Henry Clay – Cigars

Calling it a small sensation would be a massive understatement. And while bold statements like this carry some risk, we’ll say it anyway: The relaunch of the legendary Henry Clay could very well be the comeback of the year 2025.

Henry Clay – Celebrated for Premium Cigars

For over a century, it ranked among the true greats. With the release of the new War Hawk series, Henry Clay continues to build on its own legend. Though no longer produced on the famous Caribbean island, the brand has found a new home in Honduras—a factory that truly lives up to the legacy of the fabled Henry Clay.

New Location: Honduras

We’re talking about Tabacalera La Flor, where the acclaimed La Flor de Copan cigars are also made. The skills of the factory’s blenders and torcedores are beyond dispute—just one more reason the revived Henry Clay is turning heads. What’s more, the Copan region, near the borders with Guatemala and El Salvador, ranks among the best tobacco-growing areas in the world. Even the Mayans valued this mild tropical climate for growing crops. Today, there are seasoned aficionados who stock their humidors almost exclusively with the much-praised Flor de Copan Rothschild.

The Long Tradition of Henry Clay Cigars

The roots trace back to the 1840s, when a Spanish immigrant named Julian Alvarez Granda founded the brand in what was then the colony of Cuba. He named it in honor of a well-known American politician of the era.

Senator Henry Clay was known as an exceptional orator and a leading member of the War Hawk faction in Congress. At the same time, he was a skilled negotiator, known for his ability to broker compromises with finesse. Harmonious in nature and driven by balance—traits that describe both the politician and the cigars that bear his name.

Henry Clay: Statesman and Tobacco Grower

Clay reached the peak of his political career in the 1820s, serving as the U.S. Secretary of State. A lawyer by training, he was also a plantation owner who cultivated tobacco. What name could be more fitting for a cigar?

According to the story, Alvarez’s co-founder Juan Antonio Bances asked Henry Clay personally for permission to use his name. Clay agreed—and even declined to receive any share of the profits. But let’s be honest: having a first-class cigar named after you—how could that ever be measured in money?

The Epitome of the Habano

Fueled by a passion for quality, Henry Clay became a symbol of premium Cuban cigars. The brand even made its way into European high culture. In two of the great novels of the 20th century, James Joyce’s Ulysses and Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain, characters are seen lighting a Henry Clay. So if you’re looking for a good read to pair with your smoke, both books are thick enough to last you through the entire lineup.

Henry Clay Cigars Today

Following the Cuban Revolution, the brand was nationalized, and over time faded into obscurity. But some may remember that Henry Clay cigars were available in our region not too long ago. In the early 2000s, versions from the Dominican Republic were on the market—though they had little in common with today’s War Hawk series. These new cigars, as mentioned, are rolled at Flor de Copan in Honduras with the highest standards of perfection. In the U.S., these fantastic cigars have already gained a loyal following, and as of spring 2025, Europe gets to enjoy them too.

With its Broadleaf binder and Criollo 98 filler, the brand relies on outstanding Honduran tobacco quality; the silky-matte Connecticut wrapper comes from Ecuador. For this highly complex series, known for its seductive roasted aromas and subtle woody notes, the master blenders developed a special fermentation method. It gives the cigar its perfect harmony. The medium-bodied Henry Clay War Hawk is a true masterpiece—worthy of its legendary predecessors.

The Henry Clay War Hawk Corona even earned an incredible 95-point score in *Cigar Aficionado* in 2021, placing it among the best cigars of the year. If the Corona seems a bit slender for your taste, why not try the Churchill instead?