“Mild,” “medium,” and “full-bodied” cigars: What’s the dif’?

Q. What is the difference between mild, medium and full-bodied cigars?
– Keven
A. If you’re talking about strength profiles, the terms are pretty much self-defined.

The smoke from a mild cigar would be light on the palate. The smoke from a medium-bodied cigar would be a little heartier, and generally speaking, have more flavor, too. A full-bodied cigar would have stronger tobaccos, taste much more robust on the palate, may even be more complex in flavor, and perhaps be a little spicier as well.

That said, keep in mind that flavor and strength are separate entities. You can have a mild cigar with a lot of flavor and a full-bodied cigar with very little flavor. As always, it comes down the to blend and what you’re looking for in a good cigar.

As your palate becomes more accustomed to the flavors in various tobaccos over time, it will gravitate toward more “full-flavored” cigars. IOW, the “body” of the cigar will eventually become more of a non-issue as you discover more cigars that best suit your personal taste preference.