It was one of those nights made for bourbon and a cigar. After grilling steaks and pouring myself a glass of Buffalo Trace bourbon, I lit up the Buffalo Trace Toro, a collaboration between General Cigar Dominicana and one of America’s most iconic whiskey brands.
I’d smoked the Buffalo Trace Robusto from this line before and came away with mixed impressions: good flavor, but some construction inconsistencies that held it back. This time, I wanted to see if the Buffalo Trace Toro could deliver a more balanced experience and really live up to the promise of its namesake bourbon.
Profile: Medium Body
Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro
Binder: Dominican Piloto Cubano
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Factory: General Cigar Dominicana
Sizes Available: Robusto (5 x 49), Toro (6 x 52), Churchill (7 x 49)
Notable Feature: Crafted to echo the signature flavors of Buffalo Trace bourbon: oak, vanilla, and spice.
Price Point: Around $7–8 per stick/boxes of 20 cigars, around $130–140
Buffalo Trace Cigars represent one of the more intriguing crossovers between spirits and premium cigars. Produced by General Cigar Dominicana, it’s built to echo the character of Buffalo Trace bourbon, featuring notes of oak, vanilla, subtle sweetness, and spice. While it hasn’t yet stacked up major cigar industry awards, it’s earned plenty of buzz for its concept: bridging the ritual of cigar smoking with one of America’s most iconic bourbons.
It’s not the only whiskey-inspired cigar on the market. Maker’s Mark brought their dipped-in-wax presentation years ago, Diesel Whiskey Row leaned into barrel aging, and Eagle Rare cigars followed in the footsteps of another beloved Buffalo Trace Distillery label.
The Buffalo Trace Toro stands out to me for keeping things classic: no barrel aging, just a maduro-wrapped cigar crafted to mirror the flavor journey of bourbon. For fans of both worlds, it’s a cigar with the same name and the same spirit, designed to enhance the pour in your glass.
In hand, the cigar felt tight with just a little give in the middle, weighty for its size. The Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper had an oily sheen but also visible veins and a slightly rough foot, not the prettiest start, and I worried about how it would burn.
On the nose, I picked up tobacco and wood with a subtle aroma of vanilla sweetness. The cold draw was much more engaging: fruity notes like dark cherry or plum, with a little pepper in the background. That first pull already hinted at the bourbon-inspired flavor profile to come.
The cigar lit easily, and right away the flavors hit: oak and leather up front, vanilla on the finish, and a little bite of spiced fruit that reminded me of pear, with a trace of black pepper on the retrohale. Smoke output was medium-thick and hung in the air nicely, enhancing the overall experience.
Despite my doubts from the wrapper, the burn line stayed steady with no relights needed. Strength was mild-to-medium, approachable but still flavorful, a good start to the smoking experience.
As the cigar moved into the second third, the profile rounded out. The oak core held firm, while sweetness started to shine through. That fruity note from the cold draw returned, balanced by light pepper that never grew harsh. A nutty tone joined the finish, along with a subtle touch of caramel that gave the blend extra warmth.
The burn slipped slightly here with a touch of canoeing, but one quick correction fixed it. The draw stayed open, closer to a good draw than I expected from how firm the cigar felt. Strength moved into a true medium body, giving the stick more presence without losing smoothness.
The last third is where the cigar really tied itself to its namesake bourbon. Vanilla sweetness, leathery oak, and a unique toasted grape-like note came together to mimic the richness of a pour of Buffalo Trace bourbon. Across the palate, the flavors smoothed out, and subtle notes of coffee joined the finish.
The pepper fell away almost completely, letting the smoother, sweeter notes carry things home. The burn line held with only minor touch-ups, and the cigar smoked clean down to the nub, leaving a satisfying finish that I’d recommend to both whiskey and cigar smokers alike.
Construction proved better than the rustic wrapper suggested. The seams were solid, the cap held firm, and the burn line stayed mostly even across the whole smoke. I only needed one or two quick touch-ups, and the ash stacked in neat, solid chunks.
The smoke output wasn’t as thick as some other maduro cigars, but it was consistent enough to make for a relaxing session. For a $7–8 stick, the performance here was dependable.
At its price point, the Buffalo Trace Toro is a strong value. It’s not a luxury cigar, but it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it delivers a memorable smoking experience built around bourbon-friendly flavors: oak, vanilla, fruit, leather, and coffee.
For cigar smokers who also enjoy whiskey, this stick offers a natural pairing that makes sense in any humidor. You’re buying into a cigar that crosses over and enhances both the smoke and the sip. Whether enjoyed alone or paired with its bourbon counterpart, it brings real quality for the money.
The Buffalo Trace Toro is one of those cigars that leans into its concept and delivers. The flavor profile, oak, leather, vanilla, fruit, and a touch of coffee, mirrors the bourbon it’s named after, making it an easy pairing and a memorable smoking experience for whiskey fans.
Compared to my earlier Robusto experience, the Toro showed better construction and more consistency. It’s fair to say some boxes may still vary, but this vitola proved the blend has more to offer than I first expected.
At the end of the day, it’s flavorful, approachable, and consistent enough to earn an 8.5. Not the most complex stick in the humidor, but one that’s easy to recommend, especially if you’re pouring a glass of Buffalo Trace alongside it.
And while my Toro landed at an 8.5, friends and other cigar smokers I trust often rate this line closer to a 9.0, which tells me my sample may not have shown it at its absolute best. If you get one of the stronger rolls, this cigar has the potential to impress well beyond my score.
| Category | Rating (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Flavor | 8.7 |
| Construction | 8.3 |
| Burn / Draw |
8.5 |
| Value | 8.6 |
| Overall Rating | ⭐ 8.5 / 10 |
My Toro landed at an 8.5 overall, with balanced flavor, good construction, and strong value. Other smokers have scored it even higher, so mileage may vary, but either way, it’s a bourbon-friendly smoke worth seeking out.
Shop the Buffalo Trace Toro and other premium cigars now at After Action Cigars. Whether you’re picking up a few singles to test the flavor profile or a full box to stock your humidor, this bourbon-inspired stick delivers bold flavor and solid value.
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