Today on Ask halfwheel, a rarity. Reader Matt managed to get all four of us to answer the same question: what are some strong (nicotine-wise) cigars?

More specifically, Matt’s question is as follows:

I am looking for a list of the most knee-shakingly strong (nicotine strength) cigars being made right now. I’m focused mainly on ones that I would likely be able to pick up at an average B&M. My main concern is finding stuff that would normally just be broadly available. I’m not so much limiting myself based on price, just looking to get a “must try” list of powerhouse sticks that require full bellies and comfortable seats before embarking on.

While Matt mentions that he is not concerned about price, in an effort to better help us provide a diverse list of answers, I divided cigars up into three different price categories and asked each member of the halfwheel staff to provide at least one recommendation for the price category.

CIGARS UNDER $8

  • 601 La Bomba in smaller ring gauges (Brooks, Patrick)
  • Cain F Lancero (Brian)
  • Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Dark Knight (Charlie)
  • Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970 (Patrick)
  • Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Dark Corojo (Brooks, Charlie, Patrick)
  • La Flor Dominicana Chiselito (Patrick)
  • Liga Privada Único Serie Papas Fritas (Brian)

CIGARS PRICED $8-$12

  • Cain F or FF (Charlie)
  • Camacho Triple Maduro (Patrick)
  • CroMagnon (Patrick)
  • Fausto by Tatuaje (Patrick)
  • La Flor Dominicana Chisel (Brooks, Patrick)
  • La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero (Charlie)
  • La Flor Dominicana N.A.S. (Brooks)
  • Neanderthal (Brian, Brooks, Charlie)
  • Viaje Skull & Bones (Patrick)

CIGARS PRICED OVER $12

  • Arturo Fuente Añejo (Brian, Charlie)
  • Fuente Fuente OpusX, fresh (Brooks, Patrick)
  • Liga Privada Único Serie Feral Flying Pig (Charlie)

Members of the site would like to make a few disclaimers:

  1. Strength is subjective. Certain cigars hit people harder than others.
  2. There is a noticeable difference—to at least some of us—in terms of strength levels for the cigars mentioned above. This is once again subjective, but, simply because you can smoke one cigar on the list without any issue doesn’t mean you will be able to handle another.
  3. Stronger cigars in nicotine are not necessarily stronger in flavor.
  4. Both our perception of strength, as well as the actual strength in a particular cigar changes over time. If your goal is simply to get as much nicotine as possible, smoking even the strongest cigar we’ve mentioned above  after it has sat around for five years is probably missing the point.
  5. There are other stronger cigars. Many of them are non-regular production items or have changed significantly over time.

If you’d like to have your question answered by one-four members of the halfwheel staff, click here and submit your question.

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Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.