10 Best Maduro Cigars (All Budgets and Tastes)

If you think Maduros are just for veterans, let me set you straight. These are not just aggressive powerhouses; it’s actually quite the contrary.

The best Maduro cigars let a dark oily wrapper really sing, coupling lightly sweet chocolate espresso notes and a deeper toasted sense.

If you’re looking for somewhere to start, I recommend the Macanudo Maduro Hyde Park. It strikes the perfect balance between sweetness and spice, with enough complexity to keep things interesting without becoming overwhelming.

You’ll really struggle to find better under $10, apart from maybe Drew Estates Factory Smokes Maduro. It’s a little more straightforward, so probably the best bet for a total beginner.

For the more experienced amongst you, check out Padron Serie 1926 80 Years Maduro. It is a premium cigar with a heftier price tag, but there’s a reason it has stacked up awards. It really is the best technical Maduro I’ve ever tried, with impeccable balance and complexity that deserves to be appreciated slowly.

So, let’s get into it.

The 10 Best Maduro Cigars

Macanudo Maduro Hyde Park – Best Maduro Cigar Overall

This award-winning smoke brings mellow notes of cocoa, leather, and dark roasted coffee to the fore for an accessible and well-balanced introduction to Maduros.

Just enough sweetness, just enough spice – everything is on point.

The construction here is excellent, with a perfectly even burn that didn’t require any touch-ups and an effortless draw. Copious, thick, and velvety smoke billows out of this beautiful-looking stick from start to finish.

I smoked this one right down to the finger-burning nub, which let me know it had to be top of the list.

I wouldn’t recommend this for any veterans looking for anything particularly complex, but for a newbie, this Maduro is a smooth slice of heaven that won’t break the bank.

Strength	Medium
Shape	Robusto
Size	5 1/2 x 49
Country	Dominican Republic
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Connecticut
Wrapper Leaf	Broadleaf

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Factory Smokes Maduro Robusto Drew Estate – Best Maduro Cigar Under $10

This is an excellent Maduro for the price. This Nicaraguan treat delivers shades of cocoa and suede in a medium-bodied blend, with just a hint of sweetness to mellow things out.

It burns with a beautiful aroma that even non-smokers seem to enjoy, too.

The guys at Drew Estate know how to make expertly constructed budget cigars, and the construction and burn here are familiarly impeccable. To the draw, this thing feels like something from Padron or Davidoff.

There are technically better Maduros out there – but for the price, this is a five-star cigar. Shockingly good.

I only have one complaint – I’ve found that one or two of these have had a tight draw as a fluke. Nothing a little fit of finger rolling doesn’t fix, though.

Strength	Full
Shape	Gordo
Size	6 x 60
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Proprietary
Wrapper Leaf	Maduro

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Arturo Fuente Añejo Maduro – Best Flavored Maduro Cigar

Anejo is a phenomenal line. These smokes blur the line between subtle and strong – there’s plenty of flavor in this inherently smokeable stick.

The rich, 5-year-old Maduro wrapper undergoes a Cognac aging process, balancing a strong brandy note against the classic Arturo Fuente creaminess

The alcohol element mellows throughout the smoke, with the addition of a little pine nuttiness towards the last third. It rests on top of peppery, leathery depth, with a little bright sweetness thrown in to mellow out this complex blend.

There’s enough going on here to keep me fully engaged for the full 2-hour ride, that’s for sure.

The velvety smoke has an incredible mouth feel, with an earthy retrohale that won’t overpower you. The flavor lingers in your mouth for 15 – 20 seconds per draw, which is perfect for my pace.

Anejos are worth every penny – I just wish I could afford to smoke them every day.

• Check out our full guide on the best Arturo Fuente cigars for more.

Strength	Full
Shape	Various
Size	6 5/8″
Country	Dominican Republic
Color	Natural
Wrapper Origin	Connecticut Broadleaf
Wrapper Leaf	Dominican Republic

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Arturo Fuente Exquisitos Maduro – Best Arturo Fuente Maduro Cigar

This hand-rolled cigar goes perfectly with espresso, with the naturally sweet notes of the dark Maduro wrapper melding gorgeously with the bitterness of the coffee.

The smooth, clean draw is packed full of chocolate, tree nuts, and cedar. The body is lusciously dark and doesn’t have the salty/sour quality that poorer quality Maduros tend to suffer from.

Exquisitos Maduros break all the rules of a smaller cigar. All the depth and complexity you would expect from something weightier is present here, with a volume of rich smoke that belies its smaller form.

Perfect if you want the full cigar experience in half the time. Occasional smokers and experts alike will enjoy this smoke that proves you don’t need to pay large sums for a top-tier Maduro.

Strength	Medium
Shape	Panatela
Size	4 1/2 x 33
Country	Dominican Republic
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Connecticut
Wrapper Leaf	Broadleaf

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Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro Principe – Best Short Maduro Cigar 

This is a slender stick, but no slouch when it comes to taste. Made with all-Nicaraguan leaf that’s been aged for 4 years, the Padron 1964 Maduro is incredibly hard to beat at its price point.

This bold blend is earthy, slightly sweet, and harbors hits of prickly pepper that will keep you engaged for the whole smoke. It’s a complex palate with a nutty aftertaste that manages to maintain its smoothness throughout.

The Principe size is perfect for when you don’t have a bunch of time to invest in enjoying a quality smoke. It’s the perfect duration for a nightcap after a long day at work, with an easy draw and consistent burn.

If you’re looking for a rich and velvety smoke that is a little more than medium, look no further.

Strength	Full
Shape	Corona
Size	4 1/2 x 46
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Nicaraguan
Wrapper Leaf	Habano

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Padron Serie 1926 80 Years Maduro – Best Premium Maduro Cigar

This is one for the high rollers. Blended with Padron’s rarest vintage leaves, the 1926 80 Years Maduro is an exquisite smoke.

They are everything an aged Nicaraguan should be – deep hits of dark cocoa, espresso, and an alluring nutty aftertaste.

I have never had a bad one of these. Construction is flawless, with glassy-oil sheen wrappers and enough white smoke to justify its own weather report.

1926 80 Years are serious smokes that deserve time and attention to be enjoyed properly. Not for beginners by any stretch of the imagination.

Make sure you have a couple of hours, peace and quiet, and a proper companion drink to hand.

It’s one of the best smokes I have ever had, but they are expensive. If you’ve got the money, you will not be disappointed.

Strength	Full
Shape	Figurado
Size	6 3/4 x 54
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Nicaraguan
Wrapper Leaf	Habano

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Padrón 3000 Maduro – Best Maduro Cigar Under $5

These box-pressed Maduros are made with sun-grown Nicaraguan tobacco, packed with rich earthy notes of cocoa and spice. A full-bodied smoke that prickles and challenges with an “edgy” flavor, without ever tasting bitter.

Be aware – this is a strong stogie. Be prepared to sit back for over an hour or two and enjoy this smoke leisurely. This is not the sort of smoke you want to play a round of gold with, or you might find yourself being carried home in the buggy.

The 3000 Maduro wrapper looks beautiful, with a slightly-longer-than-Robusto shape. It has a subtle dark chocolatey aroma, which carries over to the flavor palate too.

It pairs beautifully with rum, so set aside some time with a buddy and crack open a bottle. It’s virtually impossible to find a finer Maduro for $4.

Strength	Full
Shape	Robusto
Size	5 1/2 x 52
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Nicaraguan
Wrapper Leaf	Habano

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Padron 2000 Maduro – Best Maduro Padron Cigar 

Another Maduro from Padron, but the 2000 is a little pricier and more complex.

While lighter than the 3000, it brings in more elements like nougat, espresso, and a heavier tint of chocolate. The pleasure here is not in the strength but in the impeccable balance.

As you reach the halfway point, you’ll notice the emergence of a prickle of pepper and a sweet, caramel sense. It’s more moderate and textured than the 3000 and evolves more along a flavor journey.

It’s a lovely after-dinner Maduro made for occasions where the 3000 would be too overpowering to smoke casually. I like to pair it with Bourbon as one of my go-to digestifs.

The veiny, dark brown wrapper burns down perfectly, with lots of thick smoke and an effortless draw. This is one of those stogies you’ll find yourself smoking down to the 1-inch nub.

Strength	Full
Shape	Robusto
Size	5 x 50
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Nicaraguan
Wrapper Leaf	Habano

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Davidoff Primeros Nicaragua Maduro – Best Davidoff Maduro Cigar

This Primero is a classic Maduro cigar, with all of the rich flavor and aroma you’d hope for. 

The big chocolatey note slaps you in the face, supported by a streak of earthy hay and a touch of aromatic spice. This Nicaraguan blend is well-balanced and complex, with enough going on to keep aficionados engaged and interested.

Personally, I prefer a slightly milder cigar for my day-to-day smoke, but I’d happily pull out this stogie for a special occasion when I’m looking for something with more richness.

The smaller form factor is handy for times when you want something that tastes special, but don’t have hours to dedicate to smoking. Perfect with a glass of port or whiskey, and affordable enough to pick up without breaking the bank.

For this price, I challenge you to find another Maduro that is as satisfying.

• Check out our full guide on the best Davidoff cigars for more.

Strength	Full
Shape	Small Cigar
Size	4 1/8 x 34
Country	Dominican Republic
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Nicaraguan
Wrapper Leaf	Habano

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Nub Maduro 460 – Best Gas Station Maduro Cigar

Like Factory Smokes, the Nub Maduro has a Nicaraguan blend as its filler, encased in a dark and oily Brazilian Maduro wrapper. It’s a beautiful combination that produces creamy plumes of smoke with threads of dark chocolate and coffee zing.

It starts with a little toffee sweetness, but as you get halfway through, you’ll notice a light and pleasant prickle of pepper start to replace it. 

The NUb brand is produced by the Olivia company in their Nicaragua factory, with the same level of care and quality ingredients as the primary brand.

Don’t be fooled by the form factor – this Nub with take you between 45 and 60 minutes to smoke, which is a strong session.

All nubs are between 3 ½ and 4 inches, and they tend to have a wider ring gauge to compensate. This means that a nub can last as long, and contain as much tobacco, as a far longer cigar like a Presidente or Churchill.

This surprisingly complex smoke pairs perfectly with a glass of Jameson, so give that a try when you’re by the campfire on your next road trip.

• Check out our guide to the best gas station cigars here

Strength	Full
Shape	Rothschild
Size	4 x 60
Country	Nicaragua
Color	Maduro
Wrapper Origin	Brazilian
Wrapper Leaf	Arapiraca

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What You Should Know About Maduro Cigars

What are Maduro cigars?

Maduro means dark, and refers to the black or dark brown wrapper. 

Most Maduro wrappers are made from either Connecticut Broadleaf or, less commonly, the San Andres Negro leaf.

They are both hardy enough to handle the time-intensive traditional drying methods used to produce the Maduro wrapper, while lighter leaves would simply perish.

Are Maduro cigars stronger?

This is a point of confusion in the cigar community because some darker cigars carrying the Maduro name can be very intense.

But don’t assume a maduro is going to be strong by default

On a blind taste, most Maduros aren’t actually strong at all. The painstaking production process actually mellows the wrapper and produces a toasted, lightly sweetened effect.

How should you store a Maduro cigar in a humidor?

The ideal humidity for Maduros is between 65-72%. If the humidity is too low, the cigars will dry out. If the humidity is too high, the cigars will become too moist and might start to grow mold.

Either way, it’s not the experience you want, so pay close attention to a humidor to ensure all the settings are correct.

In addition to paying attention to the humidity, you need to store your cigars at the right temperature. The ideal temperature is between 69-73º Fahrenheit.

If you store your Maduros at a temperature that’s too cold, they might dry out or break as soon as you light them due to the sudden temperature increase. If the temperature is too hot, the cigars can start to unravel and fall apart. Or worse – it could lead to an unwanted cigar beetle infestation or rotted cigars.

Maduro cigars can last for years when stored properly in a humidor. However, they will begin to lose their flavor after about six months to a year. Trust me when I say you don’t want to smoke a cigar that’s been sitting in a humidor for five years. If flavor and experience are important to you, opt for a cigar that’s been stored in a humidor for 3-6 months.

While you can still smoke cigars that are past their prime, they won’t taste as good as they did when they were first stored. If you want to enjoy your Maduros at their best, rotate them out of the humidor every few months.

What’s the best place to buy Maduro cigars online?

It’s hard to believe with over 17 million cigar smokers just in the US that there are little more than a dozen credible places to buy cigars online. Now of course there are small shops all over that sell online cigars, but just don’t come up on any broad google search.

Most will let you down somewhere – if they have good shipping, they’re expensive. If they’re the right price, you’ll lack a proper guarantee.

My favorite online cigar store – Famous Smoke Shop -strikes a great balance, and most importantly – they’re reliable.

There’s nothing worse than your cigars arriving late, not showing up at all, or receiving dried-out stogies in terrible condition.

FAQs About the Best Maduro Cigars

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