Strength Ratings: Mild, Medium, Full

When aficionados call a cigar “strong”, they do not mean the taste — they mean the effect. That distinction is perhaps the most useful lesson for anyone starting out, because it protects you from both of the classic mistakes: the cigar that overwhelms you and the one that bores you.

Strength Is Effect, Not Flavour

Strength denotes the perceptible nicotine effect of a cigar — the mild warmth it produces, or, in the case of full-bodied cigars, the noticeable kick that experienced smokers know well. It depends primarily on the filler blend: the greater the proportion of sun-drenched Ligero from the upper leaf primings, the stronger the cigar. This is separate from flavour intensity: how rich and layered a cigar tastes. A cigar can be aromatically complex and still mild — and a very strong one can be flavouristically monotonous. Strength and quality have nothing to do with each other.

Mild, Medium, Full

The trade sorts broadly into three levels, though no binding standard exists — manufacturer ratings are self-assessments. As a rough guide: mild cigars often carry pale wrappers, favour creamy, understated aromas and leave the nicotine effect barely perceptible. Medium strength is the broad middle of the market — enough substance for character without being demanding. Full-bodied cigars with a high Ligero content deliver a distinct effect and belong in experienced hands, after a good meal and in an unhurried hour.

Guidance for Beginners

Start mild to medium and with a smaller format — you can always work your way up, but a cigar that is too strong will ruin the evening. Never smoke on an empty stomach: a meal beforehand noticeably cushions the nicotine effect. And smoke slowly — drawing too quickly makes the cigar hotter, harsher and stronger all at once. Should a cigar catch you out — dizziness, a queasy feeling — the widely given advice is: put it down, sit down, drink water and eat something sweet. Finally: mild is not a beginner’s level to be grown out of. Many of the world’s greatest cigars are quiet ones.