Note: for the purpose of this post, when I say "torpedo," I am referring to any cigar (belicoso, pyramide, etc) with a pointy head.

Looking through my collection of cigar catalogs, I can't help but notice that most of the photos used are of torpedoes. CI even offers samplers where every stick is a torpedo. Is there some kind of unspoken favoritism towards torpedoes among the cigar intelligentsia? Or do the pictures of torpedoes just look better to the buying public?

I have to admit, if I am going to try a cigar that is brand new to me, and it is available in multiple sizes, I will more often than not reach for a torpedo shaped one. I have a Camacho triple maduro torpedo in my travel humi right now. I also have an RP Edge missle in there.

However, if a torpedo is not available, I will tend to buy what seems like the biggest bang for the buck. If a robusto is one price, but the churchill is only 40 cents more, I will always go for the churchill. Plus, I rarely nub my sticks, I usually pitch them with about 1.5-2 inches left. Because of that, a robusto (that I'd only smoke 3 inches of) really doesn't provide enough smoking satisfaction for me.

As an aside, that's one of the big reasons I've never ordered from Famous Smoke Shop. I find most of their samplers tend to be robusto sized and overpriced. When I was looking at the catalogs, I found that most of the CI samplers I was interested in were $50-60 for 20 torpedo or toro sized sticks. But the Famous samplers were $70-80 for 15-20 robustos.

More general question to those who feel like chiming in: Does shape of the cigar affect the flavor THAT much?
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Naw, I don't think so.
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Yes, I feel it does. I've had Coronas or smaller that were stellar and then had it's big brother (i.e. Robusto, Churchill, etc.) and the flavors were nowhere near as robust and full as they were in the smaller smoke. Binder/Filler/Wrapper ratio plays a big part in flavor IMO and the smaller sticks are without question a better ratio than the big ones. :-)
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I have found that you can tell quite a bit about the construction quality of a line of cigars by smoking a few belis/torps. Usually it is the size I try first.
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I agree that within a line there often is a pretty wide range of variance among the different vitolas, for the reasons Darrell points out. I also tend to agree that the belis/torps are a good indicator of construction quality within a line. I like them because they're a way to enjoy a larger ring gauge vitola without having to do the largemouth bass thing.
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Isn't this description more about "size" than about "shape, D?
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In the OP, I should have used what I think is the more appropriate, technical term "vitola."

So, it should have been Does the vitola of the cigar affect the flavor THAT much?

In this case, I mean vitola to refer to the combination of both size and shape. So, Darrell was really answering the question I intended, but failed to ask properly.
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That may be what draws me to them as well. I know that for huge rg sticks, like nubs, I much prefer the pointy ones. Smoking a 60+ rg stick for an hour or more is a real jawbuster.
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Man, how many times did I hear that from both ex-wives...:-)

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I find the torpedo shape to be more satisfying in the hand. Usually though, their increased price drives me to try another size.
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Isn't size and shape relative especially in this case?
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Belicosos and Torpedos come in different lengths and RGs, so it could have been different issues, My Brother. :-)
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Ah true enough. I always forget that. :-)
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Torpedos "look" better in a catalog, especially to newbies.
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While I tend to agree with you on this, it is not an absolute as you have stated it. I have found that some lines actually taste better in a larger RG. However, I agree that most are better in a smaller RG.
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As a matter of personal preference I think torpedos and other figurados just look pretty. Does it affect the taste? sure but that doesn't mean they always taste better. I think it depends entirely on the line and your taste. Bolivar BFs are real pretty and I'll smoke one every once in a while for this reason alone but many people feel they aren't the best of the line. On the other hand I prefer the Tatuaje Unicos because I feel they are the tastiest and not because I prefer the shape.
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I think there might be something to it. I also seem to scout out the torpedo version of a smoke I haven't tried before if it's available. Unless of course there's a veritable price difference. For example, most torpedoes at my shop run about a dollar more in price that, say the toro. But the Diamond Crown cigars...the robusto is $14, whereas the Pyramide is $22.50. WTF? I'll try the robusto, thank you...
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For me a fuller body cigar taste better with a belicoso
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Nothing to do with how they look in the magazine, but I like the feel of the torp better in the teeth where as the box press drives me nuts.

Could it be that marketing has determined the point or tip entices more people to buy over a standard cigar shape? Maybe it adds to the prestige of the cigar when it is unique in shape?

After saying all of that, I tend to hit the robustos and coronas most of the time.
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I like a Torpedo or Toro myself. I honestly don't think I have a real size or shape preference, but longer sticks with around a 50-55 rg seem to always be the best of any particular blend.
I think it's because blenders use that size to craft a cigar and then the smaller ones are mathematically deduced as close as possible to use as close a ratio of tobacco as possible while minimizing waste.
Sometimes the smaller cigars with the "tweaked" blend of it's larger counterpart is actually better, but it hasn't happened often in my experience.
Take lanceros for instance. They almost always suck. :-)
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