Big Smoke Florida is back in Miami Beach, arriving at a moment when the premium cigar category is not just staying lit, but hotter than ever.
Presented by Cigar Aficionado, this gathering, which celebrates the “moment in time” that cigars have become, has built its reputation on one core idea: access. According to Cigar Aficionado’s Executive Editor David Savona, that remains the defining element.
“The Big Smoke truly does serve as a bridge between our readers and the world’s greatest cigarmakers,” Savona said. “Most consumers just don’t have access to cigarmakers, but at the Big Smoke you end up in the same room with some of the most famous cigarmakers in the world.”
https://www.bigsmokeflorida.com/
Yvette Mathis, Bryan Mathis and Chelsea Melendez at Cigar Aficionado’s annual Big Smoke Florida event at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
The leafy format is again intentionally fluid. Cigar-minded attendees will move through the space, sampling (many!) cigars while engaging directly with the people behind them. In many cases, the person handing over a cigar is the one who made it, a special meet-and-greet all the way through the luxury craft event.
That curiosity is supported by a market that continues to grow. The premium handmade cigar segment has now seen five consecutive years with imports exceeding 400 million units. A decade ago, 300 million marked a strong year. Today, both volume and pricing point to a category that has gained momentum and held it.
The brands represented at Big Smoke reflect that reality. Many are long-standing players with deep ties to the publication, and together they offer a clear view of where the market is today, which is global, premium, and driven by craftsmanship.
Big Smoke Florida is perfect for Miami and, coming off the buzz of the recent Formula 1 event, nothing says finish line like a perfect cigar on Miami Beach.
This year introduces a new layer to the experience. VIP guests will have access to the Top 25 Cigars of 2025, a first for the event. The addition shifts part of the evening into something closer to a live extension of the magazine’s editorial process.
“When we name a cigar to our Top 25, that means it has performed again and again in our blind tastings and risen to the top,” Savona said. “We rate more than 700 cigars a year, so to be one of our Top 25 cigars is a difficult task and a real symbol of excellence.”
The broader experience, however, extends beyond cigars. Big Smoke has always leaned into a lifestyle positioning, pairing premium tobacco with spirits, food, and a social environment that feels more like a curated night out than a traditional industry event.
“You can’t have a Big Smoke without great cigars and great drinks,” Savona said. “When you come to a Big Smoke, we call it Disney World for adults and instead of going on rides you’re going to smoke cigars, drink amazing spirits, and socialize and have a great time.”
There is also a deliberate sense of scale. Guests receive more than two dozen cigars over the course of the evening, which is far more than anyone could realistically enjoy in a single sitting.
That abundance is part of the design, but it does not come at the expense of quality.
This level of experience and offering is too good to miss for any newer or established cigar aficionado.
Cigar Aficionado’s annual Big Smoke Florida event at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
“These are handmade products, made from only two ingredients really—tobacco and time,” Savona said. “The cigars you get at a Big Smoke all are made with well-aged tobaccos, crafted in a manner that has remained largely unchanged over centuries.”
As the event continues to evolve, it is becoming something more than a gathering. It functions as a live platform for the brand, where readers, industry figures, and editors intersect in real time.
Big Smoke Florida takes place Friday, May 8 at Eden Roc Miami Beach. VIP admission runs from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with general admission beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Eden Roc has been the backdrop for many high-profile moments including Miami Formula 1 weekend, Art Basel, and for Ryan Serhant’s Season 2 of Owning Manhattan, which made Eden Roc the place to be and be seen.
Tickets:
https://www.tixr.com/groups/cabigsmoke/events/big-smoke-florida-175821
For Miami, a city that continues to define modern luxury through experience, the return of Big Smoke feels less like a one-night event and more like a reflection of where the market and the culture around it is headed.
Stay lit, Miami style.
