Top 10 Cigars with Chocolate Notes for 2025

Chocolate is one of many common and recurring tasting notes in most cigars. Now, when we take a look at tasting notes on cigar descriptions, these are indicators of what the cigar usually offers; however, most tasting notes are indicators in a broad term. Most, if not all, cigar descriptions will label tasting notes as chocolate; they won’t give a deeper explanation such as “dark chocolate, milk chocolate, rich cocoa, etc.” as it’s usually specific to each individual. One person might smoke a cigar and taste a milk chocolate, and another might find a darker, richer note.

However, there is a difference between natural-tasting chocolate notes in cigars compared to cigars that have been infused and/or flavoured with chocolate. The cigars I will be talking about in this article are going to be relating to cigars that are not infused and/or flavoured. Now let’s take a look at some of my favourite cigars with chocolate tasting notes.

1. Oliva Serie V & Serie V Melanio

I'm going to talk about both the Serie V and the Serie V Melanio for this first one, even though they are 2 different cigars; I think it would be cheating to include them separately in this top 10 list.

Starting with the Serie V, this is one of my go-to smokes when I want a cigar with a balance of flavours and strength. This cigar offers a wonderful balance of cedar, coffee, leather, subtle spice, and chocolate. This cigar is perfect for any time of day; if you want a smoke in the morning with a coffee or an evening smoke after a meal, then this is the cigar for you. The chocolate note in this cigar is prominent from start to finish. If you wanted to enhance the chocolate note, then I would recommend pairing it with either a dark spirit such as rum, a coffee/espresso, and/or a piece of dark chocolate.

Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Now, for the Serie V Melanio, when it comes to the Serie V line, in my opinion the Melanio is one of the best cigars for every occasion and situation. This cigar offers the same tasting notes as the regular Serie V; however, the tasting notes are much more refined and complex. The chocolate note is there from first light up until the very last puff. If you want a cigar that smacks with chocolate, then this would be my option.

Wrapper: Mexican Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan Habano

2. CAO Mortal Coil

When I first tried the CAO Mortal Coil, I was blown away by how much of a chocolate bomb this cigar was; the second I lit it up, I was punched in the face with that dark chocolate flavour. From start to finish, this cigar did not let up on that chocolate flavour. Paired with notes of wood, leather, nuts, earth, and a slight spice, this would be my first choice when looking for that big punch of chocolate.

Wrapper: American Broadleaf
Binder: American Shade
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan, Dominican Andullo

3. Padron 1964 Anniversary Series (Both Natural and Maduro)

The Padron 1964 (both Natural and Maduro) are fantastic cigars with great strength, flavours, and history. Both the Padron 1964 Series Natural and Maduro have tobacco that has been aged for 4 years, which offers a smooth and complex smoking experience. This cigar is not a light cigar by any means; it starts off as medium, then builds into a full body. This cigar is not to be taken lightly. However, the flavours on these cigars are exceptional, with big notes of chocolate, coffee, nuts, wood, and baker’s spice.

Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

4. Charatan Maduro

Charatan is another brand with a rich history in cigars and within the UK market, with Frederick Charatan opening his first shop in London in 1863. However, when first established, Charatan London was mainly a pipe shop, not moving into cigars until the early 1990s. With over 160 years in business, Charatan London has a vast history and knowledge of tobacco. Charatan cigars were originally created for the British palate; however, since growing worldwide, they now offer incredible Nicaraguan cigars for every palate.

During 2024, Charatan started working on 3 new cigars that were officially released in 2025. These were the Claro, Colorado, and Maduro. Now, the Maduro is my choice for this list. This cigar offers a complex profile with notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, nuts, and earthiness.

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

5. Kristoff Maduro

The Kristoff Maduro is not one to miss. You don’t usually see it on top 10 lists, especially in the UK, and in my opinion that’s a shame, as this has a wonderfully balanced but complex flavour with notes of earth, nuts, hints of spice, and a sweet chocolate finish.

Wrapper: Cuban Seed Honduran Criollo
Binder: Cuban Seed Dominican
Filler: Cuban Seed Dominican, Cuban Seed Nicaraguan

6. Alec Bradley Black Market

The Alec Bradley Black Market was the first cigar I had from Alec Bradley, and it’s safe to say I fell in love with the brand from the first puff. This cigar was the first cigar I had when I started my smoking journey that I got chocolate from straight away. This cigar offers wonderful notes of chocolate, nuts, leather, and a little floral and spice to round it off.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Sumatra
Filler: Panama, Honduran

7. Oscar Valladares Super Fly

There are many cigars from Oscar Valladares that I could have included within this list; however, I have gone for the Super Fly. This has been one of my favourite cigars from Oscar. Most people, when you think of Oscar Valladares, think of the Leaf. However, this Super Fly is often overlooked, which I think is a shame. This cigar offers a great balance of flavours with notes of chocolate, coffee, earth, nuts, and a little wood and pepper. This cigar also pairs incredibly well with a coffee.

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua, and Dominican Republic

8. Davidoff Winston Churchill Late Hour

When it comes to the Davidoff brand, the Winston Churchill Late Hour is by far one of my favourite cigars from Davidoff and one I always come back to, whether it’s the Robusto for a shorter smoke or the Churchill for that longer, savoured experience. This cigar is perfect for every occasion. The notes I get from this cigar are a lovely nutty, chocolate, floral smoke with hints of coffee, leather, and dark fruit.

Wrapper: Habano - Marron Oscuro (Ecuador)
Binder: Negro San Andrés - Mexico
Filler: San Vicente Mejorado Visus (DR), Piloto Seco (DR), Olor Visus (DR), Esteli Visus (Nica), Condega Visus cask aged (Nica)

9. CIGARKINGS Maduro

This cigar is another new one to the UK market, only being released this year. However, it is already a big hit with cigar smokers in the UK. This has been one of my favourite new world cigars this year. It has a wonderful balance of flavours such as chocolate, nuts, earth, leather, and subtle spice. This cigar was created with low nicotine tobaccos, offering a full-flavoured cigar without the strength, making a smoke anyone can enjoy.

Wrapper: Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

10. K by Karen Maduro

Karen Berger has become one of my favourite go-to cigar makers. The experience and history she holds definitely reflects within her cigars, and the Maduro is no exception. This was one of the first cigars I tried from Karen Berger, and from the moment I tried it, I fell in love. This cigar has lovely chocolate, coffee, nuts, and subtle hints of spice, rounded off in the final third with notes of pretzel.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan Esteli
Filler: Nicaraguan Esteli

So the K by Karen finishes off this top 10 list of cigars with chocolate tasting notes. During the construction of this list, I tried to include some cigars you wouldn’t normally see in these types of lists, while also making sure that all the cigars within the list can be bought within the UK. The reason for this is if anyone wanted to try these cigars, then they would have easy access to them. It didn’t seem right for me to create a top 10 list and fill it with cigars you can only buy in America.

As you can see from this list, the majority of these cigars have a Maduro wrapper, and for good reason. A good Maduro wrapper has been grown, fermented, and aged correctly. Maduro wrappers are from the upper part of the plant, getting more sunlight, so they naturally develop a sweeter, oily leaf.

If you want to try cigars with this flavour note, then it’s a safe bet to try finding a cigar with a Maduro wrapper, and there are plenty of them out there in the cigar world, so happy hunting and enjoy.