The Best Long Cigars

Longer cigars are ideal for aficionados who appreciate a slower pace and a richer, more nuanced smoking experience. These cigars aren’t just about size; they’re about complexity, elegance, and time well spent.

Why Choose a Long Cigar?

Long-format cigars like Lanceros, Churchills and Double Coronas are designed to be savoured. The extended length allows the flavours to evolve gradually, building in complexity and depth as the cigar burns.

Longer cigars typically:

• Offer a more refined draw: The additional length cools the smoke slightly, which can bring out more subtle flavours.
• Enhance flavour transitions: With more time, the blend can unfold in distinct stages.
• Provide a longer experience: Ideal for evenings where you can truly unwind and commit to a 2 hour smoke.

While they do require more time and patience, the payoff is a smoke that’s layered, smooth, and deeply satisfying.

Examples of Long Cigar Formats

• Lancero (7½ x 38): Slim, elegant, and known for flavour-forward delivery thanks to its wrapper-to-filler ratio.
• Lonsdale (6½ x 42): A balanced size that offers both complexity and a shorter smoke than a Churchill.
• Churchill (7 x 47): Named after Winston Churchill, this format offers a long, slow burn with room for flavour development.
• Double Corona (7⅝ x 49): Bigger and bolder, ideal for a long, relaxed smoke.
• Gran Corona (over 9 inches): Rare and extra lengthy, reserved for serious enthusiasts and special occasions.

The Best Long Cigars to Try

Whether you’re marking a milestone or simply indulging in a quiet evening, these long-format cigars offer not just a smoke but an experience. Here’s a handpicked selection of standout long cigars, each with a character of its own, from mellow and elegant to bold and complex.

Partagás Aliados

Size: 6 5/8″ x 45 ring gauge
Body: Medium

An elegant and intriguing smoke, the Partagás Aliados is a masterclass in subtle complexity. It opens with creamy wood tones and gentle aromas of hay and spice, giving way to flavours of warm sourdough and roasted hazelnuts as the cigar progresses.

A gentle pepperiness emerges in the second half, introducing a new dimension without overwhelming the senses. The final third reveals a soft balsamic note, leaving a lasting impression of balance, craftsmanship, and quiet sophistication. A contemplative choice for those who appreciate flavour development in a medium-bodied profile.

Romeo y Julieta Churchill

Size: 7″ x 47 ring gauge
Body: Medium

A true classic, the Romeo y Julieta Churchill is as inspirational as its namesake. From the first draw, it delivers an impeccably smooth combination of cedar, earthy richness, and a whisper of leather. As the cigar evolves, deeper notes of roasted coffee and dark chocolate emerge, followed by layers of subtle spice.

Midway through, an underlying sweetness begins to build; hints of vanilla, dried fruit, and toasted nuts, creating a perfectly rounded profile. It’s a cigar that tells a story from start to finish: luxurious, approachable, and steeped in tradition.

Por Larrañaga 47

Size: 7″ x 47 ring gauge
Body: Mild to medium

For those who favour finesse over power, the Por Larrañaga 47 is a beautifully mellow, refined Churchill. It begins with delicate honeyed creaminess, supported by light floral and wooden notes.

As the cigar burns, it gracefully develops into richer layers of toasted nuts, soft cocoa, and sweet spices; never overpowering, but always engaging. This is a cigar that doesn’t shout; it whispers in complexity and charm. Ideal for a relaxed afternoon or a refined aperitif.

Cohiba Espléndidos

Size: 7.2″ x 47 ring gauge
Body: Full

Often hailed as the pinnacle of Cuban craftsmanship, the Cohiba Espléndidos is a cigar of power, depth, and polish. Expect a bold and layered flavour journey; rich, earthy tobacco and leather up front, backed by the subtle pulse of spice that builds in intensity.

The draw is consistently smooth, revealing the nuance and complexity that Cohiba is known for. With a long finish and full-bodied character, this is a cigar that commands attention and rewards experienced palates. It’s not just a smoke, it’s an event.

Punch Double Corona

Size: 7 5/8″ x 49 ring gauge
Body: Medium to full

The Punch Double Corona is a cigar for those who savour bold flavours and a long, satisfying burn. It starts with smooth cedar and a hint of sweetness, before building into a rich medley of roasted coffee, cocoa, and dried fruit. The flavour journey deepens further in the final third, where notes of aged leather and warming spice take over, creating a crescendo of character.

With its full draw and broad flavour arc, this cigar makes for a fulfilling, meditative smoking session; one that lingers on the palate and the memory.

Davidoff Year of the Dragon 2024 – Limited Edition Double Corona

Size: 7 1/2″ x 50 ring gauge
Body: Medium

A celebratory release crafted with rare aged tobaccos, this limited-edition cigar is a testament to Davidoff’s blending artistry. Combining 8 tobaccos in the blend, for a total of 60 years of ageing. The experience begins uniquely with an uncut foot, allowing the initial inch to showcase earthy, woody, and herbal notes without the influence of the wrapper.

Once the full blend comes into play, a wave of roasted nuts, cream, and gentle liquorice emerges. The second third introduces bursts of sweet honey, white pepper, and a bright citrus twist, before the final third deepens into oak wood and decadent dark chocolate. Rich, layered, and luxurious, the Davidoff Year of the Dragon is a special occasion in and of itself.

Foundation Olmec Claro Double Corona

Size: 7″ x 54 ring gauge
Body: Medium to full

Wrapped in a smooth, golden Claro leaf from the San Andrés Valley, this cigar brings together old-world craftsmanship with modern complexity. It opens with smooth and inviting notes of cream, nutmeg, and soft leather. As the burn continues, the blend transitions into deeper flavours: cedar, toasted grains, and a hint of warm spice.

Balanced and aromatic, the Foundation Olmec Claro Double Corona is a richly rewarding experience that’s ideal for seasoned smokers and curious newcomers alike.

Chateau Diadem Conviction Lancero

Size: 7 1/2″ x 38 ring gauge
Body: Medium to full

For lovers of elegant formats and concentrated flavour, the Conviction Lancero delivers with plenty of complexity. It opens with earthy tones, leather, and a suggestion of spice, before slowly unfurling into dark chocolate, aged cedar, and a touch of pepper. A creamy undercurrent ties it all together, lending smoothness to the rich profile.

The slim ring gauge enhances the wrapper’s influence, creating an intense, flavour-packed smoke that evolves beautifully. Sophisticated, refined, and utterly satisfying.

Buy Long Format Cigars at Havana House

Long cigars invite you to slow down, to savour, reflect, and enjoy the craftsmanship of a well-made blend. Whether you’re new to the format or a lifelong devotee, these standout selections offer a range of strengths, styles, and stories to suit every palate.

So next time you have the time, light one of these up, and let the cigar do the talking.