Cigar Types

There are many types of cigars, but each consists of two primary elements that produce its smoking and flavor characteristics. The first is the wrapper, and the second is its construction, or style.

Wrappers of Cigars

The wrapper of cigars are broadly categorized by their color:

• Candela - very light, slightly greenish (also called American Market Selection)
• Claro - light tan or yellowish
• Colorado Claro - light brown (also called English Market Selection)
• Colorado - reddish brown
• Maduro - dark brown to almost black (also called Spanish Market Selection)
• Oscuro - black, often oily in appearance

---

Styles of Cigars

Cigars are commonly categorized by the size and shape of the cigar, which together are known as a vitola. The most common shape is the parejo, which has a cylindrical body and a round cap.

The parejos include the following vitolas (from shortest to longest):

• Robusto (aka Rothschild)
• Panatela
• Petit Corona
• Corona
• Lonsdale
• Churchill
• Double Corona

Irregularly-shaped cigars are known as figurados and are sometimes considered of higher quality because they are more difficult to make. Figurados include the following:

• Pyramide - Like a parejo except that the cap is pointed.
• Torpedo - Has a broad foot and evenly narrows to a pointed cap.
• Perfecto - Narrow at both ends and bulged in the middle.
• Presidente/Diadema - shaped like a parejo but considered a figurado because of its Enormous size.
• Culebras - Three long, pointed cigars braided together.

Other types of Cigars are the togie or stogy, which are a cheap type of cigar

---

Ring gauges of cigars

In some parts of the world (especially America), cigars are measured with two dimensions - ring gauge (numerator of the widest diameter in 64ths of an inch), and length. For example, most Robusto cigars have a ring gauge of approximately 50, and a length of approximately 5 inches.

---

Flavor of cigars

Virtually all cigar aficionados enjoy the practice because of the rich and varied flavors one observes when smoking, although some eschew the connoiseurial qualities in favor of other factors. For those drawn by taste, each brand and type of cigar carries different qualities of taste. Generally, cigars with lighter colored wrappers are milder in flavor and have less of a smoky aftertaste. Darker wrappers are typically richer in flavor, although the specific flavors are not unique to any particular style or type of tobacco.

Unlike cigarettes, cigars taste very little of smoke, and usually very much of tobacco with overtones of other tastes. A fine cigar - especially ones of Cuban origin prior to 1990, can have virtually no taste of smoke whatsoever. The act of smoking a fine cigar can be likened to eating a fine meal that leaves your stomach empty.

Some of the more common flavors one observes while smoking a cigar include:

• Leather
• Spice
• Cocoa / chocolate
• Peat / moss / earth
• Coffee
• Nut

The most ardent enjoyers of cigar smoking will sometimes keep personal journals of cigars they've enjoyed, complete with personal ratings, description of flavors observed, sizes, brands, etc. The qualities and characteristics of cigar tasting are very similar to those of wine, Scotch, beer, and cognacs. Within a given specification, there are endless varieties. This dynamic is part of the appeal to which cigar smokers are continually drawn.

---

Most Recent Forum Post

---