One of the things that’s probably most notable about the appears of a cigar is it’s size and shape. Did you know there are over 15 different sizes just for the parejo alone?!
Let’s start with the two shapes of a cigar – a Parejo (also called a corona) and a Figurado. The Parejo is the most common shape in cigars. When you think of what a cigar looks like, you probably envision the Parejo. It’s an evenly shaped cylinder with one end capped and one cut. Most other cigar shapes and sizes are measured up against the Parejo style. The Figurado style are the irregular shaped cigars and are considered a higher quality because they’re harder to make.
There are 6 different shapes of the Figurado.
- Torpedo – exactly what it sounds like! just like a Parejo except it has a pointed end
- Pyramid – pointed cap which widens out to a broad flat foot (the foot is the end you smoke)
- Perfecto – pointed at both ends and fat in the middle
- Presidente – shaped exactly like a Parejo except it’s categorized as a Figurado for it’s sheer massive size. Occasionally these have a pointed foot like a Perfecto
- Culebras – three long pointed cigars all braided together
- Tuscan – this is a typical Italian cigar, thin and tapered at the ends with a very strong aroma (also known as the cheroot)
Culebras Cigars
There are 16 sizes of a Parejo:
- Rothschild (named after the Rothschild family) – 4.5″ long – 48 ring gauge
- Robusto – 4 7/8″ long – 50 ring gauge
- Small Panatela – 5″ long – 33 ring gauge
- Petit Corona – 5 1/8″ long – 42 ring gauge
- Carlota – 5 5/8″ long – 35 ring gauge
- Corona – 5.5″ long – 42 ring gauge
- Corona Gorda – 5 5/8″ long – 46 ring gauge
- Panatela – 6″ long – 38 ring gauge
- Toro – 6″ long – 50 ring gauge
- Corona Grande – 6 1/8″ long – 42 ring gauge
- Lonsdale (named after Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale) – 6.5″ long – 42 ring gauge
- Churchill (named after Winston Churchill) – 7″ long – 47-50 ring gauge
- Double Corona – 7 5/8″ long – 49 ring gauge
- Presidente – 8″ long – 50 ring gauge
- Gran Corona – 9 1/4″ long – 47 ring gauge
- Double Toro/Gordo – 6″ long – 60 ring gauge
*The ring gauge is the width of a cigar in 64ths of an inch.
Cigar Ring Gauge
I should also mention there are “little cigars” which are vastly different than a regular cigar. They are a lot smaller than a cigar or a cigarillo and more resemble a cigarette.
A cigarillo is basically a little cigar and they are machine made. They don’t need to be kept in a humidor and can often be smoked in less than 10 minutes.
Okay okay, can we smoke one already? Next blog is about accessories!!!
~Cigar and Heels
cigarandheels 