I am going the other way then you. I am liking the thicker ones now, but use to like the thinner ones. I'll leave it to the more experienced fellas to chime in. I'm curious on some of their reasons also.


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I am going the other way then you. I am liking the thicker ones now, but use to like the thinner ones. I'll leave it to the more experienced fellas to chime in. I'm curious on some of their reasons also.

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That's my interest as well.. Reasons. That's what I love about this place always something to learn. Plus the reasons might change mine. Cigars to me are like a good philosophy book, they challenge you to change your outlook constantly, and time creates new understandings based on perspective. IMHO.

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My life is usually very busy so time is a major factor for me when choosing smoke. When I go to grab a stick from the box I'm always thinking about how much time I'll have to puff on it. I notice that the robustos (~5x50) come and go while the longer and bigger rg stuff seem to sit there forever. I hope to spend a bunch of evenings this summer lounging in the yard and smoking my bigger sticks but devoting more than an hour to a smoke just hasn't been in the cards for me lately.

 

Ring gauge for me is mainly about what feels right in my hand. But as far as taste differences I think it's really your preference between enjoying the taste of wrapper vs filler.

 

I like the smaller rings. It's rare that I go above 52 with 44-50 being my preference. I feel I get more flavor than out of the big guys and like the feel of the smaller size.

 

I typically smoke the most in the 42-48 RG range. Age old argument; but I believe the wrapper to filler ratio favors smaller RG's, while the burn favors larger, to a degree.

Below 40 RG, cigars often burn too hot for me even though the flavor is there. And above, say 52 or 54 RG they can sometimes be comparatively lacking the flavor and character of more moderate RG's, as well as being uncomfortable for me personally size-wise... making mid-gauge cigars a good balance of flavor, ease of handling, combustion, and ventilation.

I do smoke a few up into the low 50's, but cigars in the 40's are really my favored sweet spot... classic old-school vitolas settled on through 100+ years of trial & error. Winston Churchill would tell you that 47 RG is just perfect. In his day that was considered a heavy RG. The massive RG's we see so often today are a relatively recent trend that is IMO more closely influenced by marketing than inherent superiority.

As always, YMMV.

 

I typically smoke the most in the 42-48 RG range. Age old argument; but I believe the wrapper to filler ratio favors smaller RG's, while the burn favors larger., to a degree.

Below 40 RG cigars often burn too hot for me even though the flavor is there, and above, say 52 or 54 RG they can sometimes be lacking as much flavor character and are uncomfortable for me personally size-wise.

I do smoke some up into the low 50's, but cigars in the 40's are really my favored sweet spot... classic old-school vitolas settled on through 100+ years of trial & error..

Winston Churchill would tell you that 47 RG is just perfect. In his day that was considered a heavy RG. The massive RG's we see so often today are a relatively recent trend that is IMO more closely influenced by marketing than inherent superiority.

As always, YMMV.

Being a noob i didn't know the larger ring gauges were a new thing. I agree with the more flavor in the smaller gauge, at least to my limited palate. Now that I know the bigger ones are newish trends that just fits into my obsessions with old lighters, movies, and music, etc... No wonder I'm drawn to the smaller sizes.

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I favor smaller ring gauge sticks and it is rare I smoke a cigar over 50 RG. Most of my favorite cigars are in that petite corona to corona gorda range. Some of that is they are comfortable in my hand, some of it is flavor. In a number of blends I find the sweet flavor spot is found in the mid 40s. Some say it is a wrapper to filler ratio thing, maybe that is so I really don't know.

When it comes to smoking time I find that smoking time is much more a function of cigar length than ring gauge. If I'm smoking a 5 by 50RG robusto or a 5 inch by 42 petite corona smoke time runs a bit over one hour. Without question the larger ring gauges are more forgiving if you smoke them fast because they don't over heat as easily as smaller ring gauge sticks but I still prefer smaller ring gauge sticks. If I want a quicker smoke then I'll pull a half corona out of the humidor, more time than give me Lonsdale or Churchill.

I do hope that the trend toward real jaw breakers is just that a trend and one that doesn't last.

 

Me personally, I prefer cigars in the 50-54 range. When they go beyond that, I look ridiculous smoking it especially when it's longer than 7 inches. I saw a gigantic LFD Double Ligero at the B&M the other day. I think it was 8.5x60. I'd try it, but there's no way I would smoke it in public. There comes a point where it's simply too large. It's like a midget carrying a bazooka.

Knowing that there's some tasty cigars out there in all shapes and sizes, I'm open to them but they're not my preference. The robusto / toro range just works best for me. For what it's worth, I do find myself checking the Cigar Aficionado cigar ratings to see which size in a particular line seems to be getting the better ratings.

Also, I don't like to spend more than 90 minutes on a cigar ever.

 

Me personally, I prefer cigars in the 50-54 range. When they go beyond that, I look ridiculous smoking it especially when it's longer than 7 inches. I saw a gigantic LFD Double Ligero at the B&M the other day. I think it was 8.5x60. I'd try it, but there's no way I would smoke it in public. There comes a point where it's simply too large. It's like a midget carrying a bazooka.

Knowing that there's some tasty cigars out there in all shapes and sizes, I'm open to them but they're not my preference. The robusto / toro range just works best for me. For what it's worth, I do find myself checking the Cigar Aficionado cigar ratings to see which size in a particular line seems to be getting the better ratings.

Also, I don't like to spend more than 90 minutes on a cigar ever.

I use CA reviews often to pick new sticks. That and here.

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I smoke anywhere from Lancero's to Toro's. it's partly the time factor but mostly a flavor preference, you've just got to smoke thru the different vitola's of each cigar to see what works best for you. I've had cigars that were great in robusto but sucked as a Churchill, both a 50 rg.

 

^^^this^^^ Great way to put it Bro!

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I smoke some very large cigars. They were rolled by a torcedor who specializes in rolling big sticks. The size allows for the blend to really shine. They are phenomenal.

I still smoke some skinnies. Completely different experience. You have to sip them. The wrapper really comes into play, it needs to be perfect.

It is true that a 7"x47 RG Churchill was considered a huge cigar, that's no longer the case. Tastes have changed.

 

Nah.. 7x47 is still huge to some of us...lol

How long off a smoking session do you need to commit to finish off one of those beautiful wiffle ball bats you smoke..just curious cause a 4x40 takes me 30 mins plus.

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Being a noob i did go for the "bigger is better" for a while, im just now finding my spot with Cigars, at the moment im enjoying Toro's, but a LDF 2000 series 4.5x48 is one of the best smokes i have had in my short time with cigars.

 

For me I have found over the years that my preferred size is generally a robusto, that being said if mainly I smoke fast, and the smaller RGs get too hot and really cause flavor issues, I still see it with the robusto but not as bad. There are a few of the lines that I like in smaller RG as I do feel they have a slightly different profile than the larger ones. But for the most part I stick to the robusto size of most.


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My favorite smokes these days are lancero;
Trinidad, Cohiba, Tatuaje, DE, Alejandro
In time, I'm sure things will change.
The dynamic nature of this sport is intriguing.

 

This took me about an hour and a half. Ave Maria - Immaculata (Perfecto 5x58 ) All the while I'm on here as well.

 

My preferred RG is 50-54 with a length <6". I like the time that this size gives me and the traditional toro/gran toro is generally the vitola I like best (with robusto/rothschild as a close second). I have plenty of other sizes and shapes, but like how the 52 or 54 RG fits in my hand. To me, length and shape have the most influence on whether or not I will buy a particular stick. I will choose a parejo-shaped vitola over a perfecto, double perfecto or novelty cigar 99% of the time. Under 4" and over 6 1/2" in length are just not my MO.

 

Me I would love it if every cigar I like I could have in corona, lonsdale, lancero, at the largest toro. Why? Flavor, construction, tradition, and feel in the hand and mouth. Most of the cigar I enjoy are rolled in factories that aren't familiar with rolling large ring gauges however it seem now every cigar brand has to have a 6x60 or larger. With the smaller size you have to smoke slower or you'll mute the flavors by hot boxing the cigar. I must say this is just my preference and just that.


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Just a little follow up from my earlier post. A couple of very polite BOTLs have asked me about the large cigar that I pictured. No problem asking questions, I will always respond to any polite PM.

Just for clarification, that cigar was rolled by a gentleman named Reynaldo Gonzalez. He is the house roller at the La Casa del Habanos at Conde de Villanueva in Havana.

There are a few big named custom rollers in Havana, Reynaldo is probably my favorite.

His cigars can only be purchased from him in Havana. So you either have to go to Havana yourself, or have a friend pick you up a bundle. They are not available from any vendors.

If you're curious about custom rolled Havanas, get your post count up, and join us in the Habanos forum. And then ask away!

Edit: If the Moderators would like me to edit this post, because it does discuss Cuban cigars a bit, just contact me. I'm just trying to be helpful, but I know that there are rules...

 

My post count is up lol.. I think i have to wait till 90 days is up though.

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As one reads thru this thread you can see why there is the market for different RG .....it's about choice as to personal taste. There is a dance that goes on with a RG....smaller RG requires a different cadence compared to a larger RG....get it backwards and you'll see a difference in quality. Experience is the preference to what RG you choose to smoke. The obvious is the ratio of wrapper to binder to filler plus the rate of your draw per minute.....did I mention this was like a dance? The experienced hobbyists know about this.....like playing a musical instrument....smoking it correctly you get the reward of music.....smoking it incorrectly you just play notes. Experience makes all the difference in how to smoke a good/great cigar.

 

That is why to truly enjoy this hobby, lifestyle, hypnotic state of mind, what ever you want to call it you have to be committed to find what is right for yourself and enjoy it to the max. Right now most of us, being the NOOBS and JR Varsity cigar smokers are the Millie Vannile and One Hit Wonder acts right now. Just going through the motions and copying what we see and read until we start to put it all together.

 

Well said @Cigary.

I'm definitely an all around type when it comes to rg. Anywhere from 46 to 54 and I'm a happy camper, but i totally agree that different ring gauges most certainly need to be enjoyed at a different cadence for quality results. The smaller the rg seems to me to need more rest in between draw while 50 and up if stored properly can almost be drawn on at will. Of course if things get hot or off tasting you'll have switch things up a bit. Also for guy's like myself who do most cigar shopping online and look for sales. Having an open mind to different rg can make your shopping experience much easier. Not saying I'll buy a 60 rg because it's on a sale but , when i see cigars i dig and there only selling a 52 ring I'll buy because that's still an acceptable number for me. Of course if the sale is running different sizes than i most certainly grab the ones that IMO are the better.

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I like 50's +/- a couple gauges, and preferably box pressed. They just feel and smoke right to me, generally speaking.

 

As Father Time continues to whip my arse, I'm liking the corona size more and more. So, my prefs today would fall around that size. Overall, 36 to 46 or so. But then again, there's nothing wrong with 50's... But that's about as big as I care to go.

 

I'm a nic junkie, but I do believe there is a wide range of preference here, and that all depends on mood, flavor, and available smoking time.
I smoke anything from 4x36 to 6.5x54. Although I prefer robusto's most of the time. Smaller has more flavor but burns faster and hotter. 5x44-50 is my preferred because of cool complex smoke and flavors, and manageable time for my insanely busy schedule. I believe 45-47RG to be universally ideal for a cigar for best flavor and burn, and no longer than 6.5 inches.
I have tried a 7x70, name I can't remember, but it was terrible. The burn was similar to a smoldering train wreck. Just when you straighten out the crazy burn issue, then a large airplane crashes into it and makes the burn even more catastrophic. No need to waste so much tobacco on something with subpar behavior and flavor, and takes a weekend to smoke.


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I'm a nic junkie, but I do believe there is a wide range of preference here, and that all depends on mood, flavor, and available smoking time.
I smoke anything from 4x36 to 6.5x54. Although I prefer robusto's most of the time. Smaller has more flavor but burns faster and hotter. 5x44-50 is my preferred because of cool complex smoke and flavors, and manageable time for my insanely busy schedule. I believe 45-47RG to be universally ideal for a cigar for best flavor and burn, and no longer than 6.5 inches.
I have tried a 7x70, name I can't remember, but it was terrible. The burn was similar to a smoldering train wreck. Just when you straighten out the crazy burn issue, then a large airplane crashes into it and makes the burn even more catastrophic. No need to waste so much tobacco on something with subpar behavior and flavor, and takes a weekend to smoke.

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I'd have to say robusto is my go-to stick size. For me, it's a great balance of flavor and burn time.