Cigars 101.3 - Size, Shape, and Shade

    Hello and welcome to my third Installment of Cigars 101. This week I will be talking about the intimidating subject of all the different sizes, shapes, and shades that cigars can come in. You will be relieved to know that it is really quite simple. 


    Let's begin with a little refresher. What are hand rolled cigars made of? Pure aged tobacco leaves! How many tobacco leaves? Well you have several different varieties of tobacco leaves in one cigar alone but the basic construction consists of:

1. Wrapper (typically one type of leaf)
2. Binder (Typically one type of leaf but can be different than the wrapper)
3. Filler (Often made with 5 or more different leaves depending on the blend)

    The wrapper is the most prized and expensive tobacco a cigar manufacturer uses. This is due to the level of quality and flawlessness the tobacco leaf must have as it is this tobacco which the customer will initially judge the cigar by. It is also this layer that will identify the strength and flavor of the cigar, but I'll talk about that below.

    The binder is simply the tobacco leaf that holds the inner filler together, forming the basic cigar shape. This is similar to the wrapper but much less eye appealing which is why it's eventually covered.

    Then you have the filler, the core of the cigar. This can be made of several different verities on it's own (5 or more) and unlike cigarettes which have shredded tobacco inside, cigars have long strips of real tobacco leaves that make up the filler. Hence the term, long filler tobacco.

Now lets bet back to this weeks Topic. Sizes, Shapes, and Shades!

   This is probably the most overwhelming subject when it comes to a first timers cigar experience. The numerous sizes, shapes and shades (of wrapper) can be down right confusing. First let me put you at ease and tell you that there are only two basic categories when it comes to the shape of cigars. Parejo (Par-eh-ho) and Figurado. 

    In English, parejo translates to parallel, even, or equal. This cigar variety got its name from it's cylinder like shape and even sides. This is the most common category, encompassing many different variations such as; Corona (5.5" x 42), Robusto (5" x 50), Toro (6" x 50), and Churchill (7" x 50). These are the most common of the Parejo varieties however there are many more such as the following.

Name (Length x Diameter)
Rothschild (4.5" x 48)

Small Panatela (5" x 33)

Petit Corona (5" x 42)

Carlota (6" x 35)

Corona Gorda (6" x 46)

Panatela (6" x 38)
Lancero (7.5" x 38)
Corona Grande (6" x 42)

Lonsdale (6.5" x 42)
Double Corona (7.5" x 49)
Presidente (8" x 50)
Gran Corona (9.25" x 47)
Double Toro/Gordo (6" x 60)

    Now the reason for all the different names is simply to identify the different sizes, as you see noted next to each. All cigars are measured in reference to their length in inches and diameter in ring gauge; (Inches x Ring Gauge). The ring gauge is the diameter of the cigar in 64ths of an inch. So a 64 Ring Gauge cigar would be 1 inch in diameter, though you will commonly see 60 ring gauge as the thickest you can buy.

    So when you go looking at cigars in the shops humidor and you see HUNDREDS of Parejos lining the wall, look closer and you will see they are all very much alike in shape only differing slightly in length, thickness, and color (more in detail below). 

    In English, figurado roughly translates to figure. It corresponds to any other shape that isn't a Parejo. Figurado cigars come in many different forms but they all share a common trait. They are tapered either on both ends (the foot and head) or just one (commonly the head). The most common types of figurado cigars are; Torpedo(6.5" x 50), Perfecto(Size Varies), and Pyramid(6.5" x 54). There are some others but they are far too rare and are almost never on the domestic market. 

    Now Perfectos are probably the most varied of all the figurado shapes. Depending on the manufacturer, perfectos can be very short and almost triangular in shape or be fairly long and closed off on both tapering ends. There are some that appear very much like a parejo but are tapered right at the foot, these are often referred to as Presidente's.

[Perfectos]

    What does size and shape have to do with the way a cigar smokes and tastes? Allot actually! Let me break in down for you.

Length

    The length of a cigar will ultimately determine your smoking time. If you only have a lunch break to go to the shop, I would stick with Robusto or smaller. If you have all evening, go with a Churchill or bigger (look at LFD's Salomon). But one thing to consider when thinking about buying a longer stogie is flavor. Believe it or not, you can capture more flavors of some types of cigars when smoked in their longer forms. This has to due with the distance the smoke must travel by time it gets to your taste buds. The longer cigars actually cool the smoke better than your shorter varieties. Experiment a little but you may be surprised that the monster sized cigars often have the least bite.

Ring Gauge

    By going with a thicker cigar, you not only get more air to cool the smoke but you also increase your smoking time. A 6" x 60 can take you as long as an hour and a half and can take allot of effort to draw. Again, as with length, some say the thicker cigars offer more smoke per draw but are no more full bodied then their less than 60 gauge cousins, however in my experience they often times require more effort to draw.

Shapes
    When it comes to the various shapes and how they smoke, I have found that it really depends on the smoker and the brand of cigar. For me, I find Parejo's flavors to be more balanced than say a Torpedo or Perfecto. This is partially due to the amount of draw each one allows. Torpedo's and Perfecto's can have a much smaller cut and taper, concentrating the amount of smoke that you draw, where the Parejo's can have a fuller cut allowing more air in. I personally like Torpedo's and Perfecto's, simply because the tapering ends are more comfortable to smoke. 

    Along with size and shape, the third primary characteristic of a cigars uniqueness is it's shade (color). There are MANY different shades that a cigar can be wrapped in. The color you see, you may have guessed, is the wrapper tobacco. Your most common wrappers are Connecticut, Maduro, Natural, and Colorado but as with shapes and sizes there are many more.

Double Claro - The lightest and slightly green in color and is typically picked before maturity. Also known as Candela.

Claro - A yellowish/tan colored wrapper which is shade grown often known as Connecticut to reference it's origin.

Colorado Claro - Often Cuban or Dominican grown tobacco and is a light brown color. Sometimes known as Natural.

Colorado - Also known as "Natural," his is typically sun grown and is medium brown in color.

Colorado Maduro - Often Cuban or Honduran grown tobacco and is dark brown in color.

Maduro - This too is typically sun grown and is very dark brown.

Oscuro - Often referred to as "Double Maduro" and is nearly black in color.

    Now that you have another factor to consider when you buy your cigar, what makes it so important? A cigars shade will almost always determine the level of body the smoke will give. The lighter the wrapper, the milder the smoke. The darker the wrapper, the more full-bodied the smoke. 

    Try to think of it like drinking beer and the difference between a crisp light Rolling Rock vs a thick dark Guinness stout. The lighter beer has flavor but is very mild in the finish where as the darker stout is richer and more complex with a rich finish that lingers. 

Mild Bodied - Double Claro, Claro

    The Claro shade is almost always referred to as the Connecticut shade. This is because most of the Claro varieties are grown in the fields of Connecticut here in the U.S.A. in the shade under cheese cloth.

Medium Bodied - Colorado Claro, Colorado, Colorado Maduro

    When you advance to the Natural and Colorado shade, you enter into the medium bodied range. These wrappers can be grown anywhere such as Honduras, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, West Africa, and Indonesia. They tend to be grown in direct sunlight, giving them more flavor. 

Full Bodied - Maduro, Oscuro

    Now going into the deep end we have Maduro and Oscuro. Maduro is the more popular of the two and closely resembles dark chocolate in color. Oscuro on the other hand appears almost black. Both are in the Full-bodied range and offer some of the most complex flavors. Don't let the Full-bodied label drive you away however, even though they are full of flavor, they tend to be the smoothest smoking of all the varieties because of their lengthy aging process.

    Now you have the knowledge to purchase the cigar of your choice. Always remember, never be afraid of trying something new and don't take anyone's suggestion to heart until you try it for yourself.

   Next time I will introduce you to the many accessories and where you might use them. Again, feel free to leave comments and ask questions!

Take Care!

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