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Stogie Commentary: Smoking Milder

21 Dec 2010

Like many of you, my cigar tastes tend to run to stronger smokes. Those spicy Pepin powerhouses, ligero bombs from La Flor Dominicana, Camacho‘s intense creations, and the like. They keep me engaged and leave me a happy herfer.

But not all the time. Occasionally, I look for a milder cigar and, when I have a good one, I’m always struck by how satisfying it can be. This came home to me again recently when I pulled an Oliva Serie G Toro from my humidor and lit it up. It is an excellent, subtle cigar with a great Cameroon wrapper that blends well with the Nicaraguan filler.

My next milder smoke was a Bahia Blu Toro, which came in some sampler or other. It was the first I’d tried and it, too, provided a good experience: tasty, smooth, and very inexpensive.

I find it interesting that cigars I generally classify as mild are often referred to as medium by manufacturers. Of course, such categories are all relative and subjective.

I rarely, if ever, smoke what I consider to be really mild cigars, such as the original Macanudo and Dominican Montecristo. Again, like many of you, I find those too lacking in flavor and heft.

Part of what I enjoy about cigars is the exploration and surprise that comes from experimenting, though it certainly comes with the risk of disappointment. But I don’t want to get in rut. That can happen by limiting selection to a narrow range of strengths, just as it can with restrictions on wrapper leaf, sizes, or blenders.

One added benefit of smoking some milder cigars is that they usually require greater attention and focus to fully enjoy them. And that can be a nice reminder: The act of smoking a cigar is, in itself, an activity well worth pursuing.

George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

6 Responses to “Stogie Commentary: Smoking Milder”

  1. dmjones1009 Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 3:37 am #

    Truly mild cigars that are still very flavorful are hard to find, and you almost definitely won't see them wearing bands like Montecristo or Macanudo. When I go for a milder smoke, usually Oliva or Camacho Connecticut are the most affordable and CAO's Gold Vintage is one of my favorites (not the same as the regular Gold). Recently I found the Berger & Argenti Mooch (starts very mild but progresses to medium) and 262 Ideology, both of which had quite a bit of flavor. Another big surprise for milder sticks is from…La Flor Dominicana! If you're able to find them (not many stores carry them), the Premium Line with the Connecticut wrapper is quite flavorful. The only one I've had is the Mambises, but I enjoyed the heck out of it.

  2. Swede214 Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 10:16 am #

    Have been reading your web site for about 10 months, have really enjoyed it, also have helpful, since I have only been really smoking within the last year and a half. I also am a ''mild'' cigar smoker, and trying new flavors. Flor De Oliva, so,so, Gurkha Cuban Legacy, liked this one.Just a comment, being some what new, I have a hard time trying to ''taste'' the ''wood'' ''cedar'' ''spice'' of the cigar. Smoked since I was Thirteen year's old, some cigar's, just to be ''cool'', so have a limited amount of experience, but do enjoy them now.

  3. George E. Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 3:24 pm #

    One suggestion to get an idea of the cedar taste is to light your cigar with a cedar spill (a thin strip of cedar like that used to wrap some cigars). You will uisually get a pretty good cedar taste for the first few puffs.

  4. Brian E Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 4:28 pm #

    I personally wouldn't worry too much about being able to identify or pick out a flavor in a cigar… I consider myself an "experienced" cigar smoker now and while I can pick out a pretty good number of flavors I still, for the life of me, have only tasted "leather" once, ever. For that matter I am not 100% sure what is meant by "leather"… I'm assuming it's the smell of a leather jacket or baseball glove….

    Back on topic, I also found, like many others, that Connecticut Macanudos did not strike me as "mild" but rather just "bland". On the other hand, I find it a real treat when a mild cigar actually turns out to be flavorful as well. Off the top of my head I've had Ashtons and (Dominican) Fonsecas that were like this, and I'd love to try a Davidoff some day. Is it me, or does it seem harder to make a truly fine, mild bodied cigar? Maybe the necessary subtlety makes the blending a trickier craft?

  5. Swede214 Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 5:09 pm #

    Thank you to George E., and Brian E., for your input and help, I'm glad that I'm not a loan in my journey to be come a ''cigar smoker''. Thinking about trying other cigar's, did enjoy the Nub Connecticut 460, and even liked the La Aurora 107, did smoke that one ''slowly''. I do enjoy my new ''hobby''. Thanks again guy's.

  6. Martin Saturday, December 25, 2010 at 4:41 pm #

    I too started off smoking milder sticks when I caught the cigar bug but I soon craved a stronger punch with more fuller cigars.

    Since then I take milder cigars as a nice treat, maybe backwards thinking on my part?

    My mild go to's were the Nub Connecticut and the Rocky Patel Connecticut; both great smokes.

    I was just introduced into a new cigar brand called Erez. The Erez Connecticut is a great option for a mild smoke. The burn was flawless and very tasty throughout. I literally smoked it to the nub!

    But back to my original point, milder sticks are great to open up your smoking day. I don't drink coffee but when I smoke these kind of sticks I know a cup of Joe would be a great compliment.

    Enjoy!