Top 11 Flavored & Infused Cigars You Need to Try
Whether you’re a casual puffer or a cigar fanatic, chances are your first was either 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.
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FLORAL
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. 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.
Coffee
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. This flavorful mix complements the spicy and smooth Cameroon wrapper, that rounds out our mild, yet flavorful dream.Pairs perfectly with an Irish Coffee .
Asylum 867 Midnight Oil
The Asylum 867 Midnight Oil is a dark, full-bodied Nicaraguan cigar that hits hard with espresso and pepper flavors. The oily wrapper burns slow, giving you plenty of time to enjoy its intense taste. Not recommended for beginners, but great for those who like their cigars and coffee bold and rich. It's a solid smoke that delivers consistent flavor from start to finish.
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 Dulce
Unlike the Java, this coffee-infused cigar is made solely by Drew Estate for premium cigar lovers. Upon the release of Kahlua cigars, Jonathan Drew showed he had mastered the art of slow infusion – leading him to the Tabak Especial Dulce. 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 a mellow mid-morning pick-me-up with a fresh cup of joe.
M by Macanudo Espresso
The M by Macanudo Espresso is a coffee-infused premium that actually pulls off the flavored thing pretty well. It's a milder smoke that doesn't try too hard - think smooth coffee with a hint of sweetness rather than some syrupy gas station cappuccino. The Indonesian wrapper keeps things interesting while the Dominican guts make sure you know you're still smoking a real cigar. If you're coffee-obsessed or just cigar-curious, this could be your gateway smoke.
NUB Nuance Espresso
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.
Liquor
Maker’s Mark
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 out the middleman and kill two birds with one stone? This Maker’s Mark cigar is infused with the top shelf bourbon 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.
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 infused with the smooth almond flavors of the famed Italian liqueur- what more can you ask for?
Fire Cured
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.
Vanilla
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.