Cigar School
Well folks, there’s all kinds of information about Cigars out there: some good, some bad, some accurate, and some pretty crappy! We’re going to educate you in the basics, so read away and enjoy!
Cigar Basics
Anatomy
Ok this is pretty simple. Basically you have 2 ends… Light one and suck on the other.The end you suck on is called the Cap, also known as the Flag or the Head. This is the end you trim before you smoke. The end opposite the cap is called the Foot, also known as the Tuck. Sometimes it gets confusing trying to figure out which end is which with perfectos, if you’re confused just look at the band. Holding the cigar vertically (Cap up) will enbale you to read the band.Generally the cigar will have a band. Some may even have 2 and some have a band around the foot as well.
Measurement
Cigars are measured using length and girth. The girth is measured in “Ring Size”. There are 64 ring sizes to the inch, so a ring size of 40 is 40/64ths in diameter. This gets dang confusing so I included this handy guide for you to print out if you ever have a question. You can preview it by clicking the image below.
Size
Cigars come in all kinds of varying sizes, so many in fact that even the best of us get as confused as a baby in a topless bar when trying to figure it out. There are standby sizes and there are all kinds of exotic sizes as well. They are broken up into two categories, “Parejos” and “Figurados”. The Parejos are straight-sided, more traditional cigars and the Figurados are the exotic shaped cigars. In each respective category there are multiple shapes. The plethora of shapes are for one reason only… your enjoyment! Some like fat cigars, some like skinny ones. The best part is its up to your preference…there is no right or wrong.Each cigar will have it’s own smoking characteristics and I highly recommend trying as many sizes as you can to find out what you really like.Here are some standby basics to get you started.
The Churchill
The Churchill was formerly known as the Julieta but Winston Churchill smoked a heck of a lot of these babies, so many in fact that we Americans changed it from it’s ridiculously pansy name Julieta to CHURCHILL! (My apologies to any dudes named Julieta) If your gonna smoke a Churchill make sure you have at least an hour to spare.
Robusto
The Robusto is one of my favorites because it’s girthy and doesn’t take 2 hours to smoke. Don’t get me wrong…I love to smoke a cigar for 2 hours but I rarely find that kind of time.
Corona
The Corona is a staple of cigar sizes.
Coronas have traditionally been the benchmark against which all other cigar formats are measured. -Cigar Aficionado
Torpedo
The Torpedo falls into the Figurados category due to it’s tapered Cap. The tapered shape helps to cool the smoke before it enters your mouth. I find it also makes smoking a larger ring size cigar more enjoyable due to the smaller shape of the cap.I’ll put some more illustrations up as soon as I draw them but for now here’s a basic list of cigar sizes:
Other Cigar Sizes
Cigarillo: 4″ - 6″ x 25 - 30
Corona Extra: 4″ - 5 1/2″ x 45 - 47
Double Corona: 6 3/4″ - 7 3/4″ x 48 - 55
Giant: 7 3/4″ & up x 45 -55
Giant Corona: 7 1/2″ & up x 40 - 45
Grand Corona: 5 1/2″ - 6 1/2″ x 45 - 47
Long Pantella: 7″ & up x 35 - 40
Lonsdale: 6 1/4″ - 7 1/4″ x 40 - 45
Panatela: 5 1/2″ - 7″ x 35 - 40
Petit Corona: 4″ - 5 1/4″ x 40 - 45
Pyramid: all x flaredShort Panatela: 4″ - 5 1/2″ x 35 - 40
Slim Panatela: 5″ & up x 30 - 35
Small Panatela: 4″ - 5 1/4″ x 30 - 35
Toro: 5 1/2″ to 6 1/2″ x 47 - 55
How to fix an uneven burn
Ahh the dreaded uneven burn, even the finest of cigar smokers are not exempt from the wrath of the ever fickle destruction that lies in the wake of this fearsome foe! Ok well maybe it’s not that bad… However if your cigar does start to burn unevenly it is best to cut it off at the pass before any real damage is incurred. Here are a couple simple tricks.
1. Rotate your cigar so the long side is down. Placing the long side on the bottom seems opposite our instinct. I mean come on, heat rises right??? The reason for doing this is because the tobacco leaf (as with any fuel) needs Oxygen to burn. The greatest amount of Oxygen will be introduced at the bottom because the heat, and burned oxygen, is rising and passing over the top of the cigar.
2. The spit trick. If you didn’t catch your uneven burn before it got bad try licking your finger and gently wiping it along the short side of the burn. The idea is to moisten, and cool, the offensive area of the cigar in hopes of slowing the burn so the other side can catch up. Try to get the moisture as close to the burn as possible without burning your finger. However if you do burn your finger just remember, I did NOT recommend this method (and your an idiot for not using common sense). This usually takes 3 or 4 times but is highly effective.
3. The Kill Them All And Let God Sort Them Out Method. This method involves taking your torch and wasting that bastard side of the cigar that didn’t burn right! Not recommend but it works in a pinch. (Or if you just don’t care)
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