If you’re new to cigars and aren’t sure what to smoke, we’re here to help. We’ve put together our top lists for the best cigars for beginners and the best mild cigars, but one question we get a lot is, “What shape should I smoke when I’m just getting started?” Here’s our advice. Why Cigar Size Matters When you’re browsing online or visiting a retail cigar store, you’ll notice most blends come in several different cigar sizes. Size is an important factor. Size determines how long it will take to smoke the cigar, and it also affects the intensity of the blend. In other words, choose a size tha ..read more

I’m smoking a famous cigar straight from the mighty House of Davidoff today: the illustrious Avo No. 2, a 6-by-50 Toro dressed in a light-blond Ecuador Connecticut wrapper. As soon as the winter weather breaks, I’m on the lookout for good cigars I can enjoy on the golf course and on my patio. Avo cigars come with the reputable pedigree of Davidoff as they’re handmade in the company’s factory in the Dominican Republic. Before he was known for Avo cigars, brand founder Avo Uvezian was an established jazz pianist. Famous for his Panama hat and white suit, Avo was rarely without a cigar before hi ..read more

Golf is the only sport we play while we smoke cigars. It’s a game of grip, stance, swing, and strategy. Serious golfers study the game by watching professionals play during prestigious championships like the Masters – a tradition unlike any other. The prominent Augusta, Georgia, event was conceived by amateur golf champion Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts. Architect Alister MacKenzie designed the legendary Augusta National golf course with Jones, who acquired the property after winning his grand slam in 1930. The annual tournament attracts 35-40,000 spectators to the course ..read more

I’m not too proud to walk around with a pink-banded cigar in my mouth as long as the price is right, and Rocky Patel Mulligans 19th Hole boasts a pink cigar band along with more 4 and 5-star reviews under its belt than I can count. And they only cost a paltry $2.24 apiece for the 6-by-50 Toro, called the Sand Wedge, that I’m smoking today. When Rocky Patel debuted the Mulligans franchise over a decade ago, he couldn’t have possibly predicted its success. The brand has blossomed into eighteen unique blends to choose from that come in several classic sizes packed in colorful and affordable 20-c ..read more

I’m firing up a chunky 6-by-54 Epicure in the Perdomo 30th Anniversary Sun Grown blend, one of three wrappers Nick Perdomo customarily offers in most of his cigar lines. We’ve already reviewed Perdomo’s 30th Anniversary Connecticut and 30th Anniversary Maduro cigars, which were confident ranking with the best Perdomo cigars we’ve smoked before. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to smoke the Sun Grown varietal to tell you how it performs as well. Perdomo 30th Anniversary Sun Grown shows off a Cuban-seed wrapper, grown in Nicaragua and aged for fifteen years, spending its final months restin ..read more

The Cigar Rights of America (CRA) was founded in 2008 as a grass-roots organization whose primary objective is to protect your freedom to smoke cigars. The CRA is comprised of cigar companies, retailers, and consumers who advocate collectively on behalf of the cigar industry and its patrons to fight punitive taxation, government regulation, and widespread smoking bans. Premium cigars are frequently misunderstood by the public and politicians due to the negative perception of “big tobacco” created by cigarette and vape manufacturers. What Does the Cigar Rights of America Do? In addition to sp ..read more

I’m smoking a small-batch La Flor Dominicana cigar called La Volcada in a 7-by-48 Churchill. La Flor Dominicana brand founder Litto Gomez is well known for his inventive approach to cigar-making with several unique cigars to his credit, including the Double Ligero Chisel and his award-winning Andalusian Bull. La Volcada is named after a step in the tango, which came from Uruguay where Gomez was raised. A silhouette of a couple tangoing is pictured on the cigar bands and boxes. Like other La Flor Dominicana cigars, La Volcada is a dark and intriguing blend, and it’s finished with a pigtail cap ..read more

Not long ago I wrote a review of the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue, which came out in 2022, but today I’m revisiting the original Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu blend, and I’m smoking it in a 6.25-by-52 Toro called the No. 1. Tatuaje brand founder Pete Johnson released the first Havana VI Verocu cigars in 2007 as a limited-edition version of his popular Brown Label Cojonu line. The blend was a hit with loyal Tatuaje fans, prompting Pete to make it a regular production cigar. Now you can enjoy it in a series of traditional sizes, including the No. 1 I’m lighting up today. Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu ci ..read more

It’s not surprising green cigars are the official smokes for St. Patrick’s Day. It sounds novel, but it’s actually an opportunity to call attention to an often overlooked cigar wrapper: Candela. The Candela wrapper is green and it is not a gimmick. Candela cigars have been around for many decades. The first Candelas were created by accident in Cuba in the 1940s, but the wrapper achieved popularity for its mild, grassy taste. Candela cigars occupy a smaller niche today, but there are a handful of high-quality blends to consider. Go green with the best St. Patrick’s Day cigars you can buy now ..read more

Villiger Cuellar Black Forest cigars don’t come in the typical blowout bin bundles I’m accustomed to reviewing. These premium smokes are actually packaged in boxes, but don’t get me wrong, they still go for a rock-solid bargain. I’ve already unloaded my unabridged praise of Villiger White Forest cigars in a previous review. Let’s take a walk on the dark side and find out how Villiger Black Forest stacks up in a 6-by-54 Toro Gordo.  Villiger is a European maker of machine-made cigars, best known for its Villiger Export brand, but the company’s chairman, Heinrich Villiger, has focused on e ..read more