CIGAR MYSTIQUE

CHOOSING A CIGAR
When purchasing a cigar, take into consideration.
• The length and diameter of the cigar is related to the intensity of the cigar.
• The quality of the cigar by squeezing it slightly to make sure there are no lumps in it, and check to ensure that the tobacco at the end of it is not discolored. Also, avoid purchasing cigars with discolored wrappers. Gently squeeze the cigar to determine if there are any hard or soft.
•Cigars are given names such as Corona or Panatela, based upon their length and diameter.

 CIGAR SIZE

• The bigger the ring gauge of the cigar, the cooler is the smoke
• The longer the cigar, the purer it tastes. You do not puff as hard on a long, big ring gauge cigar and the result is lower temperature. This is the reason that you will see 50+ ring gauge cigars in almost every brand name.
• The size of a cigar is measured by two dimensions: its ring gauge (its diameter in 64ths of an inch) and its length (in inches).

CIGAR TYPES
Most of the common names for cigars are usually associated with their size. This is because most cigars are shaped like a cylinder, and are considered as having a parejo shape.
A cigar with an irregular shape (e.g. having a cone shaped head) is considered to be a figurado.
The technical term to encompass both size and shape is vitola.

CIGAR NAMES
PAREJOS are designated by the following terms:
• Churchill: Measures 7 inches by 47-ring gauge. Named after Winston
                   Churchill himself, who made the cigar one of his trademarks.
• Rothschild 4 + ½ 48 after the Rothschild family
• Corona: Measures 6 inches by 42-ring gauge. It has an open foot and a closed head.

• Robusto: 5 inches by 50-ring gauge.
• Panetelas: Usually longer and thinner than coronas. At 7 inches by 38-ring gauge.

FIGURADOS and are sometimes considered of higher quality because they are more difficult to make.
• Culebras: Formed of three Panatelas braided together to form one cigar.
• Diademas: 8 inches or longer, this large cigar usually has an open foot.
• Pyramid: Has a pointed, closed head.
• Perfecto: Round cigar, similar to the torpedo, except that it has two closed
                   ends with a bulge in the middle.
• Torpedo: It has a pointed head, closed foot and a bulge in the middle.