Cigar vitola impact on taste?

[jwr0201]

I'm rather new to habanos and am still building a stash. To get started, I'm getting together a few different marcas in smaller sizes, like PC's. I am wondering out loud if these smaller sticks have a pretty good representation and the flavor intensity of the larger cigars in their respective marcas. For example, does the Monte No 4 have the flavors of, say an Edmundo? Similarly, is an H Upmann PC as nice as a Magnum or a No 2?

[PapaDisco]

In my limited experience I've not seen a lot of correlation in that regard. I do like PC's, Corona Gordas and Churchills as being different sizes of the same ratio (ring to length), but I don't find the R&J #2 or Mille Fleur to taste like a smaller R&J Churchill. With Punch I only have a much older Churchill (2000) to compare to a much newer Corona Gorda ('09 and '12, '13 and '14) so not a good comparison (and no surprise; they didn't taste like they came from the same marca). The Bolivar Royal Corona robustos I've had didn't seem related to the Boli Corona Gigante (their churchill) either. Within the DC's I find the same: HDM Epi 2 and the DC? Nope. Partagas nope, H Upmann PC to Sir Winnie? Maybe, if its an HQ PC with a couple years on it.

Now within a marca I find flavor matches, but not from the very small to the very large. So while I've had Punch Sabrosos that taste like they're related to Punch Gran Robustos and Punch Punch; I've not had much luck finding small vitolas that tasted like their big brother Churchills within a marca. Others with more sophisticated palates might do better at this than I.

[NSXCIGAR]

I'm not sure if you're asking about typical variations within brands or if certain vitolas have different inherent characteristics so I'll try to address both...

Most Cuban cigar brands have or have had variations in blend between vitolas within that brand. In other words, the Punch Black Prince (mild) had an entirely different blend than the Punch Super Selection No.2 (beast) although both are identical vitolas (grand corona). Those two cigars are the most extreme flavor variation in a brand I could think of but a very experienced smoker would likely be able to identify them both as Punch.

Some cigars even had blend variations between cabinet and dress box versions, although more slight. The most well-known of these would be the Partagas Lonsdale and the RyJ Exhibicion #4. The cabinet versions were generally stronger.

As for the vitolas' inherent and flavor/intensity characteristics, size/vitola really doesn't matter in terms of delivering strength and flavor over 38 ring IMO. Some of the most flavorsome and strongest cigars I've ever had were 42 ring or less. It all comes down to blend. There's obviously a brand's core characteristics (some call its DNA) that are going to be found in every vitola of a brand. But the blends may be slightly different. Once you get below 38 ring, there's just a limit on how complex you can get with flavors.

I personally don't think Montecristos vary too much in blend although there are some slight differences. I think the 1-5 are a trifle stronger than the Edmundo line, the #2 being the strongest of all when it's on. But with Upmann, I happen to think the blends for the PC and the #2 are almost identical. The blends for the Connie 1 and Connie A are different still.

[ayepatz]

In my experience, generally speaking, the smaller vitolas may contain some of the key flavours, but, generally speaking, lack the complexity of their big brothers. In much the same way, you could say, that while a BMW 1-Series is still a BMW, it's not quite the same thing as a 5-Series.

That being said, there are always exceptions. Cigars are hand-rolled, and there is a natural variation between rollers. Bad boxes are just that, whether big or small vitolas, and will never be truly representative of what the marca is capable of.

Also some smaller vitolas, like Por Larranaga Petit Corona can be every bit as complex as the bigger vitolas of the same marca. If you get a good box.

Quality is everything. Size isn't.

I tend to think longer vitolas are more interesting than fatter ones.

[Colt45]

I often find that thinner ring cigars have a more intense flavor delivery than large ring cigars. I also think that more often than not, they are very representative of how I perceive their respective marques. Bolivar PC, Montecristo No.4. I think the Partagas 898, and the discontinued Serie du Connaisseur series, for example, to be the "most Partagas" of the Partagas line.

[irratebass]

Great question, I have been curious about this as well....please keep them coming & sorry to hijack the thread.

[Fugu]

... I think the Partagas 898, and the discontinued Serie du Connaisseur series, for example, to be the "most Partagas" of the Partagas line.

Unfortunately, the SdC-line is simply not representative anymore, as there is no Partagas cigar left today in which this profile and qualtity can be found.....

[PeterJames]

Less tobacco in smaller vitolas vs more tobacco in larger vitolas will most definitely impact the taste.. Will you notice, that depends on how refined your palate is.

[Colt45]

Here are a couple of discussions which may help a bit:

Link1:

Link2:

[godpheonix]

i think the amount and variations of tobacco leaves makes all the difference in the world. the more you have, the more complex you can make the blend. thats why you will rarely see pc size cigars being complex. but there are exception to the rule.

note. i don't only mean ring gauge but also the lenght of the cigars. example, a siglo V is small gauge but very complex because of its lenght.

[PigFish]

While I only speak for myself I happen to have a lot of 'aging' Habanos smokers as friends. I have found that generally the "seasoned" Habanos smoker tends to find medium and thinner ring cigars (in general) as more robust.

I feel the same. Therefore I do believe that vitola, more than brand, makes a huge difference in cigars. There are vitolas that I generally don't care for, regardless of brand. The same goes for the vitolas that I prefer.

I have written a number of theory pieces here and other places regarding the smoking experience as it relates to vitola but I am not in the mood to rehash that here.

I have often speculated that 42 ring is the perfect size for a cigar. I see it as an "optimum" size and that size relates to a superior smoking experience, for me at least, more often than not.

-Piggy