// bourbon & cigars
Cigar Sizes & Shapes
A cigar's size is described by its vitola; length and ring gauge together. Manufacturers vary in exactly how they interpret a named size, so these are typical ranges to compare against, not fixed specifications.
- Typical length
- 5.5-6.25 in
- Typical ring gauge
- 42-44
- Shape family
- Parejo (straight-sided)
Often treated as the traditional benchmark shape cigar sizes are compared against. Slim relative to a Robusto or Toro, with a longer, cooler smoking profile that gives a blend more room to develop over the smoke.
- Typical length
- 4.75-5.5 in
- Typical ring gauge
- 48-52
- Shape family
- Parejo (straight-sided)
Short and thick relative to a Corona -- one of the most widely produced formats today. The shorter length and larger ring gauge give a relatively quick, fuller-bodied smoke compared to a longer, thinner shape.
- Typical length
- 6-6.5 in
- Typical ring gauge
- 50-54
- Shape family
- Parejo (straight-sided)
Similar diameter to a Robusto but noticeably longer, giving a longer smoking time at a similar ring gauge. One of the most common formats produced across manufacturers.
- Typical length
- 7-7.25 in
- Typical ring gauge
- 47-50
- Shape family
- Parejo (straight-sided)
A long, traditional format named for Winston Churchill's well-documented preference for large cigars. Slimmer ring gauge than a Toro despite the added length, for a long, comparatively slow burn.
- Typical length
- 6-6.5 in
- Typical ring gauge
- 50-54
- Shape family
- Figurado (shaped)
A tapered, pointed head instead of a flat, rounded cap. The narrowing shape concentrates smoke as it's drawn through the head, which many smokers describe as intensifying flavor near the finish -- though that effect depends on the individual blend and roll.
- Typical length
- 6-6.5 in
- Typical ring gauge
- 60+
- Shape family
- Parejo (straight-sided)
An informal name for any large-ring-gauge parejo, generally 60 or above. The wide diameter blends more filler tobacco types side by side, which changes how the blend reads compared to the same tobaccos in a slimmer vitola.
Dimensions vary by manufacturer; these are typical ranges, not fixed specifications. A "Robusto" from one maker and another aren't guaranteed to be identical.
Straight vs. Shaped
Most formats are parejo; straight-sided with a uniform diameter along their length. A smaller group are figurado; tapered, pointed, or otherwise irregular, like the Torpedo. Shape affects how a cigar is cut and lit more than it guarantees anything about strength or flavor.