The joy of smoking rolled tobacco leaves began in the Americas hundreds of years ago and was ntroduced to Europeans after Christopher Columbus' return from his first voyage in 1492. In the ensuing years, the popularity and sophistication of tobacco products has grown and the 1990s has brought a significant increase in the popularity of cigars in the United States. Despite much controversy, the status of cigars as a luxury product in American culture is secure. The important technical elements to be appreciated in cigars include their construction and the many shapes and sizes.

SHAPES AND SIZES

There are cigars of every shape and every size for every occasion. From tiny, cigarette-like cigarillos to giant monsters resembling pool cues, there is a wide variety to choose from. Certain sizes and shapes which have gained popularity over the years and have become widely recognized, even by non-smokers. Cigar shape names such as “corona” or “panatela” have specific meanings to the cigar industry, although there is no formally agreed-to standard for any given size.

Here is a simplified list of popular sizes. 

CONSTRUCTION

What goes into cigars? The answer to this question is the key to assessing the quality of a specific cigar. All but the thinnest cigars include three elements: (1) the filler tobacco at the enter, (2) a binder leaf which holds the filler together and (3) the outer wrapper, which is rolled round the binder.

Cigars which are made by hand use “long filler” tobacco: leaves which run the length of a cigar. In a handmade, the filler, binder and wrapper are combined manually.

Machine-made cigars utilize high-speed machinery to combine “short filler” tobacco - usually scraps or pieces of tobacco - with a binder and wrapper. Because of the tension placed on the tobacco by the machines, the binders and wrappers are often made of a homogenized tobacco product which is stronger than natural leaves and can be produced in a variety of flavours, strengths and textures.

The most obvious characteristic of most cigars is the color of the exterior wrapper. While not the only factor in the taste of a cigar, it is an important element and a key in many people's purchase of specific cigars. Although manufacturers have identified more than 100 different wrapper shades, six major color classifications are used herein, as noted below:

Double Claro: “American Market Selection” or “Candela,” this is a green wrapper. Once popular, it is only occasionally found today.

Claro: This is a very light tan color, almost beige in shade; usually from Connecticut.

Colorado Claro: A medium brown found on many cigars, this category covers many descriptions. The most popular are “Natural” or “English Market Selection”. Tobaccos in this shade are grown in many countries.

Colorado: This shade is instantly recognizable by the obvious reddish tint.

Colorado Maduro: Darker than Colorado Claro in shade, this color is often associated with African tobacco, such as wrappers from Cameroon, or with Havana Seed tobacco grown in Honduras or Nicaragua.

Maduro: Very dark brown or black Tobacco for Maduro wrappers is primarily grown in Connecticut, Mexico,Nicaragua and Brazil.

Oscuro: This is black...really black. This shade of wrapper reappeared with more frequency in 2001 and is in our listings.

Information used with permission from www.cigarcyclopedia.com