The Big Beauty in Cigar Shops—the Salomon

Gregory Mottola
Posted: April 3, 2009

Cigar manufacturers are getting nostalgic—several very notable companies have recently started making the classic, yet somewhat forgotten Salomon-size cigar. A traditional Cuban size has fluctuated in popularity over the years but is coming back in style—especially outside of Cuba. Cigarmakers such as Rocky Patel, La Aurora and La Flor Dominicana have a newfound interest in the curiously shaped cigar and have recently released Salomones of their own. They've met with great commercial and critical success. Habanos S.A., the global distributor of Cuban cigars, has recently added a new Salomon to its lineup as well.

The Salomon is a large cigar tapered at both ends and often finished with a nipple foot. Larger than a perfecto and smaller than a diadema, it is a difficult size to produce, requiring an uncommon skill level and about twice the rolling time of a normal parejo-style cigar. Usually, only a handful of factory rollers are qualified to make them, and in Cuba, most are made without molds. Some Salomone have taken our highest scores recently, including 95 points awarded in the April Cigar Aficionado for the new La Flor Dominicana Salomon.

For the full story of the origin of the Salomon, and the new trend behind it, see the March 24 Cigar Insider. To view our exclusive online gallery of Salomones, click on the photo above.

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