Being a beginner in the cigar world in 2023 can be a daunting task. Everyone has their favorites and 10 different people may tell you 10 different things about the same cigar. It can get confusing to find what you really enjoy until you try everything, or at least try to.
Here at Cigars.com we encourage beginners to really open their minds, and their palates, to different wrappers, strengths, flavors, etc. This is the only way to really grasp your perfect profile. While many suggest going smooth and mellow, I slightly disagree. Try different levels, from different manufacturers and different prices.
Maduro cigars seem to be quite intimidating because of the common misconception that a dark wrapper means the cigar is heavier. While many maduro cigars are up there in strength, there are quite a few that are solid medium or even mellow. If you think are ready to expand your palate, here are some recommendations on the best maduro cigars that have different strengths, countries of origin, and prices so you can find your perfect fit1
The Ashton Aged Maduro is a great cigar to start your maduro journey. It is a high end, premium smoke that is hand crafted by the famed Fuente Family. It uses a dark, Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper followed by aged Dominican filler and binder tobaccos. It is creamy and smooth, maintaining a nice mellow strength throughout. The maduro wrapper gives off notes of dark chocolate, coffee, espresso, and a sweet finish. This is a flawless example of how a mellow maduro cigar can work and a top-quality, smooth cigar for beginners.
You would be hard pressed to find a classier smoke then the Padron 1926. I know what you are thinking, it is a bit expensive for a beginner. While Padrons do come with a hefty price tag, when you light one up you can immediately see where your money went. They're aged to perfection and use only the finest Nicaraguan tobaccos in the world. The maduro version comes finished with a delectable Nicaraguan maduro wrapper. It is rich and flavorful with notes of cream, chocolate, and a slight sweet spice to it as well. BE careful with Padron, one is never enough.
La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Chisel Maduro
The La Flor Dominican Double Ligero is a powerful smoke. Its use of ligero tobacco makes it a 9/10 on the strength scale. However, the unique chisel shape gives you an amazing smoking experience and offers up just the right amount of smoke per puff. If you want to have a little fun, use a punch on the tip of it and see the smoke billow out both sides. It is wrapped in an oily Ecuadorian maduro wrapper. Unlike many maduro cigars, the flavor profile of the Chisel is based more on spice than rich sweetness. Bold notes of pepper, leather, spice and a dash of espresso make this a complex smoke that almost anyone would enjoy. This is a great test to see how strong you really want to go.
For years, Partagas Black reigned supreme in the full bodied cigar realm. To this day it is a favorite among full body maduro fans. It is as bold as it gets, and as its name portrays, its color is straight black. Its wrapper offers the new smoker a unique experience. It is actually a blend between a maduro and a sun grown, giving you notes of rich chocolate and a dash of zesty spice as well. For the beginner or the seasoned veteran, this is not a cigar to be taken lightly. After a heavy meal and a nice drink, sit down and light one up.
I know what many of you are thinking, why didn't he just include the Liga Privada No.9. Well I felt I had to balance out some of the higher priced cigars with some great value based smokes and technically the Undercrown is nearly the same cigar, just slightly tweaked. The Undercrown is a fantastic medium body cigar that was created to be an everyday equivalent of the legendary Liga. It is one of the most visually stunning cigars I have ever seen, with a jet black maduro wrapper that displays no blemishes or heavy veins. It burns even all the way down and produces an incredible amount of smoke. The Undercrown is a cigar that almost every aficionado has in his humidor.
For years, this has been my go to morning cigar. The 858 is a fantastic mellow to medium bodied Dominican that is rolled using a rich Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper. Each puff delivers notes of cocoa, milk chocolate, sweet coffee, and cream, making it one of the sweetest maduro cigars and perfect for your morning cup of joe. What's even more attractive is the price tag, as these puppies go for less than $7 a piece. What better way to start your day than with a Fuente?
Why o why would I suggest this to a beginner? Well, because it is one of a kind. The Camacho Triple maduro was the first cigar to be rolled with exclusively maduro tobaccos. Yes you heard me correct. It is hand crafted with rich, dark maduro tobacco for the filler, binder and wrapper. It is heavy, dense, powerful and above all smoky. This is a cigar that must be smoked outside, or else you wont be able to see the other end of the room. If you find that you do enjoy a maduro cigar, this is an absolute must.
When I first began in the industry, I had the opportunity to try out an Onyx Reserve and it made me fall in love with maduro tobacco. Although today, this brand seems to have been forgotten by the newest generation of cigar enthusiasts, it remains a favorite of mine. It is a great mellow smoke with robust flavor and wonderful notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and cream. It is a great budget cigar for the beginner, but also a good everyday for the true aficionado.
Perdomo 20th Anniversary Maduro
IF you are looking for a flavorful cigar that is of superior quality, good price, and consistent, Perdomo is the brand for you. I have yet to some a Perdomo that was cracked or burned funky. Nick has done wonderful things with maduro wrappers, including them on at least one of every line he has released. My personal favorite ahs to be the 20th Anniversary maduro. It uses aged Nicaraguan tobacco, including a pure Nicaraguan maduro leaf that is smooth and slightly oily. Each puff delivers an intense bouquet of flavors, including notes of leather, earth, espresso and a slight sweet spice.
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