While most tobacco products struggle to attract new customers, premium cigars are enjoying a boom in popularity not seen since the 1980s. The majority of these sales are attributable to new smokers.
So it would appear that more cigar smokers are lighting up for the first time. The only problem is that the modern cigar user is spoiled for choice, thanks to the host of cigar products on the market. It can be hard to know where to start.
A great way to get into cigars is to try some of the most popular smokes. Here are some of the best-loved cigar options in 2023.
Arturo Fuente Don Carlos
Perhaps the world’s most popular smokes come from Arturo Fuente Cigars. Founded in 1912, this venerable brand has provided premium cigars to generations of smokers worldwide. And the Don Carlos may be their finest offering.
These cigars are named in honor of Carlos Fuente, Sr., who elevated the Arturo Fuente brand to the lofty position it enjoys today. They celebrate everything this family business has achieved in the 101 years since its inception.
The Don Carlos is a medium-body cigar, making it palatable to new smokers. It has a subtly sweet flavor with hints of chestnut, espresso, oak, and cedar, making it the perfect choice for any occasion.
Rocky Patel Decade
Rocky Patel is one of the younger brands in the cigar trade. But that doesn’t make them any less popular or adored.
Their Decade cigar debuted in 2007 to celebrate ten years in the business. They’ve since become a staple of the Rocky Patel line.
It’s wrapped in a dark Ecuador Sumatra leaf, lending it an elegant, sophisticated appearance. The binder and filler tobaccos are 100% Nicaraguan and combine rich-yet-balanced flavors like black cherry, cocoa, pepper, coffee, caramel, and hickory.
They make for a medium-to-full-bodied smoke, so you can consider this your stepping-stone to bolder cigars.
La Aroma de Cuba Pasión
La Aroma de Cuba is another somewhat recent addition to the cigar scene, only introduced in 2007. But when buying cigars, you should never underestimate the new kid on the block.
La Aroma de Cuba’s Pasión is a fine example. Its filler and binder tobaccos come from family-owned farms in Nicaragua and are wrapped in shade-grown tobaccos from the fabled microclimate of Namanji. Before the cigars are assembled, the tobacco undergoes a triple fermentation to produce a unique smoking experience.
The result is a cigar with a medium-to-full-bodied smoke with whispers of molasses-soaked cedar, leather, and cashew.
Learn Which Kind of Cigars You Like
The most important thing for any would-be cigar aficionado is to develop a sense of personal taste. Guides and reviews can help you get started, but they’ll only take you so far. It’s up to you to draw your own conclusions about what you do or don’t enjoy in a cigar.
Cigars are only one pastime that can help you elevate your lifestyle. For more ideas on how to start living your best life, check out more guides on our blog today.