In depth
Reading a Cuban cigar: sizes, wrappers, storage and how to taste
A Cuban cigar looks simple, a rolled bundle of leaf, but almost every detail on the band and the box carries information. The name of a shape, a pair of numbers, the colour of the wrapper and a stamp on the bottom of the box all tell something about what is inside. This guide explains how to read those details, how a cigar is built, how to store and cut and light one, and how to describe what you taste, so that a reader can talk about cigars with more confidence and spot marketing talk from fact.
Three kinds of leaf in one cigar
A classic hand-made cigar is built from three components. The filler is the heart, a bundle of whole leaves folded lengthwise so that air can pass along the cigar. The binder is a stronger leaf that holds the filler together. The wrapper is the outer leaf, chosen for appearance and flavour and applied last. Each comes from a different part of the plant or a different growing method, and the skill of the blender lies in choosing leaves that burn evenly and balance one another.
The leaves in a plant do not taste the same. Those from the bottom, called volado, are mild and burn easily, and are used to help the cigar stay lit. Those from the middle, called seco, give aroma and balanced flavour. Those from the top, called ligero, are strong and slow to burn, adding power and spice. Many Cuban cigars use filler from all three, with a different proportion for a mild or a full-bodied blend. Understanding this helps explain why two cigars of the same size can taste very different.
Shapes and sizes: vitolas and ring gauge
The shape of a cigar is called its vitola, and each shape has a name. Length is usually quoted in inches or millimetres, and thickness in ring gauge, a unit of one sixty-fourth of an inch. A cigar with ring gauge 50 is therefore 50/64 of an inch across, about 20 millimetres. A Corona is a classic size, around five and a half inches long and 42 ring gauge. A Robusto is shorter and thicker, around five inches and 50 ring gauge. A Churchill is longer, around seven inches and 47 ring gauge. A Lancero is long and thin, and a Torpedo has a pointed head.
Size affects the experience. A thicker cigar burns cooler and slower and usually gives a more complex smoke, while a thin cigar burns faster and shows more of the wrapper's flavour. Smaller formats take thirty to forty-five minutes to smoke, while larger ones can take more than an hour and a half. Cuban brands often use the same names for similar shapes, but exact dimensions vary from brand to brand.
Wrapper shades
Wrapper colour is graded on a scale from light to dark. Claro is a light tan, often grown under shade cloth. Colorado is reddish brown. Maduro is dark brown, produced by longer ageing or fermentation, and oscuro is nearly black. Contrary to a common belief, colour does not directly tell strength: a dark wrapper can wrap a mild blend, and a light wrapper can wrap a powerful one. It does, however, influence sweetness, aroma and texture.
A good wrapper is smooth, with fine veins, an even colour and a slight sheen from natural oils. Small blemishes are normal, but cracks, large patches of discolouration or a dry, flaking surface can indicate poor storage. Many Cuban wrappers come from shade-grown tobacco, which is thinner and finer than sun-grown leaf.
Authenticity and the signs on the box
The market for Cuban cigars has long been plagued by counterfeits, and buyers rely on several markers to judge authenticity. The cigars are sold in boxes with a government guarantee seal, the garantía, along the opening, a holographic band and a bottom stamp with a code that identifies the factory and the date of manufacture. The box also states that the contents were hand-made in Cuba. Details of the marks change from time to time, and the producer's own website explains the current ones.
Even so, no single sign is conclusive, and the safest approach is to buy from an authorised retailer. Be wary of very low prices, loose cigars with no box, and sellers who cannot explain the origin of their stock. Remember also that rules on importing Cuban cigars into your country may restrict what you can bring home.
Storage: the humidor
Cigars are made of a natural product that absorbs and loses moisture with the air around it. If they dry out they burn hot and harsh; if they become too damp they burn unevenly and can develop mould. The standard recommendation is to keep them at a temperature of around 18 to 21 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of 65 to 70 per cent. A humidor, a sealed box lined with cedar and fitted with a humidifier, keeps these conditions steady.
A new humidor needs seasoning with distilled water for a few days before cigars are placed in it. Cigars should be kept away from heat and strong light, and they benefit from a few weeks of rest in the humidor after purchase. Cedar also helps, since it absorbs and releases moisture slowly and adds a faint aroma.
Cutting, lighting and smoking
Before lighting, the closed end of the cigar, the cap, must be opened. A straight cut just above the shoulder of the head is the classic method, using a sharp guillotine or double-bladed cutter. A V-cut or a punch are alternatives. The aim is to open enough surface for a good draw without damaging the wrapper.
Lighting is done with a butane lighter or a wooden match, never with a petrol lighter whose smell would taint the tobacco. Hold the foot of the cigar near the flame, without touching it, and rotate it until an even glow forms. Take slow draws, about once a minute, and avoid inhaling, since cigar smoke is meant to be tasted in the mouth. If the cigar goes out, relight it after gently blowing out any stale smoke. Ash falls naturally and need not be tapped constantly.
Describing what you taste
Tasting notes follow the usual language of aroma and flavour: earth, wood, leather, cocoa, coffee, spice, nuts, hay, cream or dried fruit. Many tasters divide a cigar into thirds. The first third often shows the wrapper's character and the cigar's first impression, the second reveals the blend's core, and the final third can be stronger as the smoke concentrates. Strength, which is the intensity of nicotine and flavour, and body, which is the fullness of the smoke, are separate qualities.
Health note: cigar smoking carries health risks, including cancers of the mouth, throat and lung, and heart disease, even if the smoke is not inhaled. The World Health Organization's tobacco control framework summarises the evidence. This page is cultural and technical information and is not an invitation to smoke.
Pairings and etiquette
Cigars are often enjoyed with a drink, and well-chosen pairings can bring out flavours. Strong black coffee suits a full-bodied cigar. A light cigar pairs well with tea or a dry white wine. Aged rum is the classic Cuban companion, since both come from the same tradition. As a rule, the drink should be at least as intense as the cigar so that it does not taste thin beside it.
Etiquette is mostly about courtesy. Ask those nearby if they mind smoke, avoid lighting a cigar in a closed room with non-smokers, and dispose of ash and butts in a tray. In many countries, laws restrict smoking in public places, and cigar lounges or private spaces are the places where it is allowed.
Common mistakes
New smokers often make the same errors. They cut too much from the head, causing the wrapper to unravel. They light the cigar with a flame touching the tobacco, which scorches it. They puff too fast, heating the smoke and turning it bitter. They inhale, which is not the way cigars are meant to be smoked. They leave cigars in a drawer to dry out. Or they relight a long-extinguished cigar and are disappointed by the harsh taste. Avoiding these mistakes improves the experience more than buying a more expensive cigar.
A short history of famous cigar brands, and what their names mean
Many Cuban brands carry names from history or literature. Partagás honours its founder Jaime Partagás, Romeo y Julieta evokes Shakespeare, Montecristo draws on Dumas's novel, Cohiba takes a Taíno word for tobacco and H. Upmann bears the name of a German banker-turned-cigar-maker. Bolívar recalls the South American liberator. The names reflect the cosmopolitan culture of nineteenth-century Havana and the marketing flair of cigar makers. Knowing the stories adds interest to the products and to their packaging.
Taste is personal: how to explore without spending too much
There is no single best cigar, only the one you enjoy. People often discover preferences by trying small formats, different strengths and a range of wrapper types, taking notes on what they like. Smoking with experienced friends and asking questions helps. There is no need to buy the most expensive cigars to learn. Remember the health risks, and remember that moderation is wise.
Common questions
- What does ring gauge mean?
- The diameter of the cigar in sixty-fourths of an inch. A ring gauge of 50 is about 20 millimetres.
- Is a dark wrapper always stronger?
- No. Wrapper colour affects sweetness and aroma more than strength.
- How should cigars be stored?
- At about 18 to 21 degrees Celsius and 65 to 70 per cent relative humidity, usually in a humidor.
- How can I check authenticity?
- Look at the guarantee seal, holographic band and bottom stamp, and buy from authorised retailers. The producer's site lists current marks.
- Can I bring Cuban cigars home?
- It depends on your country's rules. Check customs and, for US persons, the Treasury pages.
- Do you sell cigars?
- No. This page is information only.
- Is a thicker cigar always stronger?
- No. Strength depends on the leaf blend. Thickness affects how cool and slow the cigar burns and the complexity of flavour, but a thin cigar can be as strong as a thick one.
- How long should I wait before smoking a newly bought cigar?
- Many smokers rest cigars in a humidor for a few weeks to settle moisture, but properly stored cigars are ready to smoke. It is a matter of taste.
- What do the different band colours mean?
- Bands identify brand and sometimes series or edition. Colours and designs vary by brand, and the producer's information explains them. They are not a universal code of quality.
Official sources and where to go next
Links open the publisher's own site. CubaAtlas does not operate, sell, book or clear anything and earns nothing from these links.
