If you are interested in and are unsure of what is best for you, be aware that no one can guess which one will be the best for you, since everyone has different tastes. However, we can still help because we have a lot of experience with cigars and helping people find one they like. For most new smokers, it is best to start with a mild or medium : one without overpowering strength.
Many people will assume that a with a small (thickness) will be best for a beginner, but that isn’t necessarily true. The thinner cigars, ring gauges below 40, tend to be stronger than the cigars with larger ring gauges. You’ll notice 8/10 of our recommendations have a ring size of 50 or higher; the other two have a 46. A fat is normally best for beginners.
Finding the best for you will be a journey, an enjoyable one. Still, rather than start from scratch, we put together our list of the best cigars for new smokers.
The best tip for novices is to a . Don’t a dry . Order a and keep it in your for a few weeks. Most beginners won’t have a properly treated , so keeping it in a Tupperware container or Ziploc bag with a 65-71% humidity Boveda pack will likely be the best option. Avoid from gas stations and delis, or any place that keeps the open. Check the hygrometer in the store to make sure the humidity is close to 70%. You can pick up a using one of the links below or by visiting a local .
Top 10 Cigars for Beginners
Table of Contents
#1 Ashton Classic Churchill
This is our cigar expert Maria Morales’s top pick for beginners. Maria loves this cigar and smokes it regularly, herself. It has a mild to medium strength with a Connecticut wrapper that make for a good entry cigar for novices. A churchill may be too long for the average smoker, but for the difference in price, you should pick up the bigger cigar. Aged like a fine wine, Ashton Classic Churchill is a velvety mellow smoke ideal for novices. It is a meticulously crafted cigar from Dominican Republic which features a gorgeous Connecticut shade wrapper. The perfectly blended flavors of almond, cedar with warm floral notes are meant to please your palate. You can never go wrong with a premium tobacco enormously desired in the U.S market.
7.5 x 52
Wrapper type: Connecticut
Length: 7.5
Ring: 52
Shape: Churchill
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Origin: Dominican Republic
Strength: Mellow-Medium
Wrapper Shade: Connecticut
#2 Macanudo Duke of York
Next in line is an epitome of elegance consistently providing impeccable performance to the vast state of America. The beauty of this cigar lies in its first-class Connecticut shade wrapper and Mexican filler. It has a flavorful profile offering a mellow and sophisticated smoke. A perfectly constructed cigar at its finest. This is one of the cigars that one of our writers, Glyn, started consistently smoking first.
5.25 x 54
Wrapper type: Connecticut
Length: 5.25
Ring: 54
Shape: Robusto
Binder: Mexico
Filler: Dominican Republic/Mexico
Origin: Dominican Republic
Strength: Mellow
Wrapper Shade: Natural
#3 La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Robusto
This cigar comes in at #4 for Maria. It is a little strong, but the flavor justifies it being on the list. There’s no reason a new cigar smoker shouldn’t try a flavorful cigar. Nicaragua never cease to amaze everyone with their masterpieces and the box-pressed La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Robusto is not an exception. Waves of leather, oak, vanilla and espresso complemented with chocolatey sweetness and spice are certainly a good way to start your cigar journey. A rich flavored roller coaster ride smoke is what it’s yet to offer.
5 × 50
Wrapper type: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Length: 5
Ring: 50
Shape: Robusto
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Origin: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper Shade: Colorado
#4 Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Seleccion No. 2
Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Selecion No. 2 is an exemplary of quality and class. Honduras made sure to check all the boxes producing a gem that continues to stand the test of time. It conveys a blanket of delicate yet complicated flavors sporting a full strength smoke. It’s a friendly cigar ideal for beginners looking for a very tame burn.
4.875 × 50
Wrapper type: Habano
Length: 4.875
Ring: 50
Shape: Rothschild
Origin: Honduras
Strength: Medium
Wrapper Shade: Natural
#5 Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Churchill
This was the other cigar that Glyn smoked regularly when he first started smoking. Displaying a magnificent Ecuador Connecticut wrapper is the Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Churchill. This flavor wise cigar was a product of innovation opting to escape from the line’s authentic and tested blend. It is gentler and smoother than the traditional Romeo y Julieta however, its quality remained untouched.
7 × 50
Wrapper type: Ecuador Connecticut
Length: 7
Ring: 50
Shape: Parejo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua/Dominican Republic
Origin: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium
Wrapper Shade: Natural
#6 H. Upmann Connecticut Robusto
Hermann Dietrich Upmann loved Cuban Cigars so dearly that he started a legacy which lives up to this day. Small but terrible, this stunning tobacco ironically embodies a whole lot of enticing flavors. Your taste buds will surely be satisfied with its oozing creaminess paired with a touch of bitterness. A perfect go-to cigar for a quick yet pleasurable smoke without a doubt.
5 × 52
Wrapper type: Conencticut
Length: 5
Ring: 52
Shape: Robusto
Origin: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium
Wrapper Shade: Connecticut
#7 Arturo Fuente Sun Grown Chateau Fuente
The Fuentes do not settle for anything but excellence. Their four generations of supremacy can be traced through their iconic and excellently blended cigars. While it earned a recognition of world’s finest cigars, it also dominate one’s palate with rich flavors of leather, caramel, and oak which impart a nicely dry sensation.
4.5 × 50
Wrapper type: Habano
Length: 4.5
Ring: 50
Shape: Robusto
Origin: Dominican Republic
Strength: Mellow
Wrapper Shade: Natural
#8 Camacho Connecticut Toro
The glamour of Camacho Connecticut Toro is evidently noticeable in its brownish light earthy wrapper. With its carefully aged filler, one can tell how skillfully it was crafted. It is a mellow to medium bodied cigar that begins with warm and cedary taste which gets powdery blended with kicks of aromatic spice.
6 × 50
Wrapper type: Honduras Connecticut
Length: 6
Ring: 50
Shape: Parejo
Binder: Honduran Corojo
Filler: Honduras / Dominican Republic
Origin: Honduras
Strength: Mellow-Medium
Wrapper Shade: Natural
#9 Padron Delicias Natural
Piloto Cigars Inc. commonly known as Padron Cigars is a renowned manufacturer of top-quality cigars. With Padron Delicias Natural on the line, its earned reputation will surely be invincible. It has an unwavering 90+ ratings from cigar aficionado—an evidence of its flawlessness. A nice and smooth draw plus excellently blended flavors are the finer things it promise.
6 x 50
4.87 × 46
Wrapper type: Nicaraguan Habano
Length: 4.87
Ring: 46
Shape: Corona Extra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Origin: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Wrapper Shade: Colorado Maduro
#10 Por Larrañaga Gran Corona
Gran Corona is the tamest cigar you could ever have in the Por Larrañaga line, which makes it a suitable choice for first time smokers. It sports minimally visible veins and is somewhat on the short side. Sold for a relatively cheap price, this cigar delivers delicate yet impressive flavors.
6 × 46
Wrapper type: Ecuador Connecticut
Length: 6
Ring: 46
Shape: Parejo
Binder: Dominican Polito
Filler: Dominican Republic
Origin: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium
Wrapper Shade: Natural
Final Thoughts For a Beginner Cigar Smoker
When it comes to finding the , there’s no simple answer. But as a general rule, a should start with a . A thick will produce more than a thin one, but it is typically less strong than a thin . We recommend starting with a from a reputable .
Don’t go crazy though! A can be purchased for under $10. Don’t spend $20+ on a or even more on a until you get some experience. When most people start , they aren’t able to taste the subtle flavors, so spending a lot of money isn’t worth it. Even a can enjoy a that’s less than $10.
In the end, the best is the one you enjoy.
