You picked up a pack of Black and Milds at the gas station, noticed six other flavors sitting next to it, and wondered what you were missing. That’s the moment most people land on this page. Black and Mild is one of the best-selling machine-made cigar brands in the U.S., and its flavor lineup is a big reason why. This guide walks through every major black and mild flavor on the market, what each one tastes like, and how to pick the one that fits your taste. Note: this is a tobacco product intended for adults 21 and older, and nicotine is addictive.
What Is a Black and Mild?
A Black and Mild is a small, machine-made cigar produced by John Middleton Co., a company that’s been blending pipe tobacco since 1856. Unlike a cigarette, it’s wrapped in a whole tobacco leaf rather than paper, and it’s filled with pipe tobacco instead of cigarette tobacco. That’s part of what gives it a smoother, sweeter draw than a typical cigarette.
Each one comes with a plastic or wood tip, which keeps loose tobacco out of your mouth and cools the smoke slightly as it passes through. The brand uses a blend of Cavendish, Kentucky Burley, and Virginia tobaccos as its base, then layers in flavoring on top for the flavored varieties.
If you’ve heard someone ask “what is a black & mild” and get the answer “it’s basically a mini cigar with pipe tobacco inside,” that’s a fair summary. It’s built for a shorter smoke session than a full cigar, and it doesn’t need the cutting or lighting ritual that a traditional cigar does.
Top 15 Black and Mild Flavors
Here’s the full rundown of black and mild flavors people search for most, based on what’s currently stocked at major tobacco retailers.
1. Original (Regular)
The flagship flavor and the one the whole lineup is measured against. It’s a straightforward, earthy pipe tobacco taste with a slightly sweet finish. If you want to know what a Black and Mild tastes like without any added flavoring, this is it.
2. Wine
A grape-forward, almost dessert-like smoke. The wine flavoring sits on top of a full-bodied tobacco base, so it reads sweeter than Original without losing the tobacco character underneath.
3. Apple
A crisp, green-apple flavor that’s popular with newer smokers because it’s light and fruity rather than heavy. It’s one of the more approachable options in the entire lineup.
4. Cream
Soft and mellow, with a smooth, almost creamy aftertaste layered over mild tobacco. People who find Original too plain often land here.
5. Jazz (Cherry Blend)
A sweeter, slower-burning cigar built around a cherry-influenced tobacco blend. The name comes from the relaxed, unhurried smoking pace it’s associated with.
6. Select / Mild
A gentler version of Original, made for people who want the classic tobacco taste without much intensity. This is frequently recommended as a starting point for first-time cigar smokers.
7. Wood Tip
Not a separate flavor exactly, but a format worth knowing. Wood Tip versions swap the plastic tip for a wooden one, which some smokers say gives a smoother draw and a slightly different mouthfeel.
8. Royale
A more refined, slightly spiced profile that sits between Original and the sweeter fruit flavors. It’s aimed at smokers who want something with a bit more complexity.
9. Sweets
Exactly what the name suggests: a noticeably sweeter tobacco blend, often described as dessert-adjacent, without a strong fruit note.
10. Casino
A blend with a touch of spice and sweetness that some retailers describe as having a lounge-like character. It’s one of the less common flavors, so stock varies by region.
11. Deluxe
A classic tobacco taste with a subtle hint of chocolate running underneath. It’s closer to Original than to the fruit-forward flavors.
12. Cherry
A spiced Virginia tobacco blend finished with a tart cherry note. It’s distinct from Jazz, which leans sweeter and smoother by comparison.
13. Blues
A gentle mint flavor layered over mild tobacco, giving it a cooler finish than most of the other options on this list.
14. Soft Vanilla
A blend of Burley and Black Cavendish tobaccos finished with a strong vanilla note and a light fruity undertone.
15. Gold
A tobacco blend touched with sweet vanilla and a nutty finish, positioned as one of the brand’s more indulgent flavor options.
How Black and Mild Flavors Compare
| Flavor | Taste Profile | Best For |
| Original | Earthy, classic tobacco | Purists who skip flavored cigars |
| Wine | Sweet, grape-like | Dessert-style smoke |
| Apple | Crisp, fruity, light | Beginners |
| Cream | Smooth, mellow | Smokers who find Original too plain |
| Jazz | Sweet, slow burn | Relaxed, unhurried smoking |
| Select/Mild | Gentle, low intensity | First-time smokers |
| Royale | Spiced, refined | Smokers wanting more complexity |
| Cherry | Spiced with tartness | Fans of bolder fruit notes |
| Vanilla varieties | Sweet, dessert-like | Smokers who prefer rich finishes |
Wood Tip vs. Plastic Tip vs. Filtered
The flavor isn’t the only decision to make. Black and Milds come in a few tip styles, and each changes the experience slightly.
- Plastic tip: The original format. It keeps tobacco bits out of your mouth and doesn’t affect the taste of the smoke itself.
- Wood tip: A wooden mouthpiece that many smokers say absorbs a little moisture and gives a marginally smoother draw.
- Filtered: Built with an actual filter, giving a slightly firmer draw closer to a filtered cigarillo than a traditional cigar tip.
None of these change the tobacco blend inside. They’re purely about how the smoke feels on the draw.
Why the Brand Has So Many Flavors
John Middleton built its reputation on pipe tobacco blending long before Black and Mild existed as a product. When the company introduced the cigar in the 1980s as a faster alternative to pipe smoking, it carried that flavor-blending background with it. Over the decades, flavors got added based on what smokers asked for, which is why the lineup now ranges from plain tobacco (Original) all the way to vanilla and cherry blends.
The brand is now owned by Altria, the same parent company behind several major tobacco brands in the U.S., which has kept production consistent even as flavor preferences among smokers have shifted over the years.
Things to Know Before You Buy
A few practical notes that most retailer pages skip over:
- Flavor availability varies by state. Some states restrict flavored tobacco sales, so not every flavor on this list will be on every shelf.
- Pricing runs $2 to $5 per cigar, with flavored varieties like Wine or Cherry sometimes priced slightly higher than Original.
- These are pipe-tobacco cigars, not cigarettes. The tobacco, wrapper, and nicotine delivery are all different, even though people often compare the two.
- They’re still a tobacco product. Nicotine is addictive, and Black and Milds carry the same general health risks associated with cigar and pipe tobacco use.
Frequently Asked Questions About Black and Mild Flavors
What are Black and Milds?
Black and Milds are small, machine-made cigars produced by John Middleton Co., filled with pipe tobacco and wrapped in a whole tobacco leaf. They come with a plastic or wood tip and are sold in both flavored and non-flavored varieties.
What is the mildest Black and Mild flavor?
Select, also labeled Mild, is generally considered the gentlest option in the lineup. It’s built for smokers who want a lighter, less intense version of the Original tobacco taste, which makes it a common recommendation for first-timers.
How many flavors of Black and Mild are there?
There are around 15 flavors in active or recent rotation, ranging from Original and Wine to Apple, Cherry, Jazz, and several vanilla-based blends. Not all flavors are sold in every state or region at the same time.
What’s the difference between Black and Mild Wine and Original?
Original has a straightforward, earthy pipe tobacco taste with no added flavoring. Wine layers a grape-like sweetness on top of a full-bodied tobacco base, giving it a noticeably sweeter, dessert-style finish.
Are Black and Milds stronger than cigarettes?
They’re different rather than simply stronger or weaker. Black and Milds use pipe tobacco and a leaf wrapper instead of cigarette tobacco and paper, which changes how the nicotine hits and how the smoke tastes, but both products carry health risks tied to tobacco use.
What is the best-selling Black and Mild flavor?
Original, Wine, Apple, and Cherry consistently rank as the most popular choices among retailers, with Original remaining the top seller since it’s the flavor the brand was built around.
Do Black and Milds come in non-flavored options?
Yes. Original and Select are both non-flavored, offering a straight tobacco taste for smokers who prefer to skip the fruit or dessert-style flavorings entirely.
What does Jazz flavor taste like?
Jazz is a cherry-influenced blend known for a sweet, slow burn. It’s often described as smoother and less tart than the standalone Cherry flavor.
Find the Flavor That Fits Your Taste
Original and Select stick closest to classic pipe tobacco, the fruit flavors like Apple and Wine bring in sweetness, and the vanilla-based blends lean toward a dessert-style finish. Check your state’s flavor restrictions before you shop, since availability isn’t the same everywhere. If you’re curious about how cigar tobacco compares to cigarette tobacco, or want to read more on tobacco product types, check out related guides on reuterings.com.
