Cigar downsizing...are there parallels with ageing?

[Colt45]

The older I get, the less attraction I have to large gauged cigars.

Is it age? or is it just knowing what you like? maybe both.

In your case, I imagine smaller cigars are less apt to interfere with your drool cup.

I've been drawn to sub-50 rings for some time, but still enjoy longer cigars as well. Love a good churchill, dalia, etc. I'd be hard pressed to buy / smoke any parejo over 50, 52.....

[Duxnutz]

The Corona Gorda is for me the perfect combination of sexy and cute.

[subport]

I used to be a robusto fan in every way. Lately I barely smoke any robusto (psd4, ryj ex4 and rarely rass) Used to buy robusto extras and bigger RG cigars but not anymore. In the last two years...well I buy churchills but nothing really over 50 RG. BBF is an exception. However due to its format I don´t really consider it big rg even though it is. I buy lot more PC, minutos, corona gorda then ever. Love it. I tried very few 60 RG nc´s back in days. Not for me, didn´t like them. I don´t get excited anything bigger 48 really. Don´t think its my age. Just a general preference.

[treberty]

I've never been a big fan of big RG cigars.... I will enjoy some a lot - Libertador for instance - but I much prefer sub 50 RG cigars, and even more so sub 46 RG. There's more kick, bursts of flavours, whereas fat cigars are sometimes too mellow for my taste.

Call me crazy, but my rationale is that if/when I purchase a box of fat cigars I support the trend. So I refrain myself and will stop at the robusto in terms of RG - unless I am being told by someone I trust that a fatter cigar is fantastic.

For some reason I don't mind long cigars - who did not enjoy the Partagas SDC#1??? However, it's now harder to find the time to smoke a churchill or DC with kids and everything than when I was in my twenties...

Also, I think that Ken made a good point: in your case Rob, if you smoke dozens of cigars per week you may just be naturally leaning towards smaller cigars...

[treberty]

I'm in my 40s, but a relatively new cigar smoker. Question for you guys with more experience...

Given the choice, would you rather smoke (1) a larger ring gauge cigar in your desired flavor profile, or (2) a perfectly sized cigar that is not quite in your ideal flavor profile? Curious if blend or size matters more...

In my case it would be option 1.

[irratebass]

Sad though to think the smaller sizes are disappearing....

It's up to us all that enjoy the smaller rg's to buy only them.....that why they may see that bigger is not always better and these will be more readily available (wishful thinking)

The size of the bigger rg's are appealing, but like most of you have stated I will pass them up in my humi both cc's & nc's...again not age (only been smoking for 5yrs this year)just personal preference.

[maxcjs0101]

i read the first few lines and was about to launch my email and then i saw this.

PS.....no...don't email me to trade Lusi's or cohiba 1966 for your Monte 4

[PigFish]

I'm in my 40s, but a relatively new cigar smoker. Question for you guys with more experience...

Given the choice, would you rather smoke (1) a larger ring gauge cigar in your desired flavor profile, or (2) a perfectly sized cigar that is not quite in your ideal flavor profile? Curious if blend or size matters more...

I understand that you are a pipe smoker. I am not, so this might be an analogy wasted, but see if this makes any sense.

Do you have a perfect pipe? What I mean by this, is a pipe that for some reason creates the right burn, the right taste and heat, where it just seems like it is optimum? If yes, then you can begin to see the logic if the 'perfect' cigar.

Is there a perfect cigar? That is for you to decide, not me, but for me, 42 ring is the absolute perfect ring. Some deviation from that is an acceptable compromise, but the 42 ring allows for perfect combustion for the displacement of my puff. I get just the right burn, complete burn and the right taste.

While this is nothing but theory, I can assure you that burn rate and size has been studied with considerable weight given to findings by the cigarette world. It does not mean that cigarettes are the same of course, just as the pipe analogy may not be appropriate, but as corollary evidence, it holds weight in my opinion.

To answer about the flavor profile part of your question brings us back to a general discussion of brand profile of which I don't believe in. I am not going to take it on again here, but this separates some my philosophy from the majority. I am a "quality" experience smoker. I have introduced a concept here that I call the "smoking experience" where it is contrasted against the "profile experience." One implies looking for your "flavor profile" where the other is centered less on a specific taste, but more so on a "great taste." While one is not exclusive of another, once you step away from blended tobacco, such as pipe tobacco, and tirelessly consume cigars from one box until they are gone, you may just find that cigar greatness is not in their similarity, but in their difference.

So, coming full circle. If you vary your choices in tobacco tins, then you understand that the variance part of the equation is valid. If you believe that each cigar from a box tastes the same, then you and I are in disagreement and my opinion should likely be dismissed! But, if you agree that cigars from a box may not be similar, but at the same time great then you have part of the answer.

The last step is a correlation of the quality smoking experience to a vitola. If you can make that link, and I believe that it exists, then we have similar tastes.

So the answer is generally yes to your question, would I prefer two optimum cigars to one big cigar?

I had to run through this rather quickly this AM... I hope that the it makes sense, regardless of the holes left in it!

Cheers! -Piggy

[ayepatz]

I'm not a fan of the "size-queen" gauges, but I enjoy a longer smoke, generally speaking.

Lonsdales, Churchills, and DCs are what I enjoy the most, as I love observing the pronounced evolution you get with a longer smoke.

I'm an occasional smoker as opposed to a daily one, so what Ken says about it being more of an event holds true for me.

[jazzbass]

A comfortable size can contribute to a pleasant experience, but for me its Still all about the taste. Give me a balanced profile with complexity and evolution and that will probably win over any other factor

[puromaniac]

Seems obvious a lot of factors influence such decisions. Time available (also related to weather, other commitments, etc.). Smokers' age (with income, experience, being major factors). Flavor profile (really, personal preference). Preferred "outliers," or those cigars that are not normally smoked, but still "liked" on occasion. Possibly many others, like cigar availability, geography, Cuba's vagaries, and a few others mentioned here.

If I were a wise ass I'd suggest this would make a nice study with the right grant (or incentive, including cigars). But principal component analysis makes my head hurt, especially when all I want to do is pick up one of my preferred PCs and enjoy life. Or maybe a Robusto. It all depends.

[Orion21]

Not 10 years smoking cigars, but I know my taste has changed because I don't enjoy smoking the same cigar for 1.5+ hours anymore, unless it's just something super special. I want to enjoy a great cigar for 40-50 minutes and go do something else, then later in the day/evening pick something new. I just can't justify sitting for 1.5-2 hours on one cigar and then doing it again that same day. 3-4 hours smoking is just too long for me at this point in my life. I much prefer a Party Short or an Upmann PC in the morning with coffee and then a nice robusto or Dalias in the evening.

I recently bought a jar of Torreon and a box of San Juan because I can see myself enjoying a couple of those per year when the time is right, but gone are the days of box after box of 5.5 X 52 or 6 X 54. I love my Siglo VI's and can't wait to smoke my next one and will continue to stock a few boxes, but my buying has skewed more towards the thinner guages more often in the last couple of years.

Since 2014

50rg or Thinner:

Bolivar Royal Corona, Hoyo Epi No. 2, Upmann Monarch, La Escepcion Don Jose, La Escepcion Selectos Finos, PL Encantos, Cohiba Siglo III, SCDLH El Principe, RA Club Allones, RA Small Club Coronas, Upmann Petite Corona, Bolivar Petite Corona, Partagas 898 and Bolivar Tubos No. 2.

Over 50rg:

Cohiba Siglo VI, Upmann & Monte No.2, Upmann Mag 50, Hoyo Grand Epicure, ERDM Aniversario and Bolivar Belicosos Finos.

[Miller1985]

42-52 as a general rule for me. If I feel like I should be moving the cigar in and out of my mouth in s steady rhythm... I'm not smoking it.

[riazp]

I tend to gravitate towards CG's, PC's, Minutos and RObustos. I've never been a fan of the Larger format cigars, but I do enjoy the Occasional Monte 520 or 1966. i'd much rather smoke 2-3 smaller cigars than one large cigar.

[cigaraholic]

For me not much has changed in my 45 years of cigar smoking. When I started smoking I bought every brand in every size I could get my hands on and loved them all. But my least favorite size was robustos. That's the one size that always seemed to get hot in the second half no matter how slow I smoked them. I don't mind large ring gauge cigars if they've got some length to them, but short fat cigars always get hot and bitter on me. I don't consider a Monte 2 or BBF as large ring, because when I check my cut on them it's right around 42 rg.

[Bill Hayes]

By ageing, I mean personal ageing....not cigar ageing

I am not sure if I am in the minority. I do know Ken still thinks cigar wrapper strips should be invented in order to put three Partagas shorts together in order to make it worthwhile

The older I get, the less attraction I have to large gauged cigars. I would swap my own cohiba 1966's for a good box of Monte 4, Ramon Allones Superiores, 898's, PLPC etc.

It is not that the 1966 is not a very good cigar, it just doesn't provide me with the compact punch and flavour I am looking for. I find it a chore to smoke.

The H. Upmann Magnum 56 LE is one of the best cigars I have had in a while. Huge flavour. Will age brilliantly. I wish it was a Corona Gorda. I find the size a chore to smoke. if it wasn't so good, I wouldn't

smoke it outside of review purposes.

I looked at my personal inventory list from a decade ago to what it is today. Without realizing it I have downsized to formats 46 gauge and under (70% of my personal stock).

I know that some members say there is more "balance and complexity" in larger formats but it is not something I generally experience. I look down to the HDM Epi 1 or Monte Especiale in my hand and wonder if it is even possible.

If I had to pick 100 boxes for myself today to last the next decade, outside of the Upmann LE, not one would be over 50 gauge. 90% would be 46 gauge and below.

I would take 2 boxes of real quality Monty 4 for each box of Partagas Lusi Reserva I hold. It is not that the Lusi Reserva is not a great cigar.....but if everytime I look at it I wince and reach for a Monte 4 ...then why hold them?

I catch up with the Sydney lads regularly and as is par for the course we swap cigars. great cigars are offered but they will invariably hear me ask if they have a petit corona.

Is it age? or is it just knowing what you like? maybe both.

For those who have been smoking for 10/15/20 years, have you followed a similar path in your cigar "circle of life"

Have a cracker weekend!

PS.....no...don't email me to trade Lusi's or cohiba 1966 for your Monte 4

Was just thinking that the other day. I have been holding on to some large format cigars waiting for an opportunity to smoke them. But I have been reaching for smaller format cigars and trying to find what suits my palate and the situations in which I smoke. My two go-to cigars - The Partagas SDC No3 and the Trini Reyes aren't an option for me. So I was a bit perplexed. Have a box of ERDM demi tasse on the way for a quick smoke with a beer. But yesterday I pulled out a Partagas Short (first in a very long time) and WOW. Lucky I had a win on the races yesterday. May have to look at investing in a cab when they come up on 24:24. I forgot how much I love classic Partagas.

[eswary]

I agree with the gents above that it's most likely what you like now.

I used to love larger cigars. But my life has changed quite a bit and I rarely have time to smoke them. Aside from time constraints I believe that the less filler to wrapper ratio has more flavor.

All that being said I still got a healthy stash of Lusi's and Conny A's for those lazy weekend days.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[HarveyBoulevard]

I find that choosing my cigar for the evening depends on the day I've had. I have 38 rg to 56 rg and everything in between on hand any given day. I am a creature of routine when it comes to my day but anything but when choosing a cigar.

Once I have helped clean up after dinner and given the kiddo a bath and put her to bed, I grab my tablet, lighter, cutter, water, and adult beverage for the evening. I get all set up either in the man cave or back yard then head in to pick the lucky cigar for the night.

I have a bit of time so I don't usually go for anything shorter than a robusto but usually end up somewhere between a hermosa no. 4 and a double corona.

I've only been smoking for about 10 years or so this may change but my cigar seems to reflect my day and what kind of mood I'm in. I don't have a specific cigar for each mood but I find that when I open the humidor I am immediately drawn to a cigar. Sometimes, I pick a couple of shorter smokes instead of one long one (Upmann Connie 1 and Monte PE tonight).

If I had to guess, I only choose 38 to 43 when I am very relaxed and not under any pressure or stress. Otherwise I tend to hot box the cigar and don't enjoy myself as much. This is not all that often, maybe once a week or less.

I tend to go for the DC's or 52rg plus when I have had rather rough day and know I'm going to industrial smoking the thing. More often than the above but still only once a week (maybe two

Most of the time I find the churchill to be just about right both in length and rg. Just long enough and just enough girth to get the job done. I have a pretty good variety of churhills on hand so I can still get in a good variety even if I have a couple of these a week. If I don't go for a churchill, I usually end up with two shorter smokes of a similar rg but shorter length.

I'm 40 so ask me again in 10 years and we will see if I transition to a smaller rg but who knows. I think a smaller ring gauge is better suited to the slow smoker with a more refined palate. I don't place myself in that category yet but I'm working toward that goal. Maybe I will learn to appreciate the smaller rg more but not yet.

[JohnS]

I'm in my 40s, but a relatively new cigar smoker. Question for you guys with more experience...

Given the choice, would you rather smoke (1) a larger ring gauge cigar in your desired flavor profile, or (2) a perfectly sized cigar that is not quite in your ideal flavor profile? Curious if blend or size matters more...

Definitely Option 1. As an example, I'd take the Diplomatico No.2 as is and enjoy it (despite the fact that I would love to have the No.4 and 5 back in regular production).

[Warren]

Wait till you get a couple of years older, you'll stop buying green bananas as well.

[2skinny]

I seem to enjoy 38-46 rg the most. I will not shy away from 50-54; however, I seem to subconsciously pick 42-46 for some reason. I would have to say the Mareva, Corona, Dalia, and coronas junior are my favorite sizes.

How much of the current HSA trend toward large RG is due to wrapper leaf shortages / quality? Just throwing that out there.

[David88]

I find myself avoiding any RG over 50. When it goes above 50 I find it just uncomfortable to have in my mouth and this detracts from my enjoyment of the smoke. While there are some great larger ring gauge smokes I will tend to pick something I am more comfortable with. A churchill size is close to perfect for me.

[kuma]

Have not been smoking that long (about 3 yrs) and have never been a ciggy smoker. I have favored

RG's of 46 and below. My stash is made up of 70% of 46 RG and below. Here and there I have larger RGs

for when I'm at my fav. cigar bar and have a good amount of time to "shoot the ****" and hang out with the mates.

Also like the larger RG's for when I'm in my back yard and doing nothing of any importance

maybe reading a good book or hacking away on my PC. There is still a place for a larger

RG's in my world but but don't really need many.

[MrGTO]

My choice for cigar size at the moment is time. I have 3 kids under the age of 4. When I get a chance to smoke it's usually by the grill so I've got to make it count. I usually reach for a Party short, RASCC, or a Montie 5. They all have great CC flavors and I can burn thru one while the food is cooking. I like the "punch" these cigars have in a small package. I find those 3 cigars to be very reliable in flavor and construction.

I do like to grab a Cohiba PE when I can but I don't want to feel rushed when I grab a bigger stick because they usually take a little more concentration to detect all the flavors.