Let me start that Cigar Sizes vs Smoking Times is a very subjective discussion; every person enjoys a cigar at differing speeds and in fact has entirely different behaviors when enjoying a cigar.
Much like the speed at which someone enjoys libations - it is very much down to the individual; and we are all wise enough to know by now that trying to keep pace with a friend is generally not a good idea...
During the research for this topic, I was bemused with some of the suggested smoking-times for cigars; either they were Olympian-level aficionados and had very little enjoyment from the art; or maybe they invented the Electrolux vacuum?
Personally, I can enjoy a Robusto cigar over 90 to 120 minutes, without relights - how? Simple, I enjoy one while working and know that I can push most cigars to ~8 minutes between puffs.
So, I have stretched the scale a bit more to what I would consider "normal" - however, you may be in fact an Olympic-level aficionado and devour you cigar.
The following is the more "common" sizes of cigars that are stocked at CANTEROS.nz
You may also wonder why we use Inches and what this Gauge measurement is - well call me old fashioned, but the world of cigars for as long as I can remember has always been measured in Inches, so I've always followed that scale and when it comes to cigars, we measure the diameter of a cigar in 1/64th of an inch (gauge).
For example a typical Robusto is 5" long and has a diameter of 50/64ths of an inch.
And you'll also quickly note the Cigar Name (i.e. Robusto) vs its Actual Size (say 5" by 50) differ from maker to maker.
It actually gets worse, cigar makers also use random names for cigar sizes (sometimes with a nice story as to why, but often not) and then just as often use the wrong name for a size of a cigar... too much Flor de Cana rum may have been consumed I suspect.
For those of you that have been customers of ours for a long time will know that a "Churchill" is not a cigar, it is a common size of a cigar - but we still get at least one person a week ask for a "Churchill" like that references a very specific cigar.
Maybe in terms of Cuban cigars, the No.2 does have a direct reference to something...
So now you have a better understanding of general cigar sizes vs the time it takes to enjoy them, well of the more common ones that we stock at CANTEROS.nz that is.
If you are not fortunate enough to have somewhere cosey to enjoy your aficionado lifestyle over winter, then maybe the smaller sized cigar is going to be your goto; if you however are lucky enough to have a warm space; then you can continue to enjoy a Toro or Churchill sized cigar as the mood desires.
Traditional Cigar Shapes Defined
Churchill: This large corona is traditionally 7 inches by 48 ring. Length can vary from 6 3/4 to 7 7/8 in length by 46 to 50 ring.
Cigarillos: The classic cigarillo is 4 inch by 26 ring but can be anywhere under 6 inches and 29 ring.
Corona: The corona size is typically 5.5 inches with a ring gauge of 40 to 44.
Corona Extra: A Corona Extra (traditionally a 5 1/2 inch by 46 ring gauge) can range from 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches by a 45 to 47 ring gauge.
Double Corona: Double Coronas are usually 6.75 to 8 inches long by a 49 to 54 ring.
Giant: The Giant was typically a 9 inch by 52 cigar. Today, it is every cigar 8 inches and up with a ring gauge of 50 and up.
Giant Corona: A Giant Corona typically is 7.5 inches and up by 42 to 45 ring.
Gordo: A Gordo is typically 6 inches to 7 inches with a ring gauge of 60.
Grand Corona: The classic Grand Corona size is 6 1/2 inches by 46.
Long Corona: The classic Long Corona is 6 inch by 42 ring but can go from 5 7/8 to 6 3/8 inches by 40 to 44 ring.
Long Panatela: The classic Long Panatela is 7 1/2 inch by 38 ring but can go from 7 and up inches by 35 to 39 ring.
Lonsdale: The standard Lonsdale is 6.5 inches long by a 40 to 44 ring.
Panatela: This once very popular thin format can go from 5 1/2 to 6 7/8 inches long by 35 to 39 ring gauge.
Perfecto: The Perfecto shape has two tapered, closed ends with a rounded head, a closed foot, and a bulge in the middle. They can vary in length and ring gauge.
Petit Corona:The classic size of this short corona is 5 inches by a 40 to 44 ring gauge, but it can be as short as 4 inches.
Pyramid: The Pyramid differs from the Torpedo in that it flares continuously from the head to the foot in a triangle shape.
Robusto: The Robusto is a short Churchill size, traditionally 5 to 5.5 inches by a 50 ring gauge.
Short Panatela: The standard Short Panatela is 5 inch by 38 ring but can go from 4 to 5 3/8 inches by 35 to 39 ring.
Slim Panatela: Traditionally, the slim panatela is 6 inch by 34 ring but can go from 5 to more inches by 30 to 44 ring.
Small Panatela: Traditionally, the small panatela is 5 inch by 33 ring but can go from 4 to 5 inches by 30 to 34 ring.
Toro: The standard Toro shape is 6 inches by 50 ring.
Torpedo: The Torpedo was traditionally a fat cigar with two closed, tapered ends. Today, it is any cigar with a cut foot and straight body which tapers to a closed, pointed head.