A vitola is a cigar size. In a Cuban factory the word is precise: a particular mold, length, ring gauge, and shape. In American shops it is used more loosely for names such as robusto, toro, and Churchill, whose measurements vary by a few millimeters from company to company.
There are two main shape groups: parejo (straight sides, round or box-pressed) and figurado (torpedo, perfecto, belicoso, and other shaped cigars). The name on the box follows tradition, not a rule. One company’s “toro” is another company’s “corona gorda.”
The vitola affects how long the cigar lasts and the proportion of wrapper to filler. It does not change the country of origin. For how size relates to the blend, see how cigars are made. For the size chart and size guides, see ring gauge and length cheat-sheet.