Not all flavored cigars are created equal. It used to be that manufacturers of flavored cigars would inject artificial flavor (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, rum, cognac, etc.) into the body of a very cheap cigar with a syringe. While this is still a very common technique used to make inexpensive flavored smokes, some cigar companies are using a different, more natural approach.
One technique involves dipping the tobacco leaves in flavor before rolling them into a cigar. Another, less-used, process is passing flavored air through the leaves as they ferment for a more subtle flavoring.
As the market for flavored cigars grows, more premium cigar manufacturers have decided to launch flavored lines. These cigars are handmade with high quality tobacco by expert cigar rollers, and the results are impressive. Also, the quality of the flavoring has improved over the years. Innovative cigar makers like Drew Estate have been infusing their tobaccos with spices, wine and all natural flavors in their Acid and Ambrosia lines. Our advice is to stay away from the cheap flavored lines, but don't dismiss a premium flavored smoke until you've tried it.