{"id":1580,"date":"2017-04-28T01:28:52","date_gmt":"2017-04-28T09:28:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecigarstore.com\/blog\/?p=1580"},"modified":"2019-10-15T11:10:11","modified_gmt":"2019-10-15T18:10:11","slug":"cigar-smoking-dummies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecigarstore.com\/blog\/cigar-smoking-dummies\/","title":{"rendered":"Cigar Smoking for Dummies"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of our goals of TheCigarStore<\/a> is to demystify and share our love of cigars.\u00a0 Let\u2019s be honest; the multitude of cigar shapes, sizes and wrappers can be overwhelming to a first-time buyer. As a result, we receive hundreds of calls each month with questions about the various options available from novice smokers and connoisseurs alike.\u00a0 With that in mind, we\u2019ve put together a compilation of some of the most asked subjects we receive questions on to try to educate you and share our love of \u201call things cigar\u201d.<\/p>\n

Cigar Shapes and Sizes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Cigars are rolled in many lengths and ring sizes.\u00a0 To make it easier, cigars are given a name based on their size.\u00a0 The two characteristics used to describe a cigar are the length (measured in inches) and the ring size (a description of the cigar\u2019s diameter or thickness).\u00a0 The ring size is broken down by 64ths of an inch, so when you say a cigar has a ring size of 50, you are really saying it is 50\/64 of an inch thick.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, describing a cigar is based on the way it is rolled.\u00a0 A typical cigar where the end is rolled open and the cap end requires cutting is known as a Parejo. Parejos are either rolled as a round cigar or can be square in shape, also known as box-pressed.\u00a0 Lastly, the final description of a cigar includes its strength.\u00a0 A full bodied cigar will be strong vs. a mild cigar. As a result, of the incredible variety of tobaccos available that can be used, strengths can vary between manufacturers.\u00a0 Think of a fine single malt whiskey for example.\u00a0 Many varieties come from Scotland, but due to the variances in the ingredients used, no two taste exactly the same. Importantly, the same is true for cigars.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 The Most Common Cigar Shapes:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Shape<\/strong><\/td>\nLength<\/strong><\/td>\nRing Size<\/strong><\/td>\nPopular Examples<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Corona<\/td>\n5 \u00bd – 6 inches<\/td>\n42-44<\/td>\nAshton Corona<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Petite Corona<\/td>\n4 – 5 inches<\/td>\n40-42<\/td>\nAcid Blondie<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Churchill<\/td>\n7 inches<\/td>\n47-50<\/td>\nMontecristo Platinum Churchill<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Robusto<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n48-52<\/td>\nRocky Patel Decade Robusto<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Corona Gorda (Toro)<\/td>\n5 5\/8 \u2013 6 \u00bc inches<\/td>\n46-50<\/td>\nRomeo y Julieta Vintage No. II<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Double Corona<\/td>\n7 \u00bd – 8 \u00bd<\/td>\n49-52<\/td>\nCAO Gold Label Double Corona<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Panatela<\/td>\n5 \u2013 7 \u00bd inches<\/td>\n34-38<\/td>\nPunch London Club<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lonsdale<\/td>\n6 \u00bd inches<\/td>\n42<\/td>\nMontecristo No. 1<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Even though the vast majority of cigars manufactured are Parejos, many companies have begun to differentiate themselves through new innovative shapes known as Figurados.\u00a0 A Figurado can broadly be described as a cigar that is not round (cylindrical).\u00a0 There are many variations of Figurado shapes and sizes.<\/p>\n

The majority fall into one of the following four shapes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Shape<\/strong><\/td>\nLength<\/strong><\/td>\nRing Size<\/strong><\/td>\nPopular Examples<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pyramid<\/td>\n6 \u2013 7 inches<\/td>\n40-54<\/td>\nArturo Fuente Chateau Fuente Pyramid<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Belicoso<\/td>\n5 \u2013 5 \u00bd inches<\/td>\n50<\/td>\nBaccarat Belicoso Natural<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Torpedo<\/td>\n5 \u2013 7 inches<\/td>\n50-54<\/td>\nTatuaje Miami Unicos<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Perfecto<\/td>\n4 \u00bd – 9 inches<\/td>\n38-48<\/td>\nPunch Champion Double Maduro<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n

Cigar Wrapper Colors<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Cigar wrappers come in a host of colors.\u00a0 Depending on where in the world the tobacco crop was grown, wrappers colors can vary from pale green to dark black.\u00a0 Therefore, each of these wrappers provide a different taste for the cigar smoker and is therefore left to individual preference.\u00a0 There are five basic cigar wrapper colors but many variations within each wrapper color.\u00a0 The variations are caused by the type of seed used, the amount of sunlight during growth and the aging process used to dry the plant.<\/p>\n

The Five Most Commonly Used Wrapper Colors:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Wrapper<\/strong><\/td>\nDescription<\/strong><\/td>\nPopular Examples<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Double Claro aka Candela<\/td>\nLight green in color caused by quick-drying technique which locks in the plants chlorophyll.<\/td>\nLa Flor Dominicana Double Claro No. 48<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Claro<\/td>\nLight tan in color caused by being grown in the shade under cheesecloth tents.<\/td>\nAntonio y Cleopatra Grenadier Light<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Colorado<\/td>\nMedium-brown to brownish-red, this wrapper is full flavored yet emits a subtle some.<\/td>\nCasa Magna Colorado<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maduro<\/td>\nVaries from a deep reddish-brown to almost black. Maduro means “mature” in Spanish, which refers to the increased time required to cure the wrapper.<\/td>\nKristoff Maduro Robusto<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oscuro<\/td>\nThis black-as-night wrapper is accomplished by leaving the leaves on the plant as long as possible, by using only the leaves from the top of the plant, and by fermenting them for an especially long time. Most often Brazilian or Mexican in origin. This category is sometimes referred to as “black,” “negro” or “double maduro.”<\/td>\nPDR 1878 Reserva Dominicana Habana Robusto<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

What Cigar is Right for You?<\/h2>\n