The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

So, I walked into a local B&M yesterday and saw an article in CA online about a 64 RG cigar by E.P. Carillo.

64!!!!

That's one inch!!!! Now, I know it's been a trend for a while now, but why? Most connoisseurs, manufacturers, B&M owners (and more generally "people in the know") seem to prefer thinner RG cigars. Even Cooba is riding this wave of bigger/thicker sticks.

Do you think this is a passing fad? Will we have novelty cigars be the norm (anyone remember those Fuente football cigar pictures?)? How big is too big?:hy

More importantly, why is this trend happening? I mean, the cigar boom days of fly-by-night smokers are over, right? What's driving this?

Sorry for all the questions. Too much time to think. :D

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfe.../show/id/16515

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

These people are the in the minority when it comes to purchasing.

The people who buy a few cigars at a time, and typically consume them as they purchase, comprise a much larger percentage of the market, and they're buying larger RGs right now, so as long as they keep buying the larger RGs, manufacturers will keep making them.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

I certainly hope it is a passing trend. I'm not a fan of large rg cigars at all.

Typically 46 rg or less, with a few exceptions. For example, the Sig VI with some age is amazing. But for the most part, I find it also takes more skill to blend and roll a smaller rg cigar.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." - Sigmund Freud (attributed).

"And sometimes it's a honkin' fat phallus." - The Poet (just now).

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

I'm aware. What I find interesting (and this is a purely anecdotal observation) is that the boutique guys seemed to be really into making thinner RG cigars, but not so much anymore. I don't know. Has anyone else noticed this?

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Interesting- what does that mean? (sarcasm- no answer needed)

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

I think there is a financial advantage to making cigars larger as well. The cost of the extra tobacco in a 60RG cigar is minimal over what it would take to make a 45rg but the cost of rolling, packaging, and shipping is exactly the same, and a box of large cigars takes up almost the same amount of space on a B&Ms shelf. Larger RG cigars sell for more than smaller sized ones, so if an extra $20 can be made on a box of large cigars it's in the manufacturers, and retailers advantage to produce and sell products that that maximize their resources.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Four of my Non-Cigar smoking friends go to a B&M and buy cigars to smoke that night at a party. They all walk our with 55+RG sized churchill cigars. They had no idea what they bought, but they sure looked cool.

This is your majority.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

That's definitely an interesting take. I guess tradition can be ignored for some extra bucks.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Yea, I've definitely seen that before. I always figure the B&M owner would gently guide them in the other direction hehehe.

Maybe it's an advertising thing to challenge our machismo? I don't know, just trying to figure out why.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Brooks and I were at a B&M the other day and a guy walked up to us with a LFD Digger. Brooks asked him how he liked the cigar and he said it was "It's cool, what I like about this is that I can light it up at the beginning of a football game and smoke the cigar for three hours. If I bought two smaller cigars at $8 a pop I'd be paying $16 for the same amount of smoking time that I get from the Digger for $11."

Didn't say anything about the flavor or how good the cigar was, just that he liked the value.

So, people like big honking cigars. I'm not a fan of them, at all. Anything over 58RG is just uncomfortable for me to smoke, honestly. But cigar smokers as a whole prefer them, whether it's a "bargain" (as the guy stated above), because it's cool, or because they just honestly prefer a huge-ass cigar.

There have been quite a few 64 RG cigars coming out recently though, so is 64RG a new trend or have we just slowly ramped up to this size over the last decade? That's the question we'll have to wait and see answered.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Victor Sinclair has a few out that are 70 ring. I have smoked 60 ring cigars and enjoyed them, but I don't prefer them.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

That's some wonderful insight. Never thought about it from that perspective. My line of thinking in that situation would be along the lines of let me start off with something mild and light and move onto something full bodied and and spicy.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

I actually have a couple of those Big Surs. They've been sitting in the humi for about 7 years waiting for the right time.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Over the past 7-8 months I've turned a few of the "big cigar, big ring" less experienced smokers (in other words, members of the majority) into people who now prefer smaller ring gauge cigars. Funny, one of them is totally hooked on lanceros and coronas now - won't smoke anything else.

One of them was into the larger RG cigars because of the "better tobacco to dollar ratio". That was his primary reason for the 54-56RG toro sized cigars that he smoked - he hadn't even really tried the smaller cigars, he just went right for that extra $1 for the supersized McCigar.

Another was just basing it off what smoked on the golf course where a big cigar will last the better part of 9 holes.

Another reason I've often heard is that they prefer how the big cigars smoke cooler. Ok, makes sense if you aren't going to slow down when you smoke a thinner RG.

In all the cases, it was they simply didn't know any better - no one ever explained it to them. They just walked into a shop and bought what made sense to them.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

The problem is we're looking at it from the wrong angle. We love cigars and our hobby is to find that perfect cigar to smoke. The average cigar smoker is a lot less discerning that we are. I'll gladly pay another $5 to have two good cigars over saving $5 and smoking one mediocre cigar. Or I'll buy a small, dainty looking cigar knowing it's going to be a great little flavor bomb, because I don't care how I look smoking it.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

I think you will find many more large RG introductions at IPCPR(sp?) this fall. :2

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

I hope, its just passing us by. Because, I just don't have the time for 3 plus hour stick. -(P

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Not to mention that the thin RG cigars are more difficult to roll, meaning you need better (maybe higher paid / more experienced) rollers working for you to roll them.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

So much sadness in this thread for me ...

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

I would think it’s not made to be an everyday stick. And it is probably made for those that are or they are not to familiar with RG or don’t smoke at all and want to surprise someone.

I would name it the "show off" stick.
Or the occasion Cigar etc....

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

I started out smoking large RG cigars, It was the cool kid thing to do....dont 'ya know. After dropping (spitting) out a lit 54 RG torpedo in my lap and spitting a just lit MUWAT on a dirty shop floor I gave up, smoked up most of the bigger stuff or gave them away. Once I figured out how much more pleasure there is in a 36-46 RG cigar I don't see ever going back, Even in a cigar has some catchy marketing name (dirty hooker,toxic shock etc.) I will stick to the smaller ones thanks.

My A.D.D also likes the hour or less mark.:tu

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

f*ck 54 + rg cigars:noon

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Don't hold back how you really feel.:r

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

This. Been saying it for a while, but we're in a new boom. A lot of guys who never smoked before and won't after the novelty wears off in a while, following the credo of "bigger is better."

The pendulum will swing back, but it'll be a while.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Sheesh so much hate for the big RG Cigars. I personally enjoy the bigger RG cigars quite a bit. 6x60 is a perfectly manageable size for me and I can smoke on it for hours, plus the draw is usually looser so it has less chance of triggering a migraine. I don't smoke them exclusively by any means but they have their place. I also enjoy Toros, Robustos, PCs, Lanceros, Churchills, and a variety of other sizes, an occasional pipe is nice too. Variety is the spice of life after all.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Yep.

In fact, if you would like, you can see a list of all of the cigars that have been or will be released in 2012 (over 750 of them!) here:

http://www.halfwheel.com/2012newcigars/

Most have links to info about what the RGs are...here is a hint: LOTS of cigars over 56 RG.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Honestly, with a few exceptons, I do not smoke any RG above about 56 unless I am reviewing it.

Having said that, there are some cigars that are actually blended specifically for the larger RG that they come in...the Inch is one of those, and usually, if they are actually blended that way, then some of them can be quite good (I have not had the Inch yet, so don't know if that is the case with it, just using it as an example)...

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Thumbs up to pretty much everything being said here.

Of the movies listed in the cigars in cinema, what percentage of the cigars are lanceros, PCs, and coronas? The power of media and entertainment.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Lots oif the old westerns on there actually do have lancero and even cigarillo sized cigars.-(P

The mob films....not so much. :r

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Smoke what you like, like what you smoke. I prefer large ring gauge cigars, and have been smoking for many years now. I must be in the "minority" but obviously not if they keep making them. I have lots of time at work and home to enjoy them and I love the flavors in them. And the longer smoking time allows me to sit back, relax and just do lots of thinking.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

When I first started I saw the larger smokes as a greater value. It was just a $.50 or $1 more for a 7x54 than a robusto or smaller. And no way would I spend $10+ on a lancero?? I was hunting a bargain. Got my feet wet and smoked more small smokes after reading opinions at the old place and here. I can only guess the demand is from casual or beginning smokers. I also postulate that as members of a cigar forum we are in the minority of smokers. Those that buy the donkey phallus don't usually seem interested enough to join a forum and discuss them. We're outnumbered.

I'm still glad I had a chance to smoke them all; and I still curse the man who PIF'd me that first Party short. To paraphrase Brad: my ashtray is littered with the ashes of countless white whales trying to recapture that first experience..

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

And that's what really matters. It's just frustrating seeing new brands/blends coming out that only offer 52-60 ring gauge and even Habanos paring their catalogue and introducing bigger RG smokes. You can even tell the difference looking at the big established brands (from Altadis/General) that offer smokes in a variety of vitolas. I guess tradition can only go so far.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Of course! I'm just frustrated that more options aren't being offered

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

I was always under the impression that larger vitolas (churchills/double coronas) are more difficult to roll and require more experienced rollers.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

When we have had some of the more reknowned rollers roll cigars for group buys (La China, Hamlet, Taboada), I was told that they said the thinner RG took more skill. That's all second hand though, I have never met any of them.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

so what do you think about the Nub 4.0" x 60 great stick and big RG

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

My opinion? Trash. But smoke what you like, like what you smoke. ;)

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Just from my own experience, when I first started in cigar world, I was very status oriented as so I smoked Churchills, etc. not because I really liked them, but because they looked cool. Since that beginning, I've graduated to other sizes...I tend to like torpedoes and perfectos. My friends always grab the churchill's as well.

This has been my observation/experience too while at the NC factories.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

I like cigars....Now that I've gotten that out of the way, who am I to say that 64 and bigger is ridiculous. Smoke what you like, like what you smoke. Personally if it is a good stick I will smoke it. There is a market for everything hence why your seeing bigger smokes.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

I feel if a cigar is uncomfortable or awkward in the mouth, It's ridiculous. If the particular cigar is not available in a smaller vitola I can kinda see it. I will still pass thanks.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

I agree completely, but like others have stated there is a market for the fly by night smokers who think bigger is better. In their eyes it may be.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Again it's not just "fly by night smokers" that like bigger cigars. I am in no way a newb or a fly by night smoker. It gets old getting thrown into that group just because I like them. So now we have RG snobs on top of CC snobs? Really?

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Just as it gets old being thrown into the CC snob group because I smoke CCs. :rolleyes:

If the shoe doesn't fit, don't sweat it. I didn't see anyone claiming YOU were part of the "fly by night smokers"
I could care less that people think I am a CC snob. They obviously don't know me. As far as I am concerned, those peckerheads can judge me all they want.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

I was talking about another member here that looks down on those of us that don't partake in CC's. But that's ok. I've never been called refined or distinguished . I am what I am. And proud of it.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

*Doesn't like CCs
*Likes large RGs
*Doesn't claim to be distinguished
*Doesn't claim to be refined
*Never got a pony for Xmas

JK MIB, you know I love you, even though you are a LRG NC snob! You and Taki both, Hahah.


I stay away from larger RGs, they just feel wrong.
I try to stay under a 54 if possible, I thought for a while I was going to be into only lanceros and panatela RGs but have really enjoyed some robustos and coronas recently that opened up my mind a bit.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Some have said I have the palate of a goat, but no one has ever said I had the jaw of a gorilla! Sorry no big ring gauges for me.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Like a lot of folks here, I started out with the larger RG stuff. LGC Serie R were my favorite for a long time. Now I doubt there is a single cigar over 50rg that I would buy. Now, 9/10 of the cigars I smoke are Corona/PC.

Re: The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge
 

Don't worry about it. There's Tat snobs out there too you know:sh

But really, 64 rg cigar is redic:r