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.

 

 

CigarAsh reviews the 1876 Reserve

1876 Reserve

Origins: Dominican Republic

Filler: Dominican

Wrapper: Connecticut

Binder: Sumatra

Size: 6 x 50

Shape: Toro

Strength: Mild

 Here is another one from the Budget Bundle Brigade. It’s the 1876 Reserve; this one is going to be short and to the point ….DON’T Do IT!

 

This is a very Mild Dominican and by very mild I am saying it is like smoking air! They come in a Bundle of 20 and in one catalog I have seen them listed as a “2fer” 2 bundles for between $49.99 and $59.99. They are about a buck a stick and they taste like you should get change back from your dollar.

 Despite them being handmade with 100% long leaf filler the ash is flakey so it is all over you when you smoke, the feel to the wrapper is smooth to the touch, but feels as light as they taste and it is so bland looking it should be over looked!

I have gone to great lengths for you my loyal readers I bought a bundle of Robusto’s 5x50 and a Bundle of Toro’s 6 x 50 and let me just say That if my wife reads this and sees how crappy I say they are and that I bought more than one bundle she may reduce my cigar fund.

 

The only people who should smoke these truly bad boys of the Budget Bundle Brigade are the folks that are just starting out smoking cigars because they are inexpensive, not harsh and it will show them what not to buy ever again.

This one rates 1 out of 10

Thanks for reading – Remember keep your Cigars moist.

B.O.T.L.

CigarAsh14

P.S. They have a Maduro version of this cigar now and it isn’t any better than its predecessor.

When Size Matters

People today, in my opinion, are far to concerned about what fancy, shmancy, name brand cigar they want to smoke and are not putting enough thought into what size they should be smoking in that particular time frame or situation.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good fancy shmancy cigar just as much as anyone else. What doesn’t make sense to me is when someone picks a 60 ring gauge, Churchill and is only going to the corner store, wasting half the thing to the great cement ashtray in the sky. It can be the greatest cigar in the world but if you throw away 3 dollars of a 7 dollar cigar how good could it really be? If you put so much thought and pride on what great name brand cigar to smoke, why not put some of your time into thinking about what size cigar to smoke in the time given to you?
Now I have found through out the years that it is not so much the ring gauge but rather the length that helps me makes my decision. Now of course a cheaper or less desired cigar always runs the risk of being wasted no matter what size, before a more expensive one, there are still some standards I like to smoke by. For instance, if you’re going out for a short period, like on your lunch break, a 4.5 X 50 Rothschild or a 5 x 50 Robusto is perfect. If I’m traveling in my car and have an hour or so to kill a 6 x 52 Toro, or a 6.5 x 52 torpedo are always good choices. And on the days when I have all the time in the world, sitting around with some friends, drinking coffee or some good whiskey and all I have to worry about is just how many cigars I can smoke before I have to shave my tongue; a 7 x 52 Churchill always hits the spot.
Maybe I’m just an old fashion guy, or maybe I’m just an ass, but don’t come bragging to me about your 12 dollar stoge, waving it around like it’s a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and throw half of the thing away once you had your fill. To me there is nothing more revealing about someone’s actual love or seriousness for smoking cigars then this simple, little gesture of waste. If this is your style, and you know who you are, do your self a favor, think before you smoke. Or you could always just blow it out your smoke ring…

Tommy Wang