Cigar Shapes and Sizes

One of the most common ways to categorize cigars is by their shape and size. Although this sounds simple, it can be very confusing. For many years, the cigar industry has been using terms such as Corona and Panatela, which correspond to the approximate length and width of the cigar, not the manufacturer or brand.

The cigar ring size is the cigar's diameter, measured in 64ths of an inch and is usually selected by comfort based on your preferences. A 32 ring cigar will measure 1/2 inch in diameter. Usually the first dimension that customers look for is the cigar length in inches. This usually is selected based on the amount of time you have to smoke. As a general rule to follow, the longer a cigar is the longer it will take to smoke.

You may never have to use the terms that refer to the shape of a cigar, since most of the common names for cigars are usually associated with their size. This is because most cigars are shaped like a cylinder, and are considered as having a parejo shape. A cigar with an irregular shape (e.g. having a cone shaped head) is considered to be a figurado. The technical term to encompass both size and shape is vitola.

The cigars size measured by length and gauge will many times determine the strength of the cigar although subtle in many cases. Larger cigars usually tend to be slightly milder and smaller cigars tend to be slightly stronger in the same blend. A short "full body" petite cigar will be slightly stronger than a larger ring gauge, longer in length "full body" cigar in the same blend. A "full body" cigar should not only have the strength but it also should be very smooth and rich in flavor. A "mild" cigar should offer complexity and robust flavor but be a mild smoking experience.

References:
Bucanero Premium cigars : http://www.bucanerocigars.com
Good size for Cigar Smokers : www.epinions.com/content_1342611588+about+cigar+size&cd=10&hl=en&ct=clnk
Bucanero Don Douglas Review : www.cigarinspector.com/bucanero/bucanero-don-douglas-cabinet-churchill