If you've ever perused the aisles of your local stogie shop or read our cigar length and ring size guide, you’ve probably noticed not all cigars are the same shape. While most are straight sticks, others have tapered tips at one or both ends, and some have bulges.
These distinctive shapes are called Figurados, and they're worth adding to your collection. If you've only ever smoked classic Parejos cigars in the past, this guide will help you understand what you're missing and give you some suggestions to try.
The joy of trying different shapes
Aficionados smoke unusually-shaped cigars not just because they look good. The various shapes of cigars (whether that's a standard Parejos vitola or a Figurado cigar shape) can provide as much of a new experience as a different wrapper tobacco or filler blend.
The shape of a cigar is a huge part of its character and directly impacts its flavor profile and smoke strength. That's why, over the years, certain shapes have emerged as common favorites.
Parejos cigars
Parejos cigars are what you might think of as the 'standard' shape, with a consistent cigar length and ring size along the whole of the stick. This includes classic round/cylindrical cigars, as well as box-pressed cigars that have a square cross-section.
You can get Parejos cigars in different sizes or 'vitolas'. However, anything that changes in shape along its length—whether it tapers, bulges, or something else—is not a Parejos, but a Figurado.
Figurado cigars
Figurado cigars are any shape other than a straight-sided cylinder (or a 'flattened' box-pressed cylinder). Common Figurado cigar shapes include tapered tips, twists and bulges. Luckily, each Figurado shape has its own name, making them easy to search for.
Here are some of the most common Figurado cigar shapes, along with our suggestions of what you should try next.
Torpedo
Torpedo cigars are often the first Figurados to be tried by newcomers. The familiar name is a perfect fit for these straight-bodied cigars with a curved head, which concentrates the smoke into a smaller area.
If you want to experience the focused impact of smoking a Torpedo, try Rocky Patel The Edge Habano Torpedo Tray, a 6 x 52 stick with full strength.
Pyramid
Pyramid Figurado cigars are tapered along their entire length, giving them a cone shape (or, if you stand the cigar on its larger end, a tall pyramid shape). They may also be referenced by their Spanish spelling, so you’ll sometimes see them as Piramide or Pyramide cigars.
The cone shape isn't always too noticeable. One of our favorite Pyramids is the Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Pyramide Maduro, which is just a little wider at the foot.
Belicoso
Belicoso cigars are sometimes described as 'short Pyramids' with a typical cigar length of 5 to 5.5 inches. Their tapered head helps to define their shape and set them apart from straight-edged Pyramids.
A great starting point is Long Live The King by Robert Caldwell. The 5.5 x 52 Belicoso vitola has everything you need to get to grips with this Figurado.
Perfecto
Perfecto cigars are tapered at both ends (though not always by the same amount). Sometimes they will have a bulge in the middle, which makes them burn slower through the middle third.
This is a Figurado best to experience in the form of an expertly-rolled premium handmade cigar. You'll find none better than Southern Draw Firethorn Perfecto, which is an absolute delight from AJ Fernandez.
Culebra
You'll know when you've seen a Culebra cigar, as this is one of the most distinctive Figurado cigar shapes. The name is Spanish for 'snake', and it's actually not one but three slender Panatelas braided together.
To smoke a Culebra, untie the ribbon or string, separate the cigars and smoke them individually. It's a great bonding experience if you have two friends to share with.
Does the shape affect the smoking experience?
The shape of a Figurado cigar can affect the smoking experience in a similar way to how the cigar length and ring size affect a Parejos. As the cigar gets wider, it burns more slowly and at a lower temperature, bringing more of the fillers through in the flavor profile.
Narrow parts of a Figurado cigar will typically burn faster and hotter, but that's not all the shape means. A narrow head will also concentrate the smoke into the draw, intensifying the flavors and the mouthfeel.
Trying out different cigar shapes is a great way to widen your smoking experience and one you must try for yourself. Buy Figurado cigars today and start your journey through a whole new world of cigar shapes and sizes!