Oily Wrappers

[Dbone]

Oily wrappers are good, right?

The laymen in me views a oily wrapper leaf as ones that was picked at maturity, cured and aged correctly as not to strip these oils, and also signals the end product has been stored properly. Ok this doesn't say much in the way of flavor, but I'd image high quality raw materials processed correctly ensures the end product meets or exceeds it's standards.

I have a couple very lovely boxes, Party 898 and Upmann PC, with very high oil content on the wrappers. More so than any other in my cabinet and I'm curious how these will age over 5 years or more.

[ramon_cojones]

Interested in hearing the prez's thoughts about this. Seems they don't retain after many years at 65% I believe.

[El Presidente]

Oily wrappers are good, right?

The laymen in me views a oily wrapper leaf as ones that was picked at maturity, cured and aged correctly as not to strip these oils, and also signals the end product has been stored properly. Ok this doesn't say much in the way of flavor, but I'd image high quality raw materials processed correctly ensures the end product meets or exceeds it's standards.

I have a couple very lovely boxes, Party 898 and Upmann PC, with very high oil content on the wrappers. More so than any other in my cabinet and I'm curious how these will age over 5 years or more.

To me it is quite simple

oil = flavour

No matter how you look at it.....oil = flavour. I store my own cigars at 61-63% RH and have found it ideal for long term storage of oily cigars (dark or light wrappers).

An oily wrapper is no certainty of a great cigar. You still need to have the filler blends and construction right. However if they are then a great wrapper enhances the cigar.

If I can draw an analogy to wine.

Oak can be added to wine vats through oak chips which is common enough for cask and cheap quaffers.

You can also do it by aging the wine in the finest French or American Oak Barrels to deliver a higher level of class and complexity.

[Colt45]

I agree that oil content is important. What is less important to me personally is that I can see the oil on the surface. I have had many great cigars that were relatively "dry" visually

and leathery to the touch.

[El Presidente]

I agree that oil content is important. What is less important to me personally is that I can see the oil on the surface. I have had many great cigars that were relatively "dry" visually

and leathery to the touch.

The great wrappers are tensile ....stretch and stretch. For that you need a high oil component and they should be silky to the touch even if you cannot see the oil in the wrapper.

[Orion21]

If you keep your cigars at a lower rh% you won't get as much oil. From what I have read oil starts to secrete from the wrapper at 70%. Am I wrong?

[Generalgman]

On the topic of wrappers... (but off the oily theme), I had a trinny fundadores the other day and noticed very small fuzz like hairs on the wrapper leaf... incidentally, they resulted in the ash having very fine pin-prick white spots. I noticed the same a few days later with a Sigo 1...

Anyone else experience fuzzy wrappers and white spot on the ash? Maybe I just study my cigars a little too closely!

[Colt45]

The great wrappers are tensile ....stretch and stretch. For that you need a high oil component and they should be silky to the touch even if you cannot see the oil in the wrapper.

I agree, but as mentioned, have had many wrappers which were less than silky (silky are my faves:-). For example, in my little wrapper removal experiment recently, The Bolivar Corona

Extra had a dryish, fairly rustic wrapper prior to lighting. After smoking some and removing the wrapper, it clearly had a nice even sheen of oil.

[Dbone]

Thanks for the feedback. One thing I have noticed on the oily wrappers is almost a caramelization of oil on the wrapper right at the foot while smoking. In fact, a "browning of sugars" to enhance flavors is possibly what's happening, caramelization.

[Erm310mce]

Great topic Dbone! I've wondered this myself...

Does oil content change over an aging period? Or does that depend solely on storage conditions?

In other words, could cigars that are stored properly lose oils over a long period of time, and if so could the oil content return?

[gigabyte056]

On the topic of wrappers... (but off the oily theme), I had a trinny fundadores the other day and noticed very small fuzz like hairs on the wrapper leaf... incidentally, they resulted in the ash having very fine pin-prick white spots. I noticed the same a few days later with a Sigo 1...

Anyone else experience fuzzy wrappers and white spot on the ash? Maybe I just study my cigars a little too closely!

That my friend is bloom or plume.

It is desirable and occurs when the oils secreted by the cigar crystallize.

I usually use a fine soft brush to clean the cigar prior to smoking it.

[CaptainQuintero]

That my friend is bloom or plume.

It is desirable and occurs when the oils secreted by the cigar crystallize.

I usually use a fine soft brush to clean the cigar prior to smoking it.

So the idea is to get plume but to not actually smoke it? How would the flavour of a cigar change if you didn't remove it?

I've never got plume so it's not as if it's affecting me lol but still nice to know!

[jedipastor]

To me, oil = awesome. Awesome both in flavor and appearance (which adds to my enjoyment only a little, but it does add to it).

If you put two boxes in front of me of the same cigar, same age, same price ... I'll pick the oilier APPEARING cigars every time, regardless of which is darker.

I think oil is the key, and the idea of "darker wrappers are better" is--to me--a myth. Granted, I still consider myself a noob when it comes to Habanos, so I could be mistaken.

[gigabyte056]

So the idea is to get plume but to not actually smoke it? How would the flavour of a cigar change if you didn't remove it?

I've never got plume so it's not as if it's affecting me lol but still nice to know!

For me it is just for aesthetics, Store your cigars at a controlled humidity of 63-65% and plume will come if there is enough oil in the cigar.

[Generalgman]

For me it is just for aesthetics, Store your cigars at a controlled humidity of 63-65% and plume will come if there is enough oil in the cigar.

After thinking I was looking at my cigars too closely, I think I need to get closer (sad I know). I must say, based on a very limited sample of smoking "plumed" cigars, hey were all 100% fantastic! SinP, thanks for the education!

G

[Colt45]

It is desirable ......

This is one of those things I don't believe in. It is a natural occurrence yes, but does not make for a better tasting cigar. And while some feel it is a sign

of a properly maintained cigar, I'm more wary that it is a sign of a cigar which has undergone some type of dramatic changes in climate.

Given the choice between two cigars - one with plume, one without, I'll choose the cigar whose oils have remained in the wrapper and have not crystallized

on it's surface.

But that's just me.

[El Presidente]

Great topic Dbone! I've wondered this myself...

Does oil content change over an aging period? Or does that depend solely on storage conditions?

In other words, could cigars that are stored properly lose oils over a long period of time, and if so could the oil content return?

The oil can dissipate somewhat into the binder. Stored correclty it does not disappear.

[Erm310mce]

The oil can dissipate somewhat into the binder. Stored correclty it does not disappear.

Thanks Pres! Appreciate the response.

[Wil]

Given the choice between two cigars - one with plume, one without, I'll choose the cigar whose oils have remained in the wrapper and have not crystallized

on it's surface.

But that's just me.

I agree. Surely it's better if the oils remain in the wrapper?

[fugwumpy]

I subscribe to oil=flavor mantra. Just like in cooking, fat(oil)=flavor, so if the oils start to dry out and crystalize, I consider that a loss in flavor.