CigarAsh reviews Torano's Hogs Head Cigar

Torano Hogs Head Cigar Review

Origin: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican and Pennsylvania broadleaf long fillers

Wrapper: Brazilian maduro

Size: 6.5 x 54

Shape: Torpedo

Strength: Medium/Full

 

 I do not mind telling you that at first sight this bundle scared me, it came in a burlap bag, What I will also say is that  the budget bundle is back with this medium/full flavored selection from the Torano family cigars.

The “Hogs Head” from the Torano Cigars is claimed to be a rich flavored cigar with a blend of Nicaraguan, Dominican and Pennsylvania broadleaf long fillers with a dark Brazilian maduro wrapper. The cigar itself has good construction, firm without being too stiff and has hints of coffee bean, black pepper, maple and cedar, or at least that is what they will let you think your pallet tastes.

 For me I got no maple flavor, no coffee bean flavor and maybe a ever so slight hint of cedar, Mostly I got the black pepper spiciness and what I can only describe as a gritty earthy taste to it, in fact the bundle comes in a burlap bag and if you smell the bag that is what the cigar slightly tastes like. It is a bit too earthy for my tastes. The spice of the pepper hits you right off and then fades as the cigar mellows. The construction is good and the ash is solid with no flaking. The 2 Torpedo’s (6.5x50) I had burned very even without canoeing and it never burned hot and never burned out, so it has that going for it.

  The Hogs Head will run you about $45.00 for a burlap bundle of 20 in most places I have seen them listed. I would try it again, but not sure if the Hogs Head would make my rotation in the everyday smoke department, however it is a good buy and would make my list of top 50 Budget Bundle cigars. Don’t be afraid of it give it a try for yourself and see if I am correct, everyone has different taste and I do not want to scare you off, but I do stand by my review.

 

  On a personal note there were 9 of us that tried these and more than half of us liked them and would purchase or smoke them again, which just proves my point as to I am just a regular guy and I don’t want to sway you or try and sell you on anything… it’s just my point of reference to help you make your choice on things.

 Over all I would give this cigar a rating of 4 1/2 out of 10 on taste and 8 on construction.

 Thanks for reading

B.O.T.L.

~Cigar Ash~

The 5 Basic shapes and sizes in cigars

 Ok so it can get confusing with all the numbers and terms when dealing with cigar catalogs and “brick and mortars”, but being the regular cigar guy that I am I will simplify it all down to 5 shape and sizes

Size matters

There are always two sets of numbers when describing cigars and to make it simple I will explain it real fast.

 The first number (always the lower of the 2 numbers) is the Length and the second number is the width which is called the “Ring Gauge”. For example if it reads 7 x 50 that would mean it is 7 inches long and is a 50 ring gauge.

  See very simple, now to Shapes.

 The Shape of things

There are at least a dozen shape of cigars all with their fancy names and connotations, I am going to give you the 5 basic shapes you will smoke 90% of the time.

1. Robusto: a short cigar, it ranges from 4 to 4 ½ inches and is a 50 ring gauge

2. Carona: a longer but thinner cigar than a robust, at 5 to 5 ½ inches and a 42 ring gauge

3. Toro:  a 6 inch long cigar with a 50 to 58 inch ring gauge and is the most popular size and shape.

4. Torpedo: a 6 to 6 ¾ inch cigar with a tapered end to a point and is a 50 to 54 ring gauge

5. Churchill: a long cigar at 7 inches long and has a ring gauge of 47 to 50

 

Like I said before there are many, many shapes and sizes with all kinds of fancy terms, but these five are the basic ones, you will expand your knowledge as you start getting interested in cigars and what you like and how it feels in your hand and mouth.  I hope this helps out you new folks and maybe refreshes some of us seasoned cigar smokers.

For those of you that wish to be confused or know more than the basic 5, I will post a Chart of Cigar Shapes and Sizes that will give you even more of a look into the infinite world of shape and sizes for cigars and just so you know this chart doesn’t even list all of them.

See you next time

B.T.O.L.

The Cigar Stop Guys

                                                 The Cigar Shapes and Sizes

 

Term	Length in inches	Width in 64ths of an inch	Metric length	Metric width	Etymology
Rothschild	4 + ½	48	11 cm	19 mm	after the Rothschild family
Robusto	4 + ⅞	50	12 cm	20 mm
Small Panatela	5	33	13 cm	13 mm
Petit Corona	5 + ⅛	42	13 cm	17 mm
Carlota	5 + ⅝	35	14 cm	14 mm
Corona	5 + ½	42	14 cm	17 mm
Corona Gorda	5 + ⅝	46	14 cm	18 mm
Panatela	6	38	15 cm	15 mm
Toro	6	50	15 cm	20 mm
Corona Grande	6 + ⅛	42	16 cm	17 mm
Lonsdale	6 + ½	42	17 cm	17 mm	named for Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale
Churchill	7	47-50	18 cm	19–20 mm	named for Sir Winston Churchill
Double Corona	7 + ⅝	49	19 cm	19 mm
Presidente	8	50	20 cm	20 mm
Gran Corona	9 + ¼	47	23 cm	19 mm
Double Toro/Gordo	6	60	15 cm	24 mm

Cigars Shapes and Sizes 

 

Irregularly shaped cigars are known as figurados and are sometimes considered of higher quality because they are more difficult to make.

Historically, especially during the 19th century, figurados were the most popular shapes; however, by the 1930s they had fallen out of fashion and all but disappeared. They have, however, recently received a small resurgence in popularity, and there are currently many brands (manufacturers) that produce figurados alongside the simpler parejos. The Cuban cigar brand Cuaba only has figurados in their range.

Figurados include the following:

Figurado	Description
Torpedo	Like a parejo except that the cap is pointed.
Pyramid	Has a broad foot and evenly narrows to a pointed cap.
Perfecto	Narrow at both ends and bulged in the middle.
Presidente/Diadema	shaped like a parejo but considered a figurado because of its enormous size and occasional closed foot akin to a perfecto.
Culebras	Three long, pointed cigars braided together.
Tuscan/Toscano	The typical Italian cigar, created in the early 19th century when Kentucky tobacco was hybridized with local varieties and used to create a long, tough, slim cigar thicker in the middle and tapered at the ends, with a very strong aroma. It is also known as a cheroot, which is the largest selling cigar shape in the United States.[citation needed]
Chisel	Is much like the Torpedo, but instead of coming to a rounded point, comes to a flatter, broader edge, much like an actual chisel. This shape was patented and can only be found in the La Flor Dominicana (LFD) brand.