The best cigars to buy at a gas station

When one thinks of quality places to buy a good cigar, the local petrol station is pretty low on the list. Still gas stations carry many varieties of solid cigars and cigarillos for less than £6. True, you won't find a fine Cuban or a Baron de Rothschild behind the counter, but there are still many perfectly serviceable options in a variety of flavours and sizes.

For the motorist, a cheaper option is a cigarillo. Cigarillos, common sights behind the petrol station counter, are small, skinny cigar varieties often available in small packs of two or more. They tend to have a slightly more pungent aroma. Many are available in a variety of flavours, and some are tipped with plastic or another material so that they can be safely smoked without any risk of burns. This makes them the ideal driving cigar.

Black & Mild is a popular choice of cheap petrol station cigar. These cigars typically come with a plastic or wood-filtered tip, and are available in a variety of flavours, ranging from fruit to vanilla to more traditional cigar smoke. They are noted for the sweet yet savoury aroma of their smoke. Black & Milds come in the traditional "cigarillo" size as well as a smaller size called a Fast Break.

Perhaps the most well-known and readily available brand of petrol station cigars is Swisher Sweets. They're small, cheap, and come in a wide variety of flavours. As per the name, most Swisher Sweets come in a variety of fruit flavours, ranging from grape to strawberry. They are also available in chocolate as well as tequila and wine for the more adventurous consumer. One can typically purchase a five-pack of this tiny cigars for less than £3.

Though looked down upon by most self-respecting members of the cigar smoking community, sweetened or fruit-flavoured cigars may do in a pinch. They are also some of the most readily available cigars at the local petrol station. Flavoured cigars and cigarillos are typically chosen by individuals who aren't accustomed to the bold flavours of cigars, and are thus a good starting point for those tiptoeing into the cigar universe.