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There are cigar brands that have been around for a hundred years and earn their reputation through decades of consistency. Then there are brands that arrive fast, spend big on presentation, and make you wonder whether the cigar inside the ornate box actually delivers. El Septimo sits in a complicated middle ground. The brand is genuinely premium in construction and aging. The collections are thoughtfully conceived. The price tag is real. And the actual smoking experience depends almost entirely on which collection you choose and which vitola you pick within it. Here’s an honest breakdown of everything worth knowing before you spend $20 to $50 on a single stick.
What Is El Septimo?
El Septimo Geneva is one of the world’s fastest-growing ultra-premium cigar companies, redefining the cigar industry through innovation, precision, and uncompromising quality. Since its acquisition in 2020 by entrepreneur Zaya Younan, the company has experienced extraordinary global expansion and today operates in over 50 countries and more than 2,054 cities worldwide, making it one of the most widely distributed luxury cigar brands in the world. El Septimo offers a portfolio of over 60 distinct cigar blends, and in just a few short years has introduced more than 40 new cigars, each developed with a level of creativity and technical precision unmatched in the industry. The cigars are produced in Costa Rica, which is an uncommon origin for premium cigars compared to the Nicaraguan and Dominican factories that dominate the market. That’s not a negative. Costa Rica has a capable tobacco industry and El Septimo uses aged, high-elevation tobaccos that set their blends apart from what most brands offer. The brand is known as much for its presentation as its tobacco. Ornate packaging, gold bands, collections inspired by Renaissance artists and historical figures. At the PCA Trade Show, El Septimo is known for luxury accessories that include items like a Fabergé Egg Cigar Humidor valued at $25 million and a $10 million Masterpiece Ashtray Napoleon. That context matters. El Septimo is selling a lifestyle alongside the tobacco, and that affects how you should evaluate the price. Holt's Clubhouse + 2
The Collections
El Septimo organizes its lineup into distinct collections, each with its own concept, blends, and price tier.
Sacred Arts Collection
Released in 2021, the El Septimo Sacred Arts Collection is a seven-cigar line inspired by some of Western civilization’s greatest painters and their iconic masterpieces. Each vitola represents the biblical story of the seven days of creation and is dedicated to a famous painter and one of their famous works. Each vitola of El Septimo’s Sacred Arts Collection features a different blend and is produced at El Septimo’s factory in Costa Rica. The individual cigars in the collection: Da Vinci (7.5 x 40) – a long and elegant lancero that offers a refined smoking experience with an intricate balance of earth, spice, and gentle sweetness. Michelangelo (5.5 x 50) – a classic robusto size delivering creamy cedar, roasted nuts, and subtle spice. Rembrandt (7 x 54) – dark, bold, and dramatic with notes of cocoa, spice, and earth. Salvador Dali (7.5 x 54) – beginning with sweet coffee notes, transitioning to cherry and finishing with a medium-bodied bready sweetness and hints of vanilla. Van Gogh (9 x 56) – a monumental diadema with rich malty chocolate notes elevated by oak, almond, and nougat. Price range: $16 to $25 per cigar. Holt's Clubhouse + 2
Emperor Collection
The Emperor Collection is El Septimo’s flagship line and the widest in scope. Named after historical rulers and figures, each cigar is a large format smoke – think 6 x 54 to 6.5 x 60 – designed for a serious two-hour experience. Big names, bigger vitolas. These are your celebratory smokes. Thick, long-burning, bold in every sense. The Emperor Collection Alexander III is a good mild to medium bodied stick. Paired with espresso style coffee it delivers straightforward but very smooth flavor. Notes of sugar and candy from start to almost the end, smooth sugary sweetness throughout the whole smoke with nice sweet aromas and good construction and burn. Price range: $20 to $40 per cigar. WHIO TV 7 and WHIO RadioLucky Cigar
Culinary Art Collection
A more recent addition to the lineup. Inspired by world cuisine with subtle flavor references, clean burning, and a surprisingly refined profile. A unique angle that works. The Culinary Art Collection Spain Rioja at 5 x 54 delivers good flavor and aroma, though some have noted an open draw on certain sticks. The concept is genuinely interesting – cigars inspired by specific regional cuisines and wine regions. The execution varies by vitola but the line represents some of El Septimo’s better value relative to the Emperor Collection. WHIO TV 7 and WHIO RadioLucky Cigar
Queen Sheba and Mi Familia
Following the overwhelming global success of the original Queen Sheba cigar, El Septimo Geneva announced the release of Queen Sheba Conquest Edition – Series II, debuting at the 2026 PCA Trade Show where it is expected to be one of the most in-demand releases of the year. Mi Familia is an ultra-exclusive and deeply personal collection created by CEO Zaya Younan as a tribute to his family. Retailers are being told they can only sell Mi Familia as a complete set. These are the limited edition and ultra-premium end of the portfolio. Prices reflect that. Holt's ClubhouseBoozeMakers
Honest Review: What the Cigars Actually Smoke Like
Here is where we separate the brand story from the tobacco experience.
Sacred Arts Michelangelo – Our Top Pick
Key flavors are mocha, coffee and chocolate, mineral, cedar, earth, and pepper. The burn is very good and the draw is very good. Complexity is medium. Strength starts at medium for the first two thirds and builds to medium to full in the last third. Upon lighting the cigar there are immediate notes of cocoa and cedar with very rich and creamy smoke. The cigar construction was immaculate – no need to correct or relight throughout the smoke. Half way through the cigar the cocoa notes take a back seat and cedar, leather, and spice take over while not being overwhelming. The last third sees the cocoa notes return for a great finish. This cigar delivers as much as some $30-plus cigars while still being very reasonably priced for what was delivered. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates medium to full body smokes and enjoys complex flavors that change as you smoke. This is the entry point we recommend. The Robusto format is manageable, the price is the most reasonable in the collection, and the flavor profile is genuinely impressive for what it costs. Sports Illustrated + 2
Sacred Arts Salvador Dali – Mixed Results
The Salvador Dali had a completely different flavor profile than the Michelangelo. Like the Michelangelo, the Salvador Dali delivered a pleasant experience in the first half, only to go downhill in the second half. An underlying bitterness emerged in the flavor profile. Entering the final third, earth, cedar, and pepper notes took over while the coffee notes settled into the background. The burn of the Salvador Dali required multiple touch-ups to maintain a straight burn path. While the touch-ups did the trick, there were more touch-ups required than preferred. The Salvador Dali is the most talked-about cigar in the Sacred Arts lineup because of its unusual flavor transitions. The first half is excellent. The second half is inconsistent. At $20 plus per stick, inconsistency is a problem worth knowing about before you buy. KingzendoKingzendo
Sacred Arts Da Vinci – Elegant but Simple
The cigar began with toasted cedar and mild baking spice. The baking spice later transitioned to black pepper and some mustiness joined a bit later. The second third saw some nuttiness. The El Septimo Sacred Arts Collection Da Vinci was enjoyable for the first inch and a half or so, and then after that became a bit monotonous. Very toasted cedar and dry earth focused with none of the other components really adding anything to elevate it. The lancero format is beautiful but demanding. Long, thin cigars require more careful smoking and burn management. The Da Vinci is a good cigar that doesn’t quite justify its price compared to the Michelangelo. Your Elegant Bar
Emperor Collection Alexander III – Accessible Entry Point
The Emperor Collection Alexander III is a straightforward but very smooth cigar. Notes of sugar and candy from start to almost the end, smooth sugary sweetness throughout the whole smoke. Nice sweet aromas, good construction and burn. Reminded of Davidoff Signatures and Grand Crus. Mild-plus strength. For smokers who want to try the Emperor Collection without committing to the most intense options in the lineup, the Alexander III is the move. It’s mild enough to be approachable and smooth enough to justify the premium price more easily than the bolder options. Lucky Cigar
Construction and Quality Control
This is the most important honest assessment of El Septimo. Construction scores a 10 out of 10. Every cigar is hand-rolled and it shows in most. The operative phrase is “in most.” Draw issues appear in reviews across multiple vitolas in the Sacred Arts collection specifically. Some smokers report tight draws even after using draw correction tools. Others report perfect construction from the same blend. This inconsistency is not uncommon in ultra-premium cigars but it’s worth knowing about when you’re spending $20 to $50 on a single stick. The best way to approach El Septimo is to buy a five-pack of any collection before committing to a box. The five-pack format gives you enough sticks to average out any construction variance and form a real opinion on the blend. WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio
Pricing and Value
El Septimo cigars aren’t cheap. Most land in the $20 to $50-plus range per stick. But you’re paying for construction, aging, consistency, and a true luxury smoke. That’s accurate but incomplete. You’re also paying for the brand story, the packaging, and the lifestyle positioning. None of that is inherently wrong – premium brands charge premium prices and the packaging on El Septimo is genuinely exceptional – but it’s worth separating the tobacco value from the brand value when you’re evaluating the price. The Sacred Arts Michelangelo at around $16 to $18 represents the best value in the entire El Septimo portfolio. The flavor complexity and construction quality at that price point compare favorably to established premium brands at the same price. The Emperor Collection at $25 to $40 is harder to justify unless you’re specifically after the format, the occasion, or the brand statement. WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio
Who Should Smoke El Septimo
Experienced smokers looking for something genuinely different. El Septimo’s Costa Rican production and proprietary aging process produce flavor profiles that don’t taste like anything else in the market. If you’ve smoked through the Nicaraguan and Dominican classics and want something that challenges your palate in a different direction, start with the Sacred Arts Michelangelo. Collectors and occasion smokers. The Emperor Collection is built for the moments that deserve a statement cigar. The presentation is part of the experience and El Septimo delivers on that front without question. Smokers who appreciate artistry in the concept behind a cigar. The Sacred Arts Collection gives you something to think about alongside the smoke. That’s not nothing.
Who Should Not Smoke El Septimo
Complete beginners. The price point, the complexity, and the size of most El Septimo vitolas make them poor first cigars. Start with our best cigars for beginners guide and work your way up to this category over time. Value-focused smokers who prioritize tobacco over brand story. At $20 to $30, the Padrón 1964 and Liga Privada No. 9 deliver comparable or superior tobacco experiences. If the brand narrative and packaging don’t add value for you personally, you’ll find better tobacco per dollar elsewhere.
Where to Buy El Septimo
El Septimo has expanded distribution significantly since 2020 and is now available at most major online retailers. Famous Smoke Shop and Cigars International both carry the core collections. Smoke Inn has strong El Septimo inventory including five-pack options across multiple lines. The brand’s official site at el-septimo.com carries the full portfolio including limited editions and new releases that don’t always make it to third-party retailers immediately.
Our Verdict
El Septimo is a legitimate luxury cigar brand that delivers genuine quality in most of its lineup. The Sacred Arts Collection is the strongest creative and tobacco achievement in their portfolio, and the Michelangelo specifically is a cigar worth smoking regardless of what you think about the brand’s marketing approach. El Septimo isn’t for the casual smoker. It’s for the ones who take their time, who notice transitions, who care about draw, burn, aroma, and detail. It’s not hype – it’s just different. The construction inconsistency in some vitolas is a real issue at this price point. Buy five-packs before boxes. Start with the Sacred Arts Michelangelo. Work through the collection from there. The Fabergé humidor is optional. Cigar Aficionado
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are El Septimo cigars made?
El Septimo cigars are produced at the company’s factory in Costa Rica. This is an uncommon origin for ultra-premium cigars, which are typically associated with Nicaraguan or Dominican production. The company uses aged tobaccos and claims a proprietary high-elevation cultivation process for its wrapper leaves.
How much do El Septimo cigars cost?
El Septimo cigars range from approximately $16 for entry-level Sacred Arts Collection vitolas to $50 or more for limited Emperor Collection releases. The Sacred Arts Michelangelo at around $16 to $18 represents the best value in the lineup. Five-pack options are available at most major retailers and are the recommended way to try the brand before committing to a box.
What is the best El Septimo cigar for beginners?
The Emperor Collection Alexander III is the most approachable El Septimo cigar for smokers who are relatively new to premium cigars. Its mild to medium strength, smooth sweetness, and consistent construction make it the safest starting point in the lineup. That said, El Septimo is not an ideal brand for complete beginners given the price point and complexity.
What does El Septimo mean?
El Septimo translates to “The Seventh” in Spanish. The name references the seven days of creation, a concept that directly inspired the Sacred Arts Collection, which features seven cigars each dedicated to a famous painter and corresponding to one of the seven days of creation.
Is El Septimo worth the price?
It depends on which collection and which vitola. The Sacred Arts Michelangelo delivers genuine value at its price point and competes favorably with established premium brands at the same cost. The higher-priced Emperor Collection options are harder to justify on tobacco value alone and require a smoker who values the brand story and presentation as part of the overall experience.
What are the flavor notes in El Septimo cigars?
Flavor profiles vary significantly across collections. The Sacred Arts Collection generally features mocha, coffee, chocolate, cedar, earth, and pepper notes with medium to full body. The Emperor Collection tends toward smoother, sweeter profiles with notes of cream, sugar, and gentle spice. The Culinary Arts Collection varies by vitola based on its regional culinary inspiration.
How does El Septimo compare to Davidoff?
Both brands occupy the ultra-premium space and prioritize construction quality and packaging presentation. Davidoff has a longer track record and more consistent quality control across its entire lineup. El Septimo offers more flavor complexity and creative concept in specific collections but shows more inconsistency across its wider portfolio. Davidoff is the safer investment at similar price points. El Septimo offers more novelty and a different flavor direction for smokers ready to explore beyond the established luxury brands.
Where can I buy El Septimo cigars?
El Septimo is available at major online retailers including Famous Smoke Shop, Cigars International, and Smoke Inn. The brand’s official website at el-septimo.com carries the full portfolio including limited releases. Most premium brick-and-mortar shops with walk-in humidors now carry at least one El Septimo collection given the brand’s rapid distribution expansion.
Exploring the premium end of the cigar market? Read our best cigars for beginners guide first to build the palate foundation you need before stepping into the $20-plus-per-stick category.
