OZ Family Cigars expanded its portfolio in 2026 with the introduction of the Maracana, a regular-production line inspired by the legendary Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The cigar debuted at the 2026 PCA trade show and reflects company founder Tim Ozgener’s longtime passion for soccer.
The Brazilian connection extends beyond the name. The Maracana features a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper over a Honduran/Nicaraguan double binder and fillers from Honduras and Nicaragua. The cigars are produced at the My Father Cigars Honduras factory.
The OZ Family Cigars Maracana is offered in four softly pressed vitolas, packaged in 21-count boxes:
- Robusto: 5 × 52 — MSRP $12.75/cigar — $267.75/box
- Robusto Extra: 5½ × 55 — MSRP $13.50/cigar — $283.50/box
- Toro: 6½ × 50 — MSRP $12.95/cigar — $271.95/box
- Gordo: 6 × 60 — MSRP $13.75/cigar — $288.75/box
For this review, I sampled 3 OZ Family Cigars Maracana Toros which I purchased for this review.
Pre-Light Examination
The OZ Family Cigars Maracana Toro is presented as an oval box-pressed cigar finished with a light reddish-brown wrapper displaying some attractive marbling throughout the leaf along with a nice oily sheen. The cigar was decently packed and firm to the touch from head to foot. There were a few noticeable veins and minor blemishes running along the barrel, while a well-applied cap completed the presentation.
The OZ Family Cigars Maracana uses a striking Brazilian-inspired green and metallic-gold color scheme that immediately connects with the cigar’s Maracanã theme. The primary band is dominated by a deep emerald-green background with extensive gold foil detailing. At the center is a large, shield-like crest containing the intertwined OZ logo, surrounded by the words “OZ Family Cigars.” Fine radial lines, stars, geometric accents, and ornate gold elements give the band an almost soccer championship or commemorative-medal appearance. Flanking the central crest are two circular emblems incorporating stylized Brazilian flag motifs, reinforcing the Brazilian connection. Across the lower portion of the band, “MARACANA” appears prominently in gold lettering, surrounded by rows of small gold stars and decorative lines. Gold borders run along the upper and lower edges, completing the elaborate presentation.
The cigar also carries a secondary foot band that is considerably simpler—a broad, solid emerald-green band without visible lettering or ornamentation.
Running the cigar along the nose, I picked up baking spice notes along the barrel, while the foot offered earthy notes and pepper.
I sliced the cap across the shoulder and gave it a few cold-draw puffs. The draw offered a very nice restriction, delivering a mild tangy note along with pepper and cream.
With the pre-light examination complete, it was time to fire up the Maracana Toro and see where the journey would take me.
Cigar Journey
The initial puffs offered a hefty dose of pepper, especially through the retrohale. Beneath the pepper were layered notes of earth and leather, providing a fairly bold introduction to the journey. A light gray ash began forming above a medium-thick, wavy char line.
As the cigar burned deeper into the first third, a mild tanginess began to develop on the palate. There was also an interesting grain-like quality entering the profile that reminded me of rye. The ash eventually fell in a decent-sized chunk, revealing a fairly well-formed burn cone.
Approaching the end of the first third, a touch of sweetness began to work its way into the profile. At the same time, the rye-like grain note increased, becoming a more noticeable component of the experience.
Moving into the second third, spice began to evolve, while a dark chocolate note entered the mix, adding another layer of depth to the profile. As I continued through the second third, the pepper increased on the retrohale. The grain character also began to shine more, with that earlier rye-like quality becoming increasingly evident.
A tangy fruit note developed alongside the grain, bringing a brighter dimension to the profile and providing an interesting contrast to the darker chocolate, earth, and leather notes.
Moving toward the final third, the profile began to shift once again. Sour notes started to emerge along with a touch of bitterness. The underlying tanginess continued to play into the profile as the cigar progressed toward the finish.
Through the final third, the bitterness continued to grow, eventually becoming one of the more prominent characteristics of the closing profile.
The OZ Family Cigars Maracana Toro provided a total smoking time of 1 hour and 30 minutes, finishing at a solid medium strength.
Final Analysis
The OZ Family Cigars Maracana Toro delivered an interesting journey that started with a hefty dose of pepper before settling into layers of earth and leather. One of the more distinctive aspects of the blend was the developing rye-like grain character. It first appeared as a subtle grain quality before becoming increasingly noticeable toward the end of the first third and shining more prominently through the second.
The addition of dark chocolate, evolving spice, and tangy fruit gave the middle portion of the cigar additional complexity. I particularly enjoyed the contrast between the darker chocolate and earthy components and the brighter tangy fruit character. The experience became somewhat less refined as it approached the finish. Sour notes began to develop, followed by an increasing bitterness that became more prominent through the final third. While this did not erase the enjoyable development earlier in the journey, it did take away from the overall finish.
Construction was solid, the draw was right where I like it, and the cigar provided a respectable 90-minute smoking experience. Check out a five pack.
