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Trying your first cigar doesn’t need to be a daunting experience, there are many resources on www.cigarcigarinfo.com to help you choose the best products for an optimal experience. While trying things out is a great way to learn, starting with a bad experience may be enough to turn you away from cigars for good!
Best Cigar for Beginners
Start your cigar journey with the classic line of 858 Natural cigars from the beloved Arturo Fuente brand!
Key Features
- Medium Bodied
- Cameroon Wrapper
- Dominican Republic Filler
- Price: ~$6
In the world of cigars, Arturo Fuente is considered one of the absolute best brands thanks to its long history of quality and consistency. This means you can always expect a stress-free smoking experience that leaves you very satisfied.
In the case of a beginner cigar smoker, the best choice of all Arturo Fuente cigars has to be the 858 Natural.
Handcrafted with an African Cameroon Wrapper and Dominican Republic long filler, the 858 Natural is a well-balanced Medium Bodied smoke. The most notable flavors are of cedar and mild tobacco, but there is a sweetness that balances out the taste.
Several different sizes and shapes are available with most falling around a $6 retail price.
Pros
- Top Quality
- Silky Smooth Smoke
- Well-Balanced Flavor Profile
Cons
- None
At just $6 a cigar, it’s hard to beat the value and exceptional quality of the Arturo Fuente 858 Natural.
2. Romeo y Julieta 1875
Proudly named after the year of the company’s founding, the 1875 line of cigars by Romeo Y Julieta is a mainstay for any cigar smoker.
Key Features
- Mild-Medium Bodied
- Sumatra Wrapper
- Dominican Republic Filler
- Price: ~$5
Many beginner cigar smokers turn to Romeo Y Julieta cigars as the first stop on their journey through the world of cigars.
This is for good reason since the company’s almost 150-year history is choke-full of award-winning cigars both inside and outside of Cuba. To get the very best in what the company has to offer in modern times, cigar smokers turn to the 1875 line of cigars.
Thanks to an Indonesian grown Sumatra Wrapper, the Romeo Y Julieta 1875 has an overall mild to medium flavored body. Some of the deeper flavors and spice come from long-aged Dominican Republic long filler. Plus, at around $5 a pop, these cigars are extremely affordable.
Pros
- Excellent Quality
- Perfect For Beginners
- Milder Flavor Profile
Cons
- None
Overall, the Romeo Y Julieta 1875 is a great cigar for beginners thanks to its affordability and mild taste.
3. Ashton Classic
Despite the expense, the Ashton Classic line of cigars is absolutely perfect for beginners and seasoned cigar smokers alike.
Key Features
- Mild Bodied
- Connecticut Wrapper
- Dominican Republic Filler
- Price: ~$10
For those to you who are new to cigars, Ashton probably isn’t a name you’ve heard of before. But it won’t take too long before you notice that some of the best cigars in the world come from the Ashton factory. The Classic line of cigars provides classic flavor profiles that appeal to all.
Perhaps the best way to describe the Classic line of cigars is “carefree”. With a Connecticut Wrapper and Dominican Filler, this cigar is quite mild. But the flavors that are present, like hay and nuttiness, standout in a tasteful way. Ashton does offer the Classic in a wide array of vitolas, with most standard sizes costing about $10.
Pros
- Unsurpassed Quality
- Lots of Noticeable Mellow Flavors
- Mild Flavor Profile
Cons
- Slightly Expensive
$10 is a great investment for beginners given just how good the Ashton Classic lineup of cigars is.
4. Macanudo Cafe
Macanudo brings an unforgettable mix of mellow flavors to its best-selling Cafe line of cigars.
Key Features
- Mild Bodied
- Connecticut Wrapper
- Dominican Republic Filler
- Price: ~$7
Macanudo has a pretty wide range of cigars that cover everything from budget to boutique. Perhaps the most well-known cigar in Macanudo’s arsenal is the Cafe series. Created to give an enjoyable and consistent smoke, the Cafe series should be in every cigar smoker’s humidor.
A silky Connecticut Wrapper covers a great blend of long-aged Dominican long-fillers. When smoked, the Macanudo Cafe will have a mild and mellow flavor profile dominated by lighter flavors like hay, tobacco, and toast. Plus, at just $7 a stick, this cigar won’t break the bank.
Pros
- Long Aging Process
- Smooth Draw & Mouth Feel
- Mild Flavor Profile
Cons
- None
There’s a reason so many cigar smokers swear by the Macanudo Cafe line of cigars making them a great starting point for beginners.
5. Padron 2000 Natural
Padron’s entry-level cigar, the 2000 Natural, is a great starting point for beginners that are looking for a bold full-bodied cigar
Key Features
- Medium-Bodied
- Habano Wrapper
- Nicaragua Filler
- Price: ~$6.50
Padron’s claim to fame comes from its ever-popular 2000, 3000, and 7000 series of cigars. Each series has its own special tobacco blend and unique flavor profile that is full of bold and hearty flavors. Plus, all this comes with the quality and consistency that Padron is known for.
Each 2000 series cigar is handcrafted by expert rollers and includes Nicaraguan long-filler covered by a dark Habano Wrapper. This blend is perfect for cigar smokers that like a full-flavored smoke that boasts flavors of coffee, cocoa, and nutmeg. While the Padron 2000 is a great cigar for beginners looking to try the Padron brand, it might be too strong of a smoke for some.
Pros
- Great Construction
- Super Smooth Draw
- Lots of Deep Flavors
Cons
- Might Be Too Strong For Some Beginners
Bold flavors and top-tier quality make the Padron 2000 Natural a great smoke for beginners and aficionados alike.
6. Olivia Serie G
Oliva has many great series of cigars, but the Serie G might just be its most popular!
Key Features
- Medium-Bodied
- Cameroon Wrapper
- Nicaragua Filler
- Price: ~$6.00
There is no mistaking an Oliva Serie G cigar. Its bold flavors mixed with a silky smooth smoke make the cigar a memorable one. It’s also a great starting point for a beginner to get the taste of a more robust multi-national construction cigar.
For the construction of the Serie G, Oliva uses an all Nicaraguan long filler wrapped in a sleek Cameroon Wrapper. This blend gives the cigar an earthy taste with hints of lingering spice and pepper. At just $6 a stick, the Series G is an excellent example of what flavor is possible with the use of a multinational blend of tobacco.
Pros
- Smooth Taste
- Great Construction
- Lots of Bold Flavors
Cons
- None
Earthy yet smooth, the Olivia Series G is an exceptional cigar to broaden the horizons of beginners.
7. CAO Gold
Taste the gold standard of cigars when you light up a CAO Gold series.
Key Features
- Mild-Bodied
- Connecticut Shade Wrapper
- Nicaragua Filler
- Price: ~$5.00
Diversity is the name of the game for CAO and their impressive lineup of cigars. But for those who like a traditional smoke with mellow flavors, then the CAO Gold line is the go-to. In the case of beginner cigar smokers, the Gold series is a great starting point.
Crafted with all Nicaraguan long-filler and wrapped in a Silky Connecticut Shade Wrapper, this cigar not only looks great but tastes great too. CAO also offers the Gold series of cigars in a large variety of shapes and sizes. Most varieties can be found retailing in the neighborhood of $5 per stick.
Pros
- Perfect For Beginners
- Great Construction
- Mellow Flavor Profile
Cons
- None
CAO is always worthy of a spot in any humidor and beginners should certainly give the Gold series a try!
8. Rocky Patel Sun Grown
Visit the world of well balanced complex flavors with the Rocky Patel Sun Grown series.
Key Features
- Full-Bodied
- Sumatra Wrapper
- Dominican & Nicaraguan Filler
- Price: ~$9.00
We don’t usually recommend full-bodied cigars to new and beginner cigar smokers, but with the Rocky Patel Sun Grown we’ll make an exception. Thanks to excellent blending and a long term aging process, these cigars are both smooth and complex. A true testament to the ability of Rocky Patel’s ability to create consistently great cigars.
To create all the complex flavors and notes, the Sun Grown series uses a bold Sumatra Wrapper around a mixed Dominican and Nicaraguan long-filler. All the tobacco used in the Sun Grown cigars are aged to a minimum of five years. This certainly makes for a smoother smoke but at a slightly elevated price of about $9 a cigar.
Pros
- Long Term Aging
- Flawless Construction
- Complex Flavor Profile
Cons
- Might Be Too Strong For Some Beginners
If you feel you’re ready to take on a heavier and more complex cigar, the Rocky Patel Sun Grown is an excellent choice.
How To Decide What’s the Best Cigar for Beginners?
With as many different opinions on this topic as there are cigars, it can be hard to know where to begin. There are a few different ways to look at this question. For beginners who aren’t accustomed to the taste of cigars, it would be best, to begin with, something mild and mellow.
This would be common sense in my opinion, with strong flavorsome cigars offering too much of a punch so to speak. A full-bodied cigar may be very appealing to an aficionado but for a beginner, it could be very overwhelming.
This overwhelming feeling can lead the first-timer to feel sick and nauseous so to be safe steer clear of these if it is your first time. Another way you could determine the best cigar for you is to consider your culinary preferences.
This doesn’t directly correlate, however if you prefer hearty, rich meals then maybe a bold cigar is the right choice for you. For those preferring something light then a mellow cigar may be the best choice.
What Next
After purchasing your cigar you then need to understand the next processes. Be sure to read through our detailed guides on how to cut and light a cigar because doing this incorrectly can destroy a cigar before you even get a chance to smoke it!
If you try your first cigar and enjoy it then it’s most likely you will purchase a few more. In doing so you will also need to purchase a humidor to store and preserve your cigars until you can smoke them. There is a detailed post of the best humidors as well as the importance of using one so familiarize yourself with our site to elevate your cigar smoking experience.
Bottom Line
For first-time users, there are a few popular cigars to choose from. Although everyone is different and this isn’t a case of ‘one size fits all’. Take a look through each cigar before deciding what is right for you. Once you do purchase your cigar be sure to follow the recommended steps to cut and light it to ensure a pleasurable experience.
Best Mild Cigars
I have been smoking cigars for 30 years and counting, I started at 18 years old with mild Cubans and worked my way up to medium and now bold. I own 4 humidors, that I try to keep stocked at all times.
