What Are Sterling Dual Cigarettes? Full Guide to Flavour, Capsules, Strength, and UK Availability

What are Sterling Dual cigarettes? You’re not alone. Sterling Dual is one of the most commonly searched cigarette variants in the UK and across online tobacco discussions, mainly because people associate it with capsule cigarettes, cooling flavour, and the product’s changes after the menthol cigarette ban. Sterling is a well-known brand, and “Dual” is a name that has historically been tied to a specific smoking experience. But depending on when you last saw them, and where you’re buying from, Sterling Dual cigarettes can mean slightly different things. This guide breaks it all down clearly: what Sterling Dual cigarettes are, what “Dual” actually means, what happened after the menthol ban, and what smokers typically expect from this product.

What Are Sterling Dual Cigarettes?

Sterling Dual cigarettes are a Sterling-brand cigarette variant originally designed around a “dual experience” smoking style, most commonly linked to flavour capsule technology (the click-in-filter type).

In simple terms:

• Sterling = the brand
• Dual = the variant style (traditionally capsule/cooling)

Sterling is a long-running cigarette brand in the UK market. The brand is associated with mainstream, lower-priced cigarettes, often sold in king-size and superkings formats. The “Dual” label became popular because it suggested a cigarette that could be smoked in more than one way—typically as a standard cigarette, or with an optional flavour change.

Who Makes Sterling Dual Cigarettes?

Sterling cigarettes are linked to Gallaher, which is part of Japan Tobacco International (JTI)—one of the largest tobacco companies in the world.

So if you’re asking “what company makes Sterling Dual cigarettes?” the simplest answer is:

Sterling is a JTI brand (via Gallaher in the UK).

This matters because JTI also manages other major tobacco brands and has been heavily involved in product changes and rebranding after regulation changes in the UK and Europe.

What Does Dual Mean in Sterling Dual Cigarettes?

The word Dual has historically meant one of two things:

Dual = Capsule Cigarette (Click Filter)

This is the version most people mean when they ask:

“What are Sterling Dual cigarettes?”

In capsule cigarettes, a small capsule is embedded in the filter. When the smoker presses or “clicks” it, the capsule breaks and releases flavour—usually a minty or cooling effect.

This creates two smoking modes:

• Smoke it normally (no click)
• Click the capsule for a different taste

That’s where the “Dual” idea comes from.

Dual = Cooling Alternative (Post-Ban UK Products)

After menthol and capsule restrictions came in, some “Dual” variants were modified or replaced with products that still aimed to give a “fresh” smoking sensation—but without being marketed as menthol and without using a capsule.

So in some contexts, “Dual” may refer to:

• a cooling-style tobacco blend
• a fresh-feeling filter
• a menthol alternative experience

Even if it’s no longer a true click capsule cigarette.

Did Sterling Dual Cigarettes Have a Menthol Capsule?

Historically, yes—Sterling Dual cigarettes were strongly associated with a mint/menthol capsule style.

That’s why so many people still search:

• “Sterling Dual menthol”
• “Sterling Dual click”
• “Sterling Dual capsule cigarettes”

However, it’s important to understand that regulations changed the way these products could be sold and described in the UK.

Sterling Dual Cigarettes and the UK Menthol Ban (Important)

One of the biggest reasons people still ask what are Sterling Dual cigarettes is that the product name survived while the actual experience changed.

What happened?

In the UK (and across the EU, following the rules that the UK followed at the time), menthol cigarettes were banned for sale from 20 May 2020.

This menthol ban affected:

• menthol cigarettes
• capsule cigarettes that clearly delivered menthol flavour
• many mint-style variants

So brands like Sterling had to adapt.

What changed for Sterling Dual?

After the ban:

• Sterling Dual as a capsule menthol product, was no longer sold in the same way
• Some variants were replaced with a “new” version that removed the capsule
• The branding often remained similar, which caused confusion

So if someone remembers Sterling Dual from 2018–2019, they may recall a click-capsule cigarette. But someone buying “Sterling Dual” later may be getting a different product.

Are Sterling Dual Cigarettes Still Available in the UK?

This depends on what you mean by “Sterling Dual.”

If you mean the original capsule version:

In the UK, true menthol capsule cigarettes are not legally sold as they were before 2020.

If you mean Sterling Dual as a product name:

You may still see “Sterling Dual” referenced in:

• older online listings
• international sellers
• collectors
• user discussions
• rebranded variants

Also, the word “Dual” can still appear in related products such as cigarillos (more on that below).

What Do Sterling Dual Cigarettes Taste Like?

When people ask about taste, they usually mean the classic capsule version.

Typical flavour profile (historically)

• Smooth tobacco base
• Clean finish
• Optional mint/cooling hit after clicking the capsule
• Less harsh than many strong cigarettes

Strength and throat hit

Sterling, as a brand, generally sits in the mild-to-medium category depending on the exact variant.

Sterling Dual was often chosen by smokers who wanted:

• something lighter
• something smoother
• a “fresh” feel without going full menthol all the time

What Sizes Do Sterling Dual Cigarettes Come In?

Sterling cigarettes have been sold in common UK formats, including:

• King Size
• Superkings

The packaging and availability vary over time, especially due to regulatory changes in the UK.

Sterling Dual vs Sterling Double Capsule: What’s the Difference?

Another reason this keyword is confusing is that people sometimes mix up these product names:

Sterling Dual

Usually means:

• a single capsule cigarette
• a dual-mode smoke (normal vs click)

Sterling Double Capsule

This refers to a variant that used two capsules in the filter.

Double capsule cigarettes typically allow:

• capsule 1: mint/cooling
• capsule 2: an additional flavour (varies by product line)
• Clicking one or both changes the taste

Sterling Double Capsule is often discussed as a later evolution of capsule-style products.

Sterling Dual Cigarettes vs Sterling Dual Leaf Wrapped (Not the Same Thing)

Here’s something many people don’t realize:

Some products labeled “Sterling Dual” online are not cigarettes.

They are leaf-wrapped cigarillos.

What are leaf-wrapped cigarillos?

They’re small cigars (often filtered) wrapped in tobacco leaf or reconstituted tobacco rather than cigarette paper.

They:

• may contain flavour capsules
• may be sold in small packs (like 10)
• are marketed differently from cigarettes

So if you’ve seen “Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped” online, it may not be the same thing as Sterling Dual cigarettes at all.

This is why it’s always important to check:

• the product category
• the pack size
• whether it says “cigarillos” or “cigars”

Why Were Capsule Cigarettes So Popular?

Capsule cigarettes became huge in the UK and globally because they offered:

• Control: you could choose when to activate flavour
• Smoothness: the cooling sensation reduced harshness
• Novelty: the click filter felt new and interactive
• Consistency: flavour felt reliable compared to traditional menthol blends

Sterling Dual was one of the names that became strongly associated with that trend.

Why People Still Search What Are Sterling Dual Cigarettes in 2025–2026

Even though the market changed, people still search this phrase because:

1. They remember the old product
   • especially smokers from pre-2020 UK
2. They see old listings online
   • Retailers sometimes keep old pages indexed by Google
3. They’re buying abroad
   • Some markets still sell capsule cigarettes
4. They’re confusing cigarillos with cigarettes
   • “Dual leaf wrapped” causes a lot of mix-ups
5. They want a menthol alternative
   • Many smokers are still looking for “fresh” options

Are Sterling Dual Cigarettes Strong?

Sterling cigarettes are generally not considered the strongest on the market.

Sterling Dual, in particular, is typically described as:

• smoother
• less heavy
• more approachable

But strength can feel different based on:

• How you inhale
• How often do you smoke
• whether the product uses a cooling filter
• the size format (king size vs superkings)

If you’re looking for a cigarette with a very strong hit, Sterling Dual is usually not the top choice.

Are Sterling Dual Cigarettes Menthol?

This depends on the exact product and market.

In the UK (post-2020)

• Cigarettes cannot be sold as menthol-flavoured in the same way
• “Dual” may be a fresh/cool alternative without menthol

In some international markets

• Sterling Dual may still refer to a true capsule menthol product

So the accurate answer is:

Historically, yes, but in the UK, the menthol capsule version is no longer sold in its original form.

Sterling Dual Cigarettes: Pros and Cons (From a Consumer View)

Pros

• Smooth smoking experience
• Historically, it had a satisfying capsule click flavour
• Often seen as affordable
• Popular among people who dislike harsh tobacco

Cons

• Product name confusion after the menthol ban
• Capsule versions may not be available legally in some markets
• “Dual” can refer to cigarettes or cigarillos, depending on the listing

FAQ: Sterling Dual Cigarettes

Final Thoughts: What Are Sterling Dual Cigarettes?

So, what are Sterling Dual cigarettes?

They’re a Sterling cigarette variant originally designed to offer a dual smoking experience, most commonly through a capsule-click filter that creates a cooling or mint-like taste. The name became widely recognized in the UK, but the product has changed over time due to regulations, especially the UK menthol ban in 2020.