people. We’re like, what’s going on? Come on.” No LSU players were actually arrested. Some put out their cigars. Burrow, by most accounts, kept right on puffing. That photo, Burrow in full uniform, relaxed on a locker room couch with a cigar, went viral overnight. The image of complete calm in the middle of celebration defined the “Joe Cool” identity that would follow him into the NFL.
The Photo That Started It All Goes Back Even Further
Burrow’s cigar story actually goes back further than LSU. His father, Jimmy Burrow, revealed a never-before-seen photo of a 7-year-old Joe standing with a basketball under one foot and an unlit cigar in his hand. The picture was a recreation of one from Jimmy’s own childhood, where he posed for the local paper, cigar lit. According to his brother Dan Burrow: “It cracks me up that Joe is known for smoking cigars. I’ve never known him to be a cigar guy.” That’s part of what makes the whole thing compelling. The victory cigar isn’t a lifestyle habit for Burrow. It’s a ritual. A marker of something earned. Which is exactly what a cigar should be.
The Tradition Moves to the NFL
Burrow carried the tradition into his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals. When the Bengals won the AFC North, Burrow passed out victory cigars to his teammates before lighting one up himself, leading the celebration as back-to-back division champions. Burrow’s backup Brandon Allen told the Cincinnati Enquirer: “That’s who Joe Burrow is. A cigar-smoking winner.” The Bengals locker room celebration became a recurring event. Every significant win brought another cigar photo. Every cigar photo went viral. Fans started showing up at games with cigars ready in their pockets, waiting for the final whistle.
What Cigars Does Joe Burrow Smoke?
This is the question cigar shop owners across Cincinnati have been answering for years. After the Bengals clinched the AFC North, Burrow chose a La Flor Dominicana Mysterio cigar. That cigar reportedly flew off the shelves in local Cincinnati shops once it became known as Burrow’s preferred smoke. In another celebration, Burrow was seen puffing what appeared to be a Cohiba Edicion Limitada, although the precise identity was difficult to make out and Burrow declined to comment publicly. The pattern is consistent: Burrow reaches for premium cigars, typically in the Churchill or larger size range, that match the size of the moment. He’s not lighting a budget stick to celebrate a playoff win.
The Cigars Joe Burrow Smokes: What to Buy
If you want to smoke what Joe Cool smokes, here are the cigars associated with his celebrations:
La Flor Dominicana Mysterio This is the most confirmed Burrow cigar. He smoked it after the AFC North clincher and it sold out across Cincinnati within days. It’s a medium to full-bodied cigar with a Dominican wrapper, notes of dark chocolate, cedar, and a spice finish. Priced around $20, it’s an accessible premium cigar that punches well above its price point. Available at Famous Smoke Shop and Cigars International.
Karl Malone La Aurora The cigar that started everything. La Aurora is one of the oldest cigar producers in the Dominican Republic and Karl Malone’s line is a smooth, medium-bodied smoke. If you want to connect directly to the LSU national championship moment, this is the one. Available at most premium cigar retailers including Famous Smoke Shop.
Cohiba Edicion Limitada The premium end of Burrow’s rotation. Cohiba’s limited editions are some of the most coveted cigars produced, typically full-bodied with complex flavor profiles built for experienced smokers. Not a beginner cigar. If you’re new to cigars, start with our best cigars for beginners list and work your way up to something in this category over time.
The Joe Burrow Effect on Cigar Culture
The numbers don’t lie. Every time Burrow appears on camera with a cigar, cigar shops report spikes in sales. The La Flor Dominicana Mysterio effect was documented across multiple Ohio retailers. Fans buying cigars to celebrate alongside their quarterback, many of them first-time cigar smokers. Ryan Bohl, manager at The Wharf tobacco shop in Beavercreek, told local media: “It’s a lot of guys that enjoy what they enjoy and they’ll get a nicer version of it to celebrate, or they want something that they saw Burrow smoking specifically. Like they want that cigar.” Burrow has done something genuinely rare in sports. He’s made cigars relevant to a younger demographic that wasn’t traditionally part of the cigar market. Twenty-something football fans who had never thought about cigars are now asking shop owners about Connecticut wrappers and ring gauges because their quarterback made it look cool. That’s significant for the industry. And it’s a reminder of what cigars have always represented at their best: a moment worth marking.
How to Set Up Your Own Victory Cigar Moment
You don’t need to win a national championship to justify a good cigar. But if you’re watching the Bengals, the playoffs, or any game worth celebrating, here’s how to do it properly. Pick a cigar that matches the occasion. A regular season win calls for something solid but not over the top. A playoff win or championship moment is when you reach for the La Flor Dominicana Mysterio or something in that tier. Have the right tools ready before the game ends. A guillotine cutter and a butane torch lighter. Don’t be scrambling for a lighter in the celebration window. Our guide on how to smoke a cigar covers everything you need to know before you light up. Pour something worth drinking alongside it. Burrow’s cigar moments always seem to involve a locker room atmosphere of pure earned celebration. Recreate that at home with a bourbon or aged rum that complements the cigar. For specific pairing recommendations, Cigar Aficionado has an extensive pairing guide worth reading. And if you’re smoking with a group, do what Burrow does: pass the cigars out first, then light your own. That’s leadership with a touch of smoke.
Our Verdict
Joe Burrow didn’t set out to become the face of cigar culture. It happened because of one viral photo at LSU, a personality that matched the image, and a willingness to keep the tradition going every time something worth celebrating happened. The La Flor Dominicana Mysterio is the cigar most associated with his celebrations and it’s worth smoking regardless of the occasion. Medium to full-bodied, well-constructed, priced at a point that doesn’t require a Super Bowl win to justify. Buy one. Find something worth celebrating. Light it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cigar does Joe Burrow smoke?
The most documented Burrow cigar is the La Flor Dominicana Mysterio, which he smoked after an AFC North championship win and which sold out across Cincinnati shops shortly after. He has also been seen smoking what appeared to be a Cohiba Edicion Limitada during other celebrations. His first cigar, at the LSU national championship, was a Karl Malone La Aurora brought to the locker room by KJ Malone, Karl’s son.
When did Joe Burrow start the cigar tradition?
The tradition started on January 13, 2020, when Burrow lit a cigar in the LSU locker room after the Tigers beat Clemson to win the national championship. The photo of Burrow in full uniform, relaxed on a locker room couch with a cigar, went viral and established the “Joe Cool” identity that has followed him since.
Did Joe Burrow almost get arrested for smoking a cigar?
Yes. The Superdome in New Orleans, where LSU celebrated the 2020 national championship, is a non-smoking facility. Police entered the locker room while players were smoking cigars and attempted to remove them. No arrests were made, but Burrow has told the story publicly on the Full Send Podcast.
Where can I buy the La Flor Dominicana Mysterio?
The LFD Mysterio is available at most premium cigar retailers. Famous Smoke Shop and Cigars International both carry it regularly.
Is the La Flor Dominicana Mysterio a good cigar for beginners?
It’s medium to full-bodied, which puts it outside the ideal beginner range. If you’re new to cigars and want to work toward it, start with our best cigars for beginners list and build up to the Mysterio over time.
How does Joe Burrow hold his cigar?
Between his thumb and index finger, which is the correct way to hold a cigar. Not between the index and middle finger like a cigarette. It’s a small detail but it contributes to the effortlessly composed image that defines his celebrations.
What is a victory cigar?
A victory cigar is a cigar smoked to mark a significant achievement or win. The tradition has deep roots in sports culture, most famously associated with Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach, who would light a cigar on the bench when a Celtics victory was secured. Joe Burrow has revived and modernized the tradition for a new generation of sports fans.
What should I drink with a victory cigar?
Bourbon is the classic pairing for a celebration cigar, particularly something with caramel and vanilla notes that complement the tobacco. Aged rum works equally well. For more specific pairing recommendations, Cigar Aficionado has detailed pairing guides covering every flavor profile.
New to cigars and not sure where to start? Read our guide on how to smoke a cigar before you light up – it covers every step from cutting to knowing when to stop.
