How to Choose First Cigar

For those who are new to cigars and seeking their first try, finding the perfect option can be a bit tricky. There are so many available, and it can be hard to know which ones are good even if you have some experience, let alone if you are a novice. 

Should you buy a Cuban cigar, or should you buy a Nicaraguan cigar? Are cigarillos the best option for beginners or are large cigars a better choice? Should a newbie try a dark or light wrapper? The choices seem endless.

We’re here to solve these dilemmas and show you how to pick the best cigars for beginners.

Table of Contents

Choosing Between Cuban and New World Cigars

Is a Cuban, or New World the best choice for a first cigar? The truth is that superb cigars are being produced all over the world, so you will be sure to find something you like. 

Cuban cigars can sometimes be harder to get your hands on and are usually priced a bit higher. 

We have carefully picked the best cigar brands for beginners to smoke, along with their products that are most suitable to the taste and preference of people who are just starting their smoking journey.

Recommended Cuban Cigars 

With their light to medium strength, compact size, and harmonious blend of nutty and creamy flavors, these Cuban cigars offer a delightful introduction to the cigar universe.

Upmann Half Corona

Strength: Light - Medium

Gauge: 44 

Country: Cuba 

The H. Upmann Half Corona is one of the best starter cigar that provides a rich, smooth smoking experience with hints of nutty and creamy flavors. Despite its diminutive size, this cigar packs a satisfying punch, making it a perfect choice for a short, leisurely smoke.

Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto

Strength: Light 

Gauge: 50

Country: Cuba 

The Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto offers a delightful smoking experience with its compact size and rich flavor profile. Its well-balanced blend of earthy notes, hints of cedar, and a touch of spice make it a satisfying choice for aficionados seeking a shorter, and yet complex, smoke.

Quai d’Orsay No. 50

Strength: Light

Gauge: 50

Country: French

The Quai d’Orsay No. 50 delivers a refined smoking experience, boasting a harmonious blend of creamy flavors and subtle spices. With its profile, this cigar offers a well-balanced combination of cedar, nutty undertones, and a hint of sweetness.

Montecristo Open Junior

Strength: Medium

Gauge: 38 

Country: Cuba

The Montecristo Open Junior is a nice, easy-to-enjoy cigar. It's not too strong, with a smooth mix of woody and slightly sweet flavors. This makes it a perfect pick for those who like milder smoke.

Montecristo Media Corona

Strength: Medium

Gauge: 44

Country: Cuba

The Montecristo Media Corona is a shorter cigar that's easy to like. It's not too strong, and the taste is a nice blend of woodiness and a bit of sweetness. It's a good beginner cigar for folks who prefer a milder, shorter smoke.

Rafael Gonzalez Perla

Strength: Light - Medium

Gauge: 40

Country: Cuba

The Rafael Gonzalez Perla is a compact yet flavorful cigar. With a mild strength profile, it presents a combination of gentle flavors, offering enthusiasts a concise but enjoyable smoking experience. Ideal for those seeking a shorter smoke without compromising on taste.

Recommended New World Cigars 

For newcomers exploring the realm of New World cigars, these cigars, from regions beyond Cuba, provide a gentle initiation with their medium strength.

Brick House Corona

Strength: Medium - Full

Gauge: 42

Country: Nicaragua

The Brick House Corona is a classic and reliable cigar. With a medium strength, it brings together a robust blend of earthy and spicy notes, providing a satisfying and well-rounded smoking experience for enthusiasts who appreciate a solid, traditional cigar.

Oliva Connecticut Reserve Petit Corona

Strength: Medium

Gauge: 38

Country: Nicaragua

The Oliva Connecticut Reserve Petit Corona is a great choice for a smooth and milder smoking experience. With its Connecticut wrapper, with a creamy and sweet flavor, these can be really good cigars for beginners to try.

Oliva Serie G Special G

Strength: Medium

Gauge: 54

Country: Nicaragua

The Oliva Serie G Special G is a unique and enjoyable cigar. It’s marked by a Cameroon wrapper and offers a flavorful experience characterized by rich, earthy tones and a hint of sweetness. The smaller size of the Special G makes it a great choice for a satisfying smoke.

Plasencia Reserva Original Nestico

Strength: Light - Medium

Gauge: 44

Country: Nicaragua

The Plasencia Reserva Original Corona offers a flavorful and well-balanced smoking experience. With a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos, it boasts a medium to full-bodied profile, delivering notes of cedar, nuts, and a subtle hint of spice.

Deciding on the Size of Your First Cigar

If you are looking to try your first cigar, you probably shouldn’t go novelty big! Just make sure to choose something you will actually finish. A Robusto cigar has become the benchmark, middle of the road size - approximately 5 inches in length and 50 ring gauge (read more on what is ring gauge in other articles). 

A Robusto sized cigar can take over an hour to smoke, possibly up to 2 for a new cigar aficionado. So, it would probably be better to find some of the best small cigars for beginners for your first few attempts. Go for something more like a Petit Corona, Half Corona, Short Robusto sort of size. 

You’ll keep a good ring gauge, which will allow you to experience proper, premium cigars, and get all the flavors and complexity from it. But it’ll be a bit shorter in length. You may not get quite the same development in flavor, but let’s not worry about that yet. 

The logistics and shipping conditions from various locales such as Las Vegas, Tampa, Miami, New York City, Paris, or London, is also something to consider and might influence your decision on starting sizes based on availability.

Small Cigars for a Novice Cigar Smoker

Small cigars offer the perfect introduction to the world of smoking, delivering rich flavors in a manageable size for beginners.

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story

Strength: Medium

Gauge: 49

Country: Dominican Republic

The Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story is an excellent choice for those new to cigars. It has medium strength and a combination of woody, spicy, and slightly sweet notes.

Perdomo Fresco Connecticut Robusto

Strength: Mild

Gauge: 50

Country: Nicaragua

Perdomo Fresco Connecticut Robusto is ideal for those seeking a mild yet flavorful smoke. It has a smooth and creamy texture, complemented by hints of cedar and a subtle sweetness.

Vegueros Tapados

Strength: Medium

Gauge: 46

Country: Cuba

Vegueros Tapados provides a medium-bodied smoke with vibrant, grassy, and herbal notes typical of Cuban tobacco, along with a crisp finish. 

Big Cigars for a Beginner

You might be drawn to the allure of big cigars for their extended smoking pleasure and mild yet engaging flavors. If that’s the case, here are the top picks for you: 

Partagás Serie D No.4

Strength: Medium to Full

Gauge: 50

Country: Cuba

The Partagás Serie D No.4 is known for its bold flavors of earth, leather, and spices, this larger ring gauge offers a complex yet accessible smoking experience.

Rocky Patel The Edge Toro

Strength: Medium

Gauge: 52

Country: Honduras

The Rocky Patel The Edge Toro is an excellent choice for those new to cigars but inclined towards bigger sizes. Offering a balanced medium strength, it features a blend of earthy, nutty, and slightly sweet flavors.

Casa de Garcia Connecticut Churchill

Strength: Mild

Gauge: 50

Country: Dominican Republic

The Casa de Garcia Connecticut Churchill offers a long, leisurely smoke with mild strength. It has a blend of Dominican and Honduran fillers, providing creamy flavors with hints of cedar and a soft spice.

Selecting the Right Cigar Strength for Beginners

What strength cigar should beginners try first is a bit more of a tricky question. 

Generally, you will want to go for something on the more light / mild end of the spectrum. But how mild you go is more down to personal tastes and experiences, as well as time of day and other factors.

If you are a cigarette smoker, you may want to start out with good mild cigars for your base that beginners prefer. But as we know, taste is very subjective and a personal thing. What some love, others will detest. 

Light Cigars for New Cigar Smokers

For those just embarking on their cigar journey, starting with good light cigars offers a delightful experience for beginners.

El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme

Strength: Light to Medium

Gauge: 48

Country: Cuba

The El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme can be the best first cigar for someone starting a cigar journey. It offers a smooth, creamy smoke with subtle hints of cedar and a mellow smoke.

Vegueros Tapados

Strength: Light to Medium

Gauge: 46

Country: Cuba

Vegueros Tapados features a light to medium body with fresh, herbal notes, and a touch of spice, offering a clean and crisp smoke.

Davidoff Grand Cru No. 2

Strength: Mild to Medium

Gauge: 43

Country: Dominican Republic

The Davidoff Grand Cru No. 2 offers a smooth and elegant smoking experience. Its flavor profile includes creamy notes with hints of nuts and a subtle spice, making it an ideal choice for those new to the world of cigars.

Best Mild Cigars for Beginners

Good mild cigars can also be an excellent choice for a novice, offering an enjoyable introduction to the world of cigar smoking.

Romeo y Julieta Cedros de Luxe No. 3

Strength: Mild

Gauge: 42

Country: Cuba

The Romeo y Julieta Cedros de Luxe No. 3 is elegantly wrapped in cedar, enhancing its mild and aromatic profile. It delivers a harmonious tobacco blend of light floral and cedar notes, making it a gentle yet flavorful option.

Bolivar Tubos No. 2

Strength: Mild to Medium

Gauge: 42

Country: Cuba

Bolivar Tubos No. 2 features a mild to medium body, presenting flavors of earth, leather, and a subtle sweetness enveloped in creamy smoke. It is suitable for those who are just starting their cigar journey.

H. Upmann Majestic

Strength: Mild

Gauge: 40

Country: Cuba

The H. Upmann Majestic offers a pleasant and creamy smoke with hints of nuttiness and a touch of cedar, providing a pleasant and unassuming introduction.

Should You Go for Cheap or an Expensive Cigar?

Choosing between cheap and expensive cigars often puzzles beginners. It's important to understand that price points don't always dictate the enjoyment a cigar can provide. 

Expensive cigars are typically crafted with premium materials and undergo extensive aging, offering nuanced flavors. 

However, cheaper cigars can still deliver a satisfying experience, especially for those new to the hobby who are exploring their preferences.

Good Cheap Cigars for Beginners

Starting with a selection of good, affordable cigars can be an excellent way to discover your preferences without breaking the bank.

Casa de Garcia Connecticut Robusto

Strength: Mild

Gauge: 50

Country: Dominican Republic

Casa de Garcia Connecticut Robusto is well-loved for its creamy, smooth smoke complemented by subtle hints of cedar and nuts, ideal for those who prefer lighter smoke.

Quorum Shade Robusto

Strength: Mild

Gauge: 50

Country: Nicaragua

The Quorum Shade Robusto offers a mild strength profile that provides an easy and enjoyable smoking experience. It is well-constructed, ensuring a consistent burn and draw.

Cusano Dominican Selection Bundle Figurado

Strength: Mild

Gauge: 50

Country: Dominican Republic

The Cusano Dominican Selection Bundle Figurado delivers consistent notes of cream, spice, and wood, providing a satisfying and approachable smoke.

Premium Cigars for Novice Cigar Smokers

Exploring the world of premium cigars, even as a novice, can be a luxurious initiation into complex flavors and exquisite craftsmanship. Here are some top-tier choices that promise to deliver an exceptional smoking experience without overwhelming the beginner palate.

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Presidente

Strength: Medium to Full

Gauge: 50

Country: Dominican Republic

The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Presidente has notes of spice, sweetness, and a hint of citrus making it an engaging yet approachable cigar for those looking for luxury without the intensity.

Cohiba Siglo II

Strength: Mild to Medium

Gauge: 42

Country: Cuba

The Cohiba Siglo II is known for its delicate yet distinct flavor profile, blending smooth, creamy textures with subtle earthy and spicy notes. It provides a sophisticated experience without overwhelming a novice's palate. 

Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Toro

Strength: Mild

Gauge: 52

Country: Honduras

The Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Toro produces a creamy and soft smoke with delightful notes of nuts, vanilla, and a hint of spice. It offers a longer smoke, allowing the flavors to develop beautifully and providing a relaxed, luxurious smoking session.

Comparing Light and Dark Cigar Wrappers

Should I try a light or dark wrapper cigar for my first smoke? Connecticut shade wrapper vs Ecuador one? Is a dark cigar stronger? 

Truth is, the wrapper won’t make much difference to a beginner at all. The wrapper is just the dressing on the cigar, it does not impart much flavor at all, and not enough for the new smoker to really pick up on. 

Common wrappers include Nicaragua wrapper, Connecticut wrapper, Connecticut Shade, and Nicaraguan long-fillers, all ensuring a perfect cigar-smoking experience. 

Light Wrapper Cigars Ideal for a Novice

Embarking on your cigar journey with a light wrapper option is an excellent way to discover subtle flavors and aromas without any risks of overwhelming you.

Davidoff Signature No. 2

Strength: Mild to Medium

Gauge: 38

Country: Dominican Republic

The Davidoff Signature No. 2 is revered for its sophisticated blend of flavors, including earthy, nutty, and creamy notes. It is perfect for those seeking a premium, mild smoking experience.

Vegafina Classic Robusto

Strength: Mild

Gauge: 50

Country: Dominican Republic

Vegafina Classic Robusto is known for its smooth, balanced smoke. The light wrapper and mild strength make it a forgiving, pleasant introduction to the hobby of cigar smoking.

Brick House Double Connecticut Robusto

Strength: Mild to Medium

Gauge: 52

Country: Nicaragua

The Brick House Double Connecticut Robusto provides a mild to medium-bodied experience, characterized by creamy, smooth flavors with hints of spice and wood.

Dark Wrapper Cigars Newbies Should Try

Cigars with these wrappers can be a delightful first step, offering richer flavors in a smooth, approachable format.

Partagás Serie D No. 4

Strength: Medium to Full

Gauge: 50

Country: Cuba

The Partagás Serie D No. 4 is known for its robust flavors of earth, leather, and spices, this cigar provides a complex yet accessible smoking experience, ideal for those intrigued by fuller-bodied cigars.

AJ Fernandez New World Oscuro

Strength: Medium to Full

Gauge: 55

Country: Nicaragua

The AJ Fernandez New World Oscuro features a dark wrap that provides deep flavors of chocolate, coffee, and spice. 

Illusione Original Documents Maduro 88 Robusto

Strength: Medium to Full

Gauge: 50

Country: Nicaragua

The Illusione Original Documents Maduro 88 Robusto offers a symphony of chocolate, coffee, and a hint of spice, balanced by the natural sweetness of the Maduro wrapper. 

Top Cigar Brands to Try First

Most Cuban cigar brands stick to a general strength range, and you can see a great selection of those here. 

If seeking cigar recommendations, here are our picks you can choose fora Habanos Cuban cigar brand:

All these are very high-quality cigars that are at the lighter end of the spectrum.

New World cigars, meanwhile, often come in a wide range of strengths to suit every palate. For example, Oliva has the full-strength Serie V Melanio range, down to the light-strength Serie O. So there aren’t as many rules of thumb to look for in terms of New World cigar brands. 

Davidoff White Label cigars are very approachable however; their light strength but depth of complexity, combined with their impeccable construction, make them a winner for every smoker.

Best Drink Pairings for First-Time Cigar Smokers

If you are new to the world of smoking, it’s best to have a sugary drink to pair with, this will help avoid nicotine sickness. A good place to start is a simple Coca-Cola. You don’t just have to have 1 drink on the go though, try a small glass of Scotch Whisky with your cigar as well. 

The alcohol will help to clear some of the clagginess, allowing you to taste more of the flavors, but the tastes will also dance together to help pick out finer nuances. You may not notice it all yet, but your palate is learning. It's always a good idea to keep a glass or bottle of water to hand as well, just to freshen up the mouth and keep you hydrated.

Perfect Pairings

Discovering the perfect pairing can improve your cigar experience, harmonizing flavors and creating memorable moments. Here are some ideal matches between cigars and drinks that are sure to delight:

FAQ

What to know about cigars for beginners?

It’s crucial for newbies to learn about the types of cigars. So make sure to understand the different sizes, wrapper types, and the strength of cigars. 

Also, remember that the price isn’t crucial for the quality as some of the cheap cigars can be just as smooth and good as recognizable names. Familiarize yourself with cutting and lighting techniques and keep an open mind to find your preferred flavor profiles. 

What are the best tasting cigars for beginners?

The best flavored cigars for beginners often include mild to medium-bodied options like the Montecristo No.2 and the Romeo y Julieta Cedros. These provide a smooth, approachable flavor profile ideal for those new to cigar smoking.

How to pick a good starter cigar?

To choose the best cigars to smoke as a beginner, you need to factor in size, strength, and flavor. Our recommendation is to opt for a smaller size, like a Petit Corona, which is simply a perfect beginner cigar, or Half Corona, with milder strength. 

Good choices also include H. Upmann, Hoyo de Monterrey, or Davidoff White Label. 

How to light a cigar for beginners?

Lighting a cigar involves using a butane lighter or wooden matches. You can get them in almost any cigar lounge. Toast the foot of the cigar by holding it at a 45-degree angle and rotating. Once evenly toasted, bring the flame close and puff gently. 

How to smoke a cigar for the first time? 

For a successful first time smoking experience, cut the cigar using a guillotine cutter or a cigar punch. Next, light the foot of the cigar evenly with a butane lighter or wooden matches, rotating it for an even burn. Take slow and deliberate draws, and ash the cigar periodically.

How to avoid nicotine sickness?

To prevent nicotine sickness, ensure you eat well before smoking, keep a sugary drink nearby, and choose a milder cigar. If you start feeling unwell, try getting some fresh air to alleviate the symptoms quickly.

Is the Oliva Serie V good for cigar novices?

While Oliva Serie V is one of the reputable hand rolled cigars, renowned for its rich and full-bodied flavor, it may be intense for first-time cigar enthusiasts. Consider starting your cigar journey with Oliva Serie O, which is one of the best beginner cigar.