As continued from “Finding the Right Cigar Blend and Presentation”, the manufacturers must be confident that all the cigar components will be available from the supply, and the consistency will remain.
We begin now with fillers, dependent on the country and its soil, the seeds used in planting, time taken for curing and assurances that each of a possibility, using three or four types will, when joined with a specific binder, deliver the sensation to palate that all agree are needed.
Binders, which are somewhat heavier in texture, are needed to hold the fillers and of course enhance the qualities of the cigars, but never detract.
Wrappers are the final portion of the fillers and binder to finish the appearance, but more importantly have qualities of burn and taste, that some believe is responsible for between 20% to 50% of the overall taste.
Wrappers, which could have 75 different shades, hard to imagine, fall into 7 specifics.
Candela - A green color that was first popularized in the U.S. in the 1800's and early 1900's.
Claro - Pale to light brown, this is the classic color of a Connecticut shade grown tobacco wrapper. This color can also be referred to as natural.
Colorado Claro - Darker brown in color and similar to a Cameroon wrapper from West Africa.
Colorado - A reddish brown wrapper most often seen in well-aged and mature cigars.
Colorado Maduro - A dark brown wrapper, usually seen on cigars produced in Honduras, Nicaragua and sometimes in Cuba.
Double Claro - A greenish-brown wrapper that produces a somewhat light and bland taste.
Maduro - A dark, almost coffee-like color associated with full flavored and slightly sweet-tasting cigars.
Oscuro - Very dark, strong-flavored wrapper produced in Mexico, Brazil and Nicaragua
The selection of wrapper is very important for all three components, appearance, taste and aroma for that great pleasure – cigar to cigar.
By
Al Remp, product specialist and trainer,
Thompson Cigar.
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