Best cigars for beginners: mild cigars to start with

What makes a cigar good for a beginner

• Mild strength. Little nicotine, so the cigar does not make you dizzy. See cigar strength explained for how strength differs from flavor.
• A light wrapper. Connecticut Shade and Ecuadorian Connecticut wrappers give cream, nut and wood rather than pepper.
• A manageable size. A robusto (about 5 × 50) or corona (about 5½ × 42) takes 40–60 minutes. A churchill is a long first commitment.
• Good construction. A premium, hand-made cigar from an established maker burns evenly and draws well, which matters more for a newcomer than a rare blend.
• Easy to find again. If you like it, you want to buy it again, and compare the next cigar with it.

Mild cigars to start with

These lines are commonly described as mild or mild to medium and are sold widely in the United States and many other markets. Prices vary by country and shop; most cost about the same as a cocktail.

Descriptions are how these cigars are commonly characterised, not a promise: tolerance and taste differ. The brand pages list the sizes and the tobacco of each line: Macanudo, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, H. Upmann, E.P. Carrillo and Espinosa.

Mild does not have to mean bland

If a Connecticut cigar tastes like nothing much to you, you may simply prefer more flavor. Try a mild-to-medium cigar with a different wrapper, keeping the size small:

• Cameroon or Sumatra wrapper, for sweetness and gentle spice, such as H. Upmann Vintage Cameroon or a Partagás Classic.
• A Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro in a small size, for coffee and chocolate without much nicotine. Maduro means dark, not strong; see the wrapper guide.
• A Habano wrapper on a mild filler, such as the medium-bodied lines of Romeo y Julieta or Montecristo, once the milder ones feel easy.

What about sweet and flavored cigars?

Infused cigars, with a sweetened cap or flavors such as vanilla, rum or coffee added to the tobacco, are popular first cigars because they taste familiar. They are a fine way to try the ritual. They do not teach you much about tobacco, though: if you want to discover what you like in cigars themselves, go to a mild natural cigar fairly soon. A sweet drink, such as a rum or a sweet coffee, gives a similar softness without the additives.

How to choose in a shop

1. Say it is one of your first cigars. A good tobacconist will point you to something mild and fresh from their humidor.
2. Buy singles, not boxes, until you know what you like.
3. Pick a robusto or corona of the line you choose.
4. Check the cigar. Gently: it should give slightly, without hard or soft spots, and the wrapper should be intact.
5. Buy two different ones and smoke them on different days; the comparison teaches more than either alone.

After the first few

Note what you liked in each, even in a line. After five to ten cigars a pattern shows: maybe cream and nut, maybe sweetness, maybe you want more pepper. That tells you where to go next, and the cigar flavor quiz gives a quick first guess. aficio keeps the record for you: rate each cigar and it builds a flavor profile that shows a match % for unfamiliar cigars, so you can see before buying whether one is likely to suit you.

First time ever? Read how to smoke a cigar for the first time before you light up.