question about dif. cigar shapes

[bluue13]

Ive tried searching a little but can't seem to find if there is a historical reason or a functional reason behind the different shapes of cigars?

I think I'm most curious about the pyramid and torpedo.

are they designed perhaps for a different flavor profile or is it just the cigar makers choice?

Just curious! Trying to learn!

thanks!
-Greg

 

[bfreebern]

Boredom.

 

[tmoney2007]

There may have been an idea behind it like flavor concentration, but I think it really just comes down to product differentiation and producer preference.

Sizes with tapered feet (perfecto, salamone, etc) make the cigars easier to light.

 

[bluue13]

interesting. thanks!

 

[dlow]

There may have been an idea behind it like flavor concentration, but I think it really just comes down to product differentiation and producer preference.

Sizes with tapered feet (perfecto, salamone, etc) make the cigars easier to light.

In a lot of cases, the shape definitely affects the flavor. Try a fuente chateau and then try the same in a double chateau. Same blends, two very different flavor profiles. Or, try a robusto and then try a lancero of the same cigar. Different shapes/sizes affect many of the cigar's characteristics. For example, with a smaller ring gauge cigar, you'll get more of the wrapper and binder in the smoke where a larger ring gauge will yield more of the filler. A torpedo is going to direct the smoke to a different part of the tongue and trap the oils produced from the burn differently in the tip than something with a rounded cap. Finally, a box press will sit differently in the mouth giving more flavor on the lips than a round cigar. I'm sure the more educated can give better examples, but these are things I've noticed so far.

For those who are curious, try a sampler where you get different shapes and sizes of the same blend for one of your favorite cigars. I bet you'll be able to notice a difference. I've found that I like robustos and torpedos the best for most cigars, though I'm looking forward to trying the DPG lancero I have sitting in my humi right now.

P.S. As a side note, most blenders will have a favorite vitola, which they'll reserve the best tobacco/rollers for. Examples include: CAO box press, Fuente Anejo sharks, and lancero or small ring gauge cubans. It's just all depends.

 

[Jonesy]

I'll be a little shorter in my response.....if you walk in a B&M and you're not a regular cigar smoker, what cigar do you grab? I'm going to pick the most aesthetically pleasing cigar and to me, that's a pyramid or torpedo. But I do smoke a good bit so I like my cigars to last less than an hour so I'll pick up a robusto, petite corona, or lancero. To me, the different sizes have to do with the time frame it takes to smoke one and the flavor factor, as a larger gauge cigar compared to a smaller of the same vitola will have a deeper and more flavorful taste. This is all my opinion though.

 

[bluue13]

Wow awesome information, guys! I have to say usually when I go to the B&M I'll pick up a robusto because a) I am partial to the size as it fits with my usual time constraints and b) I've always been unsure as to how to approach clipping a torpedo (do I clip just a small amount, half an inch? at an angle? etc.) and i've never been partial to biting.

But I'm definitely now looking forward to trying a sampler of diff sizes of the same cigar. sounds like fun!

Thanks again for all the help. I love this place!

 

[dlow]

I'll be a little shorter in my response.....if you walk in a B&M and you're not a regular cigar smoker, what cigar do you grab? I'm going to pick the most aesthetically pleasing cigar and to me, that's a pyramid or torpedo. But I do smoke a good bit so I like my cigars to last less than an hour so I'll pick up a robusto, petite corona, or lancero. To me, the different sizes have to do with the time frame it takes to smoke one and the flavor factor, as a larger gauge cigar compared to a smaller of the same vitola will have a deeper and more flavorful taste. This is all my opinion though.

Good point. I tend to do this as well; picking the shapes that fit the amount of time I have. This is why I still haven't smoked the couple of extra long churchills I have.

 

[tmoney2007]

There may have been an idea behind it like flavor concentration, but I think it really just comes down to product differentiation and producer preference.

Sizes with tapered feet (perfecto, salamone, etc) make the cigars easier to light.

In a lot of cases, the shape definitely affects the flavor. Try a fuente chateau and then try the same in a double chateau. Same blends, two very different flavor profiles. Or, try a robusto and then try a lancero of the same cigar. Different shapes/sizes affect many of the cigar's characteristics. For example, with a smaller ring gauge cigar, you'll get more of the wrapper and binder in the smoke where a larger ring gauge will yield more of the filler. A torpedo is going to direct the smoke to a different part of the tongue and trap the oils produced from the burn differently in the tip than something with a rounded cap. Finally, a box press will sit differently in the mouth giving more flavor on the lips than a round cigar. I'm sure the more educated can give better examples, but these are things I've noticed so far.

For those who are curious, try a sampler where you get different shapes and sizes of the same blend for one of your favorite cigars. I bet you'll be able to notice a difference. I've found that I like robustos and torpedos the best for most cigars, though I'm looking forward to trying the DPG lancero I have sitting in my humi right now.

P.S. As a side note, most blenders will have a favorite vitola, which they'll reserve the best tobacco/rollers for. Examples include: CAO box press, Fuente Anejo sharks, and lancero or small ring gauge cubans. It's just all depends.

I don't really call that the shape affecting the flavor. Different sizes have different proportions of different tobaccos in them and that makes them taste different.

I've also heard that blenders all have a certain size that they blend first to create the label, then they try to make the other sizes shape like that. At one point most people used a lonsdale but many use the robusto as the basis.

Wow awesome information, guys! I have to say usually when I go to the B&M I'll pick up a robusto because a) I am partial to the size as it fits with my usual time constraints and b) I've always been unsure as to how to approach clipping a torpedo (do I clip just a small amount, half an inch? at an angle? etc.) and i've never been partial to biting.

But I'm definitely now looking forward to trying a sampler of diff sizes of the same cigar. sounds like fun!

Thanks again for all the help. I love this place!

If you clip it straight, clip enough to where the draw is the way you like it. If you cut too little, tar buildup can be more likely to happen. You can also cut it at an angle. Its really just personal preference.

Don't bite. Its not nice.

 

[bluue13]

There may have been an idea behind it like flavor concentration, but I think it really just comes down to product differentiation and producer preference.

Sizes with tapered feet (perfecto, salamone, etc) make the cigars easier to light.

In a lot of cases, the shape definitely affects the flavor. Try a fuente chateau and then try the same in a double chateau. Same blends, two very different flavor profiles. Or, try a robusto and then try a lancero of the same cigar. Different shapes/sizes affect many of the cigar's characteristics. For example, with a smaller ring gauge cigar, you'll get more of the wrapper and binder in the smoke where a larger ring gauge will yield more of the filler. A torpedo is going to direct the smoke to a different part of the tongue and trap the oils produced from the burn differently in the tip than something with a rounded cap. Finally, a box press will sit differently in the mouth giving more flavor on the lips than a round cigar. I'm sure the more educated can give better examples, but these are things I've noticed so far.

For those who are curious, try a sampler where you get different shapes and sizes of the same blend for one of your favorite cigars. I bet you'll be able to notice a difference. I've found that I like robustos and torpedos the best for most cigars, though I'm looking forward to trying the DPG lancero I have sitting in my humi right now.

P.S. As a side note, most blenders will have a favorite vitola, which they'll reserve the best tobacco/rollers for. Examples include: CAO box press, Fuente Anejo sharks, and lancero or small ring gauge cubans. It's just all depends.

I don't really call that the shape affecting the flavor. Different sizes have different proportions of different tobaccos in them and that makes them taste different.

I've also heard that blenders all have a certain size that they blend first to create the label, then they try to make the other sizes shape like that. At one point most people used a lonsdale but many use the robusto as the basis.

Wow awesome information, guys! I have to say usually when I go to the B&M I'll pick up a robusto because a) I am partial to the size as it fits with my usual time constraints and b) I've always been unsure as to how to approach clipping a torpedo (do I clip just a small amount, half an inch? at an angle? etc.) and i've never been partial to biting.

But I'm definitely now looking forward to trying a sampler of diff sizes of the same cigar. sounds like fun!

Thanks again for all the help. I love this place!

If you clip it straight, clip enough to where the draw is the way you like it. If you cut too little, tar buildup can be more likely to happen. You can also cut it at an angle. Its really just personal preference.

Don't bite. Its not nice.

Again, thanks for all the info! very helpful. and don't worry, I never bite!

 

[ree ree robusto]

I think its just a form of art...

 

[bluue13]

Thats what my feeling was, Ree, but I was thinking that there had to be some historical reason behind it too. Looks like I'm just gonna have to try some cigars and enjoy!

 

[dlow]

Interesting discussion. As you can see, everyone has a different opinion.

To each his own, but I personally think there's a different flavor between perfectos and robutos, for example. I've found that I like the perfecto shape of oliva O maduros better than the robusto. Also, in the Brazilia, I prefer the box press to the other vitolas.

 

[bluue13]

Dlow, from my limited experience it seems that what you're saying would definitely make sense about the different size. I mean if you're smoking a cigar of one brand which contains more filler than a different size of that same brand, it would stand to reason that the flavors would be different... Same as eating a chocolate chip or a whole entire handfull of chocolate.

It has been very interesting to read all the different ideas and I'm excited about buying some of the same cigar in different sizes and shapes and going for a test run! A mighty enjoyable test run might I add. Now if the snow would only melt...