subject: Understanding Cigar Names And Sizes [print this page] Most people have heard words, such as Corona and Panatela, which are used in reference to different types of cigars. That said, not many people understand what these terms actually refer to. A lot of people think these names refer to a specific brand of cigar; however, this is actually not the case. Instead, these terms refer to the size and shape of a cigar.
It's about the dimensions
Manufacturers assign names to cigars based on their length and circumference. In the old days, there were very few types of cigars; however, these days, manufacturers have created all sorts of different stogies that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. At the same, they've introduced a host of new names to correspond with their products. It's also quite common that two manufacturers will create equal-sized cigars, but give them two different names.
There are numerous names that refer to specific cigars based on their dimensions. That said, people tend to be most familiar with the following. It's important to note that the phrase, "ring gauge" refers to the cigar's diameter expressed in 64ths of an inch.
Corona - This term refers to a cigar with a length between 5.5 and 6 inches, with a ring gauge of between 42 and 45.
Panatela - This term refers to a cigar with a length between 5.5 and 6.5 inches, with a ring gauge of between 34 and 38.
Lonsdale - This term refers to a cigar with a length between 6 and 6.5 inches, with a ring gauge of between 42 and 44.
Churchill - This term refers to a cigar with a length between 6.5 and 7 inches, with a ring gauge of between 46 and 48.
Robusto - This term refers to a cigar with a length between 4.5 and 5 inches, with a ring gauge of between 48 and 50.
Toro - This term refers to a cigar with a length between 6 and 6.5 inches, with a ring gauge of between 48 and 50.
Presidente - This term refers to a cigar with a length between 7 and 8.5 inches, with a ring gauge of between 52 and 60.
Gigante - This term refers to a cigar with a length greater than 6 inches, with a ring gauge of greater than 60.
Torpedo - This term refers to a cigar with a length between 5.5 and 6.6 inches, with a ring gauge of between 46 and 52.
