Same cigar - different taste

[JCHouston]

Several weeks ago I was out of town and stuck in a hotel room for several days with nothing to do. I visited a local smoke shop and purchased several smokes; among them a Dunhill Signed Range churchill. It cost $16.50 but was a very good smoke. Creamy and smooth from start to finish. I prefer a torpedo to the churchill so I purchased a box of the Dunhill Signed Range in a torpedo. I thought they would taste the same but there is definitely a difference in flavor between the two. The torpedo is not as creamy and has a bit of a bite as compared to the churchill. It is still a very good smoke, just not as good as the churchill. I have smoked other cigars in different sizes such as the RP Vintage ’92 and the flavors were very similar. Has anyone else ever experienced big differences in taste between varying sizes of the same cigar? Any information as to why?

JC

[AK & Stogie]

Yes, this is a very common phenomenon. It happens for three main reasons (as I understand it). When smoking a cigar with a larger ring gauge (fatter), you are taking in more smoke when you puff from a larger area of cigar. With different surface areas of burning, there is a hotter or colder smoke. Also, you are drawing the smoke through a longer tube of tobacco (for the lack of a better term). This can affect the taste as well. Lastly, there is a difference in the ratio of filler: binder: wrapper. A larger ring gauge cigar will have more filler for a non-equally proportional amount if binder and wrapper. That gives you more taste difference.
I discovered this as when I started smoking, I always purchased whatever size was cheapest. Since then, I have discovered my taste for Churchills, as they seem to be mellower for a longer period of time, before they build to that harsh taste they give me at the end. Maybe some of the other more experienced members here can give you some more insight on this.