Why do you prefer bigger ring gauges?

[ayepatz]

Following on from the Sancho Molinos thread, I’ve been chatting with a few fellow fans of smaller ring gauge cigars, and bemoaning the cancellation of some of our favourites.

Now, although I’m not personally a fan of thicker cigars, it’s evident from the market that there are many who are.

Many of you, my fellow FOHers, must be those that are driving that market, so what is the appeal for you?

I enjoy a slimmer smoke because I tend to prefer the balance of flavours, I like the feel in the hand, and, I’m not ashamed to admit it, as a fairly ungainly chap myself, it makes me feels a tad more “gentlemanly”, refined, and sophisticated, so there’s definitely an element of personal vanity in there.

What are your reasons for preferring a larger, chunkier format?

[cfc1016]

I DON’T! ?

I’m in the same boat as you. It’s all about the hogh wrapper:filler  ratio for me. Seems like it makes the flavors bolder. 

[Habana Mike]

Not one of those though I find myself smoking more cigars of 'larger girth' as that is how the product has moved.

Gone from the 47-50 largest camp to maybe a 54-56. Anything more than that I've pretty much passed on....

[Stump89]

Not a fan of most smokes over 50rg, but I will give credit when Habanos nails the flavor on cigars.  Connie A, Mag 54, and E2 among a few others have been damn good.

[Kitchen]

I have yet to try a Connie A and have a couple in my desktop humidor I am resting for a bit.  Even though I am looking forward to trying them, still can't help but think, "these are just too thick!"

I prefer the 46 to 50 RG, and would rather have a 42 then a 54.  Primarily it comes down to mouth feel for me, thick cigars just feel awkward, and along with a better flavor balance. 

[Hammer Smokin']

been sitting on a CORO LE which is what a 58 RG?

i'm afraid each time I look at it...but one day when I smoke it, I'm sure it'll be glorious.

[eg133]

been sitting on a CORO LE which is what a 58 RG?
i'm afraid each time I look at it...but one day when I smoke it, I'm sure it'll be glorious.

Are you referring to the 14’ Supremos? If so, it’s such a good cigar, one of my all time favorites. It is pretty big but is also short so I guess it kinda evens out?


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[BrightonCorgi]

I am fine up to 52.  One thing with the larger ring gauge is the amount of smoke and ease of getting that much smoke.  They're just easier to smoke.  The other factor for less frequent cigar smokers is somehow they just look cooler or the perception "you're doing it" with a larger ring gauge cigar. 

[Hammer Smokin']

3 minutes ago, eg133 said:

Are you referring to the 14’ Supremos? If so, it’s such a good cigar, one of my all time favorites. It is pretty big but is also short so I guess it kinda evens out?


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Yes, that is the one I'm referring to.

Just have a single....but probably the oldest cigar in my box (not age per say, but the cigar I've had in my box the longest).

just waiting for the right time and reason.

[Buck14]

There was a similar thread on this several weeks ago and I’ll summarize my thoughts expressed in that thread...

I do not care one iota about ring gauge in a reasonable range, say anything 28 to 52. RG is not a priority to me and if you restrict yourself to a certain RG range you are going to miss out on a wonderful array of cigars. I care about aroma, taste, complexity, boldness, draw, burn, construction and overall flavor profile.

My vitola of 2018 is a 33 RG Por Larranaga Monte Carlo - light in strength but extremely complex and flavorful and ohhh my the aroma and smoke production of this baby.

At the other end of the spectrum is a 52-54 RG x maybe 6.2 inches custom CC puro I purchase about 2 boxes of from a store in Germany last year. These were simply the best cigars that I have ever smoked. Absolute perfection in every sense. 

[Buck14]

4 minutes ago, FatherOfPugs said:

I normally enjoy ring gauge up to 50, but the HdM Epicure de Luxe at 52 is pretty damn tasty, as is the Monte PE at 52, the Partagas Serie P No. 2 at 52, and the Cohiba Medio Siglo at 52, so my opinion has changed a little. For the most part I will go up to 54 ring gauge, because the Partagas Serie E No. 2s and Bolivar Libertador LCDHs I've had have been phenomenal as well.  Overall, if it is a good smoke, I'm starting to not care what the ring gauge is, if it's good, it's good; if it's not, it's not.

That is ALL that matters right there, well said!

[gweilgi]

 

25 minutes ago, FatherOfPugs said:

Overall, if it is a good smoke, I'm starting to not care what the ring gauge is, if it's good, it's good; if it's not, it's not.

 

That, right there.  Perfect summation.

If there is one thing to be said for a larger RG, it is that it is -- in my humble opinion -- a tad more forgiving of bad rolling technique, and that the smoke of such a cigar tends to have a bigger mouthfeel.  But in the end, size does not matter, only the above statement (says he while enjoying a gorgeous Trini Fundadore).

[eg133]

I find myself lately gravitating towards the larger cigar, ie. 48-54 x 5.5-7” simply because they last longer (no pun intended). I do enjoy the smaller violas but I’ll find myself having 2-3 instead of just one cigar. Or when out with friends I like starting the night with a nice corona or bigger and finishing with a smaller stick.


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[prodigy]

I don't read into that deeply. I'll try any cigar once. I have tried the absurd 60 rg NC, and most just haven't been good. Many in the 56 rg range have been quite good. I have found that more often than not, the smaller the ring gauge, the higher the chance it's going to be plugged.

If it's a phallic thing, some of us are used to having big things in our hands, and some of us are used to much smaller things. ???

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[fitzy]

52 ring gauge max. I tend to not go under 38 and the sweet spot is 40 to 46. Gimme pretty much any form of Corona and I'll be very happy. 

It drives me nuts that the smaller cigars get knocked off and they keep adding bigger RG cigars. I don't know what's driving that crap. 

 

[ayepatz]

I concur with the general tenor of "if it's good, smoke it, regardless of gauge". Quality is quality, regardless.

But I'd still like to know why the market demand is so high for these bigger gauges.

The forgiveness for poor rolling, the "look at me" status, even the phallic thing, I can certainly see those as factors.

But I also think the same marketing tactics that afflict the Scotch Whisky business - take something easy to produce, dress it up in fancy clothes, hoik the price up, let customers believe they are getting more for their money through heavy rebranding - are at play here.

Is a Talisman that much better a cigar than a Lancero? Is it worth all that price difference?

[SigmundChurchill]

I tend to enjoy the flavors of many small ring gauge cigars, but I like the physical act of smoking large ring gauge cigars more.  It’s just less effort to get a big puff of smoke from a large ring gauge.

In the end, I smoke and enjoy everything.  I dont put any limits on myself.

 

[fabes]

I think one of the reasons people prefer bigger cigars has to do with their stature. A larger person may feel silly smoking a montecarlo. So perhaps the porportions are just better. 

To me this is one reason why larger rg feels awkward. My jaw/mouth is on the smaller side, so it can be physically uncomfortable. I make the exception for PSE2 because they are delicious. 

I disagree with the forgiveness for a bad roll comment posted earlier. This may be because I don’t have the proper teqnique for large format cigar smoking practiced, but I find it harder to maintain a large rg cigar that has gone awry. 

Lastly, for the bolder flavors in smaller ring gauge crowd. I view this like a cask strength whiskey. Sometimes that’s what you want, a punch in the face (small rg). Other times  you can dilute the cask strength to something a bit less agressive (larger rg cigars with perhaps addition of volado) and that whiskey opens up to a new adventure. So sometimes I enjoy a more diluted smokes. 

It’s nice that there is variety. 

[TNT009]

Because skinny's just don't have the eye appeal for me!

[Doctorossi]

I enjoy both larger gauges and smaller gauges for somewhat different reasons and I tend to try to evaluate everything on a vitola by vitola basis, not pre-judging on size. As it happens, my personal favorite cigar is on the larger RG side (49) and my second favorite is on the skinnier side (38). When the flavor works for me, it works; when it doesn't, it doesn't.

[joeypots]

I think casual cigar smokers go for fat cigars because they see people smoking fat cigars in the media. Then they see other casual cigar smokers smoking fat cigars. I'm trying to recollect seeing an image outside of cigar culture where someone is smoking a lancero.  Look at  Cigar Aficionado covers. Not too many skinneys there. If any. I had to learn that a good old fashioned corona could be fantastic. I have a lot fewer fat cigars than I used to, by fat I mean over 50 RG. And I agree, if it's good, it's good. No matter the size. Even if I don't care for the way it feels in my mouth. I think there is going to be a new vitola. The TFC, or Tuna Fish Can, lol.

[PrairieSmoke]

As someone who has only really gotten into cigars over the past 5 years my experience is the opposite of most of you. Most cigars I had before coming to FoH were 50+ ring gauge, so i'm exploring smaller gauges for the first time.

[RazorbackFan]

I went to a B&M in Atlanta yesterday and asked the proprietor if he carried any Lanceros. It was decent sized shop and there wasn’t a one in the house. 

I asked about his most popular ring gauge and he quickly said “60”. That’s just too big for me.

I stand 6 foot 8 inches tall and weigh 250 lbs., and I have no issues with my PLMCs or my NC Lanceros. Heck, I smoke perlas, minutos and half Coronas more than just about anything else. I’ve found what I like,  I’ve gone deep, and I’m ready for the cigar apocalypse! 

[Buck14]

Having thought about it, I’d say at least 80-85% of the regulars at my local cigar lounge smoke RG of 52-60. I see very few 40, 42 or even Robustos 50 or Hermoso 4s at 48 RG.

I’m all over the place but would say right now whats in my Locker at the lounge are RGs 40, 42, 48 and 50. Along with a box of PLMC 33 RG. I am going to add some Belicoso types soon which are generally 52 and some coronas gordas which I think are 46 or so.

I really have a wide RG size profile

I took a look at my stock by RG and it seems to mirror what I wrote off the top of my head...

 

 

[Wushy]

I think if the blend is good, I've got no complaints other than it's so damn uncomfortable to hold and smoke. In my opinion, anything above a 52 gauge should have a tapered end so it doesn't feel so awkward.