Best Cigar of the Month Clubs
A cigar of the month club ships a curated selection of cigars to your door on a regular schedule. Most send a mix of brands and profiles each month so you can explore without buying full boxes. They suit beginners, gift-givers, and anyone who likes variety. A good cigar subscription turns discovery into a simple, recurring habit.
This guide explains how cigar of the month clubs and sampler packs work, who they suit, what to look for, and how subscriptions compare with buying by the box.
Our Top Picks
How we pick: we weigh quality, real-world performance, and value across strengths and budgets — and only list what we’d actually buy. Buying through our links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
A long-running club (since 1994) that rates what it sends and pulls from boutique and super-premium brands, so the floor on quality stays high. A reliable curated five-cigar box for someone who doesn't yet know what they like.
Check price →- Best Overall
Cigar of the Month Club (Premium)
Beginners who want a hand-picked, panel-rated spread each month without choosing themselves.
A long-running club (since 1994) that rates what it sends and pulls from boutique and super-premium brands, so the floor on quality stays high. A reliable curated five-cigar box for someone who doesn't yet know what they like.
Check price →- Cigars are taste-tested and rated by a panel of tobacconists before shipping
- Five different hand-rolled cigars per month means broad exposure to brands and wrappers
- Month-to-month with no long lock-in, and you can cancel anytime
- You don't pick the specific cigars
- Per-stick cost runs higher than buying a box you already know you like
- Best Value
Cigars International Cigar of the Month Club
Buyers who want recognizable name brands at a low monthly price and the option to reorder favorites in bulk.
The cheapest sensible entry from a retailer that can source almost anything. The Original box sends one each of four brands; the Double Decker sends two each. Easy one-click reordering of what you enjoyed.
Check price →- Backed by a major retailer with deep brand inventory
- Low entry price, with a Double Decker option for two of each brand
- Easy to reorder a full box of anything you liked
- Selections lean toward the retailer's own house and value brands
- Frequent upsell emails
- Best for Variety
Smoke Inn Cigar of the Month Club
Smokers who want a rotating mix of legitimate premium brands and never want a repeat stick.
A well-regarded variety club that mixes new releases, classics, and lesser-known gems with no repeats, making it an easy way to widen your palate while leaning on someone else's curation.
Check price →- Five premium cigars each month, hand-curated by the shop's founder
- No repeats, ever, even in a different size
- Skip or cancel monthly, with a Double Down option for ten cigars
- Contents vary month to month, so consistency is not guaranteed
- You don't choose the specific cigars
- Best Budget
Gotham Cigars Cigar of the Month Club
First-timers testing the subscription format who want a low cost of entry.
An inexpensive way to try the of-the-month format: five cigars a month plus a cutter and matches at a price that makes experimenting painless before committing to a pricier club. Note the 30-day cancellation notice.
Check price →- Low monthly price for a five-cigar club, plus a cutter and matches
- Tiered membership lengths (Silver monthly, Platinum, Diamond)
- Low-risk way to learn whether a club fits your habits
- Selections skew toward value and house brands
- Requires 30-day notice to cancel, and subscriptions are final sale
| Pick | Best for | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best OverallCigar of the Month Club (Premium) | Beginners who want a hand-picked, panel-rated spread each month without choosing themselves. | About $45 / month, 5 cigars | Check price → |
| Best ValueCigars International Cigar of the Month Club | Buyers who want recognizable name brands at a low monthly price and the option to reorder favorites in bulk. | From about $22 / month, 4 brands | Check price → |
| Best for VarietySmoke Inn Cigar of the Month Club | Smokers who want a rotating mix of legitimate premium brands and never want a repeat stick. | $34.95 / month including shipping, 5 cigars | Check price → |
| Best BudgetGotham Cigars Cigar of the Month Club | First-timers testing the subscription format who want a low cost of entry. | $29.95 / month, 5 cigars | Check price → |
Prices are indicative and change often — tap through for the live price on Amazon.
How does a cigar of the month club work?
A cigar of the month club works by mailing you a curated set of cigars on a recurring plan. You pick a tier, set your delivery frequency, and a curator chooses the sticks. Each shipment usually mixes brands, strengths, and wrappers. The goal is steady variety without the work of choosing yourself.
Most cigar subscription boxes share a few common traits:
- Curated selection: An expert picks the cigars so you discover new brands.
- Recurring delivery: Shipments arrive monthly, or on the schedule you set.
- Mixed profiles: A range of strengths and flavors helps you find favorites.
- Flexible terms: Many let you pause, skip, or cancel between shipments.
- Age verification: Every retailer checks that you meet the legal purchase age before your first box ships — see our guides on buying cigars online legally and how old you need to be to buy cigars.
The result is a low-effort way to broaden your palate over time.
Cigar samplers vs subscriptions
A cigar sampler is a one-time pack of varied cigars, while a subscription ships them on repeat. Both let you try many cigars without committing to a full box. The right choice depends on whether you want a single taste-test or an ongoing supply.
A cigar sampler pack is a great first step. You buy one mixed pack, try several profiles, and learn what you like. There is no recurring charge. Samplers also make easy gifts, and a fair price depends on the retailer and cigar count — see our best cigar gifts guide for a sense of what a quality one-time sampler should run.
A cigar subscription suits smokers who want continuous variety. New cigars arrive each month with no reordering. It is ideal once you know you enjoy exploring different brands.
Who should join a cigar of the month club?
A cigar of the month club is best for beginners, gift-givers, and variety seekers. It removes guesswork and brings a steady stream of new smokes. It is less ideal for smokers who already know their one favorite cigar.
These groups get the most from a cigar subscription:
- Beginners: Sampling many profiles is the fastest way to learn your taste. See our guide to the best cigars for beginners.
- Gift-givers: A subscription is a thoughtful, recurring present that keeps giving.
- Variety seekers: Anyone who loves trying new brands without choosing each time.
If you already smoke one cigar by the box, a club may add little. For everyone else, it is an easy on-ramp to the hobby.
What to look for in a cigar subscription
The best cigar subscription offers strong curation, real variety, and fair value versus singles. A few key factors separate a great club from a forgettable one. Check each before you sign up.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Curation | A skilled curator means better, more interesting picks. |
| Variety | A wide mix of brands and strengths broadens your palate. |
| Value vs singles | The per-cigar cost should beat buying the same sticks alone. |
| Cancel terms | Easy pause, skip, and cancel options protect you — but rebilling schedules and notice periods vary by club, so check the specific retailer's terms before your first charge, not after. |
| Freshness | Cigars should arrive well-humidified and ready to smoke. |
Most major online cigar retailers run their own clubs and samplers. They typically offer tiers by budget, premium-brand boxes, and themed monthly mixes. Curation quality and flexibility vary, so compare terms before committing.
Subscription vs sampler vs buying by the box
The right buying method depends on whether you want variety, a one-time try, or the best price. Each option fits a different stage of the hobby. This table compares all three side by side.
| Option | Best for | Variety | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cigar subscription | Ongoing discovery, gifts | High | Good per-cigar value |
| Cigar sampler pack | First-time trying, one-off gifts | High | Moderate (one-time cost) |
| Buying by the box | A known favorite | Low | Best per-cigar price |
The pattern is simple. Subscriptions and samplers maximize variety. Buying by the box wins on price once you know exactly what you like — and if value is the goal, our best cheap cigars roundup shows which boxes deliver it.
How to get the most from a cigar club
You get the most from a cigar club by tracking what you smoke and storing it well. A little organization turns random shipments into real learning. It also keeps your cigars fresh between deliveries.
A few habits help every subscriber:
- Take notes: Record which cigars you liked so you can reorder favorites.
- Store fresh: Keep deliveries at 65–70% humidity. See how to store cigars.
- Explore widely: Use the variety to learn wrappers and sizes you might skip otherwise.
Tracking your shipments makes the whole hobby more rewarding over time.
Privada Cigar Club and the sampler-pack market
Alongside subscription-of-the-month clubs, the sampler pack market has become a major way to try premium cigars without committing to a full box. Most major retailers sell curated samplers built around a theme, and independent brands increasingly release factory samplers of their own.
Privada Cigar Club is one of the best-known specialty clubs. Members receive small-batch cigars — often from boutique brands the general market doesn't see — several times a year. Membership is limited and typically has a waitlist. If you like discovery-driven cigar buying, Privada is the reference point.
Brand-specific samplers from major houses are widely available online. Popular examples: the My Father Cigar Sampler (typically five vitolas across the family's lineup), the AJ Fernandez New World Dorado 5-Cigar Sampler, and various brand-sampler bundles from Padrón, Rocky Patel, and Oliva. Ashton, Perdomo, and CAO all publish sampler packs of their own. These let you compare four to six sizes or blends from a single house at one purchase price.
Retailer-curated samplers — Famous Smoke's CAO variety pack, Cigars International's value samplers — offer good introductions to premium cigar smoking at fair pricing. Look for a stated brand list; avoid "mystery samplers" unless the retailer has a stellar reputation.
Samplers make the "which cigar should I buy next" question much cheaper to answer. Log every stick you smoke in the Humidor Tracker so your sampler feedback compounds into real buying knowledge.
Named clubs compared: Holt's, JR Cigars, Cigars International, and more
Several established retailers run their own cigar-of-the-month programs, and each one targets a different budget and curation style rather than competing head-on.
- Holt's Cigar Company runs a long-standing club built around its own humidor-fresh inventory. It generally lands in the mid-range tier — a handful of recognizable and boutique cigars per shipment, priced to beat buying the same sticks individually. See our Holt's Cigar Company review for a closer look at the retailer itself.
- JR Cigars operates one of the largest cigar clubs in the category, with plans spanning budget to mid-range. Its scale lets it bundle a high cigar count per box, trading some curation depth for volume and price.
- Cigars International (linked above) runs a similarly large-scale program, typically budget-to-mid-range, with themed monthly boxes — new-release focus, wrapper-of-the-month, and similar angles — alongside its standing value samplers.
- Famous Smoke (linked above) offers club and sampler programs in the same budget-to-mid-range band, usually organized around a rotating theme or brand family each cycle.
- Thompson Cigar is one of the oldest mail-order cigar retailers in the country and runs its own club and sampler programs in the budget-to-mid-range tier, similar in structure to JR Cigars and Cigars International.
- Privada Cigar Club (covered above) sits at the opposite end of the market — small-batch, boutique-only, waitlist-gated, and priced at a premium that reflects its scarcity rather than bulk value.
Segmenting these programs by tier helps set expectations before you sign up:
- Budget tier: High cigar counts per shipment, mixed construction quality, lowest per-stick cost. Best for volume smokers who don't mind some inconsistency.
- Mid-range tier: Where most named retailer clubs sit — recognizable brands, decent curation, fair per-cigar value against buying singles.
- Premium/luxury tier: Fewer, pricier sticks per box, often built around aged tobacco or limited releases.
- Small-batch tier: Waitlist or invite-driven clubs like Privada, built around scarcity and discovery rather than volume or price.
Many of these clubs run a discount code on your first box. Check the retailer's site directly for whatever offer is currently live — first-box codes rotate and expire often, so don't rely on a code you saw somewhere else.
Shipping to Canada or the UK: Cigar subscriptions are built primarily around U.S. delivery. Cross-border tobacco shipments to Canada and the UK are commonly subject to import duties, tobacco-specific taxes, and, in some cases, carrier restrictions, so international availability varies by retailer and can change without notice. If you're outside the U.S., contact the club directly before subscribing to confirm they ship to your country and what the landed cost looks like once duties are added.
FAQ
What is a cigar of the month club?
A cigar of the month club is a subscription that ships curated cigars to your door on a recurring schedule. Each delivery usually mixes brands, strengths, and wrappers. It is a low-effort way to discover new cigars over time.
Are cigar subscriptions worth it?
Cigar subscriptions are worth it for beginners, gift-givers, and variety seekers. They remove the guesswork of choosing and deliver steady variety. If you already smoke one favorite by the box, a subscription may add less value. Whether a cigar of the month club specifically is worth it comes down to the same math: compare what the same cigars would cost bought individually, then weigh that against the time you save not researching every purchase yourself.
What does a cigar club actually cost?
There's no single price, because cost depends on cigar count, curation depth, and how scarce the brands in the box are — a budget-tier club with a dozen mass-market sticks costs far less per shipment than a small-batch, waitlist-driven one built around limited releases. The tiers covered above (Budget, Mid-range, Premium/luxury, Small-batch) are a rough guide to where a club sits, but actual pricing rotates with promos and changes by retailer, so check the specific club's current price directly before subscribing. To sanity-check whether a box's implied per-stick price is fair, compare it against our how much do cigars cost guide.
Is Thompson Cigar the same company as Cigars International?
No. Thompson Cigar and Cigars International are separately branded retailers, each with its own catalog, pricing, and sign-up flow — don't assume an account, promo code, or subscription with one carries over to the other. Compare each retailer's current club offer directly on its own site before subscribing.
What is the difference between a sampler and a subscription?
A cigar sampler is a one-time pack of varied cigars, while a subscription ships cigars on repeat. Samplers are great for a single taste-test or a gift. Subscriptions suit smokers who want continuous variety.
Is a cigar subscription a good gift?
Yes, a cigar subscription is an excellent gift. It arrives repeatedly, surprising the recipient with new cigars each month. A one-time sampler pack also makes a simple, thoughtful present.
Are cigar club cigars fresh?
Reputable cigar clubs ship cigars well-humidified and ready to smoke. Still, store deliveries at 65–70% humidity to keep them in peak shape. Always check freshness on arrival.
Can you gift a cigar-of-the-month membership?
Yes — a gifted cigar-of-the-month membership is one of the classic gift categories for a cigar smoker, and most retailer clubs support buying a membership for someone else outright, either as a fixed number of shipments (3, 6, or 12 months) or an ongoing subscription you set up on the recipient's behalf. It works well because it keeps giving well after the occasion it was bought for, unlike a single box or accessory. If you'd rather give a one-time gift instead of a recurring one, a single sampler pack (covered above) is the lower-commitment version of the same idea. See our full best cigar gifts guide for more gift ideas across every budget, from accessories to full subscriptions.
What do people on Reddit say about cigar clubs?
Cigar communities like r/cigars tend to split on subscription clubs. Many users like the discovery angle and the chance to try boutique brands they wouldn't otherwise stumble on. Others are more skeptical of "mystery box" pricing at the cheaper end and recommend reading recent, specific reviews of a club's actual box contents before committing to a recurring plan. General sentiment tends to favor named retailer clubs and well-reviewed specialty programs over unbranded subscription startups with no track record.
Conclusion
A cigar of the month club is one of the easiest ways to explore new cigars without buying full boxes. Subscriptions and sampler packs deliver variety, while buying by the box wins on price for a known favorite. Choose based on curation, value, and cancel terms, then store your shipments right. Ready to dig deeper? Compare picks in our best cigars roundup, or keep every delivery fresh and logged with the Humidor Tracker.