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Selecting A Cigar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Because cigars are made in such a variety of sizes, shapes and colors, it is often difficult for a neophyte cigar smoker to get a complete understanding of the how these factors affect the taste. Worse still is trying to understand the jargon that is used in the cigar business. The problem with trying to write the definitive work on cigars is that nothing about them is really objective. If you ask ten experts the same question, you will most likely get ten different responses. We have therefore written this article based on our own personal experiences and from the shared experiences of several well-informed veteran cigar smokers. While we have attempted to be as factual as possible, please understand that there is a lot of subjectivity inherent in this endeavor. Please feel free to send corrections, suggestions or additions to us via e-mail. Before we embark on our educational journey, we need to speak the same language. Here are a few terms you should know: Size:Cigars are measured by their combination of length and "ring gage" (diameter). The length is always measured in inches (go figure) and the ring gage is always measured in 64ths of an inch. For example, when a cigar is listed in a catalog as 6-3/4x42, the translation is "6 and 3/4 inches long and 42/64ths (about 2/3) of an inch in diameter." Names of Specific Sizes:Based on length and ring combinations, cigar sizes have
fairly well defined names. The 6-3/4x42 example used above is called a
Lonsdale. If the size were 7x47 it would usually be called a Churchill.
Note that the naming convention of specific sizes is applicable only to
"tradionally-shaped" cigars - those with cylindrical shape and
a round "head" (as pictured below). Simplified Table:The table below offers the most common sizes and their shape name. It is incomplete for the sake of simplicity. For a full table please visit our
Other Shapes:Since the vast majority of cigars are made in the traditional "round" shape, as shown above, those with any other shape are known as Figurados, or "Cigars with an unusual shape." Unlike the round cigars, which have a name associated with a size (remembing that a Churchill is around 7x47), the names associated with Figurados tell you little about their size, only the shape. Within the Figurado family, there are the following five shapes:
Of these, the Torpedos and Pyramids are usually big cigars, the Bellicosos are usually medium sized, and the Culebras are 3 small cigars that are twisted together. Perfectos can be any size. Color:Cigars range in color from pale green (uncommon these days) to tan to reddish-brown to chocolate-brown based on the following factors:
Taste:Most tobacconists will describe a cigar's taste as ranging from "mild" to "full-bodied." Therefore one might conclude that taste and strength are synonymous. Maybe, but not exactly. The best analogy that I can come up with involves beer. Coors Light is more or less like a fizzy pale-yellow colored water with a slight beer-like taste, whereas Guiness Stout is more like a robust-malted-full-meal-in-a-can. The latter being more "full-bodied" than the former - yet both probably have similar alcohol content. Same with cigars. Some have no taste whatsoever, some are revolting and some will knock you on your ass. Since the concept of cigar flavor can be rather vague, the following table is suggestive of how your head and stomach will react to chain smoking 3 Churchills of various strengths when accompanied by a glass of single malt whiskey (straight up) - all on an empty stomach, right after a tough day, based on your level of experience.
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