Does Size Matter?

Size matters a lot when it comes to smoking cigars. People have their own preferences and proclivities, which make the hobby really individualistic and exciting.

I've noticed a somewhat interesting and troubling (at least for me) trend in cigar production that threatens this individualism that, in my opinion, is an integral part of the hobby. A lot of cigars being produced today come in only a few select sizes. Toros, robustos, chuchills, torpedos are usually the main variety and they are always big, hefty and thick. Cigars used to be produced in myriad sizes and shapes, but todays smokers favor the thick ring gauges. Ring gauges of 52-60, which used to be pretty rare, are common fare nowadays.

This trend is best evinced in the fact that Habanos SA (The Cuban cigar monopoly) is paring down their catalog by removing a lot of the smaller sizes leaving only thick ring gauges. Coronas, Corona Gordas, Lonsdales, Perfectos are all going the way of the dodo. A true shame, because some of the best havanas are of the smaller variety.

I personally prefer coronas, petite, coronas, and corona gordas as I believe that they provide the best balance in flavor. Thicker cigars can be harder to light and keep lit, but they do burn cooler because they have more surface area. In thinner cigars the wrapper, usually the highest quality tobacco leaf in the entire cigar, contributes more to the flavor.

A lot of cigar producers are making cigars that come in 50 ring gauge or greater. I guess there is just something to smoking a robusto or rothschild. This is epitomized by the NUB brand of cigars, short fat cigars that claim to capture the complex and enjoyable flavors of the latter parts of the cigar. Most experienced smokers will tell you that this is purely a marketing ploy. Common sense will tell you the same thing.

Thinner cigars need more care while smoking. You can't puff on them like a locomotive otherwise they will overheat and become unsmokable. To me there is a certain elegance in smoking thinner cigars, plus they take less time to smoke. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy robustos and churchills (A good churchill is tough to top, when they are on they are on and can make for a great smoking experience), but I like variety as well. Luckily, a lot of my favorite manufacturers still produce plenty of sizes to choose from.