38 Special Filtered Cigars are machine-made cigars in a slim 3.2 x 20 vitola and are supplied in packs of 20 in a variety of flavors. Blended flavored fillers wrapped in natural tobacco leaves produce a quick and enjoyable cigarillo that will always leave you looking forward to your next smoke break.
With flavors ranging from Original, Menthol, and Blue (Lights) through to fruity Cherry and Grape, 38 Specials are a crowd pleaser that can be smoked alone or handed out to guests after dessert to keep the sweetness going. Their filter tips help 38 Specials deliver a mellow to medium-strength flavor profile full of fruit and natural tobacco.
If you struggle to make time to smoke a 90-minute cigar, these little guys are the perfect companion, taking just 20-25 minutes to smoke down to the nub.
Brand Overview
38 Special Cigars are filtered, machine-made cigars in the cigarillo style, and were created by Lake Erie Tobacco Company based in Kill Buck, New York. From the factory on the banks of the Allegheny River, Lake Erie Tobacco ships some of the most popular brands of budget tobacco, roll-your-own leaf, and machine-made cigars.
Lake Erie Tobacco Co is also known for manufacturing American Club Pipe Tobacco, Seneca filtered cigars, dipping tobacco, and Sago RYO tubes. The factory can be found on Buffalo Highway east of Kill Buck, between the Allegheny River and the forested hills of Cattaraugus County, NY.
In these 38 Special Filtered cigar reviews, we’ll take a look at the construction of these little beauties, before diving into the smoking experience itself - helping you to know exactly what to expect when you buy 38 Specials from Cigars.com!
Cigar Specs
- Country of Origin: United States
- Strength: Mellow-Medium
- Wrapper: Natural Tobacco Leaf
- Binder: Homogenized Tobacco Leaf
- Filler: Mixed Filler
- Smoke Time: 20-25 minutes
- Sizes Available:
- 38 Special Filtered Cigars Original (3.2 x 20)
- 38 Special Filtered Cigars Blue (3.2 x 20)
- 38 Special Filtered Cigars Menthol (3.2 x 20)
- 38 Special Filtered Cigars Cherry (3.2 x 20)
- 38 Special Filtered Cigars Grape (3.2 x 20)
Cold Draw Impressions
With their filtered tip, there’s no need to cut a 38 Special, saving you time when you’re on a limited smoke break. A quick cold draw will set you up for what’s to come, with a hint of sweetness on 38 Special Original cigars (and on the 38 Special Blues) and a preview of those fruity or minty flavors on the rest of the line.
Enjoying this before you light it up is worth taking a moment.
First Third Impressions
Light your 38 Special and the clock is ticking, so make sure you savor every puff. As with any cigar, the faster you smoke, the faster you’ll reach the end. Equally, if you take your time, there’s plenty to appreciate in these little sticks, which start with tobacco sweetness and those distinctive flavors of cherry, grape, or menthol.
Second Third Impressions
38 Specials aren’t really designed to deliver a journey, but you can expect the fruit flavor to stay steady right the way through the cigar.
Thanks to the tobacco wrapper, there’s plenty of taste and thick smoke to retrohale, further enhancing the flavor profile. Reach the 15-minute mark and, depending on your personal pace, you’re probably already two-thirds of the way through the stick.
Final Third Impressions
After a few more minutes, your 38 Special is done, with that filter tip keeping things steady (and giving you something to hold) right down to the final puff.
Short and sweet, quite literally in the case of the 38 Special Cherry and 38 Special Grape flavors. Aside from the last wisps of fruity smoke, the only thing left lingering in the air is whether to light up another one.
Final Thoughts
Machine-made filtered cigars offer some of the best value on the market, and 38 Specials have earned a good amount of popularity over the years. Grab a pack on your way out of the house and you’ll have a flavorful companion for your morning coffee break or to enjoy during your walk in the woods.