Are Darker Wrappers Always Better?

[SigmundChurchill]

On 9/7/2015 at 8:41 PM, El Presidente said:

No. As an example (rule of thumb) I would choose:

Lighter oily wrapers on Cohiba/LGC/HDM/Juan Lopez

Darker Oily thin wrappers on Montecristo/Partagas/Bolivar

I agree with this, though, for my preference, I wouldn't necessarily say that I would gravitate toward the darker wrappers on the Monte/Partagas/Bolivar group, and I would add Trinidad to this group.  But a darker wrapper is less likely to ruin/alter the flavor of these darker flavored cigars than their lighter, brighter tasting counterparts.  Nothing worse for me than opening a box of Cohibas to find a bunch of dark oily wrappers.  

That is why I am not a fan of most ELs.  I say "most" because back in the day, ALL of the ELs had dark wrappers, but these days some of them dont, and the ones that don't tend to be exceptional cigars, no matter what the marca.

[Hammer Smokin']

but almost all Cohibas from 2020 and 2021 have dark wrappers (like most of Cuba's stock for the last couple years). 

so we get used to dark wrapper Cohibas, or we don't smoke them

[SigmundChurchill]

15 minutes ago, Hammer Smokin' said:

but almost all Cohibas from 2020 and 2021 have dark wrappers (like most of Cuba's stock for the last couple years). 

so we get used to dark wrapper Cohibas, or we don't smoke them

I would agree that they are dark(er), but only rarely do I open a box of regular production Cohibas where I say, "Those are just too dark."  Once in a while, but not that often.  And I think these dark(er) Cohibas have shortened the young, "bland" phase a bit and they can be smoked sooner than previously, but there is still nothing like a nice true claro wrappered Cohiba in it's prime.

A few years ago, I bought two boxes of those Year Of the Pig CoRos, and at the time, I thought they were gimmicky.  They were re-packaged without even having box codes on the box.  I figured I would end up selling one of the boxes after they had some age on them.  But it turned out they have some of the lightest wrappers I have seen on Cohibas in a long time, and they have all been excellent, so I changed my mind about selling the second box.

[soutso]

8 hours ago, PigFish said:

Glad to see you brother! Hope things are well with you. Been reading some of your tribulations with the 'police power' over there and I have been a bit concerned.

Crazy world! Love ya' mate! -R

Right back atcha brother! Yes things are tight but it's also been a good way to sift through your cool neighbours from the ones willing to send your details to the Gestapo at a moments notice! Some of the behaviour around my way is incredibly petty.

Talk soon.

[NSXCIGAR]

I'm not sure about flavor but I will tell you that I've found dark wrappers to be much more likely to have combustion problems than lighter wrappers. I'm fact, I'm not sure I've ever encountered a thick light wrapper. If the wrapper is thick it's almost certainly a dark wrapper.

I think it's the nature of tapado/upper tapado. And we know the higher the priming the more processing is required. I'm not sure the higher primings are always getting the attention they need. 

For that reason, I tend to avoid dark wrappers. 

[El Presidente]

I don't know. I think many lump dark wrappers incorrectly into the same category. It is akin to saying all Asians are good at maths or males are predisposed to engineering. 

Quality, thin, tensile dark wrappers have the same combustability as thin quality tensile colorado/claro wrappers. The difference  in flavour however is distinct. They each enhance certain blends/marca. 

Quality, thin and tensile is the key. 

[NSXCIGAR]

I think it's time to roll some cigars with all wrapper and figure this out. 

[SCgarman]

12 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I don't know. I think many lump dark wrappers incorrectly into the same category. It is akin to saying all Asians are good at maths or males are predisposed to engineering. 

Quality, thin, tensile dark wrappers have the same combustability as thin quality tensile colorado/claro wrappers. The difference  in flavour however is distinct. They each enhance certain blends/marca. 

Quality, thin and tensile is the key. 

Not to throw all dark wrappers into the same bucket, but to my experience many of the darker wrappered cigars I have had are fire proof. I have some MUR 12 RASS that simply won't burn. The wrappers are colorado maduro. Not sure I will even revisit the remains of the box. I also prefer the aesthetics of colorado or colorado claro wrappers on my sticks. Or even rosado. Some of the best cigars I have enjoyed had lighter shade matte wrappers. Dark and beautiful doesn't always mean better, subjectively.

[Chibearsv]

22 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said:

Nothing worse for me than opening a box of Cohibas to find a bunch of dark oily wrappers.  

And is there anything much better than opening a box of Espys or Siglo VI and seeing pure gold?  😎

[Jonboy4074]

And is there anything much better than opening a box of Espys or Siglo VI and seeing pure gold?  

Something like this?