Large ring gauge

[raidercraig]

On smaller ring gauges with pig tail caps, what is the preferred method to cut it ?

punch

v cutter

guillitine  

[Tommy_Tao]

It’s just a matter of personal choice. I heard complaints from most experienced Cuban cigar smokers but the majority is still smoking well with cigar companies’ marketing. Whatever everyone chooses, it just suits himself fine. 

[Colt45]

14 hours ago, Vortigan said:

I don't imagine that I'll make any new friends with this but I've sometimes felt that the often loud call for "short and skinnies" is in its own way just as much an affectation, a kind of "anti affectation" stand, if you will, against the tide of creeping girth. For me personally, my lower and upper limits of enjoyment are 42 and 54. 

Great perspective - my mom termed it reverse snobbery. I think if it's only about flavor, then size might be less relevant. If we consider smoking a cigar to be, at least partially,  a tactile / sensory experience, then size might play more of a part.

[joeypots]

16 hours ago, Vortigan said:

I don't imagine that I'll make any new friends with this but I've sometimes felt that the often loud call for "short and skinnies" is in its own way just as much an affectation, a kind of "anti affectation" stand, if you will, against the tide of creeping girth. For me personally, my lower and upper limits of enjoyment are 42 and 54. 

I think a lot of taste is about early experience with anything. You know, mom's pot roast, the pizza of your youth, and the music of your adolescence  will always have a hold on you. So it is with cigars. There weren't double extra fat cigars when I started, a 50RG robusto was about the thickest I remember. The corona gorda was classified as a thick cigar when I began to smoke cigars. At 46RG by143MM it's hardly a jaw breaker and was in many forum surveys the most popular size.

 

On 9/16/2018 at 11:52 PM, PigFish said:

Marketing

Creates fashion.

[LLC]

17 hours ago, raidercraig said:

On smaller ring gauges with pig tail caps, what is the preferred method to cut it ?

punch

v cutter

guillitine  

On smaller ring gauge cigars I like a Punch but it all comes down to personal preference. 

[mk05]

Like politics, extremes exist on both sides. Frankly, the ones on the skinny side have been worse in my experience - I would know, I was one! They harp all day long about their experiences and impeccable taste. Then they try LBT10 Behike 56, Hoyo / Monte Maravillas, O'Reilly , Majestuosos, or Grand Churchill...and it's as if they found Jesus. 

Keep an open mind, is my advice.

[Bill Hayes]

When smoking a large rg 54 and above I use a 'cat's eye' cut. That way I don't have to stick the width of the cigar in my mouth.

[torsion]

On ‎9‎/‎18‎/‎2018 at 7:41 PM, mk05 said:

Like politics, extremes exist on both sides. Frankly, the ones on the skinny side have been worse in my experience - I would know, I was one! They harp all day long about their experiences and impeccable taste. Then they try LBT10 Behike 56, Hoyo / Monte Maravillas, O'Reilly , Majestuosos, or Grand Churchill...and it's as if they found Jesus. 

Keep an open mind, is my advice.

Up until last year I was fairly adamant that I favored the long skinny. I've had some really good experiences this year with the larger RG and never thought I would say that! Your last line is the best - open up your mind with psychedelic cigar smoking  

[ac031898]

On 9/18/2018 at 5:54 AM, Colt45 said:

Great perspective - my mom termed it reverse snobbery. I think if it's only about flavor, then size might be less relevant. If we consider smoking a cigar to be, at least partially,  a tactile / sensory experience, then size might play more of a part.

Well said - similar to how I feel about beer...Regardless of all the objective facts about packaging superiority, I still enjoy beer from a glass bottle more than beer from a can...even if it's all in my head.

Have had great smaller RG cigars and great larger RG versions...until the size gets unwieldy, I can be a happy camper. In my case, I tend to like 44-52 but will try anything once (or twice)

[dar24601]

Have a look at the B&M humidor. Guarantee 70% - 80% of what they carry are larger RG.  It a result of the 60 RG boom that hit NC market.  Manufacturers wouldn't make em if nobody bought them.  The casual cigar market loves them cause it fits the image of "cigar smoking"  think back to iconic cigar smoking images/characters all smoking "big, fat stogies" so casual smokers want that.   

[Kaptain Karl]

I think you see a lot of guys grab large RG cigars because they don't know any better, and assume a thicker cigar is better. The percentage of cigar smokers like you find on this site is probably 1-3% of cigar smokers. Most guys go to a B&M and grab what ever is recommended/what they usually grab. They dont think of wrapper/filler ratio, and especially havent tried thinner RG cigars because there's barely any thin RG cigars made by NC manufacturers.  I smoked a lot of thick NC cigars when I started and didnt fall in love with thinner RG cigars until cigars became a serious passion of mine. 

I also think whats missed is even though I really don't like large RG cigars, I prefer taste over size. So like many others, I think there's some 52+ RG cigars that are absolutely fantastic. I just wish that tobacco was used in a corona size! 

[Wushy]

Personally, if something is larger than 50 gauge, I'd prefer a tapered cap. Of course, if the cigar is 60 gauge, but the flavors are exceptional, I wouldn't hate on it. Just would prefer a size skinnier and longer.

[sactochris]

When I first started smoking cigars the cigars I smoked were huge. Now the cigars I smoke are considered medium, or even small. The thing is, I'm still smoking the exact same cigars.

[earthson]

I've assumed that the move to larger RG was an economic decision vs. anything Freudian. Take the flavorful leaves in your blend, add a couple leaves of volado (improves combustion without adding much in the way of additional flavor) and *boom* you've got a bigger cigar that you can sell at a higher price.

I like cigars to be comfortable in the hand and in the mouth. I'd rather kiss a sub 42 than suck on a 60. 

[LGC]

When I started almost a couple decades ago, I narrowed down the vitolas that suite my personal tastes, then found blends or profiles I prefer... after trying many samples from different years and boxes. This doesn’t mean I won’t try fat cigars ; but I don’t see the point in buying vitolas I hate. That would be like me choosing a dual clutch over a manual gearbox just because it’s a little bit faster, but lacks the driving experience. Just sayin’...

 

[devilsmoke]

On 9/16/2018 at 10:09 PM, RupertPupkin said:

I try not to be critical of people~ if they’re smoking and enjoying themselves then I’m happy. Personally, I don’t prefer the larger ring gauges. Anything upward of 52.. not for me. 

something to note.. I’ve overheard far too often in local B&Ms when someone is looking at a cigar with a large ring gauge, “that looks bad ass!” I rarely hear “oh, this is suppose to have a great flavor profile.”

I've heard it exclaimed in my presence a time or two. Rebutting with a friendly laugh and "Oh, you know me... I'm not a size queen." usually brings forth the other aspects of the stick (like flavor) in quick defense.