Contrary to common misconception, darker maduro cigars aren't always strong. In fact, some of the silkiest smoking experiences you can have with a cigar are found within a rich maduro.

Yes, a super light natural cigar with a "mild" flavor and strength profile will likely be far less vibrant in the cigar flavor profile spectrum than the average maduro. But that doesn't mean that every dark cigar is out to kick your ass and take your lunch money.

Literally translated, maduro means "ripened" or "matured." Which in the cigar arena, translates to a tobacco leaf that has undergone extensive amounts of fermentation time. 

Being that lighter, shade-grown cigar wrappers tend to be very silky and thin, this extra fermentation time is typically reserved for more robust, sun-grown tobacco varietals. An organic process, that when monitored in a controlled environment, can result in years of fermentation and aging. 

Eventually, this results in a product with far fewer naturally occurring plant-based chemicals, and a more complex, earthy, mocha-like, woodsy cigar flavor profile. 

Now as for the color of the cigar wrapper itself, well that is just a by-product of the chemical reactions that take place to sun-grown tobacco during the fermentation process. Furthermore, it is oftentimes the contents within a cigar, and not just the wrapper, that constitutes strength.

So don't be afraid of the dark, and give a mellow maduro like the Oliva Serie G or the slightly more vibrant Joya de Nicaragua Silver a shot. Feeling a bit adventurous and want something a dash more oaky and peppery? Try out the Sun-Grown Maduro by Rocky Patel. 

If you can handle a cup of coffee, a bite of dark chocolate, or a dash of black pepper on your steak, one of these maduro cigars is sure to provide you with a surprisingly enjoyable smoking experience...

For more on maduro cigars, check out our in-depth feature called "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark: Maduro Cigars Explained," where we dig a bit deeper into the darker side of cigar culture.