Vitolas Explained: Cigar Shapes, Sizes, and Ring Gauges

What Is a Vitola?

A vitola is a cigar's formal shape and size. The name encodes both the length and the ring gauge — the diameter measured in sixty-fourths of an inch. A Robusto, for example, is roughly 5 inches long with a 50 ring gauge, meaning 50/64 of an inch across.

Parejos: The Straight-Sided Classics

Parejos are the familiar straight-bodied cigars with a rounded head and an open foot. Common examples:

• Robusto — about 5 x 50; the modern standard.
• Toro — about 6 x 50 to 6 x 52; a slightly longer Robusto.
• Churchill — about 7 x 47; longer, slower, more contemplative.
• Corona — about 5.5 x 42; the historic benchmark size.
• Lancero — about 7.5 x 38; slender and wrapper-forward.
• Gordo — 60 ring gauge and up; thick and cool-burning.

Figurados: The Shaped Cigars

Figurados depart from the straight cylinder. Torpedoes taper to a point at the head; belicosos have a rounded cone; perfectos are tapered at both ends. The pointed head concentrates the smoke and lets the smoker cut to taste.

Why Shape Matters

Wider cigars burn cooler and present more wrapper to the palate; thinner ones concentrate the blend and can feel more intense. Length governs how long the experience lasts and how the cigar evolves from light to finished. The vitola is not a marketing label — it is part of the recipe.