Stogie Commentary: Matters of Size

When I started smoking cigars, the biggest factor in deciding what to buy usually was the size of the stick compared to the price. As you can probably guess, I smoked a lot of poor and mediocre Churchills.

I don’t think my “more tobacco means more for the money” approach is all that uncommon for new smokers. I’m also not so sure it’s a bad idea in the beginning. It helps provide exposure to a lot of brands, not to mention a lot of tobacco.

These days, when I’m making a purchase, I still take size into consideration. But now I’m much more apt to focus on how much time I want to devote to the cigar. And even with a lot of time, I’ve found through the years that I usually enjoy a relatively smaller size.

Consequently, I probably smoke more robustos than any other, though I’d have to say I enjoy petit coronas and the occasional lancero a lot, too.

Sometimes I’ll smoke my way through all the vitolas of a cigar brand, especially if it’s one I really like. Generally, though, I tend to concentrate on a couple of sizes at most.

Of course, there are also occasions that call for a large cigar. I’ve noted before, for instance, my affection for the Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Madrid. This large stick (6.1 x 54) is bigger than any other cigar I regularly smoke. But I’ve tried other sizes in the line and, for my taste, none of them has that little lagniappe that makes the cigar special.

One thing I’ve wondered for a long time is what sizes are the top sellers. It would be tough to determine, since there’s no standardization for dimensions or designations. But wouldn’t it be interesting to know?

-George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys