Torpedo cigar are simply one that has a specific shape. Traditional handmade cigars, referred to as parejos (or sometimes coronas) are roughly the same size from one end to the other. These are typical of the hand rolled cigars seen in photographs of Winston Churchill or George Burns. Many cigar smokers, however, do not like the fat tip on a parejo. The size may cause discomfort in the mouth, and, many feel, the flavor is also affected.
Cigar manufacturers in the mid 1800’s began making products that have a pointed tip. A torpedo cigar is one of the types classified as figurados. Originally, torpedo cigars was one which was pointed at both ends and bulged slightly in the middle. Although some manufacturers still maintain these qualities, it is more common to find a torpedo that lacks the bulge, tapers to a relatively sharp point, and has a broad foot.
Even among experienced cigar smokers, the terms “torpedo” and “pyramid” are often used interchangeably. However, a true pyramid has a larger tip and a broader foot than a torpedo. A pyramid tapers along its entire length, while a torpedo cigar tapers during the last inch or two. Pyramid cigars are generally about 7” in length, while most torpedoes are closer to 6-1/2” long. And while the ring gauge of a pyramid can vary, it is usually larger than a torpedo cigar’s 52.
A torpedo cigar is a term that merely defines the shape. It does not impart any information on the quality of the fill leaf, the wrapper, or the manufacturing process used. They can be hand-rolled or machine made, the filler can be high quality or low, and the wrapper can also vary. The quality of the tobacco used for fill and leaf plays an important part in the smoothness of the smoke, as well as how pleasant (or unpleasant) the aroma is to others.