Thin Cigars?

[MaledettoToscano]

Looking at the threads, new and old, in the forum I notice that in general there is a preference among most of the users for thicker gauge cigars. I understand the reason (I hope!): more complex aromas, longer smoke and possibly... look cooler when you smoke them then the thin ones .

Having said that, being just at the start of my BOTL experience, I don't want to exclude the thinner vitolas from my smokes before I even tried one. I also generally think there's a place and time for any cigar/malt/whine, as long as they are good. While I'll never say no if someone offered me a dram of 35y old Brora, I still enjoy the blended BNJ and Black Bottle.

I found the very useful thread on short cigars (thanks everyone, already added a few of those to the list of future buys!), but couldn't find a lot specifically on the thinner gauges (say below 40), so I was wondering if there's any thin cigars you like and would suggest trying or if not, what the problem with thinner smokes is to your eyes?

Thanks!

[michael69]

Thin ones eh?

well, you haven't lived 'til you've had a trinidad fundadores or cohiba lanceros - these are TOP LINE!!

[Paulie]

I think that there are some thinner cigars which are pretty good out there. While I do not light them up often, I do have some 35 x 110 and 42 x 102 cigars in my humi's.

I find they are good for the situations when I don't have a lot of time to enjoy a bigger stick. As you say they are not as complex to me as the bigger cigars but if you pick well then they can be just as enjoyable.

The two I have at the moment are Vega Fina Perlas (Dom Rep) and Belinda Petit Princess (Cuban) which is discontinued now. They are both machine made which for some is the downside to them, but I have found them to be pretty good considering.

I have yet to try one of the longer thin cigars but I understand that there are a few really good ones available, will get round to it one day I am sure.

I would suggest you just try as many different lengths and ring sizes as you can before you make any decision on what to go with as your regular sticks?

[nicwing]

This is an interesting thread.

I always thought that real thick cigars looked very 'gangsta' but that slim cigars were very cool (think of Clint Eastwood in the spaghetti westerns)

Also real big strong cigars make my knees lnock.

I will watch your suggestons with interest and pick up on a couple or the recomenations to test out on the coolometer!

[Drewmidorn]

I like a punchy strong cigar... however sometimes the slimmer cigars have some interesting flavour... possibly because apparently (never trust a sentence with the word apparently in it, it probably menas it isn't true!) you pick up more of the wrapper flavour than with a thicker cigar.

I was given a box of Partagas habaneros that I really quite enjoyed!

I always think of a Lanceros as a slim cigar.... can't beat the Cohiba for a smoke and burning a hole in your pocket!

D

[matt257]

I like a punchy strong cigar... however sometimes the slimmer cigars have some interesting flavour... possibly because apparently (never trust a sentence with the word apparently in it, it probably menas it isn't true!) you pick up more of the wrapper flavour than with a thicker cigar.

I was given a box of Partagas habaneros that I really quite enjoyed!

I always think of a Lanceros as a slim cigar.... can't beat the Cohiba for a smoke and burning a hole in your pocket!

D

I have always thought that was true aswell. A good way to check is to get two cigars of the same line, but different sizes and check the difference

I will use the Oliva Serie V as an example. I find the Lancero (7x38) to be much much more flavourful and crisp than say the Figurado (6x60)

I tend to prefer smaller cigars, generally between 4
- 6 inches by 38 - 46.

5.6 x 46 (Corona Gorda) being my prefered size

[deltawhisky]

Interesting topic, Mr Toscano. There is indeed something mysterious about the larger smokes. There has been a fair bit of talk on these forums about that 'thing' that cannot be defined about a good, top notch cuban cigar, and I daresay that 'thing' embraces big sticks as well.

But thin sticks have a place. Certainly have a place in my book, as I rarely have the chance to enjoy a longer smoke *indoors* *in peace* at the moment!

Non Cuban - cheap and cheerful La Invicta Panatella (I think Honduras, need to check). Fond memories of blazing one of them in Covent Garden with a friend. Relatively smooth, pairs well with a nice coffee.

Smaller Cuban - tubed Quintero. Quite a punch comes for the money, though naturally not going to please the devout connoisseur.

[MaledettoToscano]

Thanks for all the suggestion and thoughts, plenty to try and empty the pocket

I agree that trying as much as possible is always a good way to find out but you like, but a few good pointers are always welcome.

D, agree on the price of the Cohiba's... but every now and then I don't mine a whole in the pocket ... a Lancero in the not too far future sounds good!

and nicwig thanks for the Clint reference, now I only need the hat and the poncho and the Morricone sound track... quite cool.

[ACMCC]

I always try to have a good selection of thinner gauge cigars in my humidors, the reason you don't get them mentioned very often is for a number of reasons, they are not fashionable at the moment, for some reason the Robusto is the fashion cigar, probably because it looks like a big cigar half smoked! nubs would be the extreme of this, as soon as you light it, it looks like a decent size cigar that is nearly finished!

Other reasons would be that it is much harder to roll, and you have more quality control issues, they have to be aged, this improves the draw, you have to smoke them in a different way or they over heat, slow draws and slightly more infrequent, this is probably why the Cubans don't push them as much. (especially after the problems in 99/00)

Most are regarded as only for connoisseurs! (as in MRN's and most other books) probably why most are called especials. MRN states that most are underrated due to modern 'testers' not have the correct smoking technique, so they get lower scores and sell less.

The longer slower draw concentrated to the centre of the tongue heightens the taste, making them seem more flavourful.

Some of the thin smokes I like are:

La Gloria Cubana medaille d'Or No.1 (Just received a new box )
Montecristo Especial No.2
El Rey del Mundo Grandes de Espania
Partagas serie du connaisseur No. 1/2/3
Cohiba Lanceros (of course)
Le Hoyo du Gourmet (discontinued and hard to find)
Vegueros Especial No. 2

Others which are highly rated, but I have not yet smoked:

Cohiba corona especial
Trinadad Funadadores
La Gloria Cubana medaille d'Or No.4
Partagas Charlottes (although discontinued)

A few to try.....

[bnelly]

Profile of the Charlotte was very similar to the Serie du Conny#3 which `replaced' it ...

Haven't had a Charlotte for yonks - got a box of 1998s, but don't want to start them 'cos they won't last

[TJCoro]

Thin to Win!

Two other very nice Panatelas are the Bolivar Gold Medal (165 X 43) and the Monticristo D EL 05 (143 X 43).

TJ

[snooky]

Have you tried the Fonseca No 1's, very reasonable.

[Drewmidorn]

TJ you're not wrong about the Gold Medal..its a great cigar.

[HabanoSy]

TJ you're not wrong about the Gold Medal..its a great cigar.

Recently purchased a couple of boxes, and these are now one of my faves...!!!


Cheers, HabanoSy

[MaledettoToscano]

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions everyone, great stuff.

I knew I was in the right place for great advice (... and economic ruin probably ) but I'm even more impressed than I thought I'd be.

AC really interesting considerations on fashions and very useful tip on the right way to smoke them, much appreciated.