Expert: Bill Finck Jr. - 11/28/2009

Question
Hey Bill,

Every now and then I pass someone who is smoking a cigar that has a sweetly pleasant aroma yet I can never find an unflavored cigar that has the same qualities. Usually, the cigars I smoke just smell like, well, old stogies.

Is there any cigars, in particular that you are aware of, that have pleasant aromas when lit?

Answer
Jason,

Any aroma other than tobacco is an added product, so there are no unflavored, sweet smelling cigars. However, some unflavored cigars can be strong, bitter, musty, burned smelling, and some have a much more pleasant aroma. You'll want to make sure your cigar is 100% natural tobacco - most grocery store types are made with some homogenized tobacco which smells like paper when smoked. For a pleasant aroma, look for a light-bodied cigar. What comes to mind is something with Connecticut Shade wrapper and probably Dominican filler. Try Macanudo Cafe - if that doesn't do it for you, I'm sorry but I just don't have any other suggestions.

Bill