From Petit to Super: Decoding Cigar Vitola Names

You already know the familiar names: Corona, Robusto, Toro, Churchill, and Gordo. Then you open another product page and suddenly see:

Petit Belicoso. Double Perfecto. Skinny Toro. Super Figurado.

Did the cigar industry invent an entirely new language while nobody was looking? Not quite.

Most unfamiliar vitola names are built from a few simple ideas. Words such as Petit, Short, Extra, Grand, and Double usually modify a size or shape you may already recognize.

This guide decodes those less familiar terms, so the next time one appears on a product listing, you will have a better idea of what it looks like.

Please note: Vitola names are not perfectly standardized. Dimensions may differ between manufacturers, so always use the listed length and ring gauge as the final reference.

The Easiest Trick: Read the Modifier

Many vitola names are simply familiar sizes with an added modifier:

• Petit or Short usually means smaller or shorter.
• Extra usually adds length, thickness, or both.
• Grand, Gran, or Grande generally means larger.
• Double suggests a more substantial version, not necessarily twice the size.
• Super often describes a larger or more dramatic format.

Once you recognize these words, names like Petit Robusto, Toro Extra, and Super Belicoso become much easier to understand.

1. The Compact Collection

Small does not always mean thin. Some of these formats are short and narrow, while others are short with a surprisingly large ring gauge.

**Please note that manufacturers may interpret and name their cigar formats differently. All listed sizes and weights are approximate and provided for reference only.**

The word Petit is usually the biggest clue. It tells you that the format is a compact relative of another recognizable vitola.

A Petit Robusto, for example, keeps the broad proportions associated with a Robusto but places them into a shorter body. A Petit Lancero does the opposite: it remains narrow but reduces the traditional Lancero length.

The Cheroot is slightly different. Rather than describing one universally fixed measurement, the term commonly refers to a rustic, narrow cigar style that may have open or simply finished

2. Welcome to the Short Family

“Short” names are among the easiest to decode. Take a familiar format, reduce its length, and keep much of its original character.

**Please note that manufacturers may interpret and name their cigar formats differently. All listed sizes and weights are approximate and provided for reference only.**

The most visually surprising member may be the Short Gordo. At approximately four inches long with a 60 ring gauge, it is compact in length but far from slim.

Meanwhile, Short Lancero and Short Panetela can have nearly identical measurements. 

3. Corona's Extended Family 

Corona may be familiar, but its extended family contains several easily confused names.

**Please note that manufacturers may interpret and name their cigar formats differently. All listed sizes and weights are approximate and provided for reference only.**

Here is the simple way to separate them:

• Corona Extra: slightly more substantial than a standard Corona
• Corona Gorda: a thicker Corona-style format
• Corona Grande: generally longer
• Gran Corona: an even larger Corona variation

The names sound similar because they are similar. The measurements are what reveal the real difference.

4. Robusto, But Bigger - or Smaller

Robusto variations generally preserve the compact, substantial appearance of the original format while changing the length or ring gauge.

**Please note that manufacturers may interpret and name their cigar formats differently. All listed sizes and weights are approximate and provided for reference only.**

A Robusto Extra is usually slightly larger than the classic format. A Robusto Gordo places more emphasis on thickness, while a Double Robusto increases the overall dimensions.

The Rothschild is not named as a Robusto variation, but its short, broad proportions often place it near the same general family.

5. When Toro Gets an Upgrade

Toro is already a substantial format, so its variations quickly move into larger territory.

**Please note that manufacturers may interpret and name their cigar formats differently. All listed sizes and weights are approximate and provided for reference only.**

The Skinny Toro is the exception in the group. It keeps the six-inch length associated with a Toro but uses a narrower 46 ring gauge.

At the other end, Double Toro and Super Toro may share identical measurements. In these cases, the difference may be based more on the manufacturer’s naming system than on a universal industry distinction.

6. Long and Slender Classics

Not every unfamiliar vitola is large. Some are defined by an elegant, narrow profile.

**Please note that manufacturers may interpret and name their cigar formats differently. All listed sizes and weights are approximate and provided for reference only.**

The easiest way to remember this group is through the silhouette:

• Panetela: slim and relatively light
• Lancero: very long and narrow
• Lonsdale: longer than a Corona but wider than many Panetelas

They may not have the dramatic width of modern large-ring formats, but their proportions make them immediately recognizable.

7. The Pointed and Tapered Shapes 

This is where vitola terminology becomes more visual.

Straight-sided cigars are commonly grouped as parejos. Cigars with pointed heads, tapered ends, curves, or unusual silhouettes belong to the broader figurado family.

**Please note that manufacturers may interpret and name their cigar formats differently. All listed sizes and weights are approximate and provided for reference only.**

Belicoso: Usually has a tapered head with a softer or more rounded point than a Pyramid.
Pyramid: Starts narrower at the head and gradually becomes wider toward the foot.
Torpedo: Commonly recognized by its sharply pointed head. Brands sometimes use “Torpedo” and “Pyramid” somewhat loosely, so the exact silhouette may vary.
Perfecto: Usually tapers at both ends and becomes wider around the centre.
Figurado: This is the umbrella term. Belicosos, Pyramids, Torpedoes, Perfectos, Salomons, and other irregular shapes can all be described as figurados.

That means “Figurado” does not guarantee one exact measurement. It tells you to expect a shape that is different from a standard straight-sided cylinder.

8. The Showstoppers 

Some vitola names belong to formats that are difficult to mistake for anything else.

**Please note that manufacturers may interpret and name their cigar formats differently. All listed sizes and weights are approximate and provided for reference only.**

Culebra: Possibly the easiest shape to recognize, a traditional Culebra consists of three slender cigars twisted or braided together. They are separated before use, so the listed weight should ideally clarify whether it refers to one section or the complete bundle.
Salomon: A large figurado with dramatic tapering and a broad centre. It belongs to the wider Diadema family.
Diademas: Large, elongated figurados that commonly taper at both ends. Some reach eight inches or more in length.
Gigante: The name is not subtle. A Gigante is usually defined by considerable length, thickness, or both.
Presidente: A long, commanding format commonly measuring around 7.5 inches.

These are the names most likely to make someone pause on a product page—and the ones most likely to be remembered after seeing their silhouettes.

9. The Remaining Large Formats 

A few names are best understood by comparing their proportions rather than their family names.

**Please note that manufacturers may interpret and name their cigar formats differently. All listed sizes and weights are approximate and provided for reference only.**

A Churchill Extra adds width and sometimes length to the familiar Churchill shape.
A Double Corona is a long, substantial format, although “double” does not mean exactly twice the measurements of a Corona.
A Gordo Extra keeps the notably wide 60 ring gauge while extending the length beyond a standard Gordo.

Vitola Rules Worth Remembering

Vitola names are useful clues, but they are not universal standards. One brand’s Double Toro may match another brand’s Super Toro, so always check the listed length and ring gauge.

Vitola can also affect the experience. Thinner formats may highlight more of the wrapper’s character, while thicker formats allow more filler tobacco. Longer and larger cigars generally take more time, but a bigger ring gauge does not automatically mean a stronger cigar.

When a name feels unfamiliar, identify the base Vitola, read the modifier, and use the measurements as the final reference.