Traditional Ring Gauge - History and Progress

[Montezüma]

When I say progress, I mean "present time" not necessarily better - because progress inadvertently infers "betterment".

I've been a cigar enthusiast for half a decade, occasionally peeking this forum for invaluable cigar insights.

I tried to find information though regarding ring gauges in terms of tradition (history) and progress (present).

Unfortunately I didn't come across an answer, one that I am convinced the fellowship would have an answer for. 

 

The question is, we all know that RGs got bigger over the years (decades?) but what was the golden standard?

By golden standard, I mean Cuban (not disrespect to NCs) "go-to" RG, its definitely not 50 but what was it?

I do mean back in the day before Habanos went (truly) global, when a Cuban cigar was "it is what it is".

For instance, the RyJ Churchill didn't exist during Winston's era, he was burning RyJ (I think) at RG 47.

So was that the golden standard - RG 47?

 

I am curious because I want to know how cigars were traditionally crafted and enjoyed before everything became about size.

At the same time thinking that perhaps - a cigar was never meant to be RG 42 and under - thats why half of them are plugged!

Or am I wrong? Personally RG 48 for me is the most appropriate, is this in fact how it was back when Habanos was for "diplomats"?

 

[Bijan]

1 hour ago, HenryMartin said:

I am curious because I want to know how cigars were traditionally crafted and enjoyed before everything became about size.

At the same time thinking that perhaps - a cigar was never meant to be RG 42 and under - thats why half of them are plugged!

Or am I wrong? Personally RG 48 for me is the most appropriate, is this in fact how it was back when Habanos was for "diplomats"?

Given that 50RG was pretty much the max for parejos historically (pretty much only robustos like the PSD4), and that skinnies were much more common I'd say 42RG was probably very close to average. If you look at the ancient cigars posted every now and again they tend to be smaller RG.

There were bigger RG in figurados like Monte 2 and Salomones, but I still don't think that would tip the scales anywhere near 48 RG.

Edit: As to diplomats, the original Cohiba release the lancero was 38RG. The next two were 38RG coronas especiales and 26RG panatellas. No bigger Cohiba until 1989!

[NSXCIGAR]

I would have to say 42 was almost certainly the benchmark RG in many ways throughout the 20th century. 42 was probably the RG of more CCs than any other. Minutos, Marevas, Coronas, Cervantes--all 42 and almost all brands had multiple versions of all of those vitolas. In fact, some cigar books from the 80s and 90s actually refer to the 43 RG Dalias vitola as a Churchill which indicates to me that above 42 placed it in a different category of "large RG." 41 RG is quite uncommon. Most sub-42 would have been 40 RG, most of which were machine-made until 2002. 38 RG has always been considered skinny. I would probably have to conclude that 42 had been the standard and the over/under point for large/small RG.

As for the large RG trend, Salomones and Diademas have always had 54-55 RG in the middle but the first cigar with 52 RG at the head was the Siglo VI in 2002 followed by Edmundo in 2004. The first with 54 RG at the head was the 2006 Boli Libertadores although you could claim the Monte Maravillas No. 1 at 55 RG came before in 2004. 

It seems like a very steady progression from 2002 onward with 52, then 54 in 2004, 55 in 2007 and 56 in 2010. 

[JohnS]

If we look at the idea of a quintessential Habanos vitola over the years since the 1970s...

1. Coronas (42 ring gauge x 142 mm or 5⅝ inches)
2. Petit Coronas (42 ring gauge x 129 mm or 5⅛ inches)
3. Robustos (50 ring gauge x 124 mm or 4⅞ inches)
4. Petit Robustos (varies but average specifications would be around 50 to 52 ring gauge x 110 to 120 mm or 4⅜ to 4¾ inches).

Petit Robustos have been the dominant format across the Habanos marcas since the early 2010s. Interestingly, it represents a size not strictly limited to ring gauge and vitola length like the other vitolas which preceded it.

[Bijan]

42 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Petit Robustos have been the dominant format across the Habanos marcas since the early 2010s. Interestingly, it represents a size not strictly limited to ring gauge and vitola length like the other vitolas which preceded it.

There are two parallel trends in cigars I have noticed.

1. Bigger ring gauges.

2. Shorter cigars.

This is probably why so many lonsdales got axed as they are long and relatively skinny. But even Churchills have dwindled.

Meanwhile as you say Petit Robustos are having a field day, since they satisfy both trends. And as to the shorter cigar trend most of the new smaller ring gauge cigars (40-42RG) are shorter. Like the RG Perlas (2012) or Trinidad Reyes (2004), Cohiba Secretos (2007), etc. When was the last new Mareva or longer 40-42RG standard release besides the new Linea Retro? Probably the Cohiba Siglo releases (2,3,5) in the 90s.

Edit: Missed the Trinidad Fundadores in 1997. Guess that was the last long 40-42RG introduced.

[Fugu]

23 minutes ago, Bijan said:

There are two parallel trends in cigars I have noticed.

1. Bigger ring gauges.

2. Shorter cigars.

When wrapper procurement as well as labour skills (QC) are the main limiting production factors - what do you do to max output and returns? You reduce the suface/volume ratio and limit the number of demanding formats in your portfolio. And you don't miss to make people believe that's what they want

[NSXCIGAR]

6 minutes ago, Fugu said:

When wrapper procurement as well as labour skills (QC) are the main limiting production factors - what do you do to max output and returns? You reduce the suface/volume ratio and limit the number of demanding formats in your portfolio. And you don't miss to make people believe that's what they want

I do wonder to what extent wrapper supply has driven the trend of sub 156mm cigars and specifically sub-124mm cigars. 

41 minutes ago, Bijan said:

...Missed the Trinidad Fundadores in 1997. Guess that was the last long 40-42RG introduced.

Technically true, but that cigar had existed for quite some time and was the only cigar in the marca. They were essentially forced to bring it on.

And don't forget VR that introduced the Clasicos in 1997 also, admittedly a borderline long skinny. But one can clearly see the classic but antiquated approach of HSA before Altadis came in. Straight down the middle classic vitola lineup of Coronas, Cervantes, Piramides, Hermosos No. 4 and Prominentes. 

Interestingly, while Cohiba Lanceros and Fundys have been available regularly for the most part I haven't seen Monte Especiales in quite a long time. 

[Bijan]

6 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

And don't forget VR that introduced the Clasicos in 1997 also, admittedly a borderline long skinny. But one can clearly see the classic but antiquated approach of HSA before Altadis came in. Straight down the middle classic vitola lineup of Coronas, Cervantes, Piramides, Hermosos No. 4 and Prominentes. 

I have one in my humidor but forgot all about them as a "recent" release because they were since discontinued.

As to wrapper supply I'm sure it's a driving factor on the decline of longer cigars but I have to believe there is a trend in demand towards shorter cigars or else it seems really aggressive to push the several new sub 100mm cigars (half Coronas, Medio Siglo).

[SCgarman]

3 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I would have to say 42 was almost certainly the benchmark RG in many ways throughout the 20th century. 42 was probably the RG of more CCs than any other. Minutos, Marevas, Coronas, Cervantes--all 42 and almost all brands had multiple versions of all of those vitolas. In fact, some cigar books from the 80s and 90s actually refer to the 43 RG Dalias vitola as a Churchill which indicates to me that above 42 placed it in a different category of "large RG." 41 RG is quite uncommon. Most sub-42 would have been 40 RG, most of which were machine-made until 2002. 38 RG has always been considered skinny. I would probably have to conclude that 42 had been the standard and the over/under point for large/small RG.

As for the large RG trend, Salomones and Diademas have always had 54-55 RG in the middle but the first cigar with 52 RG at the head was the Siglo VI in 2002 followed by Edmundo in 2004. The first with 54 RG at the head was the 2006 Boli Libertadores although you could claim the Monte Maravillas No. 1 at 55 RG came before in 2004. 

It seems like a very steady progression from 2002 onward with 52, then 54 in 2004, 55 in 2007 and 56 in 2010. 

I love anything 42 ring gauge. It feels comfortable in the mouth and in the hand. Beyond 50 ring I just don't go there. All that filler just waters down a good flavored cigar, IMO

[NSXCIGAR]

25 minutes ago, NYgarman said:

I love anything 42 ring gauge. It feels comfortable in the mouth and in the hand. Beyond 50 ring I just don't go there. All that filler just waters down a good flavored cigar, IMO

For some reason my hands like a 43 or 44 RG. And I also very much prefer the 48 Hermosos to the Robustos/Gorditos/Dobles.

[ATGroom]

I've posted these kind of charts a few times before, but here are the latest ones.

These show the average of all cigars that were in production in a given year. Special releases only count in the year they are released (or at least supposed to be released. An EL 2018 counts in 2018 even if the cigars don't arrive until 2020). I separate out the specials as they distort things a bit. I don't have any way to weight them, so for the purposes of the average a 60 ring Cohiba that only has 50 humidors of 50 released will sway the average just as much as a Monte 4 that has millions of units produced. At least gives an idea of the trends though as I think what is a special release today probably predicts what will be regular production tomorrow.

Average ring of standard production cigars (ie, no special releases):

 

Average ring of all production cigars (incl. special releases):

 

Average length of standard production cigars (no special releases):

 

Average length of all production cigars (including specials):

 

Takeaways for me are:

-Cuba was more or less static from the revolution until the Altidas era starting in 2000.

-Cigars are getting fatter, although special releases are getting fatter faster than regular production.

-Regular production cigars are getting shorter. Special releases are getting longer.

 

[NSXCIGAR]

[Fugu]

I spot a slight flattening of the curve - but.... will we run into a second wave?!

 

[Doctorossi]

I agree with (very unofficial) historical "standardization" around 42RG. When you talk about a "gold standard", a lot of cigar fans, historically, have considered the corona gorda, at 46RG, to be the "ideal" size for expressing the signature personality of a marca, so I think many would consider that the reference point, if there was one.

[NSXCIGAR]

12 hours ago, Doctorossi said:

I agree with (very unofficial) historical "standardization" around 42RG. When you talk about a "gold standard", a lot of cigar fans, historically, have considered the corona gorda, at 46RG, to be the "ideal" size for expressing the signature personality of a marca, so I think many would consider that the reference point, if there was one.

Can't disagree with that. Some of the most famous and notable connoisseur's cigars of the 20th century were Corona Gordas. Many consider those cigars like Punch SS, Mag 46, RGCE, SLR SA and the ERDM GC to be the best models in their marcas. Not to mention HSA chose the Corona Gordas for the 1492 and the 1994. 

[Habana Mike]

Golden age was 2003 with 42x140 as the average RG/length!

[Montezüma]

These answers are so concise and comprehensive, I feel privileged.

Thank you ?

[dangolf18]

I would say 42 RG. Archetypal cuban size in my opinion is the corona.