Updated December 2020
So, you’ve been smoking cigars for a while now, but still haven’t decided to take the plunge and dig in to smoking stronger cigars. You know who they are: Camacho Triple Maduro, Padron 1926, Oliva Serie V, Joya de Nicaragua…maybe you even have a La Gloria Cubana Serie R or two in your humidor, but you’ve been avoiding them – because, well, you think it might just be “too much cigar.”
Fear not, my brothers and sisters: you can do it. And enjoy it.
First, however, we have to note the difference between strength and body – as they are not the same, but often confused or used interchangeably. The examples I noted earlier are strong and full-bodied cigars: higher in nicotine content, and rich with flavors from the individual leaves used in making them. But as I noted in a previous article, the term “body” is not absolute; Erik Espinosa taught us, “’body’ is the ‘stamp’ or ‘footprint’ of a cigar. It’s the end result of when flavor, strength, aroma and feel all meet and meld, with the end game being the impression and experience it gives you while you burn away at it.”
Or more simply, strength is strength – but body is the whole package.
In a word: experience. While some cigar smokers take to the heavy stuff right away, it generally takes some time to appreciate the rush of forces that come together when smoking a stronger cigar. And as many of those strong cigars are also full-bodied cigars, you’ll discover some very interesting flavors as you navigate these uncharted waters.
Try, try, try: smoke a wide variety of cigars, and over time your palate will become accustomed to picking up on some of these new-to-you flavors imparted by more powerful blends. Typically, the mix is thick with leaves from higher primings of the tobacco plant – the part of the plant that has soaked up more sunlight and more nutrients, which in turn produces thicker leaves and more sugars – and more potency. As you tune your senses to these stronger tobaccos, the strength within a full-bodied cigar should smooth out for you and the smoke as a whole will actually taste more flavorful.
Related: How to choose the right cigar for you
Free advice: ease into these Vitamin N-rich heavyweights. If you often smoke mild to medium cigars, you might find yourself occasionally hotboxing your smoke in an effort to pull out more flavor. Do this with a milder cigar, and you might get a little buzz; hotbox a strong or full-bodied cigar, and you’ll pay the price.
Hotboxing occurs by drawing on a cigar so often that the tars and nicotine don’t have time to dissipate. This can lead too much nicotine to get into the bloodstream and may result in nausea or dizziness. It can also cause the smoke to turn harsh and create burn issues.
The symptoms can get ugly ranging from the sweats, a warm rush, shaky hands and dizziness, all the way up to a full-blown “reversal of fortune.” So how do you start smoking stronger cigars – without getting sick? Or if you do start feeling a little green from your cigar, how do you reverse the effects?
Pace Yourself. The wisdom is to let a cigar rest between puffs, about a minute or so. If they’re new to you, that one bad run-in with a strong or full-bodied cigar might turn you off to what is actually a very enjoyable experience.
Drink something with it. I usually enjoy water or coffee, especially to balance the intensity of the smoke.
Keep a sugar packet on hand. Easy to do if you’re drinking coffee with your cigar. Seriously – watch this trick and see:
Ready to Earn Your Wings?
If those hardy smokes we talked about still seem a little out of reach, Jared has 10 excellent picks to pop your full-bodied cigar cherry. Check them out and begin your journey into bigger flavors!
Lots of folks tout that Drew Estate’s Nica Rustica is on the tippy top of the strength scale, but these smokes aren’t as formidable as you’d think (or they claim). Spicy – yes. Waiver required – no. Just enjoy the coffee sweetness and spice that the Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro and Nicaraguan fillers bring to the table!
One of the most under appreciated cigars on the market right here. Thanks to a Mexican San Andres wrapper and a core of Honduran, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian tobaccos, C.L.E. Azabache is sweet, smooth, and peppery without burying the needle. And that’s exactly what you’re looking for your first time.
What’s medium plus to me is likely full-bodied to you, so this Cerro Natural from HVC is a great stepping stone into the stronger stuff. The Corojo wrapper means it’s sweet and the Nicaraguan core means it’s spicy, but there’re lots of little notes like cedar, citrus, and even floral notes that will taste amazing and develop your palate! It even made our Top 25 Cigars list in 2018!
Everyone knows the burliest of cigars come from Esteli, but Onyx Esteli by AJ Fernandez lets you dip your toes to see how you like the water. First, there’s a jet-black Mexican San Andres Maduro, then a heart of spicy Nicaraguan leaves that bring notes of dark cocoa, peanuts, and a dash of rich spices. Try it as a Friday nightcap.
Crowned Heads loves to make intense smokes, but Headley Grange is one of a small handful of ballads they’ve deemed worthy enough of their name. The smoke’s Sumatran wrappers and Nicaraguan center give off flavors of cedar, cashews, caramel, and salty-sweet spices. Not too bold, nor too mellow. Just right.
Truthfully, this is a stronger smoke than I’d usually recommend for a first foray. But…it’s really good. Take it slow and steady like John talked about above, and you’ll be hooked. What’s more – this Nicaraguan puro’s got all the essentials: sweet spices, coffee, nuts, and wood. And it’ll be calling your name after dinner.
Dark chocolate. Citrus. Nuts. Earth. Mouth watering yet? If not, check your pulse and then check out Tatuaje Reserva K222. A collab between cigar rockstars Pete Johnson and Don Pepin Garcia, the Ecuadorian Habano-wrapped blend packs just enough punch to take your taste buds on a ride…without giving you the sweats.
Inspirado Orange is my favorite stick on Macanudo’s resume. Why? Because it’s rich, buttery, and decadent. It gets that way by marrying Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan leaves from its core to a lush Honduran wrapper. I found notes of nuts, leather, and spices, and a peppery retrohale. I wonder if you’d find the same?
Warped has built itself a sizeable fan base because – simply put – they put flavor over everything else. Imagine the smooth notes of cedar and cream you get from a Connecticut. Add some spice, an extra layer of sweetness, and now you’re in Maestro del Tiempo territory. This Corojo-wrapped treat is a regular in my humidor, and I’d argue it’d be an amazing first full-bodied for yours!
If there ever was a sleeper brand, Kristoff is it. This is another cigar that’s heavier than I’d usually recommend for getting your feet wet, but the Corojo Limitada is just so silky smooth that you probably won’t notice the strength. If you love sweet cigars with toasty flavors, pair this with your favorite bourbon to take the edge off of both!
Editor in Chief
This is not his picture, nor does he even have a beard. A solid 'B' student and occasional low-fi musician, John is a medley of cynicism and sarcasm crammed into a wrinkled Oxford shirt who makes it nearly intolerable to watch reality television with him in the same room. Interestingly, his Social Security number is all ones.
Show all John Pullo's Articles
Reading Time: 2 minutes What goes around comes around. In this case it’s the reprise of the Room101 Daruma. 10 years later, the new Daruma is a Nicaraguan puro that, as Matt Booth says, “is exactly what it needs to be.” Read about its upcoming revival here.
Reading Time: 2 minutes This month in Cigar Advisor Fan Mail, we talk about the best cigars to grab if you’re hosting Thanksgiving, the differences between long and short cigar filler, and whether you should smoke a fresh-rolled cigar right away, or let it sit. Tune in to see our video answers!
Reading Time: 2 minutes Turkey? Check. Stuffing? Check. Cigars? Get ready to check them off, too! We’ve got three new cigar arrivals from Macanudo, Rojas, and Oscar Valladares that are ready to satisfy after a delicious Thanksgiving feast!
Reading Time: 2 minutes What is a golf cigar? How do you pair a beer with a golf cigar? These questions have kept our greatest scholarly minds up at night for decades, or maybe not. We’re not scientists but the master brewers at Six Point Brewery sure are and they’ve concocted a new classic for the golf course that needs only the complement of a classic Montecristo and the company of friends.
Very informative–i think I may dip my toes in the deep end of the cigar pool!
I dont really consider the strength classifications when trying a cigar so I’m a little surprised seeing the Nica Rustica which I enjoy and the Padron 1926 which makes me wish I were rich, considered full strength cigars. Those are unlike the Oliva Serie V or the La Gloria Cubana Serie R which, yup a bit of a kick.
adding another couple to the wish list at Famous; thanks for the reviews!
Excellent. And please add your own comments about those cigars.
G-~
I’m new to smoking cigars I only been smoking for a year but I love full body cigars. The first ever cigar I smoked was a placencia and a padron 1926 when I tell people that they can’t believe it. Then I started smoking connecticut shade to shy away from peppery cigars but I actually found out I love full body cigars my favorites is actually three that you have on the list Comacho Triple Moduro, Padron 1926 and the Joyo de Nicaragua with the Triple Moduro as my favorite. I must say I do smoke slow a robusto which is the size I like the best usually last me about 2 hours…. Lol… Smoking cigars has become a great treat to me in my day and truly glad I discovered it. I love you guys reviews as well as a few other people I listen to. Keep them coming I look forward to them. Thank you
Thanks Stephen,
Much appreciated. Glad you like the list. So, you like full-bodied? I’ve got one for you. Check out Jacob’s Ladder, if you haven’t already. I would also try one of the cigars from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, like this one.
Enjoy,
G-~