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Discussion: Your Favorite Vitola (shape)

Discussion: Your Favorite Vitola (shape)

Happy Tuesday, folks! 

As amazed as I am about everyone’s favorite tasting notes and brands, I’m also intrigued by how varied our preferences are when it comes to sizes and shapes. Which brings me to this week’s discussion contest: 

What’s your favorite and least favorite size and shape? 

Login and comment below for a chance to win a Small Batch gift card this weekend! 

Personally, I’m a huge fan of the Robusto and Corona Gorda.  I’ll always gravitate towards the size that fits my taste preferences once I’ve sampled a few vitolas, but Robusto and Corona Gorda usually get pulled first unless they’re unavailable. 

Lately, however, I have grown to appreciate the extra inch or so in a Toro.  Especially when smoking in the heat, or when considering something for a friend that smokes at a faster pace.  The additional length cools the smoke just a bit more before it reaches your palate and can really save the day in the summer.  

  

Difference in Cigar Sizes

In this FAQ, we go more in depth on the difference between cigar sizes

 

My absolute least favorite has traditionally been the perfecto, but once again I’m forced to include an exception.  As we talked about with our Caldwell The King is Dead Sleeping Beauty exclusive, it’s an incredible vitola that brings a dynamic experience to an already exceptional blend.  My preferences for taste win out here, and I’ll choose the Sleeping Beauty perfecto over a Robusto or Corona Gorda for this blend every time.  

DISCUSSION CONTEST DETAILS

One of the comments below will win a $25 gift card.  The gift card will automatically be sent to the email address that you login to comment with, so please use your regular sign-in.   

I’ll be randomly selecting a comment below this Sunday after sending out the Weekly Newsletter. The winner can expect a comment with his or her name in it, a congratulations email, and an email with the $25 gift card information.  The actual gift card email takes some time to generate from the system and may lag behind by up to 48 hours. 

Only available to U.S. customers. 

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Comments

8/27/2019 5:51 AM
It's all over the board for me honestly. I love some Coronas like the Montecristo No 4. Especially when I want a quick smoke.

Corona Gordas and Robustos are probably my go to for most blends.

Some blends are amazing in churchill format though (7 x 48) and lancero. All really depends on the blenders intent I guess!
8/27/2019 5:59 AM
My "trial size" for a new cigar is usually a lonsdale or corona gorda. I despise the 6x60 and that is all the time I'll give that size. For the most part I am usually just a normal parejo shaped cigar kinda guy but it is not a make or break type of thing for me.
8/27/2019 6:48 AM
I really enjoy Nicaraguan tobaccos though not always puros.   If a blender uses Nic filler, I try the 50 or 52 ring gauge.   If it’s a Nic wrapper or binder, i like lanceros or lonsdales.  I try not to overthink it.
8/27/2019 8:32 AM
My favorite size is the lonsdale, my 2nd choice is the 6x50 Toro. Oddly enough-if I find a blend I really love, I order it in torpedo.  When I 1st started smoking premium cigars I would order everything in torpedo.
8/27/2019 1:08 PM
Robustos or Coronas are my typical go to sizes for most cigars.  They seem to last the perfect amount of time for me.

Every so often I'll smoke a Lonsdale or Corona grande if I want a longer smoke.

Perfecto is by far my least favorite shape.
8/27/2019 1:09 PM
My vitolas preferences cycle, however, when they do, it’s usually between two vitolas. Those being Corona Gorda and Robusto. Those two are always solid for me. And though they may not be the best vitolas in a certain line, they’re never a complete miss. I do also like a Toro or Churchill when I want a longer smoke or a high end smoke (because I get a longer enjoyment time).

There’s no vitola I particularly despise. But I stray away from lanceros and anything above about a 54 gauge. They both just aren’t as comfortable for me to smoke and for some reason (maybe cause I smoke slow or the way I smoke) if I’m going to have burn issues, these are the vitolas I get them with.

That being said in the past few days I’ve smoked the Casdagli Traditional Super Belicoso and am smoking a Todos Las Dias Double Wide Belicoso right now. And they both are money in those sizes.
8/27/2019 2:11 PM
My favorite size to try of something will be a Corona or a Lancero. Simply for feel and typically I gets better flavor experience. And a better burn too. Plus it brings more flavor in from the wrapper.

The vitolas I have issues with are huge Donkey You know What’s. 🤣
8/27/2019 2:17 PM
Double Robusto 5 x 56 for most. A well rolled Perfecto or Belicoso sometimes hits the spot.
8/27/2019 4:49 PM
I tend to gravitate towards corona gordos, robustos, and toros - depending on the individual blend.  
But now that you have me thinking about it, I guess my absolute favorite is a mild box press on a robusto - like the Davidoff Nicaraguan, or the Headley Grange Hermosa #4 - with a shallow V cut, of course!
8/27/2019 5:44 PM
These sizes make up the majority of smokes are Corona Gordas, Robustos, Perfectos and Toros. Sometimes I'm in the mood for a lancero and will smoke that many times in a week, then go months not smoking one. Ring gauges between 46 to 52 is my go to sizes.
8/27/2019 7:06 PM
I love them all but my absolute favorite is the lancero. I swear you could roll a LFD N.A.S into a lance and it’d be great (not). My Usual go to size is the Corona Gorda. Happy early Labor Day to all.
8/27/2019 11:40 PM
I am willing to smoke all different sizes. And as you said in the article, certain vitolas can be better for certain blends (the Liga 9 in Corona Doble is a good example of this). But if I have my preference? I like a nice Corona Gorda. I don't always have an hour and a half+ to dedicate to a cigar, so a Corona Gorda is perfect. It also doesn't take forever to rest/age like something with a larger ring gauge. I also like Lanceros, Panatelas, Lonsdales...
A nice 5.5x46 is PERFECT.

The size I buy rarely, if ever, is the Gordo. The huge 6x60s are just not for me. They take forever to age, forever to smoke, and they can be just plain boring. I like the flavor that a smaller cigar gives by providing a larger wrapper to filler ratio.  If I want to puff for a couple hours, I will smoke two small cigars rather than one big ol' 60 gauge. Smaller ring gauges are little fire crackers!
8/28/2019 11:14 AM
Coronas are excellent short smokes. Take it up to a Corona Gorda for a bit longer. Also really enjoy Robusto. Overall I stay between 4.5 - 6" in length and 42-50 ring.
8/28/2019 1:56 PM
Love, love, love corona gordas and lonsdales. I've had a run of bad luck with torpedos being plugged though.
8/28/2019 10:21 PM
I originally loved robustos and Coronas and didn’t care for large ring gauges(52 and above)but now it’s whatever size works best for the blender’s intent. For instance I love Illusione Epernay in the 5/34 x 40 and the Illusione Haut 10 in the 5/12 x52.  I’m open to a 70 ring gauge if it’s tasty and delicious!
8/29/2019 9:34 AM
Corona or a good old fashioned 5x50 robusto.  It has to be pretty special to demand more of my time.
8/29/2019 9:40 AM
Robusto is my "go to" size these days. I'm still new to the art of smoking cigars, and I find that a Robusto gives me just the right amount of time to try out a stick. If I find that I really like one, I'll look for a Toro or Churchill to I can really take my time and enjoy it. But overall, I think Robusto is what works best for me.
8/29/2019 4:02 PM
Good old trusty robusto is my favorite. Perfect amount of time. I've started avoiding churchills because of how long it takes. I end up getting bored. I'd rather smoke 2 robustos than 1 churchill.
8/30/2019 8:46 AM
I generally prefer anything under 50 ring gauge (not to say I won't smoke larger). Coronas, lanceros, panatelas are all my jam.
8/30/2019 5:39 PM
Dalias are perfect for me, and my general range nowadays is lancero to corona gorda.
8/31/2019 10:26 PM
My favorite by far is a Corona but if the particular cigar comes in a lancero Id take that over a corona. Least favorite is anything in 60rg.
9/1/2019 5:23 PM
I'm so boring with a simple robusto or toro.
9/2/2019 5:43 AM
Congrats to Butch!  And cheers to everyone else for joining the discussion!
9/3/2019 12:39 PM
I've recently honed in on coronas/corona extras as my preferred vitola. I am willing to forego the fancier (and more impressive) rolls and longer sticks because I have found the fuller flavor and more reasonable smoke times fit right into my wheelhouse.