Choosing a Cigar: Size, Shape, and Strength

Walk into a humidor and you'll see the same blend in five or six sizes. That isn't just packaging. Size and shape change how a cigar smokes, how long it lasts, and even how it tastes.

Length and ring gauge

Cigars are measured by length in inches and by ring gauge, which is the diameter in sixty-fourths of an inch. A 50 ring gauge cigar is 50/64 of an inch across. So a "5 x 50" is five inches long and a little more than three quarters of an inch thick.

Thickness matters for flavor. A thinner cigar has more wrapper relative to filler, so the wrapper's character comes through more strongly. A thicker cigar holds more filler and usually smokes cooler and a little milder per draw.

Common sizes

Each size and shape is called a vitola. Exact measurements vary by brand, but these are the ones you'll see most often:

• Corona: about 5½ inches with a ring gauge in the low 40s. A classic, balanced size.
• Robusto: about 5 inches by 50. The most popular size, and a good first cigar at roughly 45 minutes to an hour.
• Toro: about 6 inches by 50 to 54. A little more time and a little more of everything.
• Churchill: about 7 inches by 47 or 48. Long and elegant, best when you have an evening to spend.
• Lancero: about 7 inches by 38 to 40. Long and thin, with lots of wrapper flavor.
• Gordo: about 6 inches by 60. Big, cool, and slow.

Some cigars aren't straight cylinders. A torpedo has a pointed head, which concentrates the smoke on your palate. A perfecto tapers at both ends and changes character as the burn reaches the wider middle.

Strength is not the same as body

These words get mixed up, but they mean different things. Strength is about nicotine, the physical effect you feel. Body is about the weight and richness of the smoke in your mouth, the way whole milk feels heavier than skim. A cigar can be full-bodied and still fairly mild in strength, and the reverse is also true.

If you're new, start with something mild to medium in strength. A strong cigar on an empty stomach can leave you lightheaded. Eat something first, and keep a glass of water nearby.

Buying tips

• Buy singles before boxes. Try a cigar two or three times before committing to a box.
• Try one blend in two sizes. It's the best way to learn what you like about a cigar.
• Check the cigar. It should feel evenly firm, with no soft spots or cracks in the wrapper.
• Tell the tobacconist what you liked. "Creamy and mild" or "dark and sweet" gets you a better recommendation than a price range alone.

Tulsa's cigar shops carry hundreds of sizes between them, and the staff can walk you through the options for any blend.