What Is a Salomon Cigar? The Large Ornate Figurado Explained

Few cigars command attention the way a salomon does. Set one on a table and it immediately draws questions — the long body, the tapered head, the peculiar closed foot that comes to a small rounded point. It looks unlike anything else in a standard humidor lineup, and smoking one is equally unlike anything else.

If you are curious about what a salomon cigar is and why it has such devoted fans, here is everything you need to know.

Size and Dimensions

The salomon is a large figurado — meaning it is not straight-sided — with an unusually complex silhouette. Typical dimensions are approximately 7 to 7.5 inches in length with a ring gauge of around 57 at the widest point, which is the middle of the cigar.

From that bulging center, the salomon tapers in both directions. The head narrows to a pointed tip, similar to a torpedo or pyramid. The foot tapers down to a closed, nipple-like point rather than the flat open foot you see on most cigars. This double-taper construction is the defining characteristic of the salomon and what separates it from other large figurados.

To understand how the salomon compares to other figurado formats — torpedos, perfectos, and diademas — see the full guide to what is a figurado.

How to Smoke a Salomon

Because both ends are closed, the salomon requires a bit more preparation than a standard cigar:

1. At the head: Cut the pointed tip as you would a torpedo — a sharp guillotine or scissors cutter works well. Some smokers use a V-cut for a more focused draw.
2. At the foot: The nipple foot also needs to be opened before lighting. Snip the tip off or use a punch. Alternatively, a small pair of scissors is precise here.
3. Lighting: Toast the exposed edges of the tapered foot slowly and evenly with a torch lighter before applying a full flame. The tapering means the outer ring lights first — give the center time to catch.

The narrow opening at each end concentrates the draw, which affects the smoking experience in an interesting way: the first portion of the smoke, as you burn through the tapered section toward the wider body, tends to be more focused and potentially cooler. As you reach the widest part of the cigar, the draw opens up and the smoke becomes fuller and richer.

Smoke Time

The salomon is a serious time commitment — and that is part of its appeal. Most salomons take 90 minutes or more, with some longer examples pushing well past two hours at a relaxed pace. Plan for an unhurried afternoon, a long evening, or an extended outdoor session. This is not a cigar you rush.

Where It Sits Among Cigar Shapes

The salomon occupies the large-figurado space on the cigar sizes and shapes chart, sharing that territory with the diadema. The key differences: the diadema is generally longer and may have a flag cap at the head rather than a pointed tip, while the salomon has a more dramatically bulging barrel and the distinctive closed nipple foot.

Both are showpiece vitolas — more construction-intensive than a parejo format like a lancero or a petit corona, and both reward smokers who have time and patience.

Understanding ring gauge helps put the salomon's 57-gauge barrel in context: at that width, the filler tobacco plays a major role in the flavor, and you get a rich, complex, full smoke that a narrower vitola cannot deliver.

Flavor Evolution

The salomon's shape is not just aesthetic — it affects how the cigar smokes. Because you are burning through different diameters of tobacco as you go from the tapered foot through the widening barrel, the flavor evolves more dramatically than it would in a straight-sided cigar of the same length.

The narrow foot delivers a more concentrated, slightly hotter smoke. As the ring gauge opens into the wide body, the draw cools and the filler contributes more. This is why experienced smokers describe the salomon as an "evolving" smoke — you genuinely experience different phases as you work through it.

Who Should Smoke a Salomon?

The salomon is best suited to smokers who:

• Have enough experience to appreciate flavor transitions and complexity
• Have 90 minutes or more available for a single sitting
• Want an occasion cigar — something that marks a significant moment
• Enjoy the craftsmanship of premium figurado construction

If you are still building your experience, start with more approachable formats. A petit corona or a robusto will teach you the fundamentals of a blend before you commit to a long figurado.

Notable Examples

Well-regarded salomons include the La Flor Dominicana Ligero Salomones, offerings from Rocky Patel, and various Cuban releases from Habanos S.A. The Davidoff line has produced acclaimed salomons as well. These tend to be on the premium end of pricing, reflecting the difficulty of rolling the shape.

Explore available salomons in the full cigar collection at Casa DNC, and log your sessions in the Casa DNC app.

Quick Recap

A salomon is a large, double-tapered figurado measuring approximately 7 to 7.5 inches with a 57 ring gauge at its widest point. Both the pointed head and the closed nipple foot must be cut before smoking. Smoke time runs 90 minutes or more. The evolving diameter creates a smoke that changes character as you work through it, making the salomon one of the most sophisticated and rewarding vitolas available.