Cigars 101

The Difference between Handmade and Machine Made Cigars

Reading Time: 2 minutes

There are many different types of cigars ranging in size, shape, filler, and taste. This is why the smoking culture is so unique. You simply cannot say that all sticks are the same. Every one you smoke will be different and unique in flavor. Some of the differences will be very subtle and some will be more distinct because of the different fillers and binders used. However, one difference between a good stick and a great stick is whether or not they are hand rolled or machine made. Could this possibly make such a distinctive difference? Ask any connoisseur and they will say it does.

There are ways in which you can determine if the stick is handmade or machine made based on the look of the cigar. Looking at the outer construction of the cigar, the wrapper, will show and tell you a lot about the stick. The wrapper from a handmade smoke is very smooth and tight. It will also be a little bit oily when you touch it. When you smoke a handmade one, it will have a very even burn because the wrapper is stretched and wrapped so tightly.

Machine made cigars’ wrappers will be a little different. They are duller looking in appearance. Machine made cigars do not always have all natural wrappers because the materials have to be able to withstand the power of the machine. A machine made cigar will not taste as good because of the way it is wrapped.

The filler of cigars give it their distinct flavor and it is where most of the flavor is drawn from. This is one of the most distinct characteristic traits of a handmade and machine made cigar. The fillers in both types are very different. Handmade cigars have high quality fillers that run the entire length of the stick. Machine made cigars use lower quality fillers that consist of chopped up tobacco that usually includes the stem and other undesirable scraps. The draw and burn quality of a machine made stick is really affected because a long filler is not used.

When you are purchasing cigars, there are giveaways that will help you in determining whether the stick is handmade or machine made. Because the quality and the time it takes to produce a handmade stick the price is more expensive. It is better to spend the extra amount on a good quality smoke. Machine made cigars like Blackstone cigars are also packaged quite differently . They are usually sold in cellophane wrappers and can be found in most convenient stores. If you are interested in smoking a good cigar, never buy one from a convenient store. You can purchase premium cigars at smoke shops both online and in person. Ask any connoisseur and they will tell you to smoke nothing but handmade.

Subscribe
Notify of
4 Comments
Oldest
Newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Binh Vu
7 years ago

A lot of premium handmade cigars have cellophane wrappers with them though.

Samuel Kallaos
7 years ago

So are machine made wrappers not pure tobacco?

Object: Cigar box | UTSA Institute Of Texan Cultures
3 years ago

[…] cigars were hand folded, and getting the correct arrangement of leaves took a skilled worker. Today machines have taken over that task, by replacing the painstakingly folded inner leaves with smaller pieces […]

2020 CA Report: 5 Great American Cigars
1 year ago

[…] again in the DR for their “Original Handmade” line., Topper continues to make mixed filler machine-made cigars, starring their prized Connecticut Broadleaf […]

John Pullo

John Pullo

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
cigar advisor 7 best st. patrick's day cigars - cover

Lucky Smokes – Top 7 Cigars for St. Patrick’s Day

Reading Time: 4 minutes Inside, find Famous Smoke Shop customers’ favorite cigar picks to smoke on St. Patrick’s Day! Find your perfect companion smoke in time for the festivities!

Read More
cigar advisor fan mail part 56 - cover

Fan Mail: Fresh Cigar Questions…Answered! (Part 56)

Reading Time: 3 minutes We’re back with more Fan Mail video answers! This month covers topics like the difference between Maduro and Natural tobacco, whether you can flavor your own cigars, and more! Tune in now to watch our responses!

Read More
cigar advisor top new cigars-6-12-23-cover

Top New Cigars (June 12, 2023)

Reading Time: 3 minutes With Father’s Day on the horizon, we’ve revealed three new cigars that are perfect for your dad’s humidor—and yours. Check out these fresh releases from Punch, Crowned Heads, and Partagas now!

Read More
Gran Habano cigars guide Gran Habano cigar review Cigar Advisor Cover

2019 CA Report: The Essential Cigar Advisor Guide to Gran Habano Cigars

Reading Time: 14 minutes With four generations of tobacco growing and premium cigar blending know-how to their credit, the Rico family debuted their Gran Habano Cigars in 2003. This Essential Cigar Advisor Guide to Gran Habano Cigars reveals why these boutique cigars have a unique “sense of originality,” and much more.

Read More