Parts of a Cigar Explained for Beginners

Every premium cigar is built from three kinds of tobacco leaf — filler, binder and wrapper — and has a head you cut and a foot you light. Know those five words and you can follow almost any conversation about cigars.

The outside of a cigar

Cut a thin slice off the cap, staying above the shoulder. Light the foot at the other end.

Part	What it is
Head	The closed end that goes in your mouth. This is the end you cut.
Cap	A small round piece of wrapper leaf glued over the head to seal it. You cut off part of the cap, never all of it.
Shoulder	Where the rounded head meets the straight body. Cut above this line, or the wrapper can start to unravel.
Body	The main length of the cigar.
Band	The paper ring that shows the brand. Leave it on until the cigar warms up and the glue loosens.
Foot	The open end you light.

The three layers of tobacco

Wrapper

The outermost leaf, and the most expensive one in the cigar. It has to be thin, flexible, even in color and free of tears, so it is grown with special care. Despite being a small part of the cigar by weight, it contributes a large share of the flavor and all of the first impression. Our lesson on cigar wrapper colors goes into more detail.

Binder

A tougher leaf wrapped around the filler to hold it together. You never see it, but it keeps the cigar's shape and helps it burn evenly.

Filler

The heart of the cigar: several leaves, often from different farms or countries, folded together lengthwise. The blend of filler leaves is where most of a cigar's strength and character comes from. Leaves from the top of the plant (called ligero) get the most sun and are the strongest; leaves from the middle (seco) add flavor and aroma; leaves from the bottom (volado) are mild and help the cigar burn.

Long filler vs short filler

Long filler cigars use whole leaves that run the full length of the cigar. They are rolled by hand, burn slowly and evenly, and hold a firm ash. Nearly every premium cigar is long filler.

Short filler (sometimes called mixed filler) uses chopped pieces of leaf, often machine-made. These cigars are cheaper but burn hotter and faster and can taste harsher. When you are learning, stick to long filler so you get a fair idea of what cigars really taste like.

Quick check: gently squeeze a cigar along its length. It should feel evenly firm, like a ripe peach, with no hard knots or soft empty spots. Those can make a cigar draw poorly or burn unevenly.

Ready for your first cigar?

Start with a mild smoke we hand to first-timers at the shop, or try several at once with a sampler.

Best cigars for beginners Shop samplers

Parts of a Cigar: Wrapper, Binder, Filler and Cap