When you’re choosing a cigar, there’s more to think about than just the length or shape. You also have to consider the cigar ring gauge, which is essentially the diameter of the rolled stogie. It tells you the cigar’s thickness and how much tobacco is packed inside. But it also tells you a little about the experience itself, such as how the cigar will feel while you’re smoking, or potentially, how strong and flavorful it will be.
What is a cigar ring gauge?
Often, the cigar ring gauge goes hand-in-hand with the size of the cigar or length. A Robusto, for example, must be a 50-ring gauge, while larger sizes like a Gordo are 60-ring gauge and above.
The thickness is often decided by the manufacturer or master blender. They choose sizes that offer the most complementary flavor and experience. The most common gauges fall between 50 and 64, with outliers being larger or smaller than that range. Some smaller cigars shrink down to 28 or 30-ring gauge.
For the most part, the thicker the cigar is, the cooler the smoke. So, larger ring gauges like 60 or above offer a unique experience compared to say, Robusto or even Toro sizes. This can sometimes be attributed to strength and flavor, as well. With larger ring gauges offering slightly less bold profiles or flavors. It really depends on the tobacco blend used inside the cigar and how well the blenders made up for the size increase.
Comparatively, smaller cigars burn hotter because the wrapper and binder make up a higher ratio than the filler. With the larger sizes, there’s more room for filler, hence the cooler smoke.
Which is the right ring gauge for me?
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
You’ll have to experiment and find that out for yourself. However, I will say that it might end up being different from brand to brand, or label to label. You might enjoy some blends in a smaller size like a Robusto, versus other blends in a larger size. You may even find that you hate sizes 54 ring-gauge or above, or vice versa. It’s all preference and that takes a little time to figure out.
Personally, I tend to prefer a Toro size, which is usually 4 ½ and 5 ½ inches in length, with a ring gauge of 48 to 50. That being said, I don’t always stick to one size or Vitola. I’ll often try different sizes and ring gauges depending on the cigar. That’s precisely why I recommend doing the same yourself.
Briley has over 16 years in the publishing and content marketing business. He's been writing about cigars for nearly half that in various forms. What makes him a tour de force is he also smokes them.
Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge
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