Updated February 2023
Whether you’re a casual cigar smoker or a puro fanatic, chances are your first cigar was a flavored or machine-made cigar. Before you start judging, flavored cigars are the most popular variety of premiums by volume consumed than any other type of cigar. While classic sweetened cigars like Swisher Sweets and White Owl have been around for generations, flavored brands like Acid, Tatiana, and Java have contributed to a huge surge in the flavored market in the last 15 years. Please keep in mind that these are not cheap gas station cigars (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but full fledged premium cigars made by some of the biggest brands in the premium cigar industry – and we’re going to look at the best of the best.
Having trouble with connecting your pallet with the different flavor nuances in your cigar? Well Cigar Advisor is here to help with this downloadable Cigar Flavor Wheel – Download it for FREE!
Acid Kuba Kuba
Probably the most popular cigar from Acid, which I’m willing to bet is the most popular infused cigar brand on the market. If you’re an Acid lover then there’s no need for me to tell you how great this premium cigar is, but for those greenhorns out there- this is one fantastic smoke. Originally made at Nick Perdomo’s Nicaraguan factory, the Kuba Kuba is made with a Sumatra wrapper and infused tobacco with undisclosed essential oils to give it a bouquet of floral notes along with a gentle sweetness that hits the palate just right. Whether you’re an Acid smoker or not, there’s no doubt Acid played a crucial role in launching Drew Estate to the big time.
CAO Flavors: Eileen’s Dream
Who’s Eileen? I’ve got no clue, but her dreamy cigar is pretty darn good. Cloaked in a sweetly flavored Connecticut Broadleaf binder with infused Dominican filler. This premium features a buttery-sweet profile of Irish Whiskey, coconut, frothed cream, and a subtle note of white chocolate truffle; a flavorful blend that only complements the spicy and smooth Cameroon wrapper which rounds out our flavorful dream into a mild smoke that pairs perfectly with an Irish Coffee.
The Bourbon Cigar 10th Anniversary
One of my favorite cigar pairings is a stiff glass of Maker’s Mark, the iconic Kentucky whiskey with sweet notes of oak and vanilla. But why not cut the middle man and kill two birds with one stone? The Bourbon Cigar is infused with the top shelf whiskey in a special proprietary method. Handmade in the Dominican Republic, this mild cigar features premium Dominican long filler with a creamy Ecuadorian Sumatra binder and shade-grown Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper.
Java Latte
One of my favorite flavored cigars- Java Latte. This box-pressed DE and Rocky collaboration features a smooth, creamy, and sweet combination of tobacco with a blend of rich tasting Nicaraguan filler and an irresistible infusion of mocha. Produced at Drew Estate’s La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, this cigar gets a lot of well-deserved praise. When you have two cigar-giants like Rocky and Jonathan Drew working together, only good things will follow.
Tabak Especial
Unlike the Java, this coffee-infused cigar is made solely by Drew Estate and for premium cigar lovers. Upon the release of Kahlua cigars, Jonathon Drew showed he had mastered the art of slow infusion – leading him to the Tabak Especial. Combining the rich flavors of Nicaraguan tobacco with the velvety estate-grown coffees of Nicaragua, this masterful blend of Connecticut Shade wrapper and Sumatra binder makes for mellow mid-morning pick-me-up with a fresh cup of joe.
NUB Nuance Triple Roast
Oliva gone flavored- you may have had the NUB, but never like this. I’ll admit I was skeptical at first of trying the NUB Nuance line, but bravely I carried on and wound up smoking a whole 5-pack within a month. These fat little stogies come packed with coffee-loving flavor in a medium bodied blend of Dominican binder and filler with the unique flavors of an Indonesian Sumatra wrapper. If you like coffee flavored cigars, I highly implore you to try NUB Nuance.
Tatiana Amaretto
Rarely do you see quality like this in miniatures but Tatiana did good here with their Amaretto infused minis. These little guys fire off a hell of a lot of flavor for their mild body, featuring Cuban-seed tobacco that’s rolled and grown in the Dominican Republic and finished with a super-fine Indonesian Sumatra wrapper. Smooth, sweet, and nicely fused with the smooth almond flavors of the famed Italian liqueur- what more can you ask for?
Carlos Toraño Reserva Decadencia
A highly underrated cigar in my humble opinion. Carlos Torano killed it with this “port cigar,” a rich blend of premium tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Indonesia, all aged in French port barrels. Based on a Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan core of fillers, the tobacco is aged in French oak barrels that formerly housed Wilson Creek Winery’s award winning Decadencia Chocolate Port Wine. When the whole package is capped off with a luxurious Connecticut shade wrapper, you’ll find yourself greeted with an ultra-smooth smoke with fruity notes as well as a rich chocolate base.
Toscano Anno Domini
Possibly one of the oldest cigar companies that you’ve never heard of- Toscano has been making premium cigars since 1818. Italy is probably the furthest thing from your mind when you think of fire cured tobacco- my thoughts were to jump straight to DE’s Kentucky Fire Cured, loaded with mesquite fieriness. These Italian stallions are made with pure American Kentucky tobacco, fire-cured and ready to dominate in full-bodied flavor. If you’re going for the Clint Eastwood look, these cheroots will do the trick and then some.
#Famous
How can I not throw the Famous on here? These petite coronas are made at Nestor Plasencia’s Fabrica de Puro Plasencia in Esteli, using a secret blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos that are capped off with a creamy Honduran Connecticut shade wrapper. If you like your flavored cigars this is another must try- bursting at the seams with rich vanilla, caramel, sweet coffee and cream. Bonus tip- this cigar is social media friendly so throw that # on and light up.
Azucar Espinosa
Azucar is Espinosa’s first stab into the flavored cigars market and he nailed it. Azucar, Spanish for sugar, is an aromatic trip that’s full of sweet vanilla and toasty flavors. While the blend remains a secret, there’s no reason this cigar has to stay hidden. Use the Azucar as a starter cigar for new friends or simply enjoy them yourself.
Do you smoke flavored cigars? Post and share your favorites in the comments below!
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Fred Lunt was discovered to be the youngest cigar smoker in his family shortly after setting his crib ablaze; today, he's added an avid whiskey and craft beer appetite to his lineup. Fred has worked in marketing, blogging and communications at boutique PR agencies across New York and has personally had the pleasure of witnessing over four breakdancing shows in a single commute on the NYC subway. Prior to his work in marketing Fred was a student of communications at Temple University and still holds illusions that Temple has a better football program than Penn State.
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Personally, I think the Toast edges out the Kuba Kuba, and Kentucky Fired Cured has to be the top fire-cured stogie out there!
Very curious where the CAO Moontrance Robusto landed?
Tatiana cherry and vanilla very good cigars!
Big Dirt Torpedo, Irish Hops, and Toast. My personal trifecta.
Great selection of infused cigars. My goto’s are Dirt and Deep Dish, or anything coffee.
Java latte is one of my favorites but I always enjoy Natural too❤️
My problem is most offerings are too confusing. Some you have no idea what type of flavor to expect simply looking at their names. Tabak Especial Dolce and Negra are the exact same size, but one is rated at 99, and the other 77 respectively. I’m clueless.
Hi Joseph – the ratings are more of a consideration of how much people enjoyed it, as opposed to the type of flavor it’s infused with – so if the Negra is rated 77, it would seem fewer people have had a good experience with that blend overall, not just the flavor. Best is to read the reviews and see if others’ experiences can guide you – or better yet, try it for yourself and see if your experience falls in line with others. Everyone’s palate is different, so you might be surprised. Hope that helps!
Try the Corona Cigars Flavors. I like their Chololate. Not too expensive either.
Smoking the Acid Kuba Kuba right now. Quite a pleasant taste I must say. Very clean sweetness.
I just started smoking these as well and I love it.
Java Maduro 58
Do the Toscano series cigars need to be humidified?
Hi Tad – Toscano cigars are dry-cured, which means they don’t have to be humidified…BUT – one thing I learned from a company who makes these type of cigars is that you CAN keep them in a humidor if you want to, but it’s strictly a matter of personal choice. Hope that helps you…
I mostly smoke the Tabak Expecial Dulca brand. I switched to these when the Kahlua was discontinued.
The Drew Estate Cafe Con Leche is what I believe to be the old Kahlua. Dang good smoke!
i tried the tabak especial and i was very impressed!
I love the Acid Kuba Kuba, the Tatiana cherry and the Isla Del Sol. I tried a Java recently, and I’m loving them too.
guys i need help, just startet smoking, what can you recommend? (must be cheap and not too wild)
Tabak Especial Ducle is pretty safe and tasty. Drew Estate Factory Sweets are also very good and very affordable. About $30 for a whole bundle of 20
For a reasonable $ the Gran Habano Connecticut #1 Corona is a good place to start. 30-45 min smoke.
Hi is there a a monthly member for infused premier cigars
Hi Eriselda –
Not sure I understand your question. Are you referring to a “membership” of some kind?
Thank you.
Tatiana Groovy Blue is a fantastic smoke!
Just a beginner but I am hooked on the Acid Blondie. So smooth and flavorful. I have also tried Tabak Especial and Java. They are all good smokes. Can’t wait to try the other top infused stories.
Yes. That Blondie is very popular. I don’t smoke as much Acid as I do the Java and Tabak. If you like the coffee cigars, I suggest you also try the M by Macanudo. Thanks for the comment.
G-~
I want to try that famous vanilla cigar but I can’t find it
Hi Tracy –
Yeah, that was a good one. Unfortunately, Famous no longer carries that cigar. Have you tried the CAO Bella Vanilla? You might also like the M by Macanudo.
G-~
A while back, probably 10 years already I stumbled across the Kopi luwak. I loved it. However, after purchasing a couple more times, I can never find them. I am an occasional cigar smoker at best. I’m assuming they were discontinued, although it always seemed like they were very popular. What happened to them, and what would be a Comparable cigar? Thanks
Hi Bill – Here’s an article about Kapi Luwak cigars that may help, but it doesn’t sound very appetizing. Try the M by Macanudo or Taback Especial. Both are two of my favorite coffee-infused cigars. Try ’em, you’ll like ’em. G-~
I’m surprised the Java Mint didn’t make the list. This was my first flavored cigar, hell it was my first cigar ever! In addition any of the flavors by Cuban Honeys would be a good choice in my opinion
Elevation, Cotton Candy,Taffy Apple flavored cigars esp for us newby’s to find our way!
I carry all the Drew Estate cigars in my humidor. In my opinion DE is hands down the best flavored cigar maker today. The Dolce is a very sweet (actually a tad too sweet for my taste) mild bodied smoke and the Negra is lightly sweetened with a fuller body. The Irish Hops is my personal favorite but they are all good.