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 Black Ops Maduro Cigar

Black Ops – Maduro

Origin: Nicaragua

Fillers: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf, Maduro

Strength: Medium-Full

 

 Gurkha Cigars came up with the Black Ops brand about 2 years ago and since then it has increased its offerings to 3 (Connecticut, Habano and Maduro) and has really gained in popularity and pushed its way to the forefront of the Bargain Bundles sales and giving stiff completion to Puros Indios and other brands.

 

 Today we are focusing on the Maduro. The Maduro offering is nice it starts off a bit peppery and finishes smooth with an espresso flavor and notes of sweetness with a touch of honey and chocolate. For me I don’t get the Honey or the Chocolate finish, however it does get smooth after a bit, I do have to say you get the spice from the peppery blending of all Nicaraguan binder and fillers tobaccos and the Maduro wrapper. It also has a heavy smoke so it is best for a less active occasion for smoking.

 I like this one and I would never say no to it and it goes great with a whiskey, but it would not be my pick for an everyday cigar. I think the Habano blend is far superior to the Maduro, but please try them for yourself and you tell me what you think. Also I have found the brand to have a few too many veins in the wrapper leafs and that is a shame due to the fact it can inhibit the burn and the flavor.

 On the Cigar Stop Rating Scale this one gets a 5 ½ above average and a nice smoke.

See you next time

B.O.T.L

~Cigar Ash~

Dark Shark Cigar Review

                        

Dark Shark

Origins: Honduras

Filler: Nicaraugan

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Size: 7 x 50

Shape: Churchill

Strength: Medium

 

 Dark Shark is what they call a “House” Brand, and all that means is that companies make a deal with a manufacture to make cigars with certain tobaccos in them and at a certain price point that only they offer.

 I say do not let the Dark Shark take a bite out of you, your wallet or your taste buds… This little bastard was actually on a Un- smokeble List.

This Dominican Handmade should be handed back. It is supposed to be a mild to medium bodied cigar made from dark broadleaf maduro wrapper with a filler made up of Cuban seed tobaccos, But I call it like I taste them . . .  they are crap!

 

 What can I say about them other than I have tortured my pallet for you … save yours and ignore this taste bud predator? When you see the Dark Shark’s fin circling your catalog, website and wallet, throw some chum at it and get out of its way!

I rate this cigar 1/2 out of 10 . . . let this shark swim on by!

                      Call Quint this Shark needs to be put down!

 

 

Happy Smoking

B.T.O.L.

 CigarAsh

What does one drink with a fine cigar?

With Foods you can have certain wines that complement each other, but what goes good with a cigar as far as a beverage? The answer is anything but milk and Soda!

 

 That’s right it is that simple… No milk because it coats your pallet and you do not taste the cigar and no soda because of the carbonation and sweeteners, they make the tobacco taste odd.

 We also do not recommend Moonshine…do to it flammability! Last think you need is what we call a Hillbilly roman candle! It is not that we are concerned with your well being, we just hate to see cigars go to waste.

 

However if you are looking to complement your cigar, I recommend you try a nice cup of coffee or a glass of Whiskey or a Brandy. Beer will go with it and water as well, but coffee is one of the best things to bring out the flavor of a cigar, no matter the wrapper and origin.

 

 

Hope this was interesting enough for you cigar lovers out there.

B.O.T.L.

~CigarAsh~

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.

CigarAsh looks at 1844 – Anejado 50-xtra

                         1844 – Anejado 50-xtra

Origin: Nicaragua

Shape: Perfecto

Size: 6 x 50

Wrapper: San Andres

Filler: Nicaragua

Strength: Medium-Full

 

 

This is the my first experience with the 1844 brand and all I can say is wow…This is a medium to full bodied cigar leaning more to the full than medium, but not so strong you get light headed despite the long leaf Nicaraguan filler with a strong San Andres maduro wrapper. You get an earthy flavor to it with a small peppery flavor and a hint of a cedar finish.

 The 1844 is now in my regular rotation, the smoke is dark and a bit heavy, the ash is a dark grey ash with no flaking at all, the cigar produces a heavy ash so it may burn a bit hot at times. The constructions is perfect, chunky and with the small rolled tip at the end makes it is easy to light and helps for an even burn, the “perfecto” style shape feels great in your hand and in your mouth.

The size that I have chosen was a No.50 xtra which is a 6 x 50. I have seen these cigars in a local “brick and mortar” as well in multiple mail order catalogs so they are not real hard to find.

 I think the only bad thing I found with this cigar is it is only packaged in a box of 18, but still that will not sway this cheep bastard from purchasing them on a regular basis. The average price for this one is $50.00 U.S. and as of the past month I have seen them listed at sale prices of $40.00 bucks a box… Time to stock up on this one.

I would have to rate this stick a happy 6 1/2 out of 10.

B.T.O.L.

~Cigar Ash~

Cigar Ash Looks at the Puros Indios Reserva’ Maxima ‘03

Puros Indios Reserva’ Maxima ‘03

What can I say about this brand besides, it is one of the most consistent brands I have had the pleasure of smoking. It may not me the highest on the Cigar Brand totem pole, but it is far from the bottom.

 The brand does have one blemish on their reputation with their Puros Indious Vejeo, but that is a review for another time.

 So here is the skinny on these sticks. This Blend of Puros Indios is the brain child of Rolando Reyes Jr. and his 70 years of experience. This specially aged puros is called “Anejado 2003” and has a blending of Brazilian, Nicaragua and Dominican longleaf tobaccos’ with a Ecuador wrapper that is just a great tasting smoke. 

 Five years the cigars aged in boxes and I have to say that I would buy these often and keep them in stock. They are inexpensive at $29.95 for the Rothschild, $34.95 for the Toro and $39.95 for the Churchill.

 The Maxima ’03 has good construction with very minute if any blemishes and veins in the leaf. There is an earthy and light woody taste to it and so far after smoking 5 to 8 of them at this point I have not had one canoe or unravel. The Head of the cigar is nice and tight as well, I have used a Cigar punch and a V-notch on the cigar and the head of it has stated pretty much in tacked and had a nice smooth draw to it throughout the whole smoke. This cigar gives you a light aroma with a solid light grey ash not flaky at all.

 I would give this cigar a rating of 6 ½ out of 10 for Price, Taste and Quality. This is a perfect everyday cigar choice.

See you next time

B.O.T.L.

~Cigar Ash~