Dark,oily wrappers vs. Light, matte wrappers

[SCgarman]

My question is: since El Prez selects the darkest, oilyest and most aromatic smelling boxes of cigars to be considered either HQ or PSP, has anyone had a box that just wasn't as good as a box that had lighter shades of wrappers which were more matte in appearance and the cigars were not as aromatic when you opened up the lid. For instance, I have 2 boxes of Vegas Robaina Famosos, one Sept09 and the other Dec09. I am currently smoking the Sep09's which have Beautiful, flawless, very oily dark brown wrappers and when I first cracked the box open, it was like smelling pure chocolate. Now the second box, which I have not smoked yet, has a totally different appearance and aroma. The wrappers are a shade or 2 darker, but not oily at all in appearance and the construction appears to be more rustic than the other box and the aroma is more of a mild barnyard than a strong chocolate. I will be curious to see if the second box stands up to the first as far as taste since both boxes seem so much different. Any opinions?

[Colt45]

I'm not the biggest fan of truly dark, thick wrappers. I don't know if I can really articulate my thoughts, but aside from the aesthetic, I think they tend

to make flavor more "generic" for lack of a better way to describe it.

For example, I had a pretty good sized batch of Bolivar Belicoso Finos with very dark wrappers. Now obviously there is no way of knowing for sure if the

wrappers were the culprit, but overall, they had a kind of bland-ish chocolaty, Cohiba Maduro, EL profile - not bad, but not great either, and to my taste,

little in common with the Bolivar marque.

Generally speaking, all else being equal I'll take a nice colorado, colorado claro, colorado with a red tinge any day - the smoother and silkier, the better.

For what it's worth, in a recent live from the humidor, there was a box of trinidad - I believe robusto T, that had very dark wrappers. Personally, if I were

looking for a box, I'd have passed these over.

I know many members look for "dark and oily", and it seems Habanos has been producing more and more cigars wrapped in this fashion.

[Ghabanos]

I don't know about it being dark, but I heard that oily wrappers tend to age better.

does that hold true?

I have a box of BHK 54s. they are as colorado as they come. no oil, but NOT dry. they were awesome and young they were....

so light and matte does not preclude it from being tasty...as least in my case...

Now I have to find a dark and oily bhk54 to compare...

[jedipastor]

I've thought it more an issue of oils, aroma, and overall quality (as much as looks can tell), rather than simply dark wrappers = better cigars.

I think dark wrappers look gorgeous, but I'm not convinced they have an impact on flavor. I think you'd need to do a lot of research with cigars of very similar age. I'll volunteer for a lab rat, lol!

[Fuzz]

For what it's worth, in a recent live from the humidor, there was a box of trinidad - I believe robusto T, that had very dark wrappers. Personally, if I were

looking for a box, I'd have passed these over.

/quote]

I'd have to agree with you there Colt. I do prefer the darker wrappers, but on a Trini I'd be looker for the lighter wrappers.

For some cigars, the colour of the wrapper plays a large part in the end. Take for example the RyJ Churchill. I'm told that you need to find ones with a colorado wrapper that has a reddish hue. The last one I smoked had a claro wrapper and it was like I was smoking that morning's newspaper.

Then again, it could all be a load of BS!

[anacostiakat]

I'm not the biggest fan of truly dark, thick wrappers. I don't know if I can really articulate my thoughts, but aside from the aesthetic, I think they tend

to make flavor more "generic" for lack of a better way to describe it.

For example, I had a pretty good sized batch of Bolivar Belicoso Finos with very dark wrappers. Now obviously there is no way of knowing for sure if the

wrappers were the culprit, but overall, they had a kind of bland-ish chocolaty, Cohiba Maduro, EL profile - not bad, but not great either, and to my taste,

little in common with the Bolivar marque.

Generally speaking, all else being equal I'll take a nice colorado, colorado claro, colorado with a red tinge any day - the smoother and silkier, the better.

For what it's worth, in a recent live from the humidor, there was a box of trinidad - I believe robusto T, that had very dark wrappers. Personally, if I were

looking for a box, I'd have passed these over.

I know many members look for "dark and oily", and it seems Habanos has been producing more and more cigars wrapped in this fashion.

I agree!!!

[dicko]

I truly don't mind. I've both enjoyed and disliked dark and light wrappers.

[ajgagnon]

I just had my first PLPC yesterday from my local shop and it was fantastic. Light, matte, an not overly impressive looking, but wow, it was flavourful! And I have some Shorts that are rather dull looking with thick wrappers, but they are nothing less than potent.

I have to admit though, I am drawn to a rich, deep, translucent oily wrapper every time, even if it's just for aesthetics. I guess I go for shiny things!

[SCgarman]

How about the RASS? All my RASS have very light almost golden brown colored wrappers, but some of the HQ boxes shown here have almost maduro shades. Anyone buy an HQ box with very dark wrappers? And how are they?

[bassman]

Oily is the key. Color doesn't really matter. But perhaps just for esthetic purposes, I prefer dark Montecristos & light Bolivars.

[Dbone]

There are some, like the VR Marca I like a darker wrapper, to me it provides a smoother sweeter smoke. Most others, I do prefer Claro.

Just as timing may have it I purchased a box of Monte Especial from the HQ forum. There was Box A Colorado Box B was Claro, I purchased the Box B with the Claro wrapper. Your lips & mouth are in contact with the wrapper leaf, I do believe it impacts flavor greatly. Darker the wrapper sweeter the flavor, lighter the wrapper more bite / organic flavor.

I agree with bassman, oils present in the wrapper is very important.

One quick note NYC: I agree Pres does pick a lot of dark wrappers for his HQ & PSP boxes, but he has mentioned dark wrappers are not a requirement of the program.

[PigFish]

I disagree with the 'weight' of flavor applied to the wrapper. The wrapper is as about as important to the flavor as the box is (MHO). If one were to weigh the wrapper as a percentage of the overall weight of the cigar you find that it is only a small percentage. If you consider that wrappers are selected for aesthetics and not strength such as ligero or other strong flavor leaves buried in the cigar, ones you can't see, then you can follow my train of thought. What is important in a cigar is what you can't see, not what you do see. If what you could see was all that there was to it, then picking a great cigar would take nothing more than looking at one! How about the oils in the binder or the filler? Do you peel back the wrapper to look at those? Nope!

I prefer colorado claro wrappers. I miss the classic Connecticut shade wrapper look. I actually think that wrapping a nice CC in a light CS wrapper would be lovely! I like the look and feel of light colored, silky or velvety wrapped cigars, but frankly I don't really give a rats ass about the looks compared to the taste performance. Lookin' good while smokin' a **** cigar is not what I call a prime smoking experience! Lookin' ratty while enjoying a great smoke, wins every time for me! -Piggy

[BPiazza11]

Without a doubt, I put little faith in the color of a wrapper. For instance, the best Monte 2 I've ever had was very light in wrapper color and seemingly with very little oils. However, I recall the aroma being just amazing. One of the more memorable cigars I've ever had.

[semery74]

Like Books, you should not judge them by their cover. The weight of a cigar can have a clear determination on taste and flavor. Other than color and weight there is a rare characteristic that I love, which is a wrapper that is soft and velvety.

[Colt45]

I agree that oil content is important, but it leaves me with a question - is it better to have a lot of oil on the surface at cold, or not so visible, or does

it matter either way. I've also noticed that relatively "dry" looking cigars will show more oil on the surface as the the cigar heats up during smoking.

Rob has done a few tests with wrapper swaps, removal, etc. I guess something we could all try for ourselves would be to start smoking a cigar and

once we determine that it is tasting good, remove the wrapper nearly half way in. I think I'll try it with a Bolivar Corona Gigantes when I next have

the chance.

Will it definitively prove anything - perhaps not, but I'll try it just the same.

[jman]

I think the czars cigars look dark quite a bit, but it could how the pics are taken. Taste is taste no matter what the color

[Smallclub]

I disagree with the 'weight' of flavor applied to the wrapper. The wrapper is as about as important to the flavor as the box is (MHO).

About 2 years ago (I think), Rob has conducted experiments with different wrappers on different Cohiba and he came to opposite conclusions.

Unfortunatly I can't find the threads, but I remember that the results were surprising.

[coug28]

About 2 years ago (I think), Rob has conducted experiments with different wrappers on different Cohiba and he came to opposite conclusions.

Unfortunatly I can't find the threads, but I remember that the results were surprising.

I believe it was done with Montecristo as opposed to Cohiba....and here's the thread. I was looking for this as I too had a similar question a while back about light vs dark wrappers, and this was the only place I found such a comparison...

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/inde...showtopic=67990

[Smallclub]

I believe it was the Montecristos....and here's the thread.

No, not at all. I'm talking about a real experiment, with a cuban torcedor swapping wrappers on different Cohiba (Maduro line v Robustos)

[coug28]

No, not at all. I'm talking about a real experiment, with a cuban torcedor swapping wrappers on different Cohiba (Maduro line v Robustos)

Perhaps it was one similar to this then.....because he did have a torcedor swap the wrappers on these Monte 2s:

"Enter Yasmel our Cuban roller with a penchant for XXXX beer, blonde women, heavy metal music and big steaks. After having posted my initial tastings on the light and dark wrappered cigars, I had him swap wrappers on cigars from the box of Montecristo No 2�s. When swapping wrappers he did not �wet them down� in order that further moisture did alter the final tasting"

[Smallclub]

Perhaps it was one similar to this then.....

Absolutely… and the conclusions are identical: the wrapper has a huge influence.

[PigFish]

About 2 years ago (I think), Rob has conducted experiments with different wrappers on different Cohiba and he came to opposite conclusions.

Unfortunatly I can't find the threads, but I remember that the results were surprising.

I love Rob, okay, we are mates, but what he thinks about this is of little consequence to me! Why? Because I don't need him to conclude for me, it is why the Lord gave me a brain to think with and taste buds to taste with!!! I have done these experiments myself so that I don't have to read about it. We can all do these experiments for ourselves so we don't have to read about it but can instead experience it and opine about it. I prefer the experience the opining route.

The actual weight of the wrapper verses the internal matter is a fact on my side. The fact that wrapper color has little or no indication of how a cigar will smoke is evidence on my side. The fact that no one can determine the taste of a cigar by viewing the wrapper is evidence on my side!!! Beyond that, I say smoke a cigar for yourself and peel off the wrapper and try it for yourself. Objectively I believe you will find what I have found and that is no difference in cigar taste or in its unctuous nature.

Perhaps in cigars that are mild, the removal of tobacco makes a larger difference. I can grant that, it is logical. But for the more robust cigars that I tend to smoke, where much of the flavor that I desire likely stems from ligero or seco, I have found little or no difference at all by removing the wrapper while smoking. Any difference found could be equally attributed to a perception or the natural character of a cigar. There is no hard and fast proof here either way. There is only personal opinion and empirical evidence. I rest my case on that. There is no right or wrong here, there is just what I think, what you think and what Rob thinks!!!

-

[lancerv43]

Everything that I have read says the wrapper has a huge influence on cigar flavor. As for one tasting better than the other I am sure they have different flavor but who is to say the darker oily wrapper is better. Every one has their own opinion so I'm sure results vary. I like the look of the dark oily wrappers but I couldn't tell you if the taste is better than the light matte wrapper and I'm in it for the flavor so who cares what it looks like as long as it smokes good and tastes great. Interesting to hear everyones opinions.