Cigars

About cigars

With a history going back centuries to the ancient Mayans, cigar rolling is both an art and a skill. It takes dexterity and years of practice to master, with cigars made from premium tobacco rolled by the most skilled being the most sought-after. We source a variety of top-quality hand-rolled, machine-rolled, and flavoured cigars from renowned manufacturers worldwide, as well as rare and limited-edition Cuban cigars to meet every discerning smoker’s need. You’ll find products from Cohiba, Romeo Julieta, Davidoff, Montecristo, Henri Wintermans, Meharis, and other well-known brands right here.
Often enjoyed as an indulgent treat, smoked on special occasions, and given as gifts, cigars are tightly rolled bundles of tobacco that have been dried and fermented. The method of making them evolved as their popularity spread to different countries, resulting in a stellar array of cigars with different aromas, flavours, and textures. Despite these differences, all cigars in the UK have three basic components in common: the tobacco leaf wrapper, the filler, and the binder finished with a band featuring the brand logo. Some of our most popular options include:

Premium hand-rolled cigars (Long Filler)

Crafted by expert rollers using the very best quality tobacco, premium hand-rolled cigars are the most prized in the world. They are rolled with whole tobacco leaves that are bundled and wrapped by hand to fine tolerances for a luxurious look, feel and texture. This requires great skill and cannot be mimicked by any machine.
There is no such thing as a machine-made, long filler cigar. Long filler cigars made by experienced rollers give a far superior smoke, as the perfect ratio of tobacco is bundled into the cigar in a way that ensures no tight spots or plugs and makes for an even smooth burn. Whole leaves are more expensive but enable uninterrupted channels to be formed down the cigar, which gives a much smoother and more flavoursome experience due to the lower heat required to keep the cigar drawing.
You will also notice that with a long filler cigar, the ash holds together much longer. This protects the cigar from wind and overheating and allows the smoker to see how well the cigar has been constructed. In some cases, you can smoke the full cigar without dropping the ash, and there are even competitions for the longest ash!

If you’re looking for an impressive gift for someone truly deserving, highlights for your collection, or a fine way to spoil yourself, hand-rolled cigars are a perfect choice.

Premium hand-rolled cigars (Short Filler)

Using full tobacco leaves to roll a cigar has many advantages, but it greatly increases the cost due to the amount of waste and offcuts. A step in between machine-made and long filler cigars is short filler.

The cigar is still made by hand, so the Torcedor can feel for any tight spots or plugs. However, the filler is made from half length leaves, which are more cost effective to use and easier to roll with. They aren’t made from chopped leaves like machine-made cigars, so they still benefit from a smoother, easier, more flavoursome draw with more tobacco per inch.

Machine-rolled cigars

Our machine-rolled cigars are manufactured by special machines that roll short-cut master blend filler in tobacco leaf wrappers. Machine-rolled cigars are known for consistency, even burns, and superb draw performance. They do not have as much weight per inch of tobacco and tend to be drier to enable an easy draw so they give a different smoking experience that some smokers prefer.
Available in standard and smaller sizes, these cigars are more affordable than those rolled by hand, making them accessible to budgets of all sizes.

Flavoured cigars

Flavoured cigars from the Black Swan Shoppe add another dimension to an already opulent smoking experience. Irresistible flavours such as cognac, vanilla, cherry, or chocolate are infused through the filler tobacco or added to the wrapper or filter to complement the cigar’s natural aroma. Browse our selection of flavoured cigars, perfect for everyday enjoyment and occasional special treats.

Rare and limited-edition Cuban cigars

A gift that’s hard to surpass when celebrating significant anniversaries, events, or collaborations, rare and limited-edition Cuban cigars are prized by connoisseurs and collectors for their rarity, quality, and flavour. Our range includes rare and limited-edition cigars produced in small batches and includes exclusive releases and discontinued lines. Discover cigars that represent this centuries-old tradition at its finest.

Cigar accessories and gifts

While accessories aren’t strictly necessary, there’s no denying that they can enhance the ritual of cutting, lighting, and smoking a cigar. Our range includes functional yet stylish accessories to accompany every step of the smoking journey. We also offer a range of gifting options perfect for various special occasions. You’ll find:
Cigar accessories: Discover our range of cigar ashtrays, care items such as humidification products, metal, leather, and other cases, humidors and other storage options, hygrometers, literature, repair tools, and pocket and table cutters.
Cigar gift boxes and presents: Explore our range of premium quality cigars in sophisticated and stylish gift boxes, tins, and jars containing single, two, and multiple cigars, some of which include cutters.

Whether you’re looking for everything you need to start smoking cigars in the UK or you’re a seasoned enthusiast and want to enrich your collection, there’s something for you at the Black Swan Shoppe.

Cigar FAQ

What are the different types of cigars?

Cigars are available in endless shapes, styles, and sizes, each of which influences the experience of smoking them. Hand-rolled cigars can be made in any shape and size, and they are known as Vitola. Popular Vitolas such as the Churchill, Corona or Robusto have been around for many decades. However, as times have changed, so too has the fashion for cigars, and smokers now prefer a shorter, stubbier cigar for a quick, intense smoke.
Machine-rolled and flavoured cigars are available in popular sizes such as cigarillos (7-10cm), little cigars (7cm or less), and large cigars (10-20 cm), and are more restricted by the capacity of the amazing machines that are left in the world.
The machines rolling cigars in factories worldwide are nothing short of incredible feats of engineering. Sadly, it is unlikely that any more will ever be made as the cost cannot be justified, and the skills needed to make them have largely been lost. If you have a moment spare, we recommend watching some videos of these machines in action. Even better, visit a factory next time you are in Holland, Tampa Bay, Dominican Republic, Cuba, or anywhere else famous for producing cigars.

How do I keep my cigars fresh?

The best way to keep your hand rolled cigars in optimal condition is to store them in a humidor. You can also store them along with a humidifier, such as a Boveda pack, in a sealed container to prevent them from drying out. If your cigar does dry out, then all is not lost. Provided the wrapper has not cracked, you can revive your cigar. This must be done slowly at a low humidity, such as 65% initially, then gradually increase to the optimum 69%, or the cigar will swell too quickly and crack the wrapper, making it smokeable.
If the worst does happen, do not waste the fine tobacco. Break it down and smoke it in a pipe, or donate it to a friendly pipe smoker who will take great pleasure from it.
Machine-rolled cigars do not necessarily require a humidor, as the leaves are rolled at a lower humidity. They are best kept in a cool, dark place. Again, if they become brittle, they can be revived by storing them in a humidor or sealed container and slowly increasing the humidity. Machine-rolled cigars have no definitive humidity, but we recommend 65%.
Never store cigars in a tightly sealed container. Cigars need to be able to breathe to prevent mould from forming and ruining them.