El Septimo is an ultra-premium cigar brand started in 2005 by French cigar distributor Gilles Botquin and bought in 2019 by Zaya Younan’s Younan Collection; it now trades as El Septimo Geneva, and its cigars are made in Costa Rica. Its lines include Zaya, Luxus, Emperor, Sacred Arts, Alexandra, Gilgamesh and Culinary Art. Strength varies by line: El Septimo rates the Sacred Arts Leonardo da Vinci 3 out of 5, and halfwheel found the Emperor Collection Alexander III around medium. A good first pick is the Sacred Arts Collection Leonardo da Vinci, a medium-bodied 7 1/2 x 40 lancero with an undisclosed wrapper. Expect typical notes of cocoa, aged leather and spice, with black pepper, oak and anise leading to a light coffee finish.
El Septimo Cigars
El Septimo Cigars is a modern ultra-premium brand started in 2005 by French cigar distributor Gilles Botquin and now trading as El Septimo Geneva, with cigars made in Costa Rica.
Using long-aged tobaccos (up to 15 years in the Zaya Collection), El Septimo lines like Emperor, Sacred Arts, Gilgamesh, and Zaya deliver rich, smooth, and complex flavor profiles tailored for connoisseurs seeking a decadent, next-level smoking experience.
Shop El Septimo premium cigars at Oxford Cigar Company to explore the Sacred Arts Collection Leonardo da Vinci, a medium-bodied lancero with typical notes of cocoa, aged leather and spice.
El Septimo Cigars
Frequently asked questions about El Septimo Cigars
Who makes El Septimo cigars, and where are they made?
French cigar distributor Gilles Botquin started El Septimo in 2005. In March 2019 halfwheel reported that Younan Collection, chaired by Zaya Younan, had bought the brand, and that its cigars were made in Costa Rica at the Pure Aroma Cigars S.A. factory. The brand now trades as El Septimo Geneva, with Zaya Younan as CEO. halfwheel's 2025 review of an Emperor Collection cigar still lists Costa Rica as the country of origin, with the factory undisclosed.
How strong are El Septimo cigars?
It depends on the line. El Septimo rates its Sacred Arts Leonardo da Vinci 3 out of 5 for strength, and Oxford Cigar Company lists it as medium bodied. When halfwheel reviewed the Emperor Collection Alexander III in 2025, it found the strength just under medium in the first half and just over medium by the end. El Septimo describes the Emperor Collection as blends for beginners and aficionados.
Which El Septimo cigar should I try first, and how do the lines differ?
El Septimo says its Zaya Collection uses 15-year-aged tobacco, double binders and up to five fillers. The Emperor Collection is aimed at both beginners and aficionados, and halfwheel notes it was the first El Septimo line to use a Connecticut-seed wrapper. The Sacred Arts Collection names its sizes after artists such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Van Gogh, and the Alexandra Collection is designed for women. A good starting point is the Sacred Arts Collection Leonardo da Vinci, a medium-bodied 7 1/2 x 40 lancero with an undisclosed wrapper. Typical notes are cocoa, aged leather, spice, black pepper, oak and anise, with a light coffee finish.
Where can I buy El Septimo cigars online?
Oxford Cigar Company carries a selection of El Septimo on its El Septimo category page: https://oxfordcigarcompany.com/el-septimo-cigars/. Free US shipping on orders $50+.