Cigarillos

Cigarillos: a quick guide

Natural leaf or smooth wrapper? Backwoods and Game Leaf are wrapped in natural tobacco leaf: rustic, uneven and slower burning. Game, Swisher Sweets, White Owl and Dutch Masters cigarillos have a smooth, even wrapper and a milder taste.

Wood tip or plastic tip? Black & Mild comes both ways. The wood tip draws a little warmer and stays firm. The plastic tip is the classic. Jazz and Wine are their best-known flavors, after the Original.

Singles or packs? Backwoods come as singles or 5-packs. Most others come in foil pouches of one or two, which keep them fresh until you open them. Buy singles to try a flavor and packs once you have a favorite.

Keeping them fresh. Once a pack is open, keep it sealed and out of the heat. A dry cigarillo cracks and burns fast. If you won't smoke them within a few days, singles in sealed pouches are the better buy.