Cuba & Cigars

The shape of the cigars

The shape of the pure cigars has as objective to satisfy the demands of the smokers and to determine it some concepts are managed:parejos or rectos (a cigar with straight, parallel sides) and figurado (a cigar with an irregular shape pointed at one end). The pictures that are shown next give us an exact idea about the shapes of the cigars:

The parejos or rectos cigars
	Especial (235 x 18,6 mm; cepo 47)
	Doble Corona (194 x 19,4 mm; cepo 49)
	Churchill (178 x 18,65 mm; cepo 47)
	Lonsdale (170 x 17,07 mm; cepo 43)
	Gran corona (155 x 16,67 mm; cepo 42)
	Corona gorda (143 x 18,26 mm; cepo 46)
	Corona (142 x 16,67 mm; cepo 42)
	Robusto (124 x 19,84 mm; cepo 50)
	Petit Corona (129 x 16,67 mm; cepo 42)
	Demi Corona (116 x 15,87 mm; cepo 40)
	Trés Petit Corona (102 x 15,87 mm; cepo 42)
	Panetela (170 x 13,10 mm; cepo 33)
	Mini Panetela (121 x 10,32 mm; cepo 26)
	Slim Panetela (175 x 11,11 mm; cepo 28)
	Gran Panetela (192 x 15,08 mm; cepo 38)
	Palma (152 x 15,08 mm; cepo 38)
	Palma Larga (185 x 14,29 mm; cepo 36)
The figurado cigar
	Pirámide (156 x 20,64 mm; cepo 52)
	Torpedo (140 x 20,64 mm; cepo 52)
	Obús (140 x 20,64 mm; cepo 52)
	Perfecto Cubano (158 x 18,65 mm; cepo 47)
	Culebra (146 x 15,48 mm; cepo 39)
	Diademas (140 x 20,64 mm; cepo 52)

It is necessary to develop a very important concept in the industrial process that is the one related to that of vitola, this concept in turn is divided in two: vitola de galera and vitola de fábrica.

The vitola de galera defines a cigar determined in function of its longitude and diameter, independently of the factory or mark that aids it. On the other hand, the vitola de fabrica is the name that is given in a factory to a vitola of certain rolling room. Next we offer information about some vitolas de galera and vitolas de fabrica.

The Robusto is a name of vitola de galera and that of factory could be the following ones: Robusto in the Cohiba mark, Epicure No.2 in Hoyo de Monterrey and Serie D No.4 in Partagas.

The well-known prominent vitolas de galera can have as identifications of the factories the following: Double coronas in Hoyo de Monterrey, Lusitanias in Partagas, Double coronas in Punch and Don Alejandro in Vegas Robaina.

The vitolas denominated in rolling rooms Coronas Grandes can have the following denominations when being vitolas de fabrica: Siglo III in Cohiba, Le Hoyo des Dieux in Hoyo de Monterrey, Tubos (T) in Monte Cristo and Super selection No.1 in Punch

Main Cuban ring gauges

In the industrial process of the cigars the concept of ring gauge is managed in reference to the diameter or caliber that characterizes a certain vitola, these numbers vary from 26 (the finest) up to 52 (those of more diameter). The ring gauge is defined as the diameter of a cigar traditionally expressed in 64 parts of an inch.

According to the size of the ring gauge through which should pass the vitola they are classified in:

a) Fine caliber - ring gauge 26 -39. (10,32 mm - 15,48 mm)
b) Medium caliber - ring gauge 40-44. (15,87 mm - 17,46 mm)
c) Thick caliber ring - gauge 46-52. (18,26 mm - 20,64 mm)

Next you can appreciate the Guide of Habanos' ring gauges that the referred Company provides to the clients.

Links & Sources:

• www.guerrillero.co.cu