What Is a Puro Cigar? A Pure & Simple Guide

‘Puro’ is probably a word you’ve heard thrown around in cigar smoking circles from time to time. But what does it mean? Even if you’re relatively new to the world of cigar smoking, chances are you’ve come across the name at least once.

Cigar enthusiasts are always looking for the best quality smoke. Or, something unique they can bring to the table. Puro cigars offer just that. With puros, every part of the cigar, including the wrapper, binder, and filler, all come from the same country.

This creates an incredibly uniform and cohesive smoking experience. A “pure” smoking experience that doesn’t include any outside elements. In this article, we’re going to be taking a closer look at puros cigars. We’ll examine their origins, if they’re really better, and how to choose your first puro cigar.

What Is a Puro Cigar?

As we touched on above, a puro cigar is simply a cigar with a wrapper, binder, and filler all from the same country. This makes sense, as etymologically, ‘puro,’ comes from the Spanish word for ‘pure.’ 

It’s an homage to the country’s agricultural practices, as well as the soil, and the country’s climate.

The bottom line is that all Cuban cigars are puros. This is because Cuban cigars exclusively use Cuban-grown tobacco. In Cuba, tobacco for premium cigars is grown in four major regions. These are Semi-Vuelta, Remedios, Partido, and Vuelta Abajo.

Originally, Cuba was the only manufacturer of puro cigars. However, the cigar industry grew in the mid to late 1800s. Florida, as well as parts of Mexico and Central America, all became producers of puro cigars.

Puro vs. Blended Cigars

So, what are the key differences between puro and blended cigars? As opposed to puros, blended cigars combine tobacco from different countries. This is done to achieve more layered or complex flavor combinations.

Puro cigars showcase the tobacco from a particular region without any ‘distractions.’

It’s a kind of national pride, showcasing the very best ingredients from a particular country.

Puro cigars are a good choice if you’re searching for a more traditional smoking experience. Today, most cigars are blended from different countries of origin. Because of this, puros are considered a more exclusive item. Puros are also more predictable in terms of flavor profile. This is great if you want a well-established, tried and tested smoke that’s guaranteed to deliver. A puro is always a dependable choice.

If you’re looking for something edgier or nuanced, blended smokes evolve dramatically. Some smokers might find this keeps things interesting.

Are Puro Cigars Better?

So, are puro cigars considered better than their blended counterparts? The truth is, it completely depends on the smoker themselves. It’s ultimately a matter or preference, and what you’re searching for in the smoking experience.

Pros

• Authentic: Puro cigars present smokers with a traditional, authentic smoking experience dating back centuries. 
• Ideal for novices: If you’re just getting started in the world of cigar smoking, puros are a great introduction. They allow you to develop your palette. 
• Consistency: You know you’re getting high-quality smoke every single time. Puros are created consistently with the same ingredients, making them a reliable smoke. 
• Educational: Smoking puros from different countries allows you to recognise how soil and climate influence flavor.

Cons

• Predictable: Though predictability is often a good thing, sometimes you’re looking for something a little more unique or experimental. This is difficult to come by with a puro cigar.
• Different preferences: If you’re a smoker who dislikes the core profile of a particular country’s tobacco, you’re very unlikely to enjoy a puro from there.
• Variety: There’s less room for error with a puro cigar. This means that if there’s an imbalance in terms of sweetness or strength, manufacturers will struggle to compensate without using different blends.

Top Regions for Puro Cigars

Below are some of the top regions of manufacture for puro cigars. It’s important to familiarise yourself with some of the dominant flavors in each region. This will help determine your smoking preferences.

Cuba: The oldest manufacturer of puro cigars, Cuba is known for rich, smooth, velvety flavor notes. Cohiba and Montecristo are some popular blends displaying the earthiness of the region.

Nicaragua: This region is known for their incredibly bold, spicy flavor notes. This is due to the volcanic nature of the soil in Nicaragua.

Dominican Republic: The puros for this region tend to be quite complex. You’ll often find notes of spice, nuts, leather, and cedar.

Honduras: Known for the earthiness of its cigars, Honduras has incredibly full-bodied flavor profiles. These are great for a powerful, punchy smoke.

How to Choose Your First Puro Cigar

When choosing your first puro cigar, it’s important to think about your own preferences. Is there a particular flavor profile you’re drawn to? For example, if you enjoy bold, spicy notes, Nicaraguan cigars might be a good place to start.

Or, perhaps you're looking for something smooth, earthy, and velvety. In this case, Cuban cigars are definitely the way to go. Take the Cohiba Excusitos, for example. This blend is renowned for its salted caramel, graham cracker, wood, and cocoa bits. These round out a smooth, medium-to-full-bodied smoke.

It’s also a good idea to think about strength, as well as flavor profile. Beginners should start with mild to medium offerings. Experienced smokers, on the other hand, may feel comfortable dipping into full-bodied cigars.

Time to Plump for Puros?

So there you have it! Puro cigars have nothing to do with superiority. Instead, they provide a classic, predictable smoke. They give smokers the opportunity to discover more about their region of manufacture. This helps develop your preferences along the way.

Now that you know what a puro is, it’s time to buy some smokes. Here at Swiss Cuban Cigars, we sell a wide selection of premium, authentic Cuban cigars. Browse today to start your journey.