The filler is the blend of tobacco leaves at the centre of a cigar, surrounded by the binder and the wrapper. The filler is where most of the smoke is produced and where most of the flavour develops over the course of a smoke. A blender’s choice of filler determines the cigar’s body (mild, medium, or full), its strength (the nicotine impact), and the underlying character that the wrapper accentuates rather than creates.
Two important distinctions in filler. First, long filler versus short filler. Long-filler cigars use whole leaves running the length of the cigar; this is the premium standard. Short-filler cigars use chopped tobacco scraps and produce harsher, faster-burning smoke; they are typically the budget alternative. The middle ground, mixed filler (or “Cuban sandwich”), uses long leaves wrapped around chopped scraps for a compromise position.
Second, the leaf positions. Filler leaves come in four primary types: ligero (the powerful upper leaves), seco (medium leaves with character), volado (lower leaves that aid combustion), and viso (rare, between ligero and seco). A blender combines these in measured proportions; a higher ligero ratio means a stronger cigar.
For more on cigar construction, see The Anatomy of a Cigar.