The Case of the Expanding Ring Gauge

[area51]

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.

[jluck]

Originally Posted by area51

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.

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.

[area51]

Originally Posted by jluck

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.

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.

[maninblack]

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?

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by maninblack

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?

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

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.

[maninblack]

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.

[Blak Smyth]

Originally Posted by maninblack

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.

*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.

[Mikepd]

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.

[hammondc]

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.

Originally Posted by maninblack

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?

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

But really, 64 rg cigar is redic

[Mr. Ed]

Originally Posted by area51

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.

The only problem with this ring gauge issue is that it doesn't seem to be limited to one brand or a few brands, but is happening all across the board with new releases and even CCs.

[massphatness]

Originally Posted by area51

There is a market for everything hence why your seeing bigger smokes.

Cigars are a market-driven commodity. (For other statements of the obvious, please check out my blog: Don't_You_Know_Who_I_Think_I_Am.com ) Obviously, these larger RG sticks are in high demand. What depresses me is fewer and fewer new offerings of smaller RG smokes as well as the discontinuation of a lot short & skinnies. Moe was recently in NYC hob-nobbing with an owner from an LCDH in Germany, and the guy was saying something like 90%+ of his sales were robusto-sized sticks. NINETY PERCENT! That's not fly by night ...

Originally Posted by pnoon

those peckerheads can judge me all they want.

[Mr. Ed]

Originally Posted by maninblack

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?

No. Nobody was trying to lump anyone into this group or that. I was just commenting on a trend I've noticed (from my point of view somewhat disappointing) that manufacturers are not releasing many small ring gauge cigars anymore with their new brands and that even CCs (which come from a very long tradition) are showing signs of this trend. I was simply seeking an answer as to why, which went beyond, "that's what the people want." I guess the second question was, why do people want to smoke large RG cigars? If you read through the thread, I think there are a few good answers to both questions.

[Silound]

Originally Posted by icehog3

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.

I was told by an Altadis rep that if you looked at cigar manufacturing as bunchers (the people who actually roll the tobacco, bind it, and put it into forms) and finishers (the people who apply the wrapper), the harder job was always bunching a larger smoke and finishing the smaller smokes.

This may not be the case for companies that manufacture cigars start to finish by one roller, I really don't know.



Personally, as a hobbyist and enthusiast, I find there's a certain blend-to-size feeling I get with some cigars. I like the original La Aroma de Cuba in a 60rg more than any other size, but I can't stand Pepin Black Labels in anything over a 52. Just some blends lean themselves towards a larger ring better than others. Perdomo Lot 23 is another smoke I don't like in anything other than the 4x60 size. Can't even begin to explain why on that one.

[oooo35980]

Originally Posted by jluck

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.

I think what you mean is uncomfortable or awkward in your mouth. Like I said I don't have any trouble smoking a 6x60 or larger, it isn't like you have to be a snake and unhinge your jaw to smoke the larger RG cigars.

[Brutus2600]

Originally Posted by maninblack

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?

And that's ok that you DO like larger cigars Kevin. There are good, larger RG cigars out there. The Cain F 660, MUWAT (7, 6, and 5 x 60), and even the 6 x 64 Casa Magna Gigantores (even though made me sick it was so strong) are all pretty good, big-ass cigars.

I know you smoke good cigars and I'm sure you don't just walk into a B&M and choose a cigar simply and singularly based on it's size. I think those are the cigar consumers we're talking about (well, at least I am).

Hell, I'm a self professed small RG and lancero lover, but I will still on occasion and depending on what activity I'm about to do, grab a long, large RG cigar. If you have a lot of time at home to smoke I can't fault you for grabbing something that fits the bill

However if you start smoking the Puros Indios Chief on the regular we might need to have a talk

[CRIMPS]

Originally Posted by massphatness

Cigars are a market-driven commodity. (For other statements of the obvious, please check out my blog: Don't_You_Know_Who_I_Think_I_Am.com ) Obviously, these larger RG sticks are in high demand. What depresses me is fewer and fewer new offerings of smaller RG smokes as well as the discontinuation of a lot short & skinnies. Moe was recently in NYC hob-nobbing with an owner from an LCDH in Germany, and the guy was saying something like 90%+ of his sales were robusto-sized sticks. NINETY PERCENT! That's not fly by night ...

Yep. This is what bothers me. Smoke what you want. I don't care. But don't discontinue the stuff I prefer.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by maninblack

So now we have RG snobs on top of CC snobs? Really?

Having a preference makes one a "snob"? Then aren't you a large RG snob?

Originally Posted by maninblack

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.

I'm sorry. I only look down on those members that I am taller than.

[smitty81]

I had my first 60 ga. cigar the other day. I thought it was to big but once I started smoking it, I didn't mind it.

I don't think I would like anything bigger though.

Originally Posted by Mr. Ed

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?

Great topic idea!

When I first started smoking cigars I liked the HUGE ring gauges. Now I find myself preferring cigars that are right in the middle i.e., 50-52