Chaveta

Half an hour is enough for a genuinely good cigar, provided you choose the right format. A practical guide to short cigars — which vitolas fit the time you have, what to look for in construction, and where to start across mild, maduro and full-bodied blends.

Five blends, one format, twenty unhurried minutes. Primeros by Davidoff brings the house's tobaccos and construction into a small cigar built for short breaks — here is how the Dominican, Nicaragua, Escurio and the two maduros differ, and which one suits the moment you have.

Twelve non-Cuban cigars worth your attention in 2026, led by the Arturo Fuente OpusX Fuente Fuente and taking in Davidoff's limited editions, Nicaraguan heavyweights from Oliva and Plasencia, and Honduran corojo from Aladino and Camacho. Includes the best value buys and how New World blends now compare with Habanos.

Retirement marks a lifetime of work, and the right cigar honours it beautifully. From commemorative Cohiba editions to handsome leather cases and travel humidors, here is how to choose a gift that will be savoured long after the final day at the office.

The corona and the petit corona share the same elegant ring gauge but differ in length, and that single difference shapes everything from smoking time to flavour. Here is how the two classic vitolas compare, and how to choose between them.

Coffee may be the classic companion to a fine cigar, but tea is its quietly elegant rival. Here is how to match black, oolong, green and pu-erh teas to mild, medium and full-bodied smokes for a calmer, more contemplative ritual.