What Are Cigarillos? A Complete Guide to Small Cigars

Cigarillos occupy a unique space in the tobacco world — bigger than cigarettes, smaller than full cigars, and carrying a reputation all their own. Whether you've seen them at a gas station or spotted them at a lounge, here's everything you need to know.

Cigarillo Definition

A cigarillo is a small, thin cigar typically measuring 3 to 4 inches in length and less than 6mm in ring gauge. Like full-size cigars, cigarillos are made entirely of tobacco — with a tobacco leaf wrapper, binder, and filler. Unlike cigarettes, they contain no paper. The word comes from the Spanish cigarillo, meaning "little cigar."

Cigarillo vs. Cigar: What's the Difference?

Full cigars are 5–9 inches long with a 42–60 ring gauge, take 30–90 minutes to smoke, and use long-leaf tobacco at $5–$50+. Cigarillos are 3–4 inches with a ring gauge under 30, take 10–20 minutes, and use short-fill or homogenized tobacco at $1–$5. Premium cigarillos from makers like Davidoff use all-natural tobacco throughout. Mass-market options like Swisher Sweets use homogenized tobacco leaf (HTL) for consistency and lower cost.

Cigarillo vs. Cigarette: What's the Difference?

Cigarettes are made with shredded tobacco wrapped in paper and are inhaled into the lungs. Cigarillos are all tobacco — no paper. Like cigars, cigarillo smoke is drawn into the mouth and exhaled without inhaling into the lungs (though many smokers do inhale). Cigarillos are not filtered, while most cigarettes have filters. Under U.S. federal tax law, cigarillos are classified as cigars and taxed differently than cigarettes.

Popular Cigarillo Brands

Mass-market cigarillos: Swisher Sweets (dozens of flavors, among the best-known in the U.S.), Black & Milds (pipe tobacco filler, Wine/Original/Apple/Jazz flavors), Backwoods (rustic natural leaf wrapper, extremely popular), White Owl, and Phillies.

Premium cigarillos: Davidoff Mini Cigarillos (all-natural Dominican tobacco), Romeo y Julieta Mini Cigarillos, Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story (Fuente's smallest vitola, a true premium short smoke), and Montecristo No. 5 (Cuba's iconic brand in a small format).

Are Cigarillos a Good Choice for Beginners?

Good for beginners: short smoke time (15–20 minutes) is easier to commit to, many brands offer milder flavor profiles, and the lower cost makes it easy to experiment.

Not ideal for those who want to explore premium cigars: most mass-market cigarillos use lower-quality or flavored tobacco that doesn't represent the true cigar experience. Premium cigarillos cost nearly as much as a full premium cigar anyway.

Our recommendation: try a mild, full-size cigar like a Montecristo White or a Padron 1964 Natural with a friend at a lounge before deciding what format you prefer.

Where to Find Cigarillos

Sun of a Gun Cigars carries a selection of cigarillos alongside our full lineup of premium cigars. Visit our lounge in Yuma, Arizona or browse our online selection. For premium options from Davidoff, Montecristo, and Arturo Fuente, see our full brand pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you inhale cigarillos?

Traditionally, cigarillos are not inhaled. Like all cigars, you draw smoke into your mouth, taste it, and exhale. Many smokers do inhale, but it's not the intended method and increases nicotine exposure significantly.

Are cigarillos worse than cigarettes?

Cigarillos carry significant health risks similar to other tobacco products. Because they're not filtered and are sometimes inhaled, they expose users to many of the same compounds as cigarettes.

How long does it take to smoke a cigarillo?

Most cigarillos take 10–20 minutes to smoke, compared to 30–90 minutes for a full cigar and 5–7 minutes for a cigarette.

What does cigarillo mean in Spanish?

Cigarillo comes from the Spanish word cigarillo, which literally translates to "little cigar."