Minis – coffee break cigars

What’s the difference between a mini and a whiff? The answer is probably ‘zero point nothing grammes of tobacco’. For each miniature or mini cigar, and that’s what we are really talking about, usually weighs no more than 1.2 gms of tobacco, while whiffs range from 1.2 to 2.5 gms.

Indeed, some minis are not much larger than a cigar match but what they actually ‘whiff’ of can be surprisingly pleasant. It’s one of the reasons why minis are slowly but steadily capturing a nice little share of the UK’s ‘cigarette refugees’ market, i.e. all those Brits who are looking to smoke less, but smoke better, without breaking the bank.

And while a mini may not be much larger than a cigarette it usually lasts longer, in my experience between nine and 15 minutes. It also tastes a hell of a lot better.

Currently, there are over 40 miniature brands on the UK market, and this figure is growing, steadily. It’s a long way from Tom Thumb cigars, which introduced many British smokers to a pack of tiny stogies that could fit easily into a pocket or a handbag.

While most of the UK’s minis are produced by Gallaher and Imperial Tobacco, a small but vital segment of this market is being expanded by some of the best known Dominican and Cuban cigar brands. In recent years many have jumped at this opportunity to extend their range while encouraging more smokers to sample premium tobacco.

As you will see from the following tasting notes, packaging plays a major part in promoting minis. But then smokers who are prepared to spend more on a pack of tiny cigars than on cigarettes want to be reassured that they’re moving up to the next level.