A Guide to Shapes, Lengths, and Gauges

Understanding Cigar Sizes: A Guide to Shapes, Lengths, and Gauges

One of the first things you’ll notice when browsing through cigars is the wide variety of shapes and sizes available. Cigar sizes aren’t just about aesthetics; they play a significant role in how a cigar burns, the intensity of its flavor, and the overall smoking experience. Whether you’re new to cigars or a seasoned enthusiast, understanding these differences will help you choose the right cigar for any occasion.

Cigar Size Basics: Length and Ring Gauge

Cigars are typically classified by two measurements: length and ring gauge. Length is measured in inches, while ring gauge refers to the diameter of the cigar, measured in 64ths of an inch. For example, a cigar with a ring gauge of 50 is 50/64 of an inch in diameter.

• Length affects how long a cigar will smoke. A longer cigar generally offers a more extended smoking experience.
• Ring Gauge influences the draw (how easily smoke is pulled through the cigar), the complexity of flavors, and how hot or cool the smoke is. Thicker cigars tend to burn cooler and may offer more complex flavors since they can hold more filler tobacco, which allows for nuanced blending.

Popular Cigar Sizes

Here are some of the most common cigar sizes and shapes, each offering a unique experience:

1. Corona

• Length: 5.5 to 6 inches
• Ring Gauge: 42 to 44
• Profile: The corona is one of the most classic cigar sizes. Its moderate length and medium ring gauge offer a well-balanced smoking experience, typically lasting about 45 minutes to an hour. This size provides a good balance between filler and wrapper flavors, making it a great option for both beginners and experienced smokers.

2. Robusto

• Length: 4.5 to 5 inches
• Ring Gauge: 48 to 52
• Profile: The robusto is one of the most popular cigar sizes due to its compact length and wide ring gauge. It delivers a relatively quick but flavorful smoke, usually lasting 30 to 45 minutes. Its thicker profile allows for a cooler smoke and can highlight the nuances of the blend more fully than thinner cigars.

3. Churchill

• Length: 7 inches
• Ring Gauge: 47 to 50
• Profile: Named after Winston Churchill, this large cigar size offers a long, leisurely smoke that can last over an hour and a half. The Churchill’s larger size often delivers a more complex and developed flavor profile as the tobacco has more room to evolve throughout the smoke.

4. Toro

• Length: 6 inches
• Ring Gauge: 50 to 54
• Profile: The toro size is gaining popularity as a longer alternative to the robusto, offering a more extended smoke while still maintaining a relatively thick gauge. With its fuller, smoother draw, the toro typically delivers a balanced, medium- to full-bodied flavor experience and can last around an hour.

5. Lonsdale

• Length: 6.5 inches
• Ring Gauge: 42 to 44
• Profile: Lonsdales are slightly longer than coronas but have a similar ring gauge. This size provides a balance of wrapper and filler flavors but tends to burn a bit cooler than shorter cigars like the robusto. A lonsdale typically offers a refined smoking experience, with the draw and flavor profile becoming more subtle and complex.

6. Panatela

• Length: 5 to 7.5 inches
• Ring Gauge: 34 to 38
• Profile: Panatelas are long and thin cigars, often associated with an elegant, old-school style of smoking. Due to their slender ring gauge, they tend to burn faster and can be more intense in flavor since the wrapper’s influence is stronger in proportion to the filler. These cigars are ideal for those who prefer a quick, flavorful smoke that emphasizes the wrapper.

7. Double Corona

• Length: 7.5 to 8 inches
• Ring Gauge: 49 to 52
• Profile: True to its name, the double corona is a larger version of the traditional corona. This cigar provides a long, slow-burning experience, often lasting over two hours. Its larger size allows for a complex evolution of flavors, with the cigar going through multiple flavor changes as it burns.

8. Lancero

• Length: 7 to 7.5 inches
• Ring Gauge: 38 to 40
• Profile: The lancero is a slim, long cigar known for delivering an intense wrapper flavor due to its thin ring gauge. While not as commonly smoked as other sizes, lanceros are prized for their elegance and the precision required to make and smoke them. They offer a strong concentration of flavors, typically lasting about an hour or more.

9. Petit Corona

• Length: 4 to 5 inches
• Ring Gauge: 38 to 44
• Profile: The petit corona is a smaller version of the corona, offering a quicker smoke while maintaining a similar flavor profile. It’s a great choice for those who want the corona experience but in a shorter time frame, often burning for 30 to 40 minutes.

10. Gordo

• Length: 6 inches
• Ring Gauge: 60+
• Profile: Also known as “Gran Toro” or simply “60 ring,” the gordo is a thick cigar that’s become increasingly popular among smokers who enjoy a longer, fuller smoking experience. Its wide ring gauge allows for a cooler, more mellow burn, offering a rich and sometimes very complex flavor profile. These cigars can last over an hour and are ideal for smokers who want a bold experience.

Specialty Shapes: Figurado Cigars

While most cigars are parejos (straight-sided cigars), some cigars are figurados, which have irregular shapes. Figurado cigars offer a unique smoking experience due to their unconventional shapes and often provide more variation in flavor as they burn.

• Torpedo: A cigar with a pointed head and a straight body. The tapered head concentrates the smoke, often delivering a more intense flavor.
• Belicoso: A shorter torpedo, offering a similar pointed head but in a more compact size.
• Pyramid: Similar to a torpedo but with a straight foot that tapers uniformly from the head to the foot.
• Perfecto: This cigar has a closed foot and a rounded, tapered head. The perfecto’s shape creates an evolving smoking experience as it burns from the thinner foot to the thicker middle.
• Diadema: A large cigar, often over 8 inches, with a taper at both ends. Diademas are rare and generally reserved for those who enjoy a very long smoke.

Does Size Affect Flavor?

Yes! The size and shape of a cigar can influence its flavor in several ways:

• Ring Gauge: Thicker cigars tend to burn cooler, which can result in a smoother smoke. Larger ring gauges also allow for more filler tobaccos, which can create a more complex blend of flavors. Conversely, thinner cigars can be more intense as they emphasize the wrapper's influence.
• Length: Longer cigars burn for a longer time, allowing the tobacco’s flavors to evolve more gradually. You may experience multiple flavor transitions throughout the smoke, particularly in larger cigars like the Churchill or double corona.

Choosing the right cigar size is an essential part of the smoking experience. Whether you prefer the quick, flavorful draw of a robusto or the slow, evolving experience of a Churchill, understanding the differences in size and shape will help you select the perfect cigar for any occasion. So, the next time you're browsing the humidor, take a moment to consider the size—because it might just change the way you enjoy your smoke.