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UNDER
THE WRAPPER
Informed information about Cuban Cigars
February 2002 Issue #6
wrapper@ajaxcigars.com
Welcome
to Issue #6 of
UNDER THE WRAPPER
Archived
copies of the newsletters are available on the web site but
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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> Welcome
=> Feature Article - Cuban Vitolas de Galera
=> Quotable Quotes & Cigar Stories
=> Spotlight - Our Newsletter Special
=> Reader Feedback Invited
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
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WELCOME
------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks
for the feedback on last months issue about Counterfeit Cuban
Cigars. Here is a typical response we received about the article.
"Number
5 is a great issue. Keep up the good work. MORE MORE MORE
on
counterfeit cigars!"
Kevin
Brackett
The
article was picked up by a couple of the major cigar internet
news
sites, one in the US and one in Europe. I hope it saves some
readers
a few bucks. I promise to do a follow up article down the
road.
The most important feature of a newsletter is that it serves
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readers. To do that properly the newsletter must be reader
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I remember I guy I know who did a late night radio show and
always
wondered if he was just talking to himself at 3:00 AM. I could
always
tell when the paranoia got to bad - he would say "Give
me a call and I'll
get those requests played right away." Well there are
times I get that
feeling. Does anybody read this stuff? Is it the kind of information
about Cuban cigars your looking for? I don't know what you
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FEATURE ARTICLE - CUBAN VITOLAS DE GALERA
BYLINE: Rafael Bernardo
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This
article is number three in a series designed to reduce some
of the
confusion regarding Cuban cigars. In issue #1 we discussed
the strengths
and flavors of the various brands or marquees. In issue #2
we talked
about blending for strength and flavor. Senor Bernardo has
done a lot of
work in cataloguing the relationship between the brand names
and their
common denominator, the names used by the factories to distinguish
each
type of cigar made.
A
special thanks to Rafael Bernardo for allowing us to use his
article.
Rafael has a great web site at www.mycigarsite.com
There
are not less than 80 different formats of hand-made and machine-made
Havana cigars, most of them are described in this page. Their
lengths vary
from 3 7/8 to 9 1/4 inches, while their ring gauges vary between
26 and 52.
Some of the cigar names, like Panetelas, are used to denominate
vitolas in
different Havana brands, although their measures are not always
the same.
For instance, a Romeo y Julieta Panetela measures 4 5/8"
x 34, while a
Cohíba Panetela measures 4 1/2" x 26.
On the other hand, cigars of the same format receive different
commercial
names. For example, a 7" x 47 cigar, usually known as
Churchill, can be
named as Prince of Wales, Coronas Gigantes or Espléndidos
depending on
whether has it been manufactured by Romeo y Julieta, Bolívar
or Cohíba,
respectively.
Fortunately, there is a comprehensive relation of names for
each Havana
format, that used by the people who makes them at the factory.
They employ
a unique denomination or Vitola de Galera to distinguish each
type of cigar.
Here
are 77 of these denominations, with their measurements and
some
examples of the commercial names (or Vitolas de Salida) given
to them by
the most well known Cuban brands:
HAND
MADE ONLY
ALMUERZOS
- 5 1/8" x 40 (130 x 15.87 mm)
HM Le Hoyo du Prince
BRITÁNICAS
- 5 3/8" x 46 (137 x 18.26 mm)
RJ Celestiales Finos
CADETES
- 4 1/2" x 36 (115 x 14.29 mm)
FO K.D.T. Cadetes, HU Petit Palatinos
CAMPANAS
- 5 1/2" x 52 (140 x 20.64 mm)
BO Belicosos Finos, RJ Belicosos, SC La Punta, SP Belicosos
CARLOTAS
- 5 5/8" x 35 (143 x 13.89 mm)
HM Jeanne d'Arc, PA Charlottes, PA Serie du Connaisseur No.3,
RM Isabel
CAROLINAS
- 4 3/4" x 26 (121 x 10.32 mm)
HM Margaritas, PA Ramonitas, PU Margaritas, RA Ramonitas
CAZADORES
- 6 3/8" x 44 (162 x 17.46 mm)
FO Fonseca No.1, RJ Cazadores
CERVANTES
- 6 1/2" x 42 (165 x 16.67 mm)
BO Gold Medal, DH Malecón, DP No.1, HU Cinco Bocas,
HU Upmann No.1,
LG Cetros, MC No.1, QU Churchills, RJ Cedros de Luxe No.1,
SP Dorados,
SP Molinos, VR Clásicos
* Also named LONSDALES in: BO, HU, PA, PL, RG, RM and SL
CORONAS
- 5 5/8" x 42 (142 x 16.67 mm)
DF Château Latour, DH Mojito, DP No.3, HU Royal Coronas,
HU Upmann No.3,
HM Hoyo Coronas, HM Le Hoyo du Roi, HM Opera, HM Royal Coronations,
MC No.3, PA Coronas A. Mejorado, PU Royal Coronations, QO
Coronas Claro,
QO Coronas Claro Claro, QU Coronas Selectas, RA 8-9-8 (unvarnished),
RJ Cedros de Luxe No.2, RJ Romeo No.1 de Luxe, RM Coronas
de Luxe,
SP Tronquitos, VR Familiares
* Also named CORONAS in: BO, HU, JL, PA, PL, PU, QU, RA, RJ,
SL and SP
CORONAS
GORDAS - 5 5/8" x 46 (143 x 18.26 mm)
CO Siglo IV, DF 5000, FC Gran Corona, HM Epicure No.1, HU
Magnum 46,
HU Super Coronas, JL Selección No.1, PU Black Prince,
PU Punch Punch,
PU Royal Selection No.11, PU Super Selection No.2, RG Coronas
Extra,
RJ Exhibición No.3, RM Gran Corona, SL Serie A
CORONAS
GRANDES - 6 1/8" x 42 (155 x 16.67 mm)
CO Siglo III, DF 4000, DF Câteau Mouton Rothchild, DH
Tubos,
HM Le Hoyo des Dieux, LG Sabrosos, MC Tubos, PA 8-9-8 (unvarnished),
PA Coronas Grandes, PU Super Selection No.1, QO Gran Corona,
RJ Coronas Grandes
COSACOS
- 5 3/8" x 42 (135 x 16.67 mm)
FO Cosacos, HU Cristales, HU Noellas, HU Short Coronas, LG
Tapados,
MC Montecristo B, PA Astorias, PU Nacionales, RJ Nacionales
DALIAS
- 6 3/4" x 43 (170 x 17.07 mm)
BO Inmensas, CO Siglo V, LG Medaille d'Or No.2, PA 8-9-8 (varnished),
PA Partagás de Partagás No.1, PA Selección
Privada No.1,
RA 8-9-8 (varnished)
DELICADOS
- 7 1/2" x 38 (192 x 15.08 mm)
PA Serie du Connaisseur No.1, RM Grandes de España
DELICADOS
EXTRA - 7 1/4" x 36 (185 x 14.29 mm)
LG Medaille d'Or No.1
ENTREACTOS
- 3 7/8" x 30 (100 x 11.91 mm)
BO Demi Tasse, HM Le Hoyo du Maire, RG Demi Tasse, RJ Petit
Julietas,
RM Demi Tasse
ESPECIALES
- 5 1/4" x 45 (134 x 17.86 mm)
FO Invictos
EXQUISITOS
- 5 3/4" x 46 (145 x 18.26 mm)
CU Exclusivos
FAVORITOS
- 4 3/4" x 42 (120 x 16.67 mm)
CU Tradicionales
FRANCISCANOS
- 4 1/2" x 40 (116 x 15.87 mm)
DF Château Laffite, HM Petit Coronations, HU Coronas
Minor, JL Patricias,
LG Minutos, PA Très Petit Coronas, PL Small Coronas,
PU Petit Coronations,
RG Très Petit Lonsdales, RJ Julietas, RJ Romeo No.3
de Luxe,
RJ Très Petit Coronas, RM Lunch Club, SP Bachilleres
FRANCISCOS
- 5 5/8" x 44 (143 x 17.46 mm)
BO Coronas Extra
FUNDADORES
- 7 1/2" x 40 (192 x 15.87 mm)
TD Fundadores
GENEROSOS
- 5 1/4" x 42 (132 x 16.67 mm)
CU Generosos
GORDITOS
- 5 1/2" x 50 (141 x 19.84 mm)
SC La Fuerza
GRAN
CORONA - 9 1/4" x 47 (235 x 18.65 mm)
DH Havana Club, HM Particulares, MC Montecristo A, PU Diademas
Extra,
SP Sanchos
HERMOSOS
No.4 - 5" x 48 (127 x 19.05 mm)
HU Connoisseur No.1, RJ Exhibición No.4, RM Choix Supreme,
SL Regios,
VR Famosos
JULIETA
2 - 7" x 47 (178 x 18.65 mm)
BO Coronas Gigantes, BO Suprema Churchill, CO Espléndidos,
DF Dom Pérignon,
DH Estupendos, FC Diademas, HU Monarcas, HU Monarchs, HU Sir
Winston,
HM Concorde, LG Taínos, PA Churchills de Luxe, PU Monarcas,
QO Imperiales,
RJ Clemenceaus, RJ Prince of Wales, RM Taínos, SP Coronas
Gigantes
* Also named CHURCHILLS in: HM, PU, RJ and SL
LAGUITO
No.1 - 7 1/2" x 38 (192 x 15.08 mm)
CO Lanceros, DF No.1, DP No.6, MC Especial, VG Especiales
No.1
LAGUITO
No.2 - 6" x 38 (152 x 15.08 mm)
CO Coronas Especiales, DF No.2, DP No.7, HM Le Hoyo du Dauphin,
HM Odeon,
MC Especial No.2, VG Especiales No.2
LAGUITO
No.3 - 4 1/2" x 26 (115 x 10.32 mm)
CO Panetelas, DF Ambassadrice, MC Joyitas, RG Cigarritos,
RM Señoritas
LONDRES
- 5" x 40 (126 x 15.87 mm)
BO Bonitas, PA Royales, PU Souvenirs de Luxe, QU Medias Coronas,
QU Medias Coronas Selectas
MAREVAS
- 5 1/8" x 42 (129 x 16.67 mm)
CO Siglo II, DF 2000, DF Château Margaux, DH Varadero,
DP No.4, FC Coronas,
HU Coronas Major, HU Medias Coronas, HU Upmann No.4, HM Coronations,
HM Short Hoyo Coronas, MC No.4, PU Coronations, PU Petit Coronas
del Punch,
PU Presidentes, PU Royal Selection No.12, PU Selección
de Luxe No.2,
RG Petit Lonsdales, RJ Cedros de Luxe No.3, RJ Club Kings,
RJ Plateados de Romeo, RJ Romeo No.2 de Luxe, RM Petit Lonsdales,
SP Non Plus, VG Marevas
* Also named PETIT CORONAS in: BO, HU, JL, PA, PL, RA, RG,
RJ and RM
MINUTOS
- 4 3/8" x 42 (110 x 16.67 mm)
BO Coronas Junior, PA Shorts, PU Très Petit Coronas,
RA Small Club Coronas,
SC El Príncipe
NINFAS
- 7" x 33 (178 x 13.10 mm)
BO Palmas, DF 3000, HM Longos, PA Palmas Grandes, PU Ninfas,
PU Panetelas Grandes, QO Panetelas, RJ Palmas Reales
PACOS
- 7 1/4" x 49 (184 x 19.45 mm)
SC El Morro
PALMAS
- 6 3/4" x 33 (170 x 13.10 mm)
HM Le Hoyo du Gourmet, HM Versailles
PALMITAS
- 6" x 32 (152 x 12.70 mm)
LG Medaille d'Or No.4
PANETELAS
- 4 5/8" x 34 (117 x 13.49 mm)
DF 1000, PL Coronitas, PU Panetelas, PU Punchinellos, RG Panetelas,
RJ Panetelas
PANETELAS
LARGAS - 6 7/8" x 28 (175 x 11.11 mm)
DH Atados, LG Medaille d'Or No.3, RG Slenderellas, RM Elegantes,
RM Panetelas Largas, RJ Shakespeares
PAREJOS
- 6 1/2" x 38 (166 x 15.08 mm)
PA Serie du Connaisseur No.2
PERLAS
- 4" x 40 (102 x 15.87 mm)
CO Siglo I, DF Château Haut Brion, DP No.5, MC No.5,
PU Petit Punch,
PU Petit Punch de Luxe, RJ Petit Princess
PETIT
BOUQUET - 4" x 43 (101 x 17.07 mm)
CU Divinos
PIRÁMIDES
- 6 1/8" x 52 (156 x 20.64 mm)
CO Pirámides, DP No.2, HU Upmann No.2, MC No.2, PA
Pirámides,
VR Únicos
PLACERAS - 4 7/8" x 34 (125 x 13.49 mm)
BO Tubos No.3. BO Regentes, JL Panetela Superba, PA Filipos
PROMINENTES
- 7 5/8" x 49 (194 x 19.45 mm)
HM Double Coronas, MC Exhibición No.2,PA Lusitanias,
PU Double Coronas,
RA Gigantes, VR Don Alejandro
ROBUSTOS
- 4 7/8" x 50 (124 x 19.84 mm)
BO Royal Coronas, CO Robustos, DH Cabinetta, FC Short Churchills,
HM Epicure No.2, JL Selección No.2, MC Robustos, PA
Serie D No.4,
RA Allones Specially Selected
ROMEO
- 6 3/8" x 52 (162 x 20.64 mm)
CU Distinguidos
SEOANE
- 4 7/8" x 36 (125 x 14.29 mm)
CO Exquisitos, VG Seoane
SUPERIORES
- 5 3/4" x 40 (146 x 15.87 mm)
HU Amatistas, PU Gran Coronas
TACOS
- 6 1/4" x 47 (158 x 18.65 mm)
PA Presidentes
TRABUCOS
- 4 3/8" x 38 (110 x 15.08 mm)
HM Le Hoyo du Député
HAND AND/OR MACHINE MADE
BELVEDERES
- 4 7/8" x 39 (125 x 15.48 mm)
BO Belvederes, HU Belvederes, PA Belvederes, PA Habaneros,
PL Belvederes,
PU Belvederes, RA Belvederes, RJ Belvederes, RJ Favoritas,
RJ Regalías de la Habana
CHICOS
- 4 1/8" x 29 (106 x 11.51 mm)
BO Chicos, PA Bonitos Extra Mild, PA Chicos, PL Curritos,
PL Juanitos,
PU Cigarrillos, QU Puritos, RA Bits of Havana, RM Variedades
CONCHITAS
- 5" x 35 (127 x 13.89 mm)
BO Panetelas, PA Panetelas, PA Princess, RA Panetelas
CONSERVAS
- 5 3/4" x 44 (145 x 17.46 mm)
HU Royal Coronas, HM Royal Coronations, PU Royal Coronations
CORONITAS
- 4 5/8" x 40 (117 x 15.87 mm)
HU Aromáticos, HU Coronas Minor, HU Singulares, HM
Petit Coronations,
PA Coronas Junior, PA Regalías de la Reina Bueno, PU
Petit Coronations,
RJ Clarines, RJ Regalías de Londres, RJ Romeo No.3
CREMAS
- 5 1/2" x 40 (140 x 15.87 mm)
BO Champions, HU Especiales, HU Majestic, HM Palmas Extra,
PA Partagás de Luxe, PA Super Partagás, PU Palmas
Reales, RA Ramondos,
RJ Romeo No.1
CRISTALES
- 5 7/8" x 41 (150 x 16.27 mm)
FC Selectos
CULEBRAS
- 5 3/4" x 39 (146 x 15.48 mm)
HU Culebras, PA Culebras, RJ Culebras
DELICIOSOS
- 6 1/4" x 35 (159 x 13.89 mm)
HU El Prado, PL Largos de Larrañaga, PL Montecarlos
DEMI
TASSE - 3 7/8" x 32 (100 x 12.70 mm)
BE Preciosas, CA Preciosas, HU Preciosas
DEMI
TIP - 5" x 29 (126 x 11.51 mm)
PA Demi-Tip
EMINENTES
- 5 1/4" x 44 (132 x 17.46 mm)
BO Petit Coronas Especiales, HU Coronas Major, HU Medias Coronas,
PA Coronas Senior, PA Eminentes, PA Petit Coronas Especiales,
PA Petit Coronas Tubos
EPICURES
- 4 3/8" x 35 (110 x 13.89 mm)
BE Petit Princess, HU Epicures
INFANTES
- 3 7/8" x 37 (98 x 14.68 mm)
PA Petit Bouquets
NACIONALES
- 5 1/2" x 40 (140 x 15.87 mm)
LS Brevas, LS Cremas, LS Selectos, QU Brevas, QU Nacionales
NATURALES
- 6 1/8" x 37 (155 x 14.68 mm)
HU Naturals
PERFECTOS
- 5" x 44 (127 x 17.46 mm)
PA Perfectos, RJ Perfectos
PETIT
- 4 1/4" x 31 (108 x 12.30 mm)
BE Petit, HU Petit Upmann
PETIT
CETROS - 5 1/8" x 40 (129 x 15.87 mm)
HM Exquisitos, PA Aristocrats, PA Londres en Cedro, PA Londres
Extras,
PA Londres Finos, PA Parisianos, PA Personales, PA Petit Partagás,
PU Exquisitos, RJ Coronitas, RJ Coronitas en Cedro, RJ Plateados
de Romeo,
RJ Exquisitos
PETIT
CORONAS - 5 1/8" x 42 (129 x 16.67 mm)
HU Aromáticos, HU Exquisitos, HU Kings, HU Regalías,
HM Coronations,
HM Souvenirs de Luxe, PA Mille Fleurs, PL Lolas en Cedro,
PU Coronations,
PU Souvenirs de Luxe, RA Mille Fleurs, RJ Club Kings, RJ Excepcionales,
RJ Mille Fleurs, RJ Romeo No.2
SPORTS
- 4 5/8" x 35 (117 x 13.89 mm)
BE Panetelas, RJ Panetelas, RJ Sport Largos
STANDARD
- 4 7/8" x 40 (123 x 15.87 mm)
FC Petit Coronas, FC Predilectos Tubulares, FO Delicias,
GI Habaneras No.2, LS Delirios, LS Dobles, PL Super Cedros,
QU Londres,
QU Londres Extra, TR Coronas Club Tubulares
TOPPERS
- 6 1/4" x 39 (160 x 15.48 mm)
PA Toppers, RA Delgados, RA Toppers, RJ Montagues
UNIVERSALES
- 5 1/4" x 38 (134 x 15.08 mm)
TR Universales
VEGUERITOS
- 5" x 36 (127 x 14.29 mm)
FC Preferidos, PL Panetelas, QU Panetelas, RG Panetelas Extra
The
meaning of the Brand abbreviations is as follows:
BE:
Belinda
BO: Bolívar
CA: Cabañas
CO: Cohíba
CU: Cuaba
DF: Davidoff
DH: Dunhill
DP: Diplomáticos
FC: La Flor de Cano
FO: Fonseca
GI: Gispert
HM: Hoyo de Monterrey
HU: H. Upmann
JL: Juan López
LG: La Gloria Cubana
LS: Los Statos de Luxe
MC: Montecristo
PA: Partagás
PL: Por Larrañaga
QO: Quai d'Orsay
QU: Quintero y Hermano
PU: Punch
RA: Ramón Allones
RG: Rafael González
RJ: Romeo y Julieta
RM: Rey del Mundo
SC: San Cristóbal de L.H.
SL: Saint Luis Rey
SP: Sancho Panza
TD: Trinidad
TR: Troya
VG: Vegueros
VR: Vegas Robaina
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QUOTABLE QUOTES & CIGAR STORIES
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Happiness?
A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman
-- or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can
handle.
--George
Burns
MAKING
LEMONADE
Most
of the cigar smokers I know have a stash of hard to find cigars
stored away for that special occasion that never really seems
to arrive.
The cigars just stay hidden away never to be smoked, more
a trophy than a
thing to be consumed and enjoyed.
If you are living on the East Coast, or if you know people
here, I'm sure
you've heard about the nasty cold that's going around. Well
unfortunately
I came down with it a little while ago. Along with feeling
miserable with
the congestion and exhaustion, the cold sits on your chest.
This final
annoyance makes smoking a cigar one of the last things that
you'd want to
do. It lasts for about three and a half weeks, if you're lucky.
Now you're
probably thinking, yeah well what has that got to do with
lemonade?
Hang on and I'll tell you.
Just before I came down with this malady I had recharged my
credo units
with water. Normally this is no great event and not a problem.
The humidors
are opened on a fairly regular basis and the humidity never
gets too high.
Of course this is when the humidors are opened on a regular
basis. Well,
what with being ill and not smoking, the humidors were not
opened for
nearly a month.
I finally felt well enough to enjoy a cigar, and so I went
to my humidors
with great anticipation. I was thinking of having one of the
better cigars
as a sort of treat, not one of the special ones, but a good
one. I opened
the humidor and looked over the cigars and saw, much to my
horror, white
fuzz sprouting up on a few of my precious "special stash"
cigars.
MOLD! OH... MY... GAWD! After my heart finally slowed to a
reasonable rate,
I realized that only a few of the cigars had mold growing
on them, which
was easily wiped off. Now I was in a quandary. These cigars
had to be
removed so as not to allow the mold to spread, but I had nowhere
to put
them except in a ziplock bag. Those bags wouldn't keep the
cigars for long.
What to do? What to do?
Suddenly I remembered the phrase, "when you're handed
a bunch of lemons
it's time to make some lemonade". Gee, I thought. Guess
I just HAVE to
SMOKE THEM. What a shame, can't let them go bad. Nothing else
to do!
Hee Hee.
Sometimes a glass of lemonade is all you need to make an occasion
special.
So, let's raise our glasses and toast lemonade. Let's never
forget the
recipe, and may it always be sweet.
Stephen
Petri
Publisher CigarLife
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*-----------------HOT
TIP------------------*
Remember
that temperature is just as important
as humidity in your humidor. Anything over 72
degrees and you are inviting your friend the
tobacco beetle in for a meal.
*-----------------HOT
TIP------------------*
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SPOTLIGHT: THIS MONTHS NEWLETTER SPECIAL
------------------------------------------------------------
This
section is devoted to specials for e-mail subscribers to
UNDER THE WRAPPER.
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READER FEEDBACK INVITED:
------------------------------------------------------------
Please
Email your comments, gripes, suggestions etc.
to: wrapper@ajaxcigars.com
Your interaction will help make the newsletter work.
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HOW TO BE A GUEST COLUMNIST INSTRUCTIONS
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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
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Copyright
2001 Ajax Cigars
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