Troy - The Cigar Guy Selecting the Perfect Cigar One of the most often asked questions that I hear over and over throughout my typical workday is "What is the best cigar?"  To which I reply, "That depends", and that is where my flurry of questions normally begins.  "How long have you been a cigar smoker?  What cigars do you like, and what do you like about them?  What is the occasion for the cigar?"  These are all things that come into play when choosing the "best" cigar.  My cigar smoking experience tells me that there is no "best" cigar, but there may be a best cigar for a person for a particular occasion. While there are many different factors involved in selecting the perfect cigar for any particular occasion, there is only a handful that a person needs to take into consideration when trying to choose that perfect smoke, and those factors are size, strength, flavor, and of course the occasion itself. Size does matter. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  The size of a cigar plays a role in the flavor, strength, and obviously, the length of time it will take to smoke a cigar.  How does the size affect flavor? Because, the larger the ring gauge of a cigar, the cooler it will burn.  When the smoke is cooler, it is less harsh tasting.  For those who don't already know, the ring gauge of a cigar is its diameter broken up into 1/64ths of an inch.  For example, a cigar whose diameter measures 42/64ths of an inch has a ring gauge of 42.  There are many different shapes and sizes of cigars, but the three most popular sizes are the corona, robusto, and churchill sizes.  The corona is the normal sized cigar which all other cigar sizes are generally based and compared.  A corona measures approximately 5.5 inches and has a ring gauge around 42.  It can be counted on for about 35 to 45 minutes of cigar smoking pleasure.  For at least the past decade, the most popular cigar size in the United States has been the robusto.  The robusto is, for the most part, a little shorter than a corona, but usually a much larger ring gauge.  Robustos can range in ring gauge from 48 on up to 60 and sometimes even larger.  The larger ring gauge promises a cooler smoke than a corona, and can be expected to last for at least 45 minutes.  Also, because the tobacco blends in a cigar often comes from several different countries, the robusto is often one of the most flavorful sizes.  The large ring gauge of the robusto gives the cigar blender ample space to create the most flavorful blend of tobacco.  Another very popular cigar size is the churchill, whose name is taken from the well-known prime minister of Great Britain who smoked more cigars of this particular size than quite possibly anyone else on the face of the planet.  The churchill size is one of the larger sizes, and measures around 7 inches long and a ring gauge of at least 47.  A churchill should smoke for at least an hour and it has a ring gauge large enough to handle the complex blends of tobacco that give the greatest flavor.  Of course, we don't always have time to smoke for over an hour, so it is easy to see how size plays an important role in choosing the perfect cigar. Strength: It's all about timing. Another very important aspect of selecting the right cigar is the cigar's strength.  By strength, I am referring more to the level of harshness more than I am flavor.  I know what you're probably thinking.  How would harshness ever be a good thing? Right?  The truth is that you never want a cigar to taste harsh, but you are more prepared for a more full-bodied cigar later on in the day after a big or spicy meal.  After a large meal, it is harder to taste a milder cigar that may have been quite tasty earlier in the day.  As you can see, timing becomes a factor for choosing the ideal cigar.  A super-full bodied cigar on an empty stomach can turn a grown man a shade of green that is normally only seen in plant life, but after Mexican food, that same cigar will be nowhere near as potent.  As a matter of fact, a full bodied cigar is most welcome at that point.  Another issue concerning timing and the strength of a cigar is a particular person's experience as a cigar smoker.  The longer a person has been smoking cigars, they tend to smoke more full bodied cigars.  That's not to say that a beginner will not enjoy a full-bodied cigar, but that person should know to enjoy the heavier cigars when his palate is more prepared for them.  The lesson here is that the strength of your cigar should be matched with the appropriate portion of the day.  As a general guideline, milder cigars should be smoked earlier in the day, while the more full-bodied selections would be more enjoyable in the evening.  And, on those occasions where more than one cigar will be smoked, always start with the milder cigars first.  After smoking a full-bodied powerhouse, it is very difficult to taste a cigar that is milder. A word about flavor. One factor that cannot be ignored when selecting the perfect cigar is flavor.  Many believe that flavor goes hand-in-hand with strength when it comes to cigars.  While sometimes true, this is not always the case.  There are many cigars that are very flavorful that are not harsh in the least bit.  The only problem that this represents is that a cigar smoker has no real way of knowing what a cigar tastes like until they try it for themselve's.  Many people assume that the darker a cigar's wrapper is the more full-bodied and flavorful it must be.  Once again, this is not always the case.  In many of the darkest cigars, known as maduros, the flavor is actually quite sweet because of the longer fermentation process required to attain such a dark color.  The process involved in darkening these tobacco leaves tones down the harshness of the cigar while imparting a naturally semi-sweet flavor on the tongue when the cigar is smoked.  On the other hand, there are several cigars with a completely non-threatening appearance that pack a very mean punch.  Much of the strength and flavor of the cigar is determined by the country of origin of the wrapper leaf.  Traditionally, Honduran and Nicaraguan cigars tend to be more flavorful than those from the Dominican Republic.  All told, the lesson to be learned here is that there is almost no surefire way of knowing what to expect flavor-wise when choosing a cigar based on color alone.  My best advice would be to ask your tobacconist.  Explain to him your smoking experience and which cigars you have enjoyed in the past.  With this information, a good tobacconist can help you make an informed decision on the best cigar for your particular situation. It all boils down to occasion. When it comes down to it, the most important factor that can help you to choose the best cigar is the occasion in which it is to be smoked.  Armed with the knowledge about the size, strength, and flavor about cigars, along with the help of an experienced tobacconist, a cigar smoker can make an informed decision on the best cigar for his situation.  Now, go visit your local, friendly tobacconist, and smoke away. Happy smoking.