Victory cigars: Bengals tradition returns ahead of playoff push

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals start their playoff push this Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens and a popular team tradition is back just in time.

“Victory cigars” are back in the Bengals locker room. While it started out as a viral moment while he celebrated a national championship at LSU, Joe Burrow’s signature celebration of smoking a cigar carried over last year during the team’s playoff push.

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News Center 7′s John Bedell was in the Bengals locker room after their Week 18 win over the Ravens and he said the tradition is going strong this season. Now, Cincinnati fans are trying to get their to get their hands on what Burrow, Joe Mixon and company are smoking after big wins.

Mixon told us his go-to “victory cigars” were Leather Rose Drew Estates.

“I bought them for the whole team so I went with the more sweeter kind,” the Bengals running back said.

Arrow Wine and Spirits manager Mif Frank said he’s got a selection of more than 300 types of cigars in his humidor inside his Kettering stock.

Frank said since Burrow started the tradition in college, Bengals fans have come to the store in search of the same smokes Burrow and the Bengals light up after big wins.

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“People come in that are going to the game, they like to enjoy that cigar after the victory. It has definitely picked up business as far as cigars go,” Frank said.

He told News Center 7 that if fans want to partake in the tradition, a good-quality cigar doesn’t have to break the bank. They could be anywhere from $5-$30 a piece.

A Bengals fan himself, Franks said he’s hoping for a reason to celebrate again on Sunday night.

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