It has been established that cigars are quite exotic and hence have a bit more sophistication. Here are the steps involved: Cut the cigar: Get the cap of the cigar sliced with a cutter. Do not cut too much like most men; go for 1/8th of an inch. Toast the foot: Apply heat to the cigar's foot while holding it at a 45-degree angle. Rotate it a few times to get the tobacco warmed up for easier lighting. Light the cigar: Puff a few times gently without actually letting the flame touch the cigar. Keep doing this until you feel the smoke in your mouth, and do not inhale at this stage. Ensure it is evenly lit: Blow on the foot of the cigar while looking at it to make sure it is lit evenly. You can tell it is evenly lit when the entire end is glowing. If this is not achieved, the cigar will not burn evenly. Get ready to smoke: Smoking a cigar without inhaling is the way to go; all you need to do is draw in through your mouth like you are sucking on a straw. Puff every 30-60 seconds while closing off your nasal passage. Handling your ash: Ensure your ash is about an inch before it is tapped off. Do not smash it on the tray like a cigarette.

Best Cigars in The World

Cigars are like lions where cigarettes are pussy cats; they are regarded by many as pretty cool because of their classy look and flavor. Hollywood and the music industry have also not held back in portraying cigars in the best light.

Cigars are more expensive than cigarettes, but then again, they do last longer and get the job done more effectively. In this article, we will discuss everything that has to do with the cigars, with the highlight being the best cigars in the world. Take one puff and let's dive in!

What Are Cigars and How Do We Choose Them?

To fulfill all righteousness in being as detailed as possible, how about we set off with a description of the cigar? A cigar is tobacco leaves rolled up to be smoked.

Choosing a cigar is no walk in the park, especially if you're a picky one. Walk into a cigar shop and watch yourself get overwhelmed by the sheer number of different brands and types that you're exposed to. If you're a newbie, you want to read articles like this one so you don't forget your dropped jaw at the sight of thousands of heavenly cigars! You may also want to know the best cheap cigars if you're more the on-a-budget kind of person.

Light, Mild, And Strong Cigars: How Are They Different?

Cigar strength is classed into:

Light
Mild
Strong

However, the taste is not determined by any of these three factors. These factors only mainly relate to how much nicotine is present in the cigar in question. That is, a light cigar has significantly less cigar than a strong cigar. A mild cigar sits at a point between light and strong.

Cigars for Beginners and Old-timers: How are they different?

The classes of cigars above are sufficient in determining what cigars are ideal and beginners and old-timers respectively.

Light cigars are best enjoyed in the morning with early morning breakfast, they ease you into the day, and they are the best cigar brands for beginners.

Mild cigars are a tad stronger than light cigars and can be taken later in the day, but they can be enjoyed in the morning if you are not new to cigars.

Strong cigars are the complete package; they are referred to as "full-bodied" cigars. They are most appealing to old-timers who have a long experience in smoking cigars.

Handmade and Machine-Made Cigars: How are they different?

Several individuals find this a little bit tricky, but the difference between machine and handmade cigars is pretty straightforward. Handmade cigars are mostly produced with long filler tobacco leaves rolled together to form a cylinder. On the other hand, machine-made cigars have short fillers; the filler comprises tobacco leaves stems or chopped-up tobacco scraps. Machine-made cigars are some of the best cigars for beginners.

Countries That Create the Best Cigars

The cigar production industry is pretty lucrative. It grows daily; several countries produce cigars, making it difficult to choose the type of cigars you want. Thus, we’ve compiled the list of countries that are home to the best cigar brands creating the best cigars in the world! See them below:

Cuba (N4, Partagas Serie No.4, Hoyo De Monterrey Double Corona)

The phrase “Cuban cigar” is so common today, one could think Cuba alone makes cigars. This is because Cuba easily makes some of the top-quality cigar’s money can buy. Take a look at some of them below:

N4: The top-selling cigar in the world speaks volumes in itself. It's an all-rounder cigar that offers intense flavor and an easy-to-smoke design.
Partagas Serie No.4: A reliable cigar of incredible flavor and an interesting design.
Hoyo De Monterrey Double Corona: A top medium-bodied Cuban cigars with just enough of all three of citrus flavor, sweet spice, and coffee when you put it in action!

Dominican Republic (Macanudo Prince Philip, La Aurora Barrel Aged Robusto, Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Double Robusto)

Three hours away from Cuba is the Dominican Republic, another country known for regarding cigars as the works of art that they are. Let's take a look at some of their top brands:

Macanudo Prince Philip: The best-selling cigar brand in the United States, owing to its silky smooth goodness and the inclusion of tobacco from Connecticut and Mexico
La Aurora Barrel Aged Robusto: first Dominican Republic cigar, uniquely seasoned in oak barrels, and bold notes of mocha, charred wood, and coffee.
Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Double Robusto: extraordinary smoke with a smooth draw and perfect burn, seasoned to perfection with filler leaf and Dominican binder, and flavored with chocolate, nuts, and cocoa, amongst others.

Nicaragua (La Aroma De Cuba Edicion Especial, My Father Le Bijou, Pardon 1964 Anniversary)

Nicaragua is home to a wide variety of tobacco prized for their strength and their usefulness as wrappers. Below are the top three Nicaraguan cigars:

La Aroma De Cuba Edicion Especial: Cigar flavored with leather, cocoa, cedar, almonds, and Nicaraguan spices. It comes embedded with the timely interior of certain Nicaraguan long-fillers, and a Cuban-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador.
My Father Le Bijou: An intense and meaty finished cigar with a nice balance between the lips, flavored with hints of semi-sweet cocoa and coffee beans
Pardon 1964 Anniversary: Optimal taste, blend of Nicaraguan filler tobaccos and bender, and flavored with notes of cedar, cocoa, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Honduras (Rocky Patel, Punch, Alec Bradley)

Honduras has made it to the top 3 exporters of premium cigars. This is owing to the introduction of Cuban seeds in the 1960s. Honduras cigars, like fine wine, have only gotten better with time. Here are the top three cigars from Honduras:

Rocky Patel: proprietary long-fillers, handcrafted cigar, and wrapped with Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper
Punch: rich and zesty cigar, handmade with Maduro and natural wrapper options and beautifully constructed.
Alec Bradley: Rich notes of earth, cayenne, spices, and cedar, rated the #1 cigar in 2011.

Mexico (La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor, Oliva Serie V Maduro, E.P Carillo La Historia)

Although Mexico is mainly a source of tobacco-for-wrapper for major cigar-producing countries, it still makes this list. Take a look at the best cigars you're likely to come across in Mexico.

La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor: creamy cocoa and smoked nuts profile, made with Nicaraguan long-fillers accentuated by an oily San Andrés wrapper leaf, and stylishly constructed.
Oliva Serie V Maduro: Made with dark lustrous San Andrés wrapper, notes of leather, cayenne, and earth
E.P Carillo La Historia: Glistening San Andrés wrapper leaf coupled with an Ecuadorian binder and Nicaraguan long-fillers, notes of chestnuts, baking spices, and cedar.

Several countries produce different types of cigars that taste, feel, look, and smell differently. This is great as it gives users various smokes to choose from, but it can be a problem when you only seek quality and want the best cigar you can get. The rundown above presents you top cigar producing countries and their top three cigars; they are hands down the best cigars in the world.

Best Tasting Cigars for New Experience

In this section, you'll understand what people mean when they talk about the taste of cigars. If you're new to smoking, you should know that you can taste cigars. Cigar companies have today prioritized the taste of their cigars more than any time in the past.

Top cigar brands would give you virtually any flavor between your lips. You wouldn't be sacrificing the sensation that comes with smoking a cigar; flavor is similar to icing on a perfectly baked cake. And just like cake icing has varieties in flavor, so do cigars. Here is a list of flavor varieties you're likely to come across in the best quality cigars:

Bourbon
Chestnuts
Chocolate
Cinnamon
Coffee
Cedar
Dessert
Honey
Wood
Wine

Here are some of the best - tasting cigars according to our experts in the field:

Ashton Symmetry: This cigar features Nicaraguan tobacco in its recipe, making it the only cigar of the Dominican collection to boast of that. Its flavor is a blend of cedar, coffee, figs, and dried fruits; quite a meal on its own.
Arturo Fuente Don Carlos: This cigar is a perfect balance of a special Cameroon wrapper leaf, Dominican binder, filler tobacco, and time. Like wine, this cigar only gets better with time. Its flavor is a fine blend of coffee, chestnuts, and cinnamon. Thus, you have both spicy and sweet sensations at your disposal.
San Cristobal Quintessence: Joe 'Pepin' Garcia is the award-winning cigar-maker that created this masterpiece. It makes an easy combo with bourbon or scotch. It is made of prized Garcia family tobacco wound in exquisite Ecuador Habano leaf as the wrapper. Its flavor is a blend of black pepper, cocoa, molasses, and wood.
La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Reserva: In its debut year, this cigar was #2 at Cigar Aficionado's cigars of the year ranking and deservedly so with its quality San Andrés Oscuro leaf of a wrapper! Its flavor is a blend of almonds, dark chocolate, espresso, hickory, and spices from Nicaragua.
My Father La Opulencia: This cigar was created by the Garcia family - a family that's twice won the top spot at Cigar Aficionado's cigars of the year ranking. Their My Father la Opulencia cigar took the #2 spot in 2018. Its flavor is a unique blend of dark-roast coffee, leather, and earth with sufficient pepper to make it just spicy enough for cigar enthusiasts!

Frequently Asked Questions about cigars

Are Cigars Bad?

This depends on how much you smoke cigars. Like with anything in the world, you should do so moderately. Generally, cigars can only be bad for you if you take them way too much. The answer is however subjective and so you may need to visit your doctor to know if cigars are bad for you.

Do Cigars Have Nicotine?

The exotic nature of good cigars makes this a common question. Well, yes, cigars do have a safe amount of nicotine.

How to Smoke Cigars?

It has been established that cigars are quite exotic and hence have a bit more sophistication. Here are the steps involved:

Cut the cigar: Get the cap of the cigar sliced with a cutter. Do not cut too much like most men; go for 1/8th of an inch.
Toast the foot: Apply heat to the cigar's foot while holding it at a 45-degree angle. Rotate it a few times to get the tobacco warmed up for easier lighting.
Light the cigar: Puff a few times gently without actually letting the flame touch the cigar. Keep doing this until you feel the smoke in your mouth, and do not inhale at this stage.
Ensure it is evenly lit: Blow on the foot of the cigar while looking at it to make sure it is lit evenly. You can tell it is evenly lit when the entire end is glowing. If this is not achieved, the cigar will not burn evenly.
Get ready to smoke: Smoking a cigar without inhaling is the way to go; all you need to do is draw in through your mouth like you are sucking on a straw. Puff every 30-60 seconds while closing off your nasal passage.
Handling your ash: Ensure your ash is about an inch before it is tapped off. Do not smash it on the tray like a cigarette.

Are Cigars Addictive?

Yes, cigars are quite addictive. Cigars contain significant levels of nicotine which is an addictive substance. It's also addictive to people in the vicinity of cigar smoke.

How to Store Cigars?

Cigars are crafted with intense attention to detail and craftsmanship. They must be treated as such and properly stored to ensure longevity. Cigars are stored in a container called a humidor until they are ready to be smoked. Still, occasionally they can be stored in a sealed plastic bag with a damp and small paper towel, but this only keeps them viable for a few days. A humidor is your best bet as it keeps them in the state they were produced.