Popular Post Bijan Posted January 5, 2021 Popular Post Posted January 5, 2021 This is the conclusion of my series of posts about the 3 traditional ring gauge categories of thin, medium and heavy. The heavy ring gauge is everything with a ring gauge of 46+ (the medium gauge was 40-44, but there are no extant 45 RG cigars so there's a tiny gap). It seems this is where the market is at now. Though at the lower end the 46-47 RG cigars don't even seem to qualify as heavy or thick anymore. But once upon a time 50RG was the general upper limit for Parejos (the most common cigar shape which is almost uniformly cylindrical). With some figurados over 50RG. Today we have Parejos up to 56 RG, with a new 2020 release at 57RG. That is standard production as some special releases and limited editions take this up to about 60RG. In any case here are the current standard production heavy ring gauge cigars: Cigar Name Vitola de Salida Factory Name Vitola de Galera Size Ring x mm Shape Common Name Image Relative Scale Bolívar - Value Brand Belicosos Finos pre-1960 Campanas 52 x 140 (5½″) Pyramid Royal Coronas c1969 Robustos 50 x 124 (4⅞″) Robusto Cohiba - Global Brand BHK 52 2010 Laguito No.4 52 x 119 (4⅝″) Petit Robusto BHK 54 2010 Laguito No.5 54 x 144 (5⅝″) Robusto Extra BHK 56 2010 Laguito No.6 56 x 166 (6½″) Double Robusto Espléndidos 1989 Julieta No.2 47 x 178 (7″) Churchill Genios 2007 Genios 52 x 140 (5½″) Robusto Extra Magicos 2007 Mágicos 52 x 115 (4½″) Petit Robusto Medio Siglo 2016 Medio Siglo 52 x 102 (4″) Petit Robusto Piramides Extra 2012 Pirámides Extra 54 x 160 (6¼″) Pyramid Robustos 1989 Robustos 50 x 124 (4⅞″) Robusto Siglo IV 1994 Coronas Gordas 46 x 143 (5⅝″) Grand Corona Siglo VI 2002 Cañonazo 52 x 150 (5⅞″) Robusto Extra Cuaba - Other Brand Distinguidos 2003 Romeo 52 x 162 (6⅜″) Perfecto Exclusivos 1996 Exquisitos 46 x 145 (5¾″) Perfecto Salomón 2003 Salomón 57 x 184 (7¼″) Double Perfecto Diplomáticos - Other Brand Diplomáticos No.2 1966 Pirámides 52 x 156 (6⅛″) Pyramid El Rey del Mundo - Other Brand Choix Suprême pre-1960 Hermosos No.4 48 x 127 (5″) Corona Extra H. Upmann - Global Brand Connoisseur No.1 pre-1960 Hermosos No.4 48 x 127 (5″) Corona Extra Connossieur No.2 2020 Bohemios 51 x 134 (5¼″) Robusto Magnum 46 pre-1960 Coronas Gordas 46 x 143 (5⅝″) Grand Corona Magnum 50 2008 Mágnum 50 50 x 160 (6¼″) Double Robusto Magnum 54 2016 Magnum 54 54 x 120 (4¾″) Robusto Sir Winston pre-1960 Julieta No.2 47 x 178 (7″) Churchill Upmann No.2 pre-1960 Pirámides 52 x 156 (6⅛″) Pyramid Hoyo de Monterrey - Global Brand Double Coronas pre-1960 Prominentes 49 x 194 (7⅝″) Double Corona Epicure Especial 2008 Gorditos 50 x 141 (5½″) Robusto Extra Epicure No.1 pre-1960 Coronas Gordas 46 x 143 (5⅝″) Grand Corona Epicure No.2 pre-1960 Robustos 50 x 124 (4⅞″) Robusto Le Hoyo de Rio Seco 2018 Armorosos 56 x 140 (5½″) Robusto Extra Le Hoyo de San Juan 2014 Geniales 54 x 150 (5⅞″) Robusto Extra Petit Robustos 2004 Petit Robustos 50 x 102 (4″) Petit Robusto José L. Piedra - Volume Brand Petit Caballeros 2020 Hermoso Especial 48 x 120 (4¾″) Corona Extra Juan López - Other Brand Selección No.1 1990s Coronas Gordas 46 x 143 (5⅝″) Grand Corona Selección No.2 1990s Robustos 50 x 124 (4⅞″) Robusto Montecristo - Global Brand Double Edmundo 2013 Dobles 50 x 155 (6⅛″) Robusto Extra Dumas 2017 Prominente Corto 49 x 130 (5⅛″) Corona Extra Eagle 2009 Geniales 54 x 150 (5⅞″) Robusto Extra Edmundos 2004 Edmundo 52 x 135 (5⅜″) Robusto Leyenda 2017 Maravillas No.2 55 x 165 (6½″) Double Robusto Maltés 2017 Sobresalientes 53 x 153 (6″) Robusto Extra Master 2009 Robustos 50 x 124 (4⅞″) Robusto Montecristo A 1971 Gran Corona 47 x 235 (9¼″) Giant Corona Montecristo No.2 pre-1960 Pirámides 52 x 156 (6⅛″) Pyramid Petit Edmundo 2006 Petit Edmundo 52 x 110 (4⅜″) Petit Robusto Petit No. 2 2013 Petit No. 2 52 x 120 (4¾″) Petit Pyramid Regata 2009 Forum 46 x 135 (5⅜″) Petit Pyramid Partagás - Global Brand Lusitanias pre-1960 Prominentes 49 x 194 (7⅝″) Double Corona Maduro No. 1 2015 Discretos 52 x 130 (5⅛″) Robusto Maduro No. 2 2018 Short Pirámides 55 x 120 (4¾″) Petit Pyramid Maduro No. 3 2018 Maduro No. 3 50 x 145 (5¾″) Robusto Extra Presidentes pre-1960 Tacos 47 x 158 (6¼″) Perfecto Serie D No.4 1975 Robustos 50 x 124 (4⅞″) Robusto Serie D No.5 2011 D No.5 50 x 110 (4⅜″) Petit Robusto Serie D No.6 2014 D No.6 50 x 90 (3½″) Petit Robusto Serie E No.2 2011 Duke 54 x 140 (5½″) Robusto Extra Serie P No.2 2005 Pirámides 52 x 156 (6⅛″) Pyramid Punch - Value Brand Double Coronas pre-1960 Prominentes 49 x 194 (7⅝″) Double Corona Punch Punch pre-1960 Coronas Gordas 46 x 143 (5⅝″) Grand Corona Short de Punch 2019 Paraisos 50 x 120 (4¾″) Petit Robusto Quai d'Orsay - Other Brand No. 50 2017 D No.5 50 x 110 (4⅜″) Petit Robusto No. 54 2017 Edmundo Grueso 54 x 135 (5⅜″) Robusto Quintero - Volume Brand Favoritos 2012 Concha No.2 50 x 115 (4½″) Petit Robusto Ramón Allones - Value Brand Allones Specially Selected (2) 1975 Robustos 50 x 124 (4⅞″) Robusto Gigantes (2) 1976 Prominentes 49 x 194 (7⅝″) Double Corona Romeo y Julieta - Global Brand Belicosos pre-1960 Campanas 52 x 140 (5½″) Pyramid Churchills pre-1960 Julieta No.2 47 x 178 (7″) Churchill Exhibicion No.4 mid-1980s Hermosos No.4 48 x 127 (5″) Corona Extra Linea Oro Dianas 2020 Damas 52 x 145 (5¾″) Robusto Extra Linea Oro Hidalgos 2020 Hidalgos 57 x 125 (4⅞″) Robusto Linea Oro Nobles 2020 Triangulares 56 x 135 (5⅜″) Pyramid Petit Churchills 2012 Petit Robustos 50 x 102 (4″) Petit Robusto Petit Royales 2017 Caprichos 47 x 95 (3¾″) Corona Extra Short Churchills 2006 Robustos 50 x 124 (4⅞″) Robusto Wide Churchills 2010 Montesco 55 x 130 (5⅛″) Robusto Saint Luis Rey - Other Brand Regios pre-1960 Hermosos No.4 48 x 127 (5″) Corona Extra San Cristóbal de la Habana - Other Brand La Fuerza 1999 Gorditos 50 x 141 (5½″) Robusto Extra La Punta 1999 Campanas 52 x 140 (5½″) Pyramid Sancho Panza - Other Brand Belicosos pre-1960 Campanas 52 x 140 (5½″) Pyramid Trinidad - Value Brand Esmeralda 2019 Dinoras 53 x 145 (5¾″) Robusto Media Luna 2019 Marinas 50 x 115 (4½″) Petit Robusto Topes 2019 Topes 56 x 125 (4⅞″) Robusto Vigia 2014 Torres 54 x 110 (4⅜″) Petit Robusto Vegas Robaina - Other Brand Famosos 1997 Hermosos No.4 48 x 127 (5″) Corona Extra Unicos 1997 Pirámides 52 x 156 (6⅛″) Pyramid Vegueros - Volume Brand Centrofinos 2018 Centrofinos 50 x 130 (5⅛″) Robusto Entretiempos 2013 Petit Edmundo 52 x 110 (4⅜″) Petit Robusto Mañanitas 2013 Mañanitas 46 x 100 (3⅞″) Petit Pyramid Tapados 2013 Mareva Gruesa 46 x 120 (4¾″) Corona Extra Out of the current 89 (I did. a quick count this could be off) vitolas only 18 existed pre-1960. The Diplomaticos No. 2 and Bolivar Royal Coronas came in the 60s. (2 releases) The Monte A, RASS, RAG and PSD4 came in the 70s though they all except the Monte A existed in one shape or another in the preceding years. The Lusitanias just as the RAG changed from a 109 vitola to the current Prominentes vitola. (4 releases, though only 1 truly new release) The 80s saw the addition of the Esplendidos, the Coro and the RyJ Ex. No. 4. (3 releases) The 90s brought the San Cristobal Fuerza and Punta, the Vegas Robainas Famosos and Unicos, the Cohiba Siglo IV, the Cuaba Exclusivos and the Juan Lopez Seleccion 1 and 2. (8 releases) The first decade of the new millennium saw the addition of the Cohiba Siglo VI, the Cohiba Genios and Magicos, the Cuaba Distinguidos and Salomon, the H Upmann Mag 50, the Hoyo Epicure Especial and Petit Robusto, the Monte Edmundos and Petit Edmundos as well as the Monte Open Eagle, Master and Regata, the Partagas PSP2, and the Romeo y Julieta Short Churchills. (15 releases). And finally the recent decade brought the Cohiba Behike 52, 54, 56, the Cohiba Pirámides Extra and Medio Siglo, the H. Upmann Mag 54, the Hoyo San Juan and Rio Seco, the Monte Double Edmundo, and Petit No. 2, as well as the Monte 1935 series Dumas, Leyenda, Maltes, the Partaga Maduro 1, 2, 3, as well as the PSD5, PSD6 and PSE2, the Punch Short de Punch, Quai D'Orsay 50 and 54, RyJ Petit Churchills and Wide Churchills as well as Petit Royales the Trinidad Vigia, Topes, Media Luna and Esmeralda, and one new Quintero and 4 new Vegueros in the value brands, For a grand total of 34 new releases! Almost twice as many new releases in heavy ring gauge cigars in the last ten years than all the thinner ring gauge cigars combined in the last 40 years. The contrast in deletions between the thinner cigars and thicker ones would be just as telling (if not more so). Over half the existing heavy ring gauge vitolas were introduced since the new millenium. One can say one prefers the skinnies and that 52+RG is just too big, but it seems Habanos cigars are headed that way. 5
Markspring1978 Posted January 5, 2021 Posted January 5, 2021 Out of curiosity, how did you come up with your RG categories? I would definitely not consider 46-50 as “thick”, but medium. Especially by today’s standards.
Shrimpchips Posted January 5, 2021 Posted January 5, 2021 31 minutes ago, Markspring1978 said: Out of curiosity, how did you come up with your RG categories? I would definitely not consider 46-50 as “thick”, but medium. Especially by today’s standards. Probably off the cuban cigar website classification. They suggest the addition of a “super heavy” 52RG+ due to all the modern additions in the very large RG.
Bijan Posted January 5, 2021 Author Posted January 5, 2021 4 hours ago, Markspring1978 said: Out of curiosity, how did you come up with your RG categories? I would definitely not consider 46-50 as “thick”, but medium. Especially by today’s standards. Yes as @Shrimpchips said it's based on CCW and cigar-reviews.com as well. It's a historical classification from the time when 50RG Robustos and 52 RG pirámides were as big as Cubans got.
Bijan Posted January 6, 2021 Author Posted January 6, 2021 @Markspring1978 and @Shrimpchips Repeating this exercise for super-heavy cigars and choosing just the new 53+ RG cigars. None released before 2000. Only 2 release between 2003 and 2009 (one a figurado, the other a Monte Open), all the rest since 2010. Cigar Name Vitola de Salida Factory Name Vitola de Galera Size Ring x mm Shape Common Name Image Relative Scale Cohiba - Global Brand BHK 54 2010 Laguito No.5 54 x 144 (5⅝″) Robusto Extra BHK 56 2010 Laguito No.6 56 x 166 (6½″) Double Robusto Piramides Extra 2012 Pirámides Extra 54 x 160 (6¼″) Pyramid Cuaba - Other Brand Salomón 2003 Salomón 57 x 184 (7¼″) Double Perfecto H. Upmann - Global Brand Magnum 54 2016 Magnum 54 54 x 120 (4¾″) Robusto Hoyo de Monterrey - Global Brand Le Hoyo de Rio Seco 2018 Armorosos 56 x 140 (5½″) Robusto Extra Le Hoyo de San Juan 2014 Geniales 54 x 150 (5⅞″) Robusto Extra Montecristo - Global Brand Eagle 2009 Geniales 54 x 150 (5⅞″) Robusto Extra Leyenda 2017 Maravillas No.2 55 x 165 (6½″) Double Robusto Maltés 2017 Sobresalientes 53 x 153 (6″) Robusto Extra Partagás - Global Brand Maduro No. 2 2018 Short Pirámides 55 x 120 (4¾″) Petit Pyramid Serie E No.2 2011 Duke 54 x 140 (5½″) Robusto Extra Quai d'Orsay - Other Brand No. 54 2017 Edmundo Grueso 54 x 135 (5⅜″) Robusto Romeo y Julieta - Global Brand Linea Oro Hidalgos 2020 Hidalgos 57 x 125 (4⅞″) Robusto Linea Oro Nobles 2020 Triangulares 56 x 135 (5⅜″) Pyramid Wide Churchills 2010 Montesco 55 x 130 (5⅛″) Robusto Trinidad - Value Brand Esmeralda 2019 Dinoras 53 x 145 (5¾″) Robusto Topes 2019 Topes 56 x 125 (4⅞″) Robusto Vigia 2014 Torres 54 x 110 (4⅜″) Petit Robusto 2
Shrimpchips Posted January 6, 2021 Posted January 6, 2021 Certainly drives home the point about increasing RG with new additions. Would be a ton more work but would certainly be interesting to see the opposite analysis as well - discontinuation by RG classification. We would certainly expect it to be the opposite of the additions, but I wonder if the additions of thicker RG are outpacing loss of smaller RG vitolas, or is the number of total cigars in the Habanos portfolio relatively constant (or declining)?
Bijan Posted January 6, 2021 Author Posted January 6, 2021 7 minutes ago, Shrimpchips said: Certainly drives home the point about increasing RG with new additions. Would be a ton more work but would certainly be interesting to see the opposite analysis as well - discontinuation by RG classification. We would certainly expect it to be the opposite of the additions, but I wonder if the additions of thicker RG are outpacing loss of smaller RG vitolas, or is the number of total cigars in the Habanos portfolio relatively constant (or declining)? I'll do it! But to your second point, the number of regular production vitolas is way down now vs historically. I don't have the exact numbers but it's down from something very high like 600s to well under 200. 1
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