Ten Milder Cigars That Scored 90 Points Or Higher

This lineup of lighter cigars shows that a smoke can be both mild and flavorful

Mar 31, 2023 | By Thomas Pappalardo– Reference cigaraficionado.com

When someone says “mild cigar,” the connotation is often a smoke that’s lacking in flavor and character. While it’s true that some mild smokes can come across as papery and thin, there are plenty of cigars on the market that are light in body, yet big on taste—and here are 10 of them. Whether you prefer the understated elegance of Connecticut shade wrapper over the spicy strength of sun-grown Corojo or are just looking for a lighter smoke to start the day, we at Cigar Aficionado combed through our database of recent ratings to bring you 10 cigars (many of them bargains) that lean toward the milder side. But they also scored 90 points or more, showing that flavor and complexity can be found in blends at any strength level.

San Cristobal de la Habana is one of the newer Cuban brands dating only back to 1999, and this belicoso was launched in 2018 as an exclusive for La Casa del Habano shops and Habanos Specialists. The smoke is floral and nutty with notes of toast and marmalade before a lightly woody finish. It’s a great introduction to Cuban cigars if your tastes tend to go mild. See full tasting note.

The core VegaFina brand made by Altadis is quite popular in Europe for both its easygoing character and its competitive price, but it’s a bargain here in the U.S. as well. Retailing for less than $8, this large cigar measures 7 1/2 inches by 50 ring gauge, which works out to roughly $1 an inch. The creamy smoke is layered with impressions of toasted almond and cedar that lead to a sweet butterscotch finish. See full tasting note.

With the recent news of Alec Bradley being acquired by Scandinavian Tobacco Group, and all the company’s new releases, it’s easy to overlook this understated gem. Short in stature, this diminutive cigar from Alec Bradley’s Connecticut line is long on flavor with notes of toast, pecan and creamy coffee that come together for a sweet cappuccino finish. See full tasting note.

Those who remember smoking cigars in the 1990s are probably familiar with Cuba Aliados. In 2021, the sleepy brand was purchased by Oliva Cigar Co. Rather than make the cigar in Nicaragua, Oliva contracted JRE Tobacco to produce the Cuba Aliados Original Blend. Despite the ReGordo’s girthy dimensions, this is an easygoing grande that leaves impressions of pepper and cedar with sweet vanilla, caramel and cinnamon. See full tasting note.

Rolled at the Fuente factory in the Dominican Republic, this long “A” size from J.C. Newman is 8 1/2 inches long and the biggest on this list, but don’t be intimidated. Despite its size, the Robusto No. 1 is as mild as the Connecticut shade wrapper suggests, offering hours of nutty, floral smoke with a soft undercurrent of fresh tobacco. It’s perfect for that long, springtime stroll when the weather is just too nice to stay indoors. See full tasting note.

Although Oliva Cigar Co.’s full-bodied lines such as Serie V or Serie V Melanio get all the press, the Gilberto Oliva Reserva Blanc is an elegant alternative. Named in honor of the company’s patriarch, who passed away in 2017, this brand was blended for subtlety, and the Torpedo delivers tasty notes of lemon, wood, cream and vanilla without overpowering the palate. See full tasting note.

Topped with a small pigtail, this Honduran petit corona is aptly named as smoking this cigar should take up no more than your lunch hour at work. Retailing for less than $6 (before taxes), it’s the most affordable option on our list, and quite welcome, especially in this time of inflation. The combustion is slow and cool, and this little cigar imparts a very satisfying smoke, laden with notes of herbs, cedar, pecan and leather. See full tasting note.

Topped with a knotted pigtail cap and made with an uncut foot, this tan Churchill from the Dominican Republic has all the rusticity of a farm-rolled cigar. The smoke is primarily herbal and woody but gains some welcome sweetness with dessert-like notes of cinnamon, vanilla and a prominent nuttiness that intensifies and follows through onto the finish. See full tasting note.

The Cortado line marks two firsts for the non-Cuban Partagas brand: the first time Partagas cigars have ever featured an Ecuador Connecticut wrapper and the first time they’re made at the STG Estelí factory in Nicaragua (Partagas is usually made in the Dominican Republic). It’s a five-country blend with an Indonesian binder and filler from Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua. A sweet note of graham cracker takes the lead accented by star anise and wood. See full tasting note.

This tan toro from Ventura Cigar Co. is the milder off-shoot of its Psyko Seven brand. Made in the Dominican Republic, the cigar is composed of an Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, Dominican San Vicente binder and mix of Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. It all amounts to a toasty smoke of nuts, oats and hints of black tea. See full tasting note.