A Perfecto cigar is the way you’d imagine a cigar if you’d only seen them in cartoons. It’s tapered at the head, tapered at the foot, and bulging in the middle. When the Looney Tunes artists and animators decided to have Jerry trick Tom into smoking an exploding cigar, it was generally a Perfecto, which either indicates a) the popularity of that shape at the time, b) the fact that a reference photo showed one, or perhaps c) one of the illustrators had a dad or granddad who favored Perfectos.
In any event, the Perfecto is a classic cigar shape.
Many standard cigars are referred to as “parejos.” They have parallel, sides, an open foot, and a rounded head in the shape of a dome. More interesting and challenging cigars to roll are called “figurados.” These cigars include belicosos and torpedoes (tapered head, straight foot), pyramides (like a baseball bat), salomons (the head looks like a nipple), and culebras (three cigars twisted together, made to be separated for sharing). Perfectos fall into this group of figurados.
But why are they shaped that way?
Well, while some smokers like to have a huge ring gauge and a big open draw, others prefer cigars that are smaller at the head and that deliver more concentrated smoke. It really all comes down to personal preference. Heck, some may just like the look of the thing. People are allowed to like what they like.
We’re just here to make sure it’s in stock.
Many premium cigar brands roll up Perfectos. These include Padrón, Drew Estate, Rocky Patel, Oliva, Roma Craft, Gurkha, Macanudo, E.P. Carillo, and more. Of course, the most popular one at the time of this writing is probably the Arturo Fuente Hemingway. It’s earned some outstanding reviews and ratings and makes a fantastic entry point for those not familiar with the Perfecto cigar shape and how it smokes. Toast up one of those bad boys for old Papa Hemingway and you’ll probably be into it. Bonus points if you mix up a daiquiri, one of the favored cocktails of the Floridian author, and bust out a classic Hemingway novel to go with it.
If you haven’t smoked a Perfecto, it’s time to try. There’s a reason this shape is still popular after so many decades.
Please browse our selection of Perfecto Cigars at your leisure.
