The first thing to un-learn: strength is not flavor. Strength is the body and the nicotine hit — how much the cigar physically pushes back. A cigar can be full of flavor and still be mild, or fairly plain and hit like a truck.
So when someone calls a cigar “medium-full,” they’re describing its weight, not how much it tastes like. Start lower than you think — a Full cigar on an empty stomach is how beginners end up green and dizzy (“nicotine sickness” is real).
The five-step scale
- 1
Mild
Gentle and smooth. Little nicotine kick. A morning-with-coffee cigar, and where most people should start.
- 2
Mild–Medium
A touch more body, still easygoing. You notice it, but it never takes over.
- 3
Medium
The middle of the road, and the most popular place to live. Satisfying without knocking you back.
- 4
Medium–Full
Rich and assertive. Best on a full stomach — bold flavor and real strength arrive together.
- 5
Full
Big, powerful, unapologetic. Plenty of nicotine. Rewarding once you have the miles.