EGM Cigars Guide — Alexander Kraft's Dominican Brand Explained
Posted on September 14 2026
EGM Cigars Guide — Alexander Kraft's Dominican Brand Explained
EGM Cigars is an ultra-premium Dominican brand founded by Alexander Kraft — former chairman of Sotheby's France and one of the most recognisable luxury figures in Europe. The current catalogue at LCC centres on the Alexander Kraft line: a medium-plus Dominican blend starting from $30.59 per stick (single Robusto) available in three vitolas. Production is intentionally limited.
Most ultra-premium cigar brands earn their price point through rare tobacco, limited production, or exceptional factory credentials. EGM earns it through all three — and adds an unusual backstory that no other brand in the premium market can match.
Alexander Kraft spent decades at the top of the international luxury art market: chairman of Sotheby's France, global partner at Christie's, and later founder of one of the most successful luxury real estate agencies in Europe. The same attention to quality and provenance that defines his professional career defines EGM. The cigars are handmade entirely in the Dominican Republic, blended with long-aged tobaccos, and produced in small enough quantities that LCC is one of a handful of authorised retailers worldwide.
The EGM Alexander Kraft line
| Vitola | Size | Single price | 5-pack price | Per stick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robustos | 4.875x50 | $30.59 | $152.95 | $30.59 |
| Private Reserve | 5.625x54 | $36.71 | $183.55 | $36.71 |
| Churchill Homage | 6.5x56 | $40.79 | Available | $40.79 |
The blend
The Alexander Kraft line uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper over a Dominican binder and Dominican filler — a classic ultra-premium Dominican construction that prioritises refinement and complexity over raw strength. The tobacco is aged before rolling, a process that rounds off any harshness and allows the natural sweetness of the Dominican leaf to emerge fully.
The profile is medium-plus in body: cream, toasted cedar, dark caramel, and a subtle white pepper that builds in the second third without becoming aggressive. The Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper contributes a characteristic silkiness and a natural honey sweetness that differentiates it from the bolder, oilier wrappers in the Nicaraguan puro market. This is a cigar for an unhurried afternoon, not a quick smoke.
EGM is made by Chaveta North America and produced in the Dominican Republic — keeping it in the same geographic tradition as the Nelson Alfonso family brands that LCC carries: Atabey, Bandolero, and Byron. Read the Nelson Alfonso story for context on why the Dominican Republic produces such distinctive ultra-premium tobacco.
Which EGM vitola to start with
The Robustos (4.875x50) at $30.59 is the most accessible entry — under an hour, a focused draw through a moderate ring gauge, and the best way to evaluate the blend before committing to the larger formats. The Private Reserve (5.625x54) at $36.71 gives the filler tobacco more room and a longer development — the profile opens up considerably through the second and third thirds in this vitola. The Churchill Homage (6.5x56) is the flagship: a 60-90 minute smoke that rewards patience with the most complete expression of the blend.
Who is Alexander Kraft?
Alexander Kraft is a German-born, Paris-based entrepreneur best known in the luxury world for his tenure as chairman and CEO of Sotheby's France and his senior roles at Christie's International Real Estate. He later founded Engel & Völkers' Paris operation and built one of the most recognised luxury property brands in Europe. His entry into premium cigars follows the same philosophy that governs his professional life: meticulous attention to provenance, limited production, and an unwillingness to compromise quality for volume.
EGM is not a vanity project. The cigars reflect a genuine engagement with Dominican tobacco at the highest production level — which is why the brand has found its audience among collectors and connoisseurs rather than general retail customers.
Frequently asked questions
Where are EGM cigars made?
EGM Cigars are produced in the Dominican Republic. The Alexander Kraft line is made by Chaveta North America with a Dominican filler and binder under an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.
How does EGM compare to other Dominican ultra-premiums?
EGM sits in the same rarity and price tier as Atabey and Didier. Where Atabey uses five-year-aged Dominican seco wrapper and focuses on extreme aging as the differentiator, EGM leads with a Connecticut shade wrapper and a more refined, approachable profile. Both are limited-production Dominican cigars made for collectors; the stylistic difference is Atabey’s complex, evolved character versus EGM’s polished elegance.
Where can I buy EGM cigars in the UK?
Luxury Cigar Club is one of the few authorised UK stockists for EGM. Browse the current availability at luxurycigarclub.com/products/egm-alexander-kraft.
The verdict
EGM Alexander Kraft is one of the most interesting ultra-premium Dominican cigars available through LCC. The backstory is unusual enough to make it a conversation piece, but the tobacco justifies the price independently. Start with the Robustos at $30.59 to evaluate the blend, then move to the Private Reserve at $36.71 when you're ready for the fuller expression. Limited availability — check the site for current stock.
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