A Churchill is a long, elegant cigar — typically around 178 mm with a 47 ring gauge — named after Sir Winston Churchill. Here we explore its dimensions, its history, the flavour it delivers and how to choose the right one for an unhurried evening.

When the evening is yours to savour, reach for a generously sized, slow-burning cigar with the depth to evolve over an hour or more. Here are our editors' picks of the best cigars for a long evening, with pairing notes, ideal vitolas and storage guidance.