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CIGAR SHAPES AND SIZES
How the shape and structure can effect the draw and taste:
Cone, Wedge, Pyramid, Torpedo
Assuming that all things being equal and that the cigars are all made from well aged and matured tobacco leaf, different shapes and cigar lengths can and do alter the taste of the cigar.
A wedge or cone shaped cylinder will always draw the smoke down a narrowing funnel towards the tip, concentrating the taste into a smaller and smaller area, thereby supplying a nice full tasting smoke. This concentration can be adjusted to an extent, by the size of the aperture created by the cut to the mouthpiece. The smaller the cut and the smaller the opening, the stronger and more concentrated the taste. Conversely the larger the aperture and the larger the cut, constructs a larger opening at the mouth of the cigar, then the easier the draw and the more constant the taste, but without a lot of the strength.
47 Churchill, 44 Corona, Half Corona, and 52 Double Corona
The length and ring size of a cigar will also change and alter the perceived taste with another things remaining equal except the ring size and length of the actual cigar being smoked.
The longer the cigar, the stronger the cigar will taste as it reduces in size. This is because all the complexities are being drawn down the length of the cigar in front of the burning leading edge. However, if the tobacco is young and not matured there will be a surfeit of residual ammonia which is inherent in tobacco that is rushed to market and rolled into cigars. This is what causes the so-called bitter taste in some cigars. As all Hannibal Cigars are made from well matured and aged tobacco this bitterness is avoided and is not present.
In general, the longer the cigar and the larger the ring size the more continuous and constant taste draws through the entire cigar obviously in a larger volume than in from a smaller and shorter cigar. This is where personal taste dictates the size and shape of your own choice of cigar.
The most adaptable and enjoyed cigar world wide is the 44 ring size Corona. Large enough to give a comfortable draw and long enough to satisfy both taste and the average time frame of twenty minutes to half an hour, depending if you are engrossed in conversation or just meditating with a good brandy.
For the quick enjoyable cigar during a drive to an appointment, and where you will have to put it out when you arrive, the Hannibal Excelencia Infanta (half corona) has got be the choice because it saves having to be stubbed out and spoiled. It will just lost long enough to get you there.
Smaller ring size Cigars 35 and 39, Panatela's and hand made cigarillos.
These cigars will burn more quickly and thus provide a shorter smoking time. However providing they are packed to the right consistency and of sufficient quality leaf, they will provide a moderately full taste without the headiness of a full flavor large ring size seven inch BIG ONE. Some long thin 35 or 39 ring size cigars of matured tobacco will be found to be very satisfying and a full smooth smoke.
The Big Ring Sizes, Double Churchills, Double Coronas, Big Fat Robustos. 50, and 52 .
There is no doubt that a lot of people, especially in the US and North America in General, love these large ring size cigars. As mentioned earlier, they can provide an hours delightful continuous constant tasting smoke, evenly distributing all of the complexities of a truly delightful 7/1 inch Hannibal Premo de Premo or Premo del Mundo, or a shorter full Robusto like the Poca de Paz or Poco Dulce which crams a full smoke into a Fat Five Inch 52 ring size Robusto. However the 5 inch 52 ring size Torpedo aptly named the Barracuda by Hannibal really squeezes the the taste out. The writer's own choice is the 5 1/2 inch Pyramid called the Hannibal OBELISCO with its 52 ring size and tapered end. A pure delight.
For those of you that like to strike the rakish pose, there is the unique Havana Wedge or EL JUMBO which is more rough and rugged a construction but still as smooth and satisfying s it was in the Havana of the early 20's. This is a great cigar for the sportsman on the golf course or race track.
How the large commercial makers using high speed hand-rollers can result in too tightly packed pyramids and torpedos thus effecting the draw:
The problem with cigars drawing badly is usually down to one of two causes. Either young and 'green' tobacco leaves are being used (leaves not dried or ages long enough to mature) or that the cigar rollers are rolling the tobacco too tightly.
Although almost all professional experienced cigar rollers know exactly how much pressure to excerpt on the roll of tobacco leaf ther is one basic problem related to commercialization. Most rollers will roll between 125 to 150 cigars an hour. In some cigar huses the owners push their rollers to produce more and thus in some cases achieve 200 cigars. This has the effect of the roller pressing the leaf tighter in the effort to maintain the higher output thus 'squeezing the half formed cigar wad tighter and tighter. At Hannibal Cigars we are lucky if our rollers achieve 85 cigars as the atmosphere is one of laid back comraderie chuckles and laughter, supported by the continuous sounds of rhumba and merengie music from an antique speaker.
 Our FIFTEEN shapes and sizes of Hannibal Cigars are usually available in up to four different modes of packaging.
- Highly Polished Mahogany Boxes, Heat Branded Elephant Logo inside lid These traditional high quality polished mahogany boxes could be used with a humidifying element, as a small humidifier after the first few cigars are used. Four year aged tobacco prior to hand rolling create aged vintage cigars when stored for up to another six years in their individual boxes. REGULAR contents 25 cigars each box and some times available boxed in 50's Extreme High Quality for the Connaseur Aficionado.
- Natural Raw smooth Mahogany Slider lid Box. Heat Branded Elephant Logo on outside of slider lid. These traditional plain wood boxes with heat burned branded elephant logo on top of the outside of the slider are usually used to hold 5 aged . cigars. Making them a handy portable asset and gift. REGULAR contents 5 cigars each box .
This packaging and variations of aged and vintage tobaccos all go together to produce over 61 different variations of quality, shapes and sizes.
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