Parts of a Cigar
In order to properly appreciate a cigar, the smoker needs to be able to identify where the flavours are coming from. Most cigars have three separate parts: wrappers, fillers and binders. Very small cigars will forego the binder altogether, but they are the exception to the rule.
1. Wrappers
The wrapper is the outermost part of the cigar and it is one of the first things you will notice. They are made from leaves on the widest part of the tobacco plant. The type of wrapper used to make a cigar can determine a lot of that cigar’s distinguishing flavour and characteristics. Cigar manufacturers have come up with more than 100 different wrapper shades. However, there are seven general classifications that are the most common. Here they are, from the lightest colour to the darkest: The four major wrapper leaves, from light to dark, are Connecticut, Corojo, Habano and Maduro.
• Connecticut: As the name implies, this leaf comes from the Northeastern U.S. state and is essentially the only significant tobacco export from America. However, the seed is grown in Ecuador as well. This plant is nurtured under special conditions, garnering it the nickname “Connecticut Shade” because it is mostly grown under some form of protection – like giant sheets of cheesecloth. This keeps its colour light and the unpredictable weather, such as excessive sun radiation, from beating up the plant. The lack of sunlight also contributes to the leaf’s mild flavour and low nicotine content, but it usually has a woody, spicy and/or cedar taste.
• Corojo: A little darker in colour than the Connecticut wrapper, the Corojo was originally grown in Cuba but, because of the embargo, it is now mostly grown in Honduras. Due to the new location, the seed needed to be genetically modified in order to survive in its new environment. This wrapper tends to have a very spicy, peppery, robust flavour, favoured by many cigar smokers; however, one drawback to the wrapper is its toughness. It sometimes doesn’t smoke easily.
• Habano: is similar in colour to Corojo and is also from Cuba, but today it grows mostly in Nicaragua. The leaf produces a heavy, spicy flavour and is often dense with nicotine, so it may overwhelm a beginner smoker.
• Maduro: is the darkest in colour of the four and enjoys the lengthiest lifespan, from seedling to wrapper leaf. It goes through such a long process to properly darken and flavour the leaf properly. Because of these distinct parameters, to be classified as Maduro the wrapper requires a hearty, thick leaf that can withstand years of aging and still maintain its un-blemished cover quality. Not every leaf can be turned into a Maduro wrapper and, interestingly enough, they tend to defy their ominous looks. These cigars often produce a somewhat sweeter undercurrent, which has earned this style the nickname “dessert smoke.”
Other Notable Wrappers
Some other wrappers worth mentioning are the Candela, Sumatra, Oscuro and Cameroon.
- Candela is distinctly green in colour, which has much to do with its quick aging process. Though this doesn’t detract from its value, flavour or strength profiles. It is usually milder and sometimes used in short, promotional runs of cigars.
- The Sumatra leaf comes from the Indonesian region that bears the same name. Known for its cinnamon zest, it is usually mild and sweet.
- Oscuro is a very dark cigar wrapper. These remarkable cigars are sometimes called double Maduro. Why? Because they are fermented for longer than the traditional Maduro wrap in order to achieve their intense colour and flavour.
- The Cameroon comes from the Central African country. The leaves of this plant have a unique “toothy” quality, which fortunately does not translate to the actual wrapper or its taste. The Cameroon is rich and savoury.
2.Binders
The binder holds together the filler. Most of the time, binders are made from wrappers that were rejected because they had holes, discolouration or other blemishes.
3.Fillers
The filler makes up the majority of the tobacco in a cigar. Typically, they are made from a blend of tobaccos of varying strengths to make up the flavour. The part of the tobacco plant itself can have a big impact on the overall flavour of the cigar.
- Volado has a weak flavour and comes from the bottom of the plant.
- Seco leaves are dryer and come from the middle.
- Lingero leaves are from the top of the plant and have a strong flavour because they get the most access to sunlight.
The bigger a cigar is, the more room there is for a variety of leaves, resulting in a more complex flavour. Some fillers are made of long leaves while others are made from short chopped up bits. Long leaves burn slower, and if they are of high quality, they should burn slowly and consistently. There are also “medium filler” cigars that are, aptly, in the middle.
Terminology
Before we delve into different cigar categories, it is worth going through some common terms used to describe the various aspects of cigars that may be commonly misunderstood by beginners.
Strength: This is simply a measure of how much nicotine is in a cigar. Strong cigars have more nicotine and mild cigars have less. This is also known as the cigar’s “kick.” Cigars will mellow out and lose nicotine over the years.
Flavour: This doesn’t refer to an artificially flavoured cigar like vanilla or strawberry. Pure flavour comes from the soil and the climate where the tobacco plant is cultivated. Aging, blending, and storage are other factors that contribute to a cigar’s natural flavour.
Scent: This is how a cigar smells before you light it. Again, soil, climate and aging all combine to create the scent.
Aroma: This is how a cigar smells after you light it. Aroma is the smell of the smoke itself.
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