Cavalier cigars come in three flavors: the White Series, the Black Series, and the Black Series II. While the White Series is the flagship, the Black Series is rated very highly and holds its own among beginner cigars recommendations thanks to its medium strength and body.

Introducing Cavalier cigars

Cavalier Cigars - or Cavalier Geneve, to use their full name - are a brand based out of Geneva, Switzerland. Sebastien Decoppet founded the factory after spending time in Honduras in his early 20s and picking up the passion for premium cigars.

The cigars carry the hallmarks of Decoppet's early inspirations: the horse and man logo, created by Honduran friend and artist David Rojas, as well as the gold leaf diamond seal suggested by Sebastien's wife, Eylin Decoppet.

After three years in Switzerland from 2015-18, Cavalier Cigars launched a US-based studio too, and the sticks themselves are produced in the San Judas Tadeo Factory in Danli.

What other Cavalier cigars can you enjoy?

Black Series is one of the three main lines from Cavalier, along with its sequel Black Series II, and the White Series for which the brand is best known.

Cavalier White Series

White Series is the flagship line from Cavalier Cigars, combining cedar wood, cocoa, and cream, along with the taste of dried fruit. Look out for the White Series Medio vitola, a stubby 3.5-incher that skips the intro and launches you straight into the sweet spot of the smoke.

What you need to know about the Cavalier Black Series

Cavalier Black Series cigars look great in the humidor. Their slightly ragged construction gives them a real handmade feeling, while the gleaming gold leaf seal and prancing pony logo draw you in and make it hard to resist lighting up.

Once you're underway, there's a complex flavor profile that's never overpowering, so if you like making tasting notes and trying to spot all the different elements in the tobacco, smoke and retrohales, this stick is one you will enjoy over the course of a couple of hours.

The Cavalier Black Series consists of several vitolas, including the extra-long 7.5 x 52 Double Corona, the 6 x 52 Toro and the 5 x 50 Robusto. There's also Black Series II, which is a line in its own right but serves as a sequel to Black Series I when you're ready to move on to something that is both similar yet also different.

What can I expect from the cold draw?

The cold draw is complex and carries a selection of scents that hint at the journey ahead. Sweetness is present as caramel, cream and butterscotch, along with a spice rack of aromas including cinnamon, nutmeg and black pepper.

What flavors are there to enjoy?

Once you light your Cavalier Black Series cigar, you embark on an adventure in three parts, each with its own story to tell.

First third

A mellow and medium start eases you in, making this a good cigar for first-timers. There's cream, brown sugar, and milky coffee, with floral and woody hints, along with that ever-present cinnamon spice. Look out for the marshmallow retrohales.

Second third

The middle third keeps things quite mellow - this is a pleasant smoke for those who prefer to avoid the hardest-hitting blends. There's baking spices and milk chocolate, and a flavor identified by many as citrus, but perhaps closer to that of cilantro.

Final third

Once the gold leaf has burned, you're on the home stretch. There's a swell of intensity now, with nuttiness, a background of chocolate, and a return of the creaminess from earlier. A satisfying crescendo to a pleasant and not too challenging smoke.

What is the strength profile like?

The Cavalier Black Series is a medium-strength line that serves up the sweetness of brown sugar balanced with cinnamon and nutmeg spices, making for a well-balanced smoke that is a frequent feature in beginner cigars recommendations.

What is the construction of the cigar like?

Cavalier Black Series cigars have a rustic construction with lumps and bumps, but the exposed seams are tight. The end is not just a triple cap, but a coiled pigtail finish, one slightly less common feature that helps these cigars to stand out.

Final thoughts

If you're just starting out on an adventure in cigar smoking, or you just prefer an easier ride sometimes, the Cavalier Cigars Black Series is an essential addition to your humidor and Cavalier Black Series II cigars mean there are even more vitolas to try if you enjoy your first experience.

This smoke was also featured in our Boutique Cigars for Beginners guide, so if you're interested in expanding your palate further, be sure to check it out.