Do you think a cigarillo is merely a miniature cigar? Or perhaps just a cigarette wrapped with a tobacco leaf similar to cigars?
It's more nuanced than it seems.
Today, the majority of cigarillos are manufactured in Europe and serve more as an alternative to cigarettes rather than cigars. While there is a demand for cigarillos in the United States, it pales in comparison to European countries.
So, what sets a cigarillo apart from a cigar?
- Its appearance
- Its construction
- Its price
- Consumption habits
Well, we're about to explore these differences in detail below.
Origins of Cigarillos
The first mention of cigarillos dates back to the 1830s and emerged during a period when the cigar market was dominated by the Spanish, hence the name "cigarillo," which means "cigarette."
Subsequently, the history of cigarillos has seen its ups and downs. For example, when Westerns and foreign films of the 1950s-60s featured characters smoking cigarillos, sales increased. Then, laws prohibiting tobacco advertising appeared, leading to a decline in public interest in cigarillos..
Although cigars and cigarillos have always shared some common characteristics, they differ on several points. Considered either as small cigars or as lower-quality cigars, cigarillos are often the subject of debate.
Let's dive right into the differences between cigars and cigarillos!
Differences Between Cigars and Cigarillos
There are four key differences between cigars and cigarillos that you should be aware of.
Let's introduce them to you.
1. Appearance
LThe most obvious difference is that a cigarillo is much smaller than a cigar while being slightly larger than a cigarette. To be precise, a cigarillo has a diameter of approximately 6 to 8 mm and a length of around 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches).
In comparison, a robusto cigar, which is among the smallest cigars in terms of length, averages 12 cm in length with a diameter of 1.5 to 2 cm.
Cigarillos are wrapped in tobacco or tobacco-based brown paper and are primarily sold without filters, although some varieties of cigarillos come with filters. In contrast, cigars are always sold without filters, but some smokers adopt the practice of using a cigar holder.
2. Construction
Cigarillos are typically machine-made and wrapped using dried (non-humidified) tobacco leaves or tobacco-based brown paper. The low moisture content of these dried tobacco blends allows for faster combustion, making it closer to that of a cigarette.
However, cigarillos should not necessarily be considered as budget cigars, as they can be made with the same tobacco blend as some of their larger counterparts. One difference, though, is that cigarillos tend to be made with a replacement wrapper rather than a pure tobacco leaf.
In summary: The construction of a cigarillo aligns it more with the appearance of a cigar but with the content resembling a cigarette, offering a taste experience akin to small cigars with the combustibility of cigarettes.
3. Price
Due to their size and primarily machine-based production, it is much easier to produce cigarillos in bulk, significantly reducing their cost.
This difference in production efficiency explains why cigarillos are much more affordable than cigars. For example, some brands sell a box of 20 cigarillos for the price of a single cigar.
Additionally, cigarillos can be sold in boxes or packs of different sizes, making them more accessible at tobacco shops.
Advantage: Their hybrid position between cigars and cigarettes offers customers a taste of the cigar experience without the time, budget, and care required for cigar storage.
4. Context
First and foremost, one can consider the cigarillo as the little brother of the cigar; consequently, they are smoked in a similar manner. In other words, their smoke is not inhaled like a cigarette but is puffed or savored like a cigar.
A cigar or cigarillo can provide an excellent smoking experience and may offer similar flavors if the blend and wrapper are the same (although not identical due to the drier tobacco in cigarillos). However, most aficionados tend to enjoy them in different contexts.
Logically, the difference in size means that cigars take longer to smoke than cigarillos. While some large cigars can last up to an hour and are particularly enjoyed during leisure moments, a typical cigarillo only lasts 10 to 15 minutes and caters to the same consumption habits as a cigarette.
Cigarillos are smoked like cigarettes: that is, they are often smoked "like cigarettes," meaning several times a day, with coffee, during work breaks, after meals, and so on. This is facilitated by their size, making them much easier to carry and available at any time..
Indulge yourself (in both)!
You now know the differences between cigars and cigarillos. While the most striking distinguishing factor between the two is their appearance, you've seen that there are some subtleties, particularly in terms of construction.
As we discussed in point #4, some of the characteristics related to construction directly influence how cigarillos are consumed and explain why they play the role of a small cigar to be enjoyed like a cigarette.
That's why they are appreciated by aficionados, as they replace cigarettes with a higher-end product without competing with cigars, which is why some cigar smokers enjoy having both.
Whether you're hesitant to try a cigarillo or you're a staunch cigar enthusiast, smoke with style thanks to our exquisite ashtrays.
