Cinco De Mayo began as a local national celebration in Mexico commemorating Mexico’s underdog victory over French forces on May 5, 1862 in Puebla, Mexico. It has since grown to a regional annual celebration of heritage and culture, one that is often and appropriately accompanied by cigars and spirits.
If you’re looking for a great tequila to pair with your Cinco De Mayo cigar, keep looking….you won’t find one here. Whereas I hold a deep appreciation for the artisans and craft of making fine tequila, I don’t like it. The typical response I get when I make such a statement, is something like, “well obviously you’ve never had ________.” And no matter what fills that blank, my reply is usually, “Yes, I have. I didn’t like that one either.” And it’s true. I am keenly aware that some tastes are acquired, some are refined and still others are objectionable no matter what. Taste is also very subjective; my palate simply doesn’t like the agave distillate that becomes tequila. If a palate could be controlled by will power, I probably would have enjoyed tequila a long time ago…but it can’t, so I don’t.
So let’s make this about enjoying what we can. The most appropriate cigar I can think of for this day would be the one created by Rojas Cigars: The Cinco De Mayo 2026 Limited Edition. If you can still find one, get it soon, there were only 40,000 made and most retailers that have any remaining will likely sell out by the end of the day today. This LE cigar has become an annual favorite at my local lounge since its first edition debuted there in 2024. With its Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Mexican San Andrés binder and fillers from the Jalapa region of Nicaragua along with US-grown Connecticut Broadleaf, this cigar is loaded with flavor and complexity to please your Cinco Party palate. It is medium bodied and a fine selection indeed for this day.
If you’re fortunate enough to get your hands on more than one of them, keep them at a cool and comfy 70℉, keep them humidified and keep them in a humidor that won’t let them get crushed. My choice? You guessed it…a Benchmark Cruiser. The one shown here is a newcomer to the Cruiser family - The Cruiser Noble. It uses the same solid Spanish Cedar core as all other Cruisers, but is more appropriately dressed for the banquet hall, clubhouse or wedding venue. This one is covered in American Black Walnut, with other stately selections coming soon. It holds my three Cinco De Mayo Toros, has a hand rubbed oil finish and matches my favorite gunstock.
My favorite pairing for this blend would be a strong cup of black smooth Sumatra coffee. Its smooth earthiness will pull the subtle sweetness of the Habano wrapper up a notch, as well as the cocoa from the Mexican San Andrés binder. Happy Cinco De Mayo, amigos - and Cheers!
—Danny Jackson