Cigar vs Cigarillo: What's Your Perfect Match?

When you are getting ready for a night out and that sweet, almost sultry taste of tobacco beckons you, you find yourself stuck between a cigar and a cigarillo. Remember this: a cigar is a commitment. It offers 40 minutes to sometimes over two hours of smoking pleasure, aroma-filled puffs, and the art of the ash. A cigarillo, on the other hand, is just a flirtation, and in 20 minutes, the moment has passed.

So how are you going to pick between a cigar and cigarillo? 

Size plays an important role in deciding which one to romp with for the night.

Cigars are thick and meaty, often rolled by professionals called torcedores or torcedoras. They feature whole leaves rolled together and boast a ring gauge of 38 or higher.

Not only are cigars substantial, but they are also long, with some spanning up to 10 inches. Their size is indicative of the intended user experience. People sit down and get to know their cigar. They have a sort of rapport with it, as each draw should be spread out over time, averaging one puff per minute.  To better understand the composition of your cigar, check out A Beginner's Guide to Cigar Shapes, Sizes, and Colors for more information.

Cigarillos, on the other hand, are more like a wink across the room. By the time you start to get to know your cigarillo, it is practically already finished, but that is the beauty of it. You do not create a long-standing relationship with each quick smoke you have, which is kind of the point. It is meant to provide quick relief and mimics the convenience of a cigarette without sacrificing the tobacco leaf taste.

Typically, cigarillos at their largest have a ring gauge of 32 and are usually only 3 inches long. If you do not mind their petite construction and just want a quick pull, then maybe size will not deter you from getting into a fling with a cigarillo.

But size is not the only factor that makes the long, thick cigar different from the thin, fleeting cigarillo. Taste is another factor in this torrid love affair.

Think of cigarillos as a taste that is gentle and coaxing, not rough and raw like their cousin the cigar. Cigarillos often offer a one-dimensional tasting experience; they’re charming but they do not ask much of you. They can sometimes be treated by flavoring agents to get a more nuanced piquancy. Whereas, cigar flavors evolve as you smoke them.

At the start of your session with a cigar, it is not uncommon to identify a sweet and rich flavor profile. But the farther in you go, you may pick up on notes of chocolate and molasses which is part of the appeal. Cigars open up the more you get to know them, much like a person. 

The wrapper leaf and its region of origin also shape the overall taste. And just like people, where a cigar comes from shapes its personality.

Cuban cigars and cigarillos are known for being complex with earth-based flavors, featuring distinct notes of woody and leathery undertones. Whereas tobacco products made in the Dominican Republic are known for their smooth and creamy taste.

But knowing where your smoke comes from is only half the story. The real question is when to actually light it up, and choosing which products to use. 

On a night out, you can usually tell when it is a cigar moment versus a cigarillo moment.

If you are sitting around for 90 minutes or more, shooting the breeze with your pals or enjoying some much-needed solitude with a glass of whisky and a good book, a cigar is what you will want to reach for. In that setting, you have the time, energy, and bandwidth to handle the slow burn.

But if you are at the club taking a quick smoke break from your favorite DJ set before jumping right back into the fray, then a cigarillo is the one that should grace your lips. A quick burn, a nice tasty refill, and you are off again. That is all a cigarillo can do for you, and that is exactly why it exists.

Once you know the right moment for each, the next thing to consider is tobacco strength.

Strength is simple and comes down to one thing only: the tobacco inside. 

Cigars tend to be more robust and flavorful, using aged long-filler leaves that release their strength slowly over 30 to 90 minutes. They build intensity over time, like trust in a long-term relationship.

Cigarillos can feel just as intense, sometimes even more so, because of their quick burn rate. If a small cigarillo comes prerolled with strong tobacco like Maduro or Ligero, then that nicotine punch can land in just 5 to 8 minutes. It hits fast and fades fast, just like a fleeting crush.

Do not let size fool you because a tiny cigarillo with strong tobacco can knock you flat. A giant cigar with mild tobacco is smooth as silk. The strength is solely on the tobacco used, and everything else is just delivery.

That difference in how strength hits you comes down to how you actually smoke each one. Master the technique, and the love triangle between you, your cigar, and your cigarillo can reach new heights.

Since cigars are your long-standing love, we will start with the right technique to get them purring and melting into your touch.

What you will need is a cigar cutter. Use it to remove the closed end of the cigar, also known as the cap. Try to cut as little as possible because the smaller the cut, the more of the cigar you get to smoke. 

On the opposite end, gently light the foot, and twirl the cigar in the flame to get it warmed up evenly, then puff on it lightly to get it lit. The key here is not to inhale into your lungs. Let the smoke sit inside your mouth unlike with a vape or dry herb pipe hit. Smoking a cigar should not be treated like a direct to lung hit because it’ll overwhelm your senses with nicotine.

For a step-by-step breakdown, check out our guide on How to Cut + Light a Cigar.

When you let the smoke sit in your mouth, the mucus membranes in your gums absorb the tobacco which is how you get that buzzed feeling. Smoking a cigar is about savoring the taste, not flooding your system with nicotine. 

A cigarillo follows the same story; you should be puffing, not fully inhaling. Like cigars, inhaling cigarillo smoke puts you at risk for nicotine overload. It will also burn your throat and lungs. Yes, you are supposed to burn through a cigarillo quicker than a cigar, but that will happen naturally from puffing it. You do not need to rush a flirtation as we all know too well.

The same technique applies, start by inhaling and holding the smoke in your mouth. That is how you get all the yummy flavors and notes before exhaling. And just like with cigars, you will get that buzzed feeling from nicotine absorbing into your mouth's mucus membranes.

That sweet, sultry taste of tobacco is still calling. The only question is how long you want to answer for.

Does the night call for a naughty little sip of tobacco or a full drink of it? The choice is up to you, but whatever you are feeling, Element Vape has the smoke that fits your mood. Come shop our collection of cigars and cigarillos and take your pick. No commitment required, but something tells me you won't want to leave after just one.