What Is a Box-Pressed Cigar? A Beginner’s Guide

If you’re new to cigars, you may have noticed that some cigars aren’t perfectly round. Instead, they have flat sides and a squared or rectangular appearance. These are known as box-pressed cigars.

But what exactly does “box pressed” mean, and does the shape change how a cigar smokes?

What Is a Box-Pressed Cigar?

A box-pressed cigar is a cigar that has been pressed into a square, rectangle, or slightly flattened shape during production. Rather than maintaining the traditional round shape of a cigar, the finished cigar takes on flatter sides.

The process dates back to traditional cigar manufacturing and remains popular today because of the distinctive look and feel it gives a cigar.

Box pressing doesn’t determine a cigar’s strength or flavor. You can find box-pressed cigars ranging from smooth and mild to rich and full-bodied.

How Are Cigars Box Pressed?

So how does a round cigar become square?

After cigars are rolled and allowed to rest, they can be placed tightly together in specially designed molds or boxes. Pressure is applied to the cigars, gradually flattening their sides. The cigars may remain under pressure for an extended period while they take on the shape of the mold.

Traditional box pressing uses the cigars themselves and the pressure created by packing them tightly into a box. Modern manufacturers may also use dedicated pressing molds.

The amount of pressure and time used can vary, which is why some box-pressed cigars have sharp, square edges, while others have a much softer or more rounded press.

What Should You Expect When Smoking One?

The biggest difference you’ll notice is the shape and feel.

A box-pressed cigar can feel flatter and more substantial between your fingers than a traditional round cigar. The squared sides can also sit differently against your lips.

The shape itself doesn’t necessarily mean the cigar will burn or taste differently. Flavor is primarily determined by the tobacco blend, while construction, humidity, and storage can have a major effect on the draw and burn.

If you’re trying a box press for the first time, don’t expect it to be a completely different type of cigar. Instead, think of it as another way to experience a familiar blend.

Three Box-Pressed Cigars to Try from LM Cigars

Perla del Mar

Perla del Mar is one of the best examples of a classic box-pressed cigar. Its Tampa-style soft box press gives the cigar its distinctive rectangular appearance. 

Manufactured by J.C. Newman Cigar Co. The Perla del Mar or ‘Pearl of the Sea’ is a brand revitalized after four Cuban brothers because hand rolling cigars using tobacco grown on their own family farm in the early 1900s. 

LM Cigars carries the Shade, Maduro, and Corojo versions, giving smokers several strength and flavor options.

Alec Bradley Prensado

The name Prensado literally means “pressed” in Spanish, making the cigar’s shape part of its identity.

Espinosa Murcielago

If you prefer a darker, richer cigar, the Espinosa Murcielago is a box-pressed option worth trying.

It combines hearty Nicaraguan fillers with a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper and delivers a medium-to-full-bodied profile with notes of cocoa and sweet spices.

The box-pressed shape gives the Murcielago a distinctive feel in the hand, while the darker wrapper and Nicaraguan core make it a good choice for smokers looking for a more robust cigar.

Are Box-Pressed Cigars Better Than Traditional Cigars?

Not necessarily. Box pressed is a shape, not a quality rating. Some smokers prefer the feel and appearance of a box press, while others prefer traditional round cigars.

If you’ve never tried one, start with a box-pressed cigar in a strength and flavor profile you already enjoy. You may discover that you prefer the unique feel and smoking experience of a pressed cigar.Ready to try a box pressed cigar? Shop our entire selection by clicking the button below!