Buying Cigars Online in Canada

The short answer: adults who meet their province's minimum age can buy cigars and cigarillos online in Canada and have them delivered. White Birch Post sells cigarillos and machine-made cigars from our Capreol store, with same-day delivery in Greater Sudbury on orders placed before the daily cut-off and tracked Canada Post shipping across Canada except Nunavut.

This guide explains what you'll actually find when you shop for cigars online, how to read a product listing, and what to know about ordering, delivery and keeping cigars in good condition. If you're not sure of the difference between a cigar and a cigarillo, start with cigars vs cigarillos.

What kinds of cigars can you buy online in Canada?

Online cigar sellers in Canada tend to fall into two groups: specialist shops that focus on premium hand-rolled cigars, and general tobacco stores that carry the machine-made lines sold in packs. White Birch Post is the second kind. Our Cigars section is mostly cigarillos and machine-made cigars — we don't carry premium hand-rolled cigars or boxes of single premium sticks.

Cigarillos

Small, slim and sold in packs. Cigarillos are around the length of a cigarette and often have a plastic or wood tip. Lines we carry include Castro, Prime Time, Dumont and Pop.

Machine-made cigars

Larger, uniform and also sold in packs. Machine-made cigars use chopped tobacco ("short filler") and are produced in consistent sizes. Lines include Captain Black, Colts, M by Colts, Swisher Sweets, Bulls Eye, Captain Jack's, Century Sam and Talon.

How do you read a cigar product listing?

Cigar listings use a few terms that are worth knowing before you order:

• Pack size. How many cigars come in a pack. Many lines come in more than one pack size, and the product page lists each option.
• Variety. Most lines come in several varieties. The product page shows which ones are in stock today.
• Tipped or untipped. Many cigarillos have a plastic or wood tip. Untipped cigars usually need to be cut or are pre-opened at the head.
• Size and ring gauge. Cigars are measured by length and ring gauge — the diameter in 64ths of an inch. Our guide to cigar sizes and shapes explains the common names and measurements.

How do you choose which cigars to order?

• Think about time. Cigarillos take a few minutes; a full-size cigar takes much longer. Pick what fits how you actually smoke.
• Buy the smaller pack first. If a line comes in more than one pack size, the smaller one lets you try it before committing to more.
• Check what's in stock. Cigar varieties come and go. Choose from what the product page shows, rather than what you saw elsewhere.
• Plan your storage. Sealed packs keep well; open packs and loose cigars dry out. See below.

We don't rank brands. Preference is personal, and the honest answer is that the right cigar is the one that suits how you smoke.

Do you need to be 19 to buy cigars online?

Cigars follow the same age rules as cigarettes. In Ontario the minimum age is 19; it's 18 in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec, and 21 in Prince Edward Island. White Birch Post sells only to adults 19 and over, and you also need to meet the minimum age where you live. Local deliveries in Greater Sudbury require valid government-issued photo ID at the door. See tobacco age verification in Canada for the details.

How does cigar delivery work?

In Greater Sudbury

Orders to Greater Sudbury — Capreol, Hanmer, Val Caron, Chelmsford, Lively, Coniston, Garson and the city itself — can be delivered the same day when placed before the daily cut-off, which is shown on our homepage and at checkout. See tobacco delivery in Greater Sudbury.

Across Canada

Everywhere else ships from Capreol by Canada Post Xpresspost, in discreet packaging. Transit time depends on where you are, so we don't promise delivery dates; tracking shows each step. We don't ship to Nunavut or outside Canada. Our guide to shipping tobacco across Canada covers PO boxes, rural routes and tracking.

Do cigars get damaged in shipping?

Packs of cigarillos and machine-made cigars are sealed and travel well. The main risk is temperature: a parcel left in a hot vehicle or a freezing mailbox for a long time isn't ideal for any tobacco. If you know a parcel is on its way, it's worth bringing it inside once it arrives rather than leaving it in a mailbox overnight in winter.

How should you store cigars after ordering?

Storage depends on what you bought:

• Sealed packs of cigarillos or machine-made cigars keep like cigarettes. Store them somewhere cool, dark and dry, away from heaters and direct sunlight.
• Opened packs are ideally used within a couple of weeks, as the cigars dry out once exposed to air.
• Loose or unwrapped cigars you plan to keep for longer do better with humidity control. Our guide to cigar humidor basics explains the options, from a simple sealed container to a full humidor.

For cigarettes and loose leaf as well, see how to store tobacco.

Can I return cigars?

Tobacco, including cigars, is final sale. If a parcel goes missing in transit, contact us through our contact page and we'll reship it. More answers are in our FAQ.

Are cigars less harmful than cigarettes?

No. Cigar smoke is traditionally drawn into the mouth rather than inhaled, but cigar smoking carries serious health risks, including cancers of the mouth, throat and lungs. Cigarillos and machine-made cigars are not a lower-risk alternative to cigarettes.

Tipped or untipped: which should I choose?

Many cigarillos come with a plastic or wood tip at the mouth end, which keeps the end firm and means there's nothing to cut. Untipped cigarillos and small cigars are usually pre-opened at the head, while larger cigars may need cutting before use. Neither is better; it comes down to what you're used to. Each product page shows whether a line is tipped, and many lines come in both styles. Our guide to cigar sizes and shapes explains cutting in more detail.

Do you sell premium hand-rolled cigars?

No. Our range is cigarillos and machine-made cigars sold in packs. We don't stock premium hand-rolled cigars, single premium sticks or cigar accessories such as humidors. If you're looking for those, a specialist cigar shop is the right place. If you're buying the kind of cigars sold in packs at corner stores across Canada, that's what our Cigars section is for.

Can I order cigars and cigarettes together?

Yes. Cigars, cigarettes and loose leaf can all go in the same order and the same parcel or delivery. Shipping is a flat rate based on the order total, so one combined order is usually simpler than several small ones. The current rate table is on our delivery area page.

Not sure where to start with sizes? The product page and pack tell you what you need for machine-made lines.

The bottom line

Buying cigars online in Canada is easy if you know what you're looking for: check the pack size and variety on the product page, plan your storage, and choose delivery or shipping. Browse cigarillos and machine-made cigars in our Cigars section.

White Birch Post sells to adults 19 and over only. Smoking is harmful to your health. If you're thinking about cutting back or quitting, our responsible use page lists free Canadian support services.