Smaller vs. bigger cigars

CAO Black Mosaic is a 42 ring - I like this better than the larger sizes.

Another one I like better is the C10 Corona (also 42) - I think it's just a tad more flavorful than the Robusto.

Letely I too have been drawn to the smaller sizes of cigars. For one thing, I find them easier to draw on, and for another, I jsut don't have time to smoke a big cigar in the winter.

Some would say that wrapper makes a major contribution to the flavors we taste, and therefore a smaller cigar will have more of those flavors. I still don't know about that one, but I do know smaller cigars fit my time and preferences right now, that is for sure.

The little cigarillos are great for a quick smoke, and I've done a few coronas as well. My size of choice is the robusto. My experience has been that larger ring sticks are an easier draw.
-D

Large ring cigars burn cooler as the smoke has a larger arean to pass through. Also, the proportion of wrapper to filler tends to give the cigar a more intensive flavor from the outer leaf. I actually prefer a cigar that is 5 to 6 inches and a 44 or 46 ring. Many master blenders say that this size gives you the perfect proportions.

With some cigars size doesn't matter much, with others it matters a lot. Personally I find Padilla Miami to be a lot better in a smaller ring, and Camacho Corojo to be better in a 50+. I find the thinner Padillas to be more flavorful, and the thinner Camachos to simply not taste the way I think they should.
Many (most?) NC cigar makers try to adjust the blend to minimize differences between sizes. The result is that in many cases it can be hard to tell the difference in taste between sizes.
I'm no expert on Qbans, but from what I've heard they tend to use the same blend for the whole line, resulting in substantially different flavors between sizes as the different proportions of wrapper (and binder, though it's less important) to filler change the taste of the cigar.
Bigger ring sticks tend to burn cooler at the same rate of smoking than smaller ring sizes, so your personal smoking habits also have an impact on which size will be most enjoyable. Fast smokers seem to like 50+ rings & slow smokers tend to prefer coronas/panatellas/lanceros/etc.
At least in the US, I suspect the movement towards bigger ring cigars may also have something to do with the movement towards fuller bodied cigars. Burning cooler can take some of the bite out of a strong cigar, and in cases where you've got a powerful wrapper diluting it a bit can make the cigar milder.
I think the best way to go about it is to just try each approximate size a cigar comes in & then decide which one you like best.

A lot of cigars are all blended to taste the same regardless of size. The proportions are changed in each size to match the flavor. Also, a lot of manufacturers don't do that so the size variations change the flavor considerably.

One of my favorite cigars in the Tatuaje Havana VI Victorias. To me, that cigar seems to have the best flavor out of the group...there is just something about it.... Plus, it's only a 38 ring..

The Dog Watch guys have been discussing this at great length lately, if you have the time to listen, they give a lot of good information. Here is the link:
http://dogwatchsocialclub.com/


Tim and Donny have discussed this also, you can pick up them at:
http://www.cigar.com/podcast/

Good stuff for anyone to listen to!!

I have been a big fan of petit coronas, especially recently. First, they are a quicker smoke that say a churchill or a corona gorda. That's important when your time is limited or it's cold outside. I also find the burn to be a bit more even. Depending on the actual pc, you can have quite a bit of tobacco (and flavor for that matter) in that smaller size. Bolivar PC's, H. Upmann PC's, and PLPC's are smoking very well. I have also enjoyed the Rocky Patel OSG PC quite a bit as well as the Tatuaje Miami Noella.

I used to smoke large ring-gauge (50+) cigars almost exclusively, but for the past few months my preference has turned to smaller ring gauges.

I have been smoking a lot of Coronas lately as opposed to the Torpedos and Robustos that I normally smoke. I have noticed that I seem to get a lot different tastes from a La Aurora 1495 Corona than I do the larger sizes. Same goes for the 100 Anos. I still have one of those Cuvee Grand Lanceros that I haven't torched yet, looking forward to that. I also agree with Thor that the Tatuaje Victorias are the best of the bunch.

Anybody ever see that picure of Saddams cretin offspring and his 14 inch long Lancero? I want to sample one of those.

Cloudy said:

I have been smoking a lot of Coronas lately as opposed to the Torpedos and Robustos that I normally smoke. I have noticed that I seem to get a lot different tastes from a La Aurora 1495 Corona than I do the larger sizes. Same goes for the 100 Anos. I still have one of those Cuvee Grand Lanceros that I haven't torched yet, looking forward to that. I also agree with Thor that the Tatuaje Victorias are the best of the bunch.

Anybody ever see that picure of Saddams cretin offspring and his 14 inch long Lancero? I want to sample one of those.

Click to expand...

You will enjoy that Cuvee Grand. That's one of the best lanceros I've had in quite some time.

I actually forgot I had it. Lost in the dark depths of my humi until I started reading this thread. :lol: I wish I could sit outside and burn it this weekend but summer seems to be over and the snow is back.

Will definitely report my thoughts and opinions when I do smoke it.

I usually depaneds on the cigar and my mood. I am not a big fan of any cigar that has a larger ring gauge than 52. Just too much in my opinion. I find that the robusto size is universally good from marca to marca. Smaller ringed cigars are preferred for habanos; the PC is a great size as are most cigars with around a 42 gauge for them. Cigars from nicaragua I like to be 50 or larger.