Mini cigars or cigarillos are becoming more and more popular since the introduction of cigars into Europe. Especially in the last 20-30 years, more people have been smoking these tiny cigars than ever. So we thought that it was about time to define the top five mini cigars and best cigarillos in the world!
Davidoff Mini Cigarillos Gold
Davidoff cigarillos are the most complex in the world. The notes in the Davidoff Mini Cigarillos Gold harmonise together in a symphony of full flavour. This is due to the blend of tobacco, which comes from all around the world, particularly from countries such as Brazil and Indonesia.
Even though these cigarillos are small, they are still treated with the same amount of care as their larger counterparts. It takes 5-10 years for each cigarillo to reach the hands of the eventual smoker. As the flame touches the tip of their lips, time becomes still, a moment where sense and pleasure overtake everything else.
Montecristo Puritos
Montecristo, named after the Count of Monte Cristo, is the highest-selling and most beloved Cuban cigar brand in the world. Unsurprisingly, their smaller cigars are much loved as well! The tobacco used in them is grown in the finest agricultural region in the world – Vuelta Abajo. From fully-fledged connoisseurs to novice puffers, these cigars are ideal for all types of smokers! You can expect subtle flavours. Including a bitter earthiness and hints of vanilla.
Montecristo Puritos are the ideal choice for smokers who want to “upgrade” from mainstream cigars without a major leap in cost, or for the premium cigar smoker who would like to enjoy the unique taste and aroma of Cuban tobacco during short breaks.
Cohiba Club Cigars
Cohiba is the top line of Cuba. The brand was originally created for the personal use of top Cuban officials alone, so you can be sure that every Cohiba you smoke is of the best quality. The tobacco used in these cigarillos, like the Montecristo’s, is grown in the Vuelta Abajo region.
These small cigars owe their quality to the third fermentation process, which they undertake in hogshead barrels. This is a tradition only kept alive by Cohiba. These cigars are medium to full in flavour and are bursting with all the flavours that you would expect from Cohiba.
Cohiba Club Cigars are ideal for both novice and more experienced cigar smokers to enjoy as an aperitif or short smoke during a break.
Partagas Serie Mini
Partagas cigars, founded by the legendary Don Jaime Partagas, are one of the top Cuban brands. They are known for creating some of the best cigars out there, but when you condense the larger counterparts into a much smaller cigar, you get something really special.
The same leaf from the Vegas de Primeras region is used, so you get the same rich and deep flavours that characterise Partagas cigars. Interestingly, the Partagas Serie Mini cigars are not overly powerful. This is strange, seeing as the Partagas brand is famous for being the strongest Cuban brand. The mildness of these cigars makes them the perfect short smoke or aperitif.
E Nobel Petit Sumatra
You may be surprised to hear that these fine cigars come from Denmark! That cold Scandinavian country does not usually come to mind when you think of great cigars. However, there are few other mini cigarillos that offer the same depth of flavour and smoothness that this small cigar does. The Sumatran wrapper aids the development of the delicate flavours. If you are a cigarillo person, then you simply have to try an E Nobel Petit Sumatra.
Of course, there can be no official top five best mini cigars, because smoking is a subjective pastime. In the case that you disagree with our list, don’t hesitate to drop a comment with your own favourite cigarillos.
Cigarillos vs Cigars | What’s the Difference?
26 October 2021 by Ellie
There’s one question that every new aficionado asks when they first begin their dive into the world of cigars: what is the difference between cigars and cigarillos?
In this article, we’re going to be exploring the key difference between these two smokes, from how they look, how they’re made, and how they’re smoked.
If you’re looking to buy cigarillos online, then why not browse our range available online now?
What is a Cigarillo?
A cigarillo is a petite and often machine-made smoke that is made and sold in tins or packs of between 5 and 50.
The majority of cigarillos are manufactured in Europe where they have been a popular smoking option for generations. While there is demand for cigarillos in the US, it is nothing compared to that of European countries.
The tobacco used in cigarillos is often dry-cured meaning that a cigarillo will burn much faster and hotter than your typical cigar.
What Are The Differences Between Cigars and Cigarillos?
While cigars and cigarillos do share some common characteristics, there are also a great number of ways that they differ.
Size
The most notable difference between these two smokes is their size. The average cigarillo is approximately 75 – 100 millimetres in length which is considerably shorter than the typical Robusto cigar which measures around 127 millimetres.
Cigarillos are also a lot slimmer than cigars and tend to have a ring gauge of around 20 – 30 whereas most cigars have a ring gauge of 40 or above.
Construction
When looking at the overall construction of both cigars and cigarillos, the key difference is that cigarillos tend to be machine-made with dry-cured (non-humidified) tobacco leaves, meaning they burn faster and hotter than a typical cigar.
Despite their difference in size, cigarillos can still be made of the same tobacco blend as some of their larger counterparts. However, cigarillos tend to be made with a replacement wrapper rather than a pure tobacco leaf.
Unlike most cigars, cigarillos also tend to have filters although there are some unfiltered options available.
Price
Another significant difference between cigars and cigarillos is their price. Due to their size and the fact they can be made by machine, it’s far easier for cigarillos to be mass-produced. This drags their cost down quite drastically.
In this article, we’re going to be exploring the key difference between these two smokes, from how they look, how they’re made, and how they’re smoked.
If you’re looking to buy cigarillos online, then why not browse our range available online now?
How Do You Smoke a Cigarillo?
While either a cigar or a cigarillo can provide a great smoking experience, most aficionados tend to enjoy them both in very different contexts.
Cigars take far longer to smoke and so are often enjoyed in more relaxed smoking sessions where the smoker can sit back, relax, and bask in the flavour and aromas the smoke offers. Because of this, most cigar smokers have to set time aside in their day or week to truly enjoy their cigars uninterrupted.
Cigarillos, however, are able to be smoked when time is of the essence. If you’re looking for a quick smoke break during work hours or you want a go-to smoke alongside a coffee with friends, then a cigarillo can be a perfect option. Thanks to their size, cigarillos are also a lot easier to carry around on a regular basis so they work especially well for impromptu smokes as and when required.
Cigarillos offer a great alternative for those who don’t have time to devote to sitting down and enjoying a premium, hand-crafted cigar. While they can’t compare to cigars in terms of flavour and aroma, they are a much more practical option for those who want a classic smoke in a smaller chunk of time.
At Havana House, we have a wide range of cigarillos available from top brands such as Davidoff and Royal Dutch.
How to Travel with Your Cigars
24 May 2019 by Ellie
As we begin to approach the summer months, we know many of you will be looking to escape the unpredictable and often disappointing British summer for somewhere a little more tropical. Whether this is a week’s holiday in a sunny European destination or a longer stay in somewhere more luxurious, getting away from it all can be just what the doctor ordered. No matter what kind of stay you’re planning, make sure you pack some top notch sticks to enjoy in the sun, the cherry on the cake! If you’re a less experienced smoker, or haven’t travelled with cigars very much before, here’s some useful tips to keep your cigars in tip top condition while you travel.
What Sort of Holiday?
Before you’ve even set foot out of the front door, you need to consider what kind of holiday you’re heading on. Is it going to be a holiday during which you have plenty of time to relax and enjoy a long, luxurious smoke? Or will you be trying to fit one in here and there while you visit various attractions and theme parks with the family. These are important considerations as this will play the main part in what kind of cigars you’ll be taking with you.
If you’re heading on a relaxing holiday and you know you’ll have loads of time to yourself, why not pack a few more luxurious sticks? Maybe one or two you’ve been saving up. If a holiday isn’t a special enough occasion to crack them open then what is? Consider plumping for cigars with larger ring gauges or longer sticks in general that offer a longer smoke. Equally, if you know you’ll have the time, maybe bring a few of your more expensive stogies to enjoy while basking in the sun. Additionally, many foreign countries have more relaxed smoking laws so there will be more places to enjoy your smokes.
Equally, if you’re heading on a family holiday where you’ll be rushed from museum to zoo to water park, maybe bring a selection of smaller, less expensive cigars. This way, you’ll be able to fit in a number of smaller smokes during the trip and you won’t be worried about leaving a cigar half smoked. Consider a smaller ring gauge or bringing a pack of your favourite cigarillos.
Maintaining Humidity and Condition
For many of us, our humidors are our cigar safehavens. They keep them perfectly humidified, in great shape and avoid ruining their construction. It’s no wonder why we get a bit nervous when we have to take them out of their home and pack them in hand or hold luggage. A vital consideration of travelling with cigars is how you can ensure they keep their humidity, shape and overall condition.
There’s really nothing worse than cracking open a cigar in the sun and realising the wrapper has come undone, or that the stick has dried out and gone stale. To keep your cigars in perfect condition, there are a number of fantastic solutions. Many of these techniques are addressed in our article on storing cigars without a humidor here.
However, if you’re looking for a more rugid solution, then we’d suggest checking out our range of travel humidors. It’s also worth grabbing yourself some of the Xikar 2-way humidity control packs to store with your cigars, regardless of whether you’re travelling with a top notch humidor or a Tupperware box. These will maintain the humidity and keep your cigars tasting fresh.
Another suggestion would be to check out our range of tubos cigars. These are cigars that are packaged individually either in plastic or thin metal tubes with the intention of keeping them humidified and in great condition. Although these certainly aren’t a long term solution, they can be great stop-gaps for a short break away.
Regulations
It’s worth noting that if you’re travelling from the UK, you can only bring one lighter with you and this must be kept on your person throughout the flight. Matches and lighters are not allowed in hand or checked luggage which means you’ll have to carefully consider which lighter you bring with you. Ensure that it is topped up with fluid too! Something like our Xikar lighters would be a great option.
Although cutters can sometimes be available in the duty free area, it can often be up to the security team whether you can pack yours in your hand luggage. We’d thoroughly recommend packing your cutter into your hold luggage, however, if you’re travelling light, make sure you pack a less valuable cutter incase the worse happens!
Hopefully this will provide you with some useful tips for travelling with your sticks this year. Let us know which cigars you’ll be taking with you this year on Facebook and Twitter! And if you’re looking to grab some cigar accessories, check out our online store!
7 Reasons Why You Should Try Smoking Cigarillos
9 November 2018 by Ellie
Perfect for beginners to the cigar world or cigar lovers looking for a slightly more convenient smoke, cigarillos are like the baby brother of cigars. Offering a range of benefits for cigar fans, we take a look at seven reasons why you should try smoking a cigarillo.
Plus, you’ll get the inside scoop on information, latest products, our biggest savings and more!
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