Big Boss, also known as Jack or John, was a well-known member of the special forces and a mercenary leader who went by the aliases Naked Snake, Vic Boss, Ishmael, Saladin, and simply Snake.
According to Metal Gear, he is the founding father of the U.S. Army Special Forces Unit FOXHOUND and was a founding member of the Patriots, which also comprised the mercenary group Militaires Sans Frontières.
In fact, he is a fictional character from a video game that is known for playing the appealing bad guy. The renowned soldier can be played in “Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes” and “The Phantom Pain.”
Aside from being known to play the legendary soldier, fans are also curious about what cigar does Big Boss smoke, and they have been asking this question for years.
The iconic character is always seen smoking in the game or having a cigar in his hand. A lot had guesses about it, but now, the answer about what cigar he smokes is known.
Before we unveil it, let’s first explain the cigar’s appearance so we can have a better idea of what cigar Big Boss smokes. The character’s cigar has a pyramid shape, which is frequently mistaken for a torpedo shape, according to Cigar Aficionado, who was able to solve the mystery. Due to the cigar’s texture and its Cuban origin, it also boasts a mild to full-bodied strength.
The brand Habano, which is a reference to the Cuban government-owned tobacco company Habanos S.A. that was featured in Big Boss’ cigar, is obviously fictitious, although the logo, based on H. Upmann and Montecristo, suggests that a real company inspired it.
Big Boss Smokes The Montecristo No. 2 Or H. Upmann No. 2
The “Montecristo No. 2” or the “H. Upmann No. 2” are the cigars that Big Boss is said to smoke. This conclusion was made due to the pyramidal shapes, same ring gauges, and aesthetically similar cigar bands of both cigars.
Montecristo No. 2 Cigar
With a length of 6 inches and a ring gauge of 52, the Montecristo No. 2 is a large cigar. The color of this cigar’s wrapper is a lovely light brown, and the cap has a nice oily sheen and appears well-packed.
This cigar’s cold draw offers a taste mostly cedar with a hint of espresso. When lit and burned through to the last third, it releases cedar taste notes, albeit they didn’t stay very long because they shifted more toward a wood flavor. The flavor intensifies as you smoke it but is not overbearing.
The creamier, sweeter notes of this also emerge, but by the final third, the black pepper had grown too strong. Over the course of the cigar’s three-thirds, the complexity changes since the cigar’s strength range from medium to full.
H. Upmann No. 2 Cigar
The length of the H. Upmann No. 2 is almost close to the Montecristo with 6 and 1/8 inches and 52 ring gauge. It is a traditional pyramid cigar with the same medium-to-full cigar strength. It adds tastes to it like tones of leather, coffee, wood, spice, and a little bit of almond. It has a peppery undertone as well.
In addition, it has a great texture and flavor. After entering the last third, the beautiful aromas of leather and spice continue until the end. It smokes incredibly well, and if you want to start smoking Cuban cigars, this is something you can absolutely appreciate.
Aside from it being a great cigar, it also has historical significance that is somewhat related to Big Boss. The H. Upmann No. 2 is the favorite cigar of President John F. Kennedy.
President Kennedy gave Pierre Salinger, the White House press secretary, the order to purchase 1,200 H Upmanns one day before officially imposing the trade embargo on Cuba.
Aside from that, the Kennedy administration partly developed modern Special Forces to counter communist uprisings in Asia and Latin America at the time.
Given the historical context, his Special Forces background, and the fact that he was The Boss’ apprentice, as per Game Skinny, Big Boss received an “H. Upmann No. 2” present from the former President Kennedy.
