What is the allure of the torpedo or perfecto shape?

[ZippoGeek]

I did have a Ghurka Centurion Perfecto that canoed and unraveled like a bitch.

Big surprise there...I hate me some Gurkha!

 

[luckysaturn13]

Big surprise there...I hate me some Gurkha!

I hate to say it because im going to get made fun of but I've really enjoyed the gurka lines. All the ones I've had were awesome (for me) Ive probally smoked more gurkas than anything else. My better half hates the smell of em thought. But, maybe @multi-useless just tricked me into likening them so he could clear some out of his humidor! hahahha

 

[DogRockets]

It's been interesting to read everyone's thoughts here - I appreciate them and keep them coming!

I smoked a La Duena Petite Belicoso yesterday and that stupid draw was tight for the first half of the cigar. The others I smoked yesterday were from the humidor and all had perfect draw (the La Duena was the only shaped head I smoked yesterday). The mystery continues at DogRockets Manor!

 

[multi-useless]

But, maybe @multi-useless just tricked me into likening them so he could clear some out of his humidor! hahahha

LOL, only the ones that came in sampler packs that I didn't care for. But yeah, I like a Gurkha sometimes too. (In fact, this is day 2 of my "7 days of Gurkha" smoke-a-thon. I've been resting them for a couple years and the cellos have turned yellow, and I'm pleasantly surprised so far. It's the Empire series - last night was the Empire 6, and starting today I'm smoking the entire series in order.)

Gurkha makes so many cigars, there are bound to be some you like and some you don't. And their gimmick-y sales tactics aside, (think $1000 cigars), they're affordable enough to justify buying a few just to try something different from time to time.

 

[8ball]

I'm actually gonna go with the OP on this. I prefer a toro over a torpedo, and I have experienced some issues with some, but not all torpedo's and perfecto's. However, my budget requires me to smoke mostly $3-5 smokes, so I imagine they don't have their best rollers on those. I just seem to have better luck construction wise with a toro or robusto.

I'm not even gonna open up the Gurkha can of worms, but I've heard that they are notorious for having construction issues.

 

[multi-useless]

@DogRockets - what kind of cut are you using? If you're using a guillotine cutter, try angling the cutter and cutting the head at a slant. It increases the surface area that you draw from, and really helps open up the draw. Just be careful not to cut past the cap, of course.

 

[luckysaturn13]

@DogRockets - what kind of cut are you using? If you're using a guillotine cutter, try angling the cutter and cutting the head at a slant. It increases the surface area that you draw from, and really helps open up the draw. Just be careful not to cut past the cap, of course.

I forgot all about that the other night! Thanks for reminding me

 

[DogRockets]

@DogRockets - what kind of cut are you using? If you're using a guillotine cutter, try angling the cutter and cutting the head at a slant. It increases the surface area that you draw from, and really helps open up the draw. Just be careful not to cut past the cap, of course.

I used to use a straight cut at an angle on a torpedo but too often my wrapper started to unravel. Recently I've been introduced to a V cutter and now use those on torpedos. I can't say I've noticed a huge difference in draw between the two methods, maybe some, but can't say very noticable.

 

[luckysaturn13]

I used to use a straight cut at an angle on a torpedo but too often my wrapper started to unravel. Recently I've been introduced to a V cutter and now use those on torpedos. I can't say I've noticed a huge difference in draw between the two methods, maybe some, but can't say very noticable.

Have you been using the v cutter on most your smokes? How are you liking it? There quite interesting

 

[BMack]

I used to use a straight cut at an angle on a torpedo but too often my wrapper started to unravel. Recently I've been introduced to a V cutter and now use those on torpedos. I can't say I've noticed a huge difference in draw between the two methods, maybe some, but can't say very noticable.

There are several ways to cut a torpedo, some of which may or may not have varying effects. You can V cut and smoke horizontal or vertical, never noticed a difference but I've heard some people prefer one to the other(I think they're crazy). I've seen slant, straight cuts which give you a larger opening than a straight cut. I've seen people punch a torpedo, not on the tip but on the side near the tip(works great on a chisel tip I hear). Then there is the traditional straight cut. Each of these offer a ton of variation on how much you cut off, that's another benefit of the torpedo. You can cut a millimeter off and have essentially a thinly punched cigar or you can chop off an inch and have essentially a Robusto(but you have to worry about unraveling). I personally like a V-cut or a straight cut with about 1/4" off the tip.

 

[DogRockets]

Have you been using the v cutter on most your smokes? How are you liking it? There quite interesting

I love my punch for non shaped cigars. I've used punch almost exclusively for about 2 years now.

 

[Mikenice81]

I hate to say it because im going to get made fun of but I've really enjoyed the gurka lines. All the ones I've had were awesome (for me) Ive probally smoked more gurkas than anything else. My better half hates the smell of em thought. But, maybe @multi-useless just tricked me into likening them so he could clear some out of his humidor! hahahha

I am so relieved that I'm not the only one. I really enjoyed the Wicked Indie and Trident. I've got some War Pigs marinating. So far they've only got 16 days.

 

[luckysaturn13]

I really liked the gurka beautys

 

[Mr. Guy]

They're my preferred shape for all the reasons above. With some cigars that shape is integral to the whole concept. You wouldn't want a Hemingway robusto or gordo. Plus they're cool and old school looking and I can pretend like I'm a character in a 1930s cartoon when I smoke one!

Nice! One of my smoking pals giggles a little whenever I light up a nice double perfecto then says, "cartoon cigar".
I have a strange thing where specific shapes/sizes look more "celebratory" than others. A Hemingway Classic will be burned in celebration of my new possition at work here soon. Oddly enough, churchills also strike me as cigars for special occasions, or the golf course when it's not wicked windy. I guess around here though calm wind is reason enough to celebrate! Anyway, I do enjoy the interesting flavor transitions I get with the change in ring guage as it goes. Nothing really dramatic, but nice. I can't say I've run across any more burn or draw issues with figurados over parejos, but then again a stick has to be way out of whack for me to really care much.

 

[Le Buzz]

I would rather smoke a belicoso over a robusto or torpedo over a toro just because the pointed head makes it more comfortable to smoke, and I think it makes it a more luxurious experience too.

I'm all about the intricacies of the smoking experience, and the little stuff matters to me. Belicosos nowadays are pretty much the only large rg sticks in my humi.

 

[KFBR392]

I've been smoking cigars for a couple of years and I've gotta say I don't understand the allure of either the torpedo or the double perfecto shape. I tend to find the draw much harder on a torpedo where sometimes it feels like I'm going blue in the face. I have burn issues with the double perfecto some times at light up and have to retouch more than I do for normal cigars plus you get the added bonus of the draw issue. And these vitolas cost more than robusto, toro, etc shapes. So, what is the allure? What am I missing here?

For me, when first starting to smoke cigars, it was easy to cut and get the proper sized opening I wanted as I didn't have a punch at the time.

 

[multi-useless]

I am so relieved that I'm not the only one. I really enjoyed the Wicked Indie and Trident. I've got some War Pigs marinating. So far they've only got 16 days.

You're in for a real treat - the War Pig is a darn tasty cigar. Good flavor but not overpowering.

EDIT - I just saw your review on it. I wish I'd picked up as many flavors on that thing as you did! Note to self - add more War Pigs to my next cbid shopping list...