Every Cigar James Bond Ever Smoked on Screen
While James Bond may not have been a cigar aficionado in the literary works of Ian Fleming, his cinematic counterparts—from Roger Moore to Pierce Brosnan and now Daniel Craig—have certainly enjoyed their fair share of cigars. Let’s explore the instances where 007 indulged in this smoky luxury.
A Scene That Raised Eyebrows
In the 2002 film Die Another Day, Bond enthusiasts were likely taken aback during a particular scene. Pierce Brosnan, portraying the iconic spy, watches Halle Berry emerge from the ocean, reminiscent of Ursula Andress’s classic scene. He offers her a sip of his drink, but instead of the traditional Martini, Scotch & Soda, or even a Craig-era Heineken, he holds a Mojito. Given Brosnan’s Bond was the only one to set foot in Cuba—both in Die Another Day and GoldenEye—the rum-based Mojito can be seen as fitting. However, purists were more perturbed by what he held in his other hand: a Cuban cigar.
Bond and Cigars: A Cinematic Choice
Ian Fleming’s James Bond never smoked cigars in the 12 novels and two short story collections. In fact, Fleming often used the smell of cigar smoke to denote cheapness or sadness and even depicted a villain using a cigar as a torture device. Bond, as described in Casino Royale, was a cigarette man, favouring a custom blend made for him by Morlands of Grosvenor Street. He smoked various brands like Chesterfields, Royal Blends, Diplomates, and Shinseis, but never cigars.
On-Screen Bond’s Cigar Moments
Despite Fleming’s original depiction, the film franchise embraced cigars. Pierce Brosnan’s Bond enjoyed cigars from the Cuban coast to Bilbao. Sean Connery, too, was seen with a cigar in the non-official Thunderball remake, Never Say Never Again. However, it was Roger Moore who truly made cigars a part of Bond’s on-screen persona.
Roger Moore’s Cigar Legacy
When Roger Moore took on the role in 1973’s Live and Let Die, he insisted on a clause in his contract for an unlimited supply of fine cigars. Moore wanted his Bond to be the first to prefer cigars over cigarettes. His brand of choice was Montecristo. One of the most memorable moments featuring a cigar was in Live and Let Die, where Bond uses a Montecristo Especial No.1 to kill a snake by lighting a spray of aerosol aftershave. Moments later, he uses the same cigar to burn the wrist of rogue CIA agent Rosie Carver. This cigar, known for its earthy and wet wood aromas, became iconic.
By the time Moore returned in The Man with the Golden Gun, his cigars had become smaller, opting for the more manageable Montecristo No.3. This choice made for more realistic smoking scenes. Bond lights up a No.3 outside the Bottoms Up Club in Hong Kong, moments before encountering Scaramanga’s henchman, Nick Nack. He also enjoys a No.3 while pickpocketing a Lebanese belly dancer in Beirut and when breaking into Hai Fat’s compound in Bangkok.
Conclusion
While Ian Fleming’s James Bond may never have smoked cigars, the cinematic portrayals have embraced them, adding to the suave and sophisticated image of 007. From Roger Moore’s Montecristos to Pierce Brosnan’s Cuban indulgences, cigars have become a memorable part of Bond’s on-screen legacy.
