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How does the size of my Cigar effect my smoking experience?
Cigars are a luxury meant to be savored. It is essential that you choose the
right cigar for the right occasion, or you may end up rushing through and missing
the pleasure you would otherwise experience. The size of the cigar will affect
the smoking time, so you should consider when to light up and how long you have
to smoke it. Please see our article Cigar Etiquette,
for more information.
Sizes, types and smoking times
One has to allow a considerable amount of time to smoke the Gigante, Immensa
and Presidente – because, as their names might suggest, these cigars are large.
They are the ideal cigars to smoke at a sporting event, or a lengthy social
gathering. They are cigars to be savored; you wouldn't want to light one of
these immediately after a meal at your favorite restaurant, for example. They
can measure up to eight and a half inches long and last anything up to 90 minutes,
and rarely last less than 60 minutes.
The Double (or doble) Corona is a little smaller measuring about seven and a half inches in length and 8/10th Inch in gauge. You will find these cigars smoke from 45 to 60 minutes.
The Pyramid cigar is tapered with a large cone (about 8/10th of an inch) foot and 7/10th of an inch gauge at the head. It can be between 6 and 7 inches long and should last you in the region of 60 minutes, though some may only last 45.
The Churchill (or Julieta) Cigar is another large cigar measuring seven inches long and a gauge of about 3/4th inch, it will last for about as long as the Double Corona.
The Lonsdale is very uniformly shaped cigar, about 6 inches long and 7/10th of an inch in gauge. It is roughly the same length of a Corona Grandes which can be about half-an-inch longer. These cigars are a medium length smoke, lasting around 45 minutes.
The Belicoso is a slightly more unusual with a pointed cone-shaped head. Like the Lonsdale it is normally 6 inches long. It has a gauge of three quarters of an inch. Expect it to last for abound 40 minutes.
You will find the Pantela and the Toro cigars to be about the same length as the Lonsdale and Belicoso. The Pantela has a smaller gauge – around half an inch. It smokes for around 35 minutes, but can, in some cases, go for a further 10 minutes if you really want to savour the flavor.
The Corona Royale is about 7/10th of an inch and just under six inches long, it will last you anything up to 40 minutes. It is also known as the Corona Extra. The standard Corona cigar is about ¼ of an inch smaller measuring about five and a half inches in length. It has the same gauge as the Royale and lasts between 30 and 45 minutes.
The Petite Belicoso forms the same shape as the standard Belicoso, but is a little smaller at five inches. Expect a shorter smoke.
The Petite Corona is, as you might imagine, a little smaller than the standard. It is between four and half and five inches long and its gauge is also a little thinner at a more modest 6/10th of an inch. It should give you a nice 25 minute smoke – excellent for after a meal, or with a coffee.
The Rothschild is also another short, but sweet, smoke; lasting you about 25 minutes (though it may burn for 40 if you get a slow-burner) It is about 4 and half inches long and has a ¾ inch gauge. The Robusto comes in with the same measurements and smoking times.
The Belvedere is a small cigar between three and five inches long. Like the Demitasse and the Ascot it will last about 15 to 20 minutes. An enjoyable smoke, ideal for those ‘in-between’ moments – or even to kill some time waiting for that bus!
Where does my cigar come from?
Your cigar is likely to come from Cuba (if you don't live in the USA), the
Dominican Republic, the Honduras, Ecuador, Mexico, Central African Republic
or the USA.
This is a useful piece of information to have, because you will find that different areas produce different qualities and styles of cigar; our article ‘The Cigar Taste Spectrum’ looks at this in more detail.
As you may have guessed, you will come across many machine-made cigars, but quality cigars are still rolled by hand. Machine made cigars will often have extra ingredients like paper, chemicals to keep them burning, and Poly-glycerin. However, hand rolled cigars should only contain tobacco.
Cuban cigars are still illegal in the United States (as they have been since 1962, when America imposed its embargo), but they are still reputed to be amongst the best cigars in the World (cigars from the Honduras come a close second). The fillers are always mixed to provide complex flavors and a nice smoking experience. The Dominican Republic has since taken over the large US export market.
For more information on cigar types and flavors, wrappers and fillers, which also affect the taste and body of the cigar, please see our article ‘The Cigar Taste Spectrum’.
