A regular cigar smoker will know just how many varieties of cigars there are. Other than the vast amount of notable brands and unique wraps each offers, cigars come in all different shapes and sizes.
When browsing for a new cigar to try, you’ll see that they have names like Churchill or Half Corona at the end of their full title. The words that come after the cigar brand name usually indicate the cigar size, so it’s helpful to understand what they mean before you purchase. A beginner smoker who is looking for a small smoke might be overwhelmed if they accidentally buy a Gran Corona.
When we talk about cigar sizes, we mean the cigar gauge sizes and lengths. Each cigar will be categorized into the size groupings that we’ll go into shortly, with both the length and gauge being the decider of that category.
Before we go on, we should mention that the size of a cigar doesn’t correlate with the strength or flavor of the tobacco. While big cigars look flashy and will give you more time to enjoy your smoking experience, the smaller cigars can still pack more of a punch. It’s all about picking the one from that cigar size chart that best suits your unique smoking desires.
WHAT IS A VITOLA?
Vitola is the word we use in the cigar world to refer to a size and shape of a cigar. Robusto, for example, which is a name used for a specific cigar size, is a type of vitola. Parejos, which describes a cigar shape, is also a vitola.
FIGUARDOS VS PAREJOS
While this guide outlines the different types of cigar sizes, it’s important to make a note of cigar shapes as well. The two standard cigar shapes are parejos and figurados.
Parejos are the most classic shape of cigar. They’re easily recognizable from their smooth, straight edges, and they will usually have an open foot for easier cigar lighting. You’ll typically need to cut the cap of a Parejo cigar, so make sure you look up how to cut a cigar before smoking.
Figurados are less common, but they are named as such for being any other shape than cylindrical and straight-sided. If you come across a torpedo or pyramid cigar, then these are figurados.
SMALL CIGARS
PETIT CORONA
The Petit Corona may occasionally be referred to as a Mareva. However, as its most common name suggests, it is a smaller version of a Corona cigar. This cigar has a common length of 4½-inches with a cigar gauge size between 40 and 42.
GORDITO
Similar in length to the Petit Gordito at 4½-inches, Gordito cigars step-up their width game to a cigar ring gauge size of 60. It’s one of the more modern sizes currently available and is becoming increasingly popular among buyers because of its affordability.
ROBUSTO
The Robusto is slimmer than the Gordito but beats it in length at 5-inches with a 50 ring gauge. While its name might have you believe it belongs in the large cigar section, it’s actually quite short in comparison to other common vitolas. Like most varying cigar sizes, the Robusto comes in a variety of flavors.
CORONA
The last on our list of small cigars is the corona, a vitola type you’ve probably heard of before. One of the most popular options on the market, it’s typically a lighter-bodied smoke with a hot burn. It generally hits a length of 5.25-inches, yet its ring size can vary anywhere between 42 and 46.
MEDIUM CIGARS
TORO
Toro cigars usually start from 6 inches and have a cigar gauge size of 60. While similar to the Robusto size, they offer a much longer draw with an average smoke time of one hour.
GORDO
As we know gordo translates to “fat” in Spanish, it’s no surprise that the Gordo cigar has an impressive 60 ring gauge, sometimes even thicker. It’s a stocky stogie with a smoking experience that lasts longer than its younger brother Gordito.
PANETELA
Pantela cigars are known for being slim-bodied, with a ring gauge of 34 and an elegant length of 6-inches. It’s now largely manufactured by companies who specialize in Cuban cigars, but can also be found in the Nicaraguan category.
LARGE CIGARS
CHURCHILL
Aptly named after the famous Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister and notable aficionado, Churchill cigars are wonderfully long and impressively thick, with a minimum ring size of 48.
DOUBLE CORONA
As you would expect, the Double Corona is a larger version of the standard Corona cigar. It has a ring size of 50 and typically lands at 7.5-inches in length, giving you a smoke that lasts hours.
GRAN CORONA
Topping our list with the largest cigar, the Gran Corona is a whopping 9.25-inches in length and a girthy cigar gauge size of 47 at minimum. It’s the king of cigars in terms of size and how long it draws. They vary in strength, with some starting from mellow-medium bodied and others piquing at a powerful full-bodied smoke.