Is it just me or.......

[habanohal]

I would have to say that for myself, The bigger the cigar is, the less flavorful they are for me. It is like this with all Cuban cigar lines. For instance...... I taste loads more flavor in a Boli PC then in the Belicosa, or more in the Dippy #4 than the #2, or HDM Epicure #2 than the DC or anything bigger in size.

It is basically the same for all. ANy others taste the same thing here or is it all in my head?

[Ken Gargett]

i think it is one of those things that is probably true in general though there'll be plenty of specific exceptions.

[wasch_24]

Same for me man. 46 ring guage is about my limit and I prefer 39 to 42 ring cigars.

[GoatLocker]

I find the same, smaller ring cigars are more flavorful. 38-46 it's where it at. Ya just gotta be secure in your manhood to smoke them in public around all those 50-56 ring "manly" cigars, LOL.

[PigFish]

... Not just you. As far as I am concerned any tobacco spent making a cigar over 44 ring is a waste!!!

My Churchills, DC, H-4's etc... just seem to age and age and age! -LOL

[strayvector]

Perhaps true. At least with some of the ones that I've smoked. I still prefer the bigger ring gauges becuase even if the flavor is not as concentrated, I find that they have a more complex flavor profiles.

[Elric]

I definitely don't find them less flavorful, less powerful OK but not less flavorful.

[waldo]

» ANy others taste the same

» thing here or is it all in my head?

Beats me, I like a few Robustos and the La Punta (which is a bit over 50rg). But I smoke alot of Famosos and ERDM choix, Party Shorts, ect.

[harwellplant]

» i think it is one of those things that is probably true in general though

» there'll be plenty of specific exceptions.

i would probably agree, in the general. there are some big exceptions, however. depends on if you correlate "full flavor" with "full strength" or not.

[joerose]

I met your GF or her sister at the Partagas factory. How they can smoke that monster is beyond me, but they do it.

[Mel]

Holly ****!!! That's a hell of a woman, cigar ain't bad neither. I do not agree with the smaller gauge being more flavorfull. I've seen PC's that beat Beli's but I've got churchills that are more intense and broadspectrum than than specific coronas. Size does not matter to me, it just has to have the right stuff. I smoke a little fast and the bigger cigars stand up under the pressure I put on them.

[Loki]

I am mostly in agreement with what has been said. Most of my experiences with the smaller rings and lengths are the same as the general consensus. But the larger ringed and longer lengths cigars tend to ,simply put, extend the smoking experience. I do agree that the larger do possess a certain complexity that smaller smokes do not have.

What's your thoughts on long term aging:

Smaller rings and shorter

or

Larger rings and longer?

[Tampa1257]

I have been speaking of the benefits of the smaller ring cigars for a long time. The length does not so much play into the flavor or complexity as much as the additional volado that makes up the filler in the larger ring cigars in my opinion. Smoke a Partagas Serie du Connaisseur No.1 or a Cohiba Lancero and I dare you to tell me that either of those cigars are not out of this world complex and rich flavors. Most smokers I believe that a longer smoke such as a Churchill or DC provide more complexity than say a Partagas Short or a RASCC or even a Cohiba Siglo I. While I agree that because the vitola is longer and a bigger ring, where more filler is used to make the bulk up. I have smoked many a minutos that was extremely complex as well as full flavor (Not talking about strength here). I believe that with a smaller ring, it takes a more masterful skill to blend and roll them because the shear proportion of the blend. I do feel that the intencity of the flavor is bolder because it is a less muted blend than you find with the larger ring cigars. I do find that the larger ring cigars tend to be milder in flavor for my palate, thus besides that issue that I seldom have the time for the longer smoking experience, I want to satisfy my Habanos mood with cigars with more flavor, I really don't care to much for mild cigars, they don't get it done for me.

Thus, I disagree with the statement that larger ring cigars are more complex than smaller vitolas, and I agree with the statements that smaller ring cigars provide more intence flavor.

Maybe that is why out of nearly 30 boxes that are aging, all of them are small ring cigars with the exception of Piramides and Belicosos.

[idesign]

I completely agree that the smaller Habanos are where it's at. They take a little more coddling so they don't get hot, but the flavors are more pronounced and intense.

I especially like RASCC, El Prini's, Boli CJ's and PC's, Monte 5's.....

I've got a Trini Reye's to try from TMOS, heard good things about them so I'm looking forward to it.

[maui]

I would agree in part. Haven't had many cuban churchills that met my fancy. My fav's are definitely the robustos and the pyramids. However the Sig 5 is damn nice smoke.

[TR]

» I would agree in part. Haven't had many cuban churchills that met my

» fancy. My fav's are definitely the robustos and the pyramids. However

» the Sig 5 is damn nice smoke.

Try the sig 6......NICE....

[strayvector]

» I would have to say that for myself, The bigger the cigar is, the less

» flavorful they are for me. It is like this with all Cuban cigar lines.

» For instance...... I taste loads more flavor in a Boli PC then in the

» Belicosa, or more in the Dippy #4 than the #2, or HDM Epicure #2

» than the DC or anything bigger in size.

»

» It is basically the same for all. ANy others taste the same

» thing here or is it all in my head?

You want intense, try a Partagas 8-9-8 varnished. I just tried one from a '98 box that was gifted to me and my head is still spinning. Incredibly full bodied and strong. Knocked me on my ass...of course it could have been that fifth cuba libre I drank...

[skid11]

Good point Hab,

I love the look and feel of a good belicoso and enjoy them all but since you raised the point I would have to agree that I find a 42 ring gauge vitola seems to concentrate the flavours a little more, I'm thinking of the difference between Dip#2 and #4 as an example, Of course this is subjective and there is always exceptions but hey thats what it's all about.

Some of the reference books say that the larger the cigar the more complex the flavours as the bigger size allows for more creative combinations of the ligero, seco and volada leaves.But again this is not always the case.

This is one of my girlfriends having a small morning cigar:-D