Arturo Fuente
A family-run legend. Ask about the Hemingway and Opus X lines.
Strength Medium–full
Dept / Cigars
Premium Cigars
Hand-rolled cigars from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras, from mellow Connecticut shade to full-bodied maduro.
What we carry
Brands on the shelf
Eight names we reach for first, with strength at a glance.
Padrón
Box-pressed, rich and powerful. The 1964 Anniversary Series is the benchmark.
Strength Full
Montecristo
Smooth, balanced and one of the most recognized bands in the world.
Strength Medium
Romeo y Julieta
Approachable and consistent. A great first premium cigar.
Strength Mild–medium
Rocky Patel
Known for the Vintage series and strong value for the quality.
Strength Medium–full
Oliva
The Serie V and Serie G are crowd favorites for a reason.
Strength Medium
Macanudo
Creamy Connecticut-shade smokes for easy afternoons.
Strength Mild
Cohiba
The Dominican-made Cohiba for the US market. A special-occasion pick.
Strength Medium
Brands shown are examples. Stock changes, so call ahead for a specific item.
Cigar school
Read the wrapper
Wrapper color is the fastest clue to flavor. Lighter leaves run mild and creamy; darker leaves bring sweetness, cocoa and weight.
CandelaMildest
ClaroMild
Colorado ClaroMild–med
ColoradoMedium
Colorado MaduroMed–full
MaduroFull, sweet
OscuroFullest
Sizes
Pick your vitola
Length is in inches, ring gauge is the diameter in 64ths of an inch. Smoke times are typical, not promises.
| Vitola | Length | Ring gauge | Smoke time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petit Corona | 4½ in | 42 | 30–40 min |
| Corona | 5½ in | 42 | 40–50 min |
| Robusto | 5 in | 50 | 45–60 min |
| Toro | 6 in | 50–52 | 60–75 min |
| Churchill | 7 in | 47–48 | 75–90 min |
| Gordo | 6 in | 60 | 90+ min |
Ritual
Cut, toast, light
Do it in this order and the first draw tastes like it should.
Step 01
Cut
Take a clean cut just above the cap line with a guillotine or V-cutter. Less is more.
Step 02
Toast
Hold the foot just above a butane flame and rotate until the edge glows evenly.
Step 03
Light
Draw gently while rotating. Don't inhale; it's all about the flavor on the palate.
Step 04
Pace it
About one puff a minute keeps it cool. When it's done, let it go out on its own.
Storage: 65–72°F at 65–72% humidity in a seasoned humidor.
Not sure what to pick? Take the four-question Smoke Sommelier quiz and get a pairing from the crew. Start the quiz →
From the blog
Guides for this department
Short reads from the crew before you buy.
Local & Laws · 3 min read
California Vape and Tobacco Laws in 2026: What You Can Buy and Why
Why flavored vapes disappeared, what the Unflavored Tobacco List is, what’s still allowed, and what shops can’t sell.
Read the guideCigars & Pipes · 3 min readHow to Store Cigars: With a Humidor, Without One, and on the Road
The 70/70 rule, humidity packs, seasoning a new humidor and the cheap container trick that works for weeks.
Read the guideCigars & Pipes · 3 min readCigar Cutters Compared: Guillotine vs. V-Cut vs. Punch
How each cut changes the draw, which cutter to buy first, and the mistakes that unravel a wrapper.
Read the guideFAQ
Questions, answered
What are the best cigars for beginners?
Start mild to medium with a Connecticut-shade wrapper, like a Macanudo or Romeo y Julieta, in a robusto size.
What's the difference between maduro and natural wrappers?
Maduro wrappers are aged longer and fermented more, which makes them darker, sweeter and richer. Natural wrappers are lighter and usually milder.
How do I store cigars at home?
Keep them in a humidor at 65–72°F and 65–72% humidity. A two-way humidity pack makes it easy.
How long does a cigar take to smoke?
Plan on 45–60 minutes for a robusto and over an hour for a toro or churchill. Smaller sizes take about half an hour.
Do you sell cutters, lighters and humidors?
Yes: guillotine, V and punch cutters, single and triple-flame torches, and travel and desktop humidors.
Near you
Cigar shop near you in Santa Ana
X Rated carries premium hand-rolled cigars in Santa Ana, CA. Stop in to pick a stick with the crew, or order cutters, torches and humidors for delivery.
- Santa Ana
- Tustin
- Orange
- Garden Grove
- Costa Mesa
- Fountain Valley
- Irvine
- Westminster
- Anaheim
- Downtown Santa Ana
- South Coast Metro