The Churchill vitola is one of cigar smoking’s great classic formats – long, slender, and named for the man who did more than anyone to popularise it. At roughly 7 inches with a 47 ring gauge, it strikes a balance that’s hard to better: substantial enough for a slow, contemplative smoke, but slim enough to stay cool and even from start to finish.
Below, we’ve picked out a range of Churchill and Churchill-format cigars from the Fareham Wine Cellar humidor, from Honduran and Dominican blends to the Cuban originals that started it all.
The name can be traced back to Romeo y Julieta, who are credited with creating the original 7 x 47 vitola after Winston Churchill visited their factory in the early 20th century — he reportedly favoured the size so consistently that it became known simply as “a Churchill.”
Since then, the format has been adopted and reinterpreted by houses across Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras, each bringing their own blend to a shape that’s become a byword for a proper, unhurried smoke.
In addition to the long, slender, classic Churchill format, there are also variations from Romeo y Julieta like the robusto-sized Short Churchill and the chunkier Wide Churchill.
Our pick for anyone who wants to see what a modern Honduran blend does with the classic format. AVO’s Expresivo line is built around bold, expressive flavour — think rich cedar, roasted nuts and a confident spice that builds through the smoke — without tipping into heaviness. It’s a cigar that rewards a slower pace, which is exactly what the Churchill format is built for.
Shop AVO Expresivo Churchill →
Named directly after the man himself, the Aristocrat is Davidoff’s flagship take on the format — a complex, medium-to-full-bodied blend from their Dominican factory in Santiago. Expect toasted almond and cedar on the opening draw, moving through creamy oak, mocha and cocoa, and finishing on rich leather and dark coffee with a hint of raisin sweetness. A cigar built for pairing with a good Cognac or an aged Scotch.
Shop Davidoff Winston Churchill Aristocrat →
The original — the vitola this whole format is named after, from the house that created it. Expect classic Habano character: leather, peanuts and sweet tobacco, in a medium-bodied, beautifully balanced blend. A well over an hour’s smoke, presented in the brand’s signature cedar-lined tube.
Shop Romeo y Julieta Churchill Tubos →
For smokers who prefer a heavier ring gauge, the Wide Churchill reflects the modern trend towards thicker, shorter cigars while keeping the Romeo y Julieta blend at its core. Launched in the UK in 2012 as the brand’s third Churchill-named vitola, it’s a good option for anyone who finds the standard Churchill a touch too slender.
Shop Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchill →
An excellent entry point into the format. Fractionally shorter than the Romeo y Julieta original, this Honduran cigar from Hunters & Frankau is hand-rolled with long-filler tobacco and offers a medium-strength, sweet and spicy profile with grass, herb, cedar and wood notes — genuine quality at a very sensible price.
Shop La Invicta Honduran Churchill →
For when time is tighter but you still want that classic Churchill character. This shorter vitola keeps the same balanced, medium-bodied Habano blend — selected filler and binder leaves from the Vuelta Abajo zone, made at the H. Upmann factory — in a more manageable smoking time.
Shop Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill →
Whether you’re after the Cuban original, a bold Honduran reinterpretation, or Davidoff’s take on the name it’s built around, Fareham Wine Cellar stocks a genuine range of Churchill-format cigars in-store and online. Browse our full cigar selection, or drop into the High Street shop to talk through what suits your palate and pairing plans.
