Finding your ideal cigar strength is key to discovering the perfect smoking experience. This guide simplifies the process by detailing what each strength level offers in terms of nicotine, flavor and pull. Once you understand these options, you can confidently choose a cigar that truly satisfies your senses.

What Determines the Strength of a Cigar?

The strength of a cigar is determined by the amount of nicotine. While many people assume that the strength is measured by the flavor and body, it's actually not the case. Flavor intensity is related to the richness, aroma and taste. 

For example, a cigar with a low nicotine content but an intensely powerful taste isn't a ‘strong’ cigar, regardless of how rich it is in flavor. It's also possible to have an option with a very mild flavor that's high in nicotine, meaning that despite the soft flavors, the cigar would be classed as ‘strong’. 

For new smokers, it's essential to have cigar strength explained and understood before finding your perfect smoke. 

Factors That Impact Cigar Strength

Finding your perfect smoke will depend on several characteristics, including the aging process, but cigar strength will always be one of the most important. 

Many factors affect the strength of a good cigar, including: 

• Tobacco: This includes factors such as the position of the tobacco leaves on the plant. For example, ligero leaves are harvested from the top of the plant, which has a significantly higher nicotine content. The higher the nicotine content, the stronger the cigar. 
• Region of growth: Regional factors can significantly impact the strength of your cigar. There are also cigars that are blended to give smokers a higher/lower nicotine content with flavor profiles specific to a region. 
• Wrapper leaf: Your cigar's wrapper will be a major factor in determining its flavor and strength. While a lighter wrapper is usually a sign of a low to medium-strength cigar, such as a Montecristo, dark wrappers are typically associated with stronger smokes, like those from the Drew Estate brand.
• Changes during fermentation: The chemical transformations that tobacco leaves undergo during fermentation are fascinating. These changes can either increase or reduce the strength of a cigar and contribute to the flavor and concentration. 

Which Cigar Strength Is Right for You?

Finding the perfect combination of strength, flavor and punch is an important part of any cigar smoker's experience. Sometimes, it means trying out a few different options before settling on your ideal pick. 

While the cigar strength scale is straightforward, there are a lot of different factors within those mild, medium and full strength options. Use the information below as your cigar strength guide to help you choose the kind of smoking experience you've been looking for. 

Mild-Strength Cigars

Mild-strength cigars offer a lighter, smoother alternative to some higher-nicotine options. While they may be classed as mild, there's certainly nothing mild about their flavor and pull. 

A mild strength cigar won't dominate your palate, but it'll usually be rich in flavor and work well with a good coffee or other beverage. If you're new to cigars and looking to find a starting point without sacrificing satisfaction, mild cigars may be a perfect introduction. Enjoyed by newbies and seasoned cigar aficionados, the mildness of these cigars is by no means a reflection on how they taste. 

Flavor, Smoke Experience and Nicotine Content

When a cigar is mild in strength, its flavor will usually be more subtle. Smokers won't experience a strong aftertaste, and the lightness will hold softer bursts of flavor. While there are countless flavor variations available, common ones include complex flavor profiles of wood, cream, mild cedar and nuts. 

Milder cigars typically come from volado leaves, which tend to be the mildest tobacco leaves. This means that the nicotine content is considerably less in relation to a full-strength cigar. For new cigar smokers, this offers you a sophisticated flavor hit that won't overwhelm your senses. 

Cigar Recommendations

A mild smoke might just be what makes you fall in love with the fine art of cigars. Or it could just be a satisfying flavor experience for a dedicated cigar lover. The options below are a great choice regardless of where you want to explore on the cigar strength scale:

• Neos Natural Cappuccino: Made in Belgium and budget-friendly, these cigarillos are available in four flavors, each offering a smooth flavor and an even burn. Neos cigars are casual, quick smokes that pair well with a good meal or a cocktail. 
• Ashton Half Corona Connecticut Shade: This blend of Dominican tobaccos is wrapped in a Connecticut Shade wrapper, delivering a complex flavor journey that begins with a gentle hint of pepper before transitioning into a satisfying, creamy smoke experience. 
• Davidoff Mini Cigarillos Silver: Ideal for a fast but deeply enjoyable smoke, these cigars are made in Holland, Denmark and the Dominican Republic. A popular choice for European smokers, Davidoff little cigars and cigarillos have a smooth but light feel. 

Bridging the Gap With Mild to Medium Strength Cigars

If your perfect smoke isn't quite mild, but also not at the point where you've developed a medium-strength palate, these are a great middle-ground option. With a mild to medium strength cigar, you'll have all the subtle flavor and lightness of a mild smoke, and a little extra nicotine kick to go with it. 

Popular mild to medium cigar brands include: 

• Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva.
• Davidoff Limited Edition Tampa.
• Perdomo Champagne.
• Tabak Especial Natural.

Medium-Strength Cigars

A medium-strength cigar will provide a deep yet enticing flavor balance. It's a go-to choice for smokers who prefer a smooth cigar with a deep, satisfying draw. While the nicotine levels in medium-strength cigars will be stronger than a milder choice, your palate won't be overwhelmed.

Medium-strength cigars are a little more decadent, but not as intense as the full-strength options available. The versatile range of options out there means that a medium cigar can be a quick daily smoke, an aged special occasion cigar kept safe and sound for a celebration and a rare collector's choice.

Flavor, Smoke Experience and Nicotine Content

There's a fine art to the flavor complexities of a medium-strength cigar. You can find combinations of coffee, spices and cocoa, or earthy tones with subtle undertones of leather or wood. While spice and pepper tones are also common in mild cigars, medium smokes will have a more pronounced presence of these flavors, depending on the specific blend or wrapper. 

The smoothness of the cigar and the bold hit of those complex flavors deliver an even pull that's powerful but not too intense. Many smokers enjoy pairing these cigars with a fine whiskey, a full-bodied wine or a rich espresso to complement the complexities within each pull. 

The majority of medium-strength cigars will come from Seco leaves, which are the middle leaves of a tobacco plant. This low-to-mild nicotine presence is sometimes blended with a small amount of the stronger ligero leaves to give it that extra boldness. 

Cigar Recommendations

One of the most enticing reasons people decide to explore medium-strength cigars is that there are so many options to suit every smoke preference. 

Below are some great picks for seasoned smokers and those looking to take the leap from mild to something a little bolder:

• Ambrosia Clove Tiki Cigarillos: A great starting point for smokers new to medium-strength cigars, Ambrosia Clove Tiki Cigarillos offer hints of clove and a subtle sweetness. Perfect for quick smokes at any time of the day. 
• Deadwood Crazy Alice Cigars: If the name of these cigars doesn't entice you enough, the premium blend of Nicaraguan filler tobaccos and dark Maduro wrapper will. The deep and full-bodied notes of chocolate, earth and dark roast coffee may be a little too much for novices, but seasoned smokers will love them as a post-meal pull. 
• Java Maduro Petite Corona: While these coffee-infused cigars are medium on the cigar strength scale, they're enjoyed by smokers of all tastes across the world. Java Maduro Petite Corona cigars are handmade and infused with cocoa extract and mocha java, which is aged in Spanish Cedar. 

Consider Medium to Full-Strength Cigars

If you're searching for the perfect smoke and looking to build up your tolerance, medium to full-strength cigars offer a delicious punch that's not as intimidating as their stronger counterparts. Just remember to make sure you have a full stomach before trying out a stronger, full-bodied smoke.

A few popular cigar brands offering a satisfying medium to full strength experience include: 

• Asylum 13.
• Brick House Maduro.
• Padron Anniversary 1964.
• The Wise Man Maduro.

Full-Strength Cigars 

The majority of smokers will find their perfect smoke in the medium strength range. However, the tastes and preferences of every smoker will vary. Full-strength cigars are for true cigar aficionados who want the kind of pull that stays on the palate and delivers powerful taste and flavor sensations.

While full-strength smokes may seem overpowering to the senses, the flavors are still beautifully blended together. 

Flavor, Smoke Experience and Nicotine Content

The intensity of full-strength cigars delivers a powerful flavor experience. For smokers looking for a layered and bold cigar, the full-strength options come in flavors that evoke intense pepper, earth, leather and spice tones. 

The smoke experience is robust and can be a pretty intense feeling for those who don't smoke regularly, but it still has all the hallmark complexities of a medium blend. 

Full-strength cigars are best for experienced smokers. You'll need a high nicotine tolerance, as most of these cigars are made from ligero tobacco leaves, which are picked from the top of the plant and packed with nicotine. 

Cigar Recommendations

 The recommendations below work well when paired with strong whiskeys or coffees to complement the intensity of a full-strength smoke. Remember that a good hearty meal is always a good idea before lighting up as well! 

Our cigar recommendations include:

• Liga Privada No. 9: A combination of tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua makes this Liga Privada cigar a full-flavored international blend in a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.
• Blackened M81 Toro: This Metallica-inspired cigar is the lovechild of Metallica's James Hetfield and Rob Dietrich of BLACKENED American Whiskey, who teamed with Drew Estate to create a cigar that's cased in a San Andres Maduro wrapper with a blend of Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro fillers. Smooth, strong and unapologetically maduro.
• Tatuaje Gran Cojonu: Rolled in Miami, Tatuaje Gran Cojonu combines the flavor complexities of coffee and earth tones with a hint of cedar and a creamy finish.

Final Considerations for Finding Your Perfect Smoke 

In any cigar strength guide, finding your perfect smoke boils down to one thing — you and your tastes. There's no wrong choice when selecting a strength that suits your personal preferences. 

To help you narrow down your definition of perfect, consider the following factors: 

• Nicotine is key: Remember that cigar strength can mostly be explained through its nicotine content and how this affects the smoker.
• New cigar smokers: If you're new to cigar smoking, search for criteria like blend information and flavor notes to help determine a cigar's strength.
• Size matters: The dimensions of a cigar will play a role in how you experience its strength (thick cigars may taste mild compared to the same amount of tobacco in thin cigars).
• Differentiate strength and flavor: Nicotine strength and flavor complexity can both be bold, and it takes time to separate nicotine and flavor complexity when smoking.
• Strength vs. body: Cigar strength and body are often confused - the body of a cigar is more related to the depth and richness of the flavor on your palate.
• Heed your body's signals: Listen to your body and its response to cigar smoking to avoid choosing a cigar strength beyond your tolerance.
• Consider external factors: Prioritize proper care after purchasing your cigar to combat elements that can negatively affect the taste and strength of the experience, such as excessive moisture or dryness that can cause the wrapper to crack. 

Corona Cigar Co. Is Your One-Stop Shop for Cigars of All Strengths 

Finding the right cigar strength for the best possible smoking experience is a journey. But once you've discovered that sweet spot, you'll look forward to a fulfilling, simple experience every time you light up. Corona Cigar Co. is your one-stop shop for premium cigars of all strengths. 

We have a wide selection of cigars and high-quality accessories. We believe that quality cigars don't have to be too expensive, and that a satisfying pull should be affordable. If you have any questions about which cigars to select, our team of cigar experts can help you find that perfect smoke. 

Explore our range to make every smoke a celebration.