Why should light smokers buy petit coronas?

[ElPuro]

Didn't want to hijack another thread but was curious if other light smokers buy/smoke petit corona. I have a few boxes but always reach for bigger smokes even in winter (use a heater to stay warm) just because bigger smokes offer a broader experience. Am I the only one?

Edit: Light is meant to refer to those who smoke 1 or 2 sticks per week. Sorry for vague terms.

[NSXCIGAR]

Larger cigars are certainly preferred by many but in my experience, the last 20 years doesn't make bigger better. I've never really felt cigars with 38-46 RG suffer in blend quality or complexity.

Now, length of experience is a different story. There are certainly times where I'm in the mood for a 90 min+ cigar, but do I feel that cigars less than 46 RG suffer in terms of overall experience? No.

I hope I understood your post.

[ElPuro]

Not so much on ring gauge, but length and depth of experience.

[zrotfus]

Do you mean light smokers as in, infrequent?

[Hunter1974]

I like them all and keep different sizes for different purposes . Daily I like 35 to 42 ring gauge for parties or watching sports I break out the big boys . what do you mean by light ?

[SCgarman]

Petit Corona is my favorite vitola next to Robusto and they both provide a great smoking experience. Both also last about the same around 60-70 minutes, my perfect time frame.

[riazp]

I feel that PC's provide alot of complexity. Bolivar PC, RASSC, Party Shorts, Boli CJ, my dearly departed Dip 4. I love this vitola. perfect 45 min smoke. This and robustos.

[wabashcr]

PCs are, in my opinion, the vitola Cuba does best, or at least most consistently. I find Cuban PCs to be incredibly flavorful, more than adequately complex, and extremely reliable in construction. I can usually get an hour of smoke time out of a PC, so I'm rarely left wanting more.

I smoke a handful of cigars a week, maybe a few more in spring/fall, less in winter. I don't think that qualifies me as a light smoker. I guess I could see where someone who only smokes once a week or a couple times a month might want a longer experience. I don't think that necessarily equates to a fuller experience.

[dicko]

I feel that PC's provide alot of complexity. Bolivar PC, RASSC, Party Shorts, Boli CJ, my dearly departed Dip 4. I love this vitola. perfect 45 min smoke. This and robustos.

PCs are, in my opinion, the vitola Cuba does best, or at least most consistently. I find Cuban PCs to be incredibly flavorful, more than adequately complex, and extremely reliable in construction.

I agree with our broithers above. I don't think frequency of smoking changes that PC's are usually good quality smokes.

cheers mates

[WhiteMamba]

If you have more time just smoke 2. Everyone is different I guess. Smoking one large cigar is a big commitment. Smoking a pc means you can switch it up and smoke two different marcas or the same amazing stick twice. Plus, if something comes up you aren't out as much as you would be with a larger vitola.

[Habana Mike]

Probably have smoked more Coronas, Marevas and Minutos than all other vitolas combined as both a liight and not so light smoker.

[SipIt]

For me it's almost the opposite. The more frequently I smoke, I tend to grab pc's and other small vitolas. When I smoke less, one a week to one a month, then I tend to make the time for larger vitolas.

[foursite12]

To me vitola is related to the particulars of the event. Cuppa or espresso = minutos/PC. Malt and friends or summer night on the deck with a book = Churchill/DC, regardless of how frequently you indulge.

[irratebass]

Ok, so I AM gonna hijack this thread.

When I 1st started smoking back in in 2011 (99% NC's) I reached for the big rg's 54-58....could never get into 60+ and would go for Toros mostly, but after 5yrs of smoking I have decided that the smaller the rg the better when it comes to flavors.

So, my question is does this also count for cc's? is the smaller the rg better? I understand that everyone has different palates, but just out of curiosity I guess.

[riazp]

Ok, so I AM gonna hijack this thread.

When I 1st started smoking back in in 2011 (99% NC's) I reached for the big rg's 54-58....could never get into 60+ and would go for Toros mostly, but after 5yrs of smoking I have decided that the smaller the rg the better when it comes to flavors.

So, my question is does this also count for cc's? is the smaller the rg better? I understand that everyone has different palates, but just out of curiosity I guess.

IMO, simply put, Yes.

[Smallclub]

So, my question is does this also count for cc's? is the smaller the rg better?

Not really, at least not always. I would rather say: the smaller=the more intense/concentrated, you gain flavors but you (often) lose complexity and comfort/roundness.

For instance, I love the Monte 4 (42rg) and Monte 5 (39rg) as they offer me a concentrate of what I prefer in the Montecristo blend.

A contrario, I like the SCdLH El Principe but I prefer the bigger vitolas of the marca, which flavors are cleaner and rounder.

[irratebass]

Interesting Smallclub, thanks for the response

[wabashcr]

I would say for many NCs (of course not all), the wrapper leaf is much more flavorful than what you get from the filler. So the higher wrapper/filler ratio is more desirable for these. I think the wrapper's impact on a Cuban blend isn't generally as profound, so the wrapper/filler ratio isn't as important. Obviously these are very gross generalizations, but I've found them to be true more often than not.

[PigFish]

I generally prefer medium and thin ring cigars. Fat cigars offer a high price with "0" taste benefit (MHO). Burning a pile of filler has never been an enhancement in taste and I figure there is no benefit in paying for tobacco that is not necessary to satisfy my liking.

I think that there were greater variations in cigars before many of the PC's were discontinued. That is the shame of it! Hell, I might just have to pick up a RAPC to smoke today, just in their honor!

Cheers! -Piggy

[Orion21]

The smaller cigars blended to be flavorful usually are very good. There is nothing like a good Partagas shot with a coffee or a good Boli PC in the evening before dinner. I love the PC, and smaller, cigars. I recently purchased a box of 2008 SCDLH El Principe and I can't wait to burn my first.

The larger ring gauges do get the press, that is for sure, but I would disagree with my friend the Pig that they are a waste. Some of them pack huge amounts of flavor, but you have to be willing to sit for 1.5+ hours to truly enjoy them. That being said they are expensive and your best bang for your buck will easily be a good box of PC (or smaller) cigars.

[PigFish]

The smaller cigars blended to be flavorful usually are very good. There is nothing like a good Partagas shot with a coffee or a good Boli PC in the evening before dinner. I love the PC, and smaller, cigars. I recently purchased a box of 2008 SCDLH El Principe and I can't wait to burn my first.

The larger ring gauges do get the press, that is for sure, but I would disagree with my friend the Pig that they are a waste. Some of them pack huge amounts of flavor, but you have to be willing to sit for 1.5+ hours to truly enjoy them. That being said they are expensive and your best bang for your buck will easily be a good box of PC (or smaller) cigars.

... it is not that I have never smoked a good larger ring cigar. I smoked an '06 BBF on Sunday and while I would not have called it a great cigar, it was not one that I disliked!

I still stand behind my philosophy that any cigar, vitola, looks, wrapper, oils, smells notwithstanding, can be the very best cigar you ever smoked. This is Cuba! This is the Cuban cigar...

Smaller cigars and their pungent nature are just my preference.

Cheers mate! -R

[Orion21]

... it is not that I have never smoked a good larger ring cigar. I smoked an '06 BBF on Sunday and while I would not have called it a great cigar, it was not one that I disliked!

I still stand behind my philosophy that any cigar, vitola, looks, wrapper, oils, smells notwithstanding, can be the very best cigar you ever smoked. This is Cuba! This is the Cuban cigar...

Smaller cigars and their pungent nature are just my preference.

Cheers mate! -R

We agree. I guess I just haven't written off larger cigars 100% yet. Considering my recent buying I'm not even close. However, I will concede that when one of my large cigars falls flat the disappointment I feel is amplified because I just put down $15+ cigar that's now taunting me from the ashtray. So to make things better I normally reach for a PC and I'm almost never disappointed. Not that it happens often, but when it does my can't miss, make me feel better, cigars are my Boli or Upmann PC's.

[ElAbogado]

For me it is about smoking time more than anything else. I only smoke 1-3 a week on average, but I am very rarely looking to spend 2+ hours in one sitting. I am also a very slow smoker. Aside from a few corona gordas my collection is almost entirely minutos and robustos. Minutos for 45-60 minutes, robustos for 75=85 minutes. Minutos probably being my absolute favorite vitola.

[Bill Hayes]

I am a light smoker - usually just smoking one or two cigars on a weekend. Then perhaps I won't have a cigar for a month, depending on the situation or the weather. I can see your point ElPuro about reaching for larger gauge cigars to get a broader experience and make the most of the moment. My tendency to not smoke all that often means that I try and purchase the best quality. But lately, unless aged, I have found that the larger gauge cigars will make me feel a touch queasy at times - depending on the cigar of course. When we could smoke in bars or beer gardens I would always smoke more and would reach for smaller gauge cigars like the Trinidad Reyes and the Partagas SDC No 3. Unfortunately, the inconsistency of the Reyes and the discontinuation of the Party SDC line coupled with anti-smoking laws has changed my behaviour. Lately, though, I have been looking for a range of easy smoking afternoon cigars seeing as I do most of my smoking alone on my balcony during the day. So, I have tended towards thinner gauge cigars like the Cohiba Corona Especial since my box of Party SDC No 2 from 2001 ran out last year. I'm always on the lookout too for aged offerings. Alas, I haven't found a cigar that offered me the complexity in a small cigar like the early Reyes did. Hence, my habit of not buying boxes but lots of different singles or sample packs etc.

[earthson]

PC just seem the perfect size in many of the brands that offer them. I typically find their flavors much more intense and complex than in a larger format.