Cigar Shapes and Sizes: How to Choose the Right Vitola

How a Cigar’s Size Affects Its Flavor

Generally speaking, thinner cigars tend to have more flavor concentration, whereas their thicker siblings smoke cooler and smoother. But the thing is, while new cigar smokers are busy looking at cigar strength and wrapper choices, they often don’t realize how much a cigar’s size can affect their smoking experience.

A cigar’s length doesn’t tend to influence flavor as much as ring gauge, but a longer cigar = more smoke time. Something to keep in mind.

There is no shortage of shapes and sizes in which cigars are made, and this combination is referred to as a cigar’s ‘vitola’. From Robustos and Coronas to Torpedoes and Churchills, and even the absolutely nutty sizes of novelty cigars, we leave no stone unturned—find the right cigar size and shape with this insider’s look!

A Tale of Two Formats…

Cigars fall into two primary shape categories: Parejo (straight) and Figurado (tapered). Additionally, cigars drill down into sizes within those categories. Their dimensions are typically listed with their length in inches first, followed by width (referred to as ring gauge). That would mean a cigar listed as 6 ½” X 52 is six and a half inches long with a 52-ring gauge.

Your next question…52 what?

Ring gauges are measured in 64ths of an inch. A 52-ring gauge, therefore, would be 52/64ths of an inch wide. Don’t worry. Math isn’t my strong suit, either. Use this ‘cheat sheet’ to make things easy:

A 64-ring cigar is exactly one inch wide. A 32-ring cigar is only half an inch wide. Most (but not all) premium cigars fall within the boundaries of these ring gauges.

Parejo Cigar Vitolas

Straight (Parejo) cigar shapes are the most common. They have a simple cylindrical shape and more than a dozen variants. Some notable Parejo vitolas include Robustos, Toros, Coronas, and Churchills. We’re going to cover some of the more common sizes within the Parejo category below.

It’s worth noting that cigar sizes are not standardized. Though many Robustos are 5” x 50, there’s no requirement that a Robusto be that size—or even be called a Robusto, for that matter. Use the information below as a guide, not gospel.

Robusto — 5” x 50

A popular size thanks to its 45-minute smoking time, Robusto cigars are usually 5 to 5 1/2 inches long and have a 50 ring gauge. The Barn Cured Robusto shown above is a classic 5” x 50.

Toro — 6” x 50

Toros are about an inch longer than a Robusto. Though dimensions vary, Toros like this Punch Knuckle Buster commonly measure 6” x 50.

Churchill — 7” x 50

Churchill cigars are named after England’s most notable Prime Minister. Winston Churchill was rarely seen without his trademark cigar (usually a Romeo y Julieta). A traditional Churchill typically runs 7 inches and a 48-50 ring gauge. The Oliva Serie O in our example is 7” x 50.

Corona — 5 ½” x 44

Speaking of Romeo…while not as popular as Robustos and Toros in recent years, Coronas were once the gold standard of vitolas. Common dimensions for a Corona cigar are 5 1/2 to 6 inches in length with a ring gauge of 42 to 44. The Romeo y Julieta, Reserva Real above sits right middle right with a 5 ½” x 44 silhouette.

Panatela — 6” x 38

The Panatela might be best described as a long and slinky version of the Corona. Panatelas were very popular in the 90s Cigar Boom, with sizes ranging from 5 to 7 ½ inches in length and modest diameters clocking in at 34 to 38 ring gauge. Purists continue to chase classic sizes, and this 6” x 38 Baccarat is proof!

Lonsdale — 6 ¼” x 46

With a footprint that leans thicker than a Panatela and longer than a Corona, Lonsdale cigars are one of the more unique vitolas. Most Lonsdales measure 6-7 inches with ring gauges of 42 to 44. The Charter Oak Connecticut version above goes slightly beyond at 6 ¼” x 46.

Figurado Cigar Vitolas

The term ‘Figurado’ can refer to any shape other than a straight Parejo. Over the years, manufacturers have come up with some pretty interesting formats. I’m omitting length and ring gauge in these definitions, and that’s because they’re largely irrelevant to the shape itself. Each of the below Figurado shapes comes in a variety of lengths and ring gauges, depending on the cigar brand.

Torpedo

A Torpedo has a gradually tapered head that comes to a sharp point, resembling a projectile or Torpedo from which it borrows the name. Notice the tip of this Octane Torpedo. Noticeably sharper than the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Belicoso’s somewhat rounded point below.

Belicoso

A Belicoso is a cigar that tapers to a blunter head. Getting Torpedoes and Belicosos confused is common, and their similarities mean there’s not much noticeable difference.

Pyramid

A Pyramid (or sometimes spelled Pyramide) is the name given to a cigar that is widest at its foot. As their name implies, Pyramid cigars taper uniformly towards the head, creating a cone-like shape. They’re often confused with Belicosos and Torpedos as their profiles are very similar. Use this Caldwell Eastern Standard Connecticut Cakewalk Pyramid as a reference.

Perfecto

You could call Pefectos the ‘dad bod’ of cigars. They’re plump in the middle and taper at each end like the cartoon stogies of old. Some styles of Perfectos have a nipple-like foot, while others are larger. The JFR is Lunatic Loco Perfecto El Granioco has a foot that is somewhere in between. FYI – this mammoth cigar has an 80 ring gauge that’s pushing an inch and a half wide.

Novelty Cigar Shapes

Technically, anything outside of a cylindrical cigar is a Figurado. Still, at a certain point, the shape of a cigar becomes as much of a selling point as its flavor, if not more so! These are best described as novelty cigar shapes, made by expert cigar rollers showing off their skills and having some fun. Here are a few examples:

Culebra

Though somewhat rare, the Culebra is one of the most interesting vitolas you can find. It consists of three cigars braided together. And the reason? One legend suggests the cigar factories of yesteryear imposed a “three cigars per day” limit on what workers could take home, and these twisted sticks were easier for management to keep track of—and harder for workers to sell on the black market.

The Villiger example above is one of the few Culebras available today.

The Egg — 6” x 60

Admittedly, a gag gift. The Egg by Drew Estate is basically a caricature of a Perfecto. The name is obviously derived from the bulge in the middle, which resembles something like a snake eating an egg. Still, a few brave souls order this one on repeat.

Asylum 13 Megalophobia — 13” x 134

At 13 inches long and over two inches wide, Asylum 13 Megalophobia almost seems like it’s in the wrong adult industry. Despite all that, there is a growing number of cigar smokers craving these extreme sizes. Don’t be surprised when it catches on.

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