Quality Lighter Wrappers

[El Presidente]

I don't get to see too many quality lighter wrappers these days.

By a quality light wrapper I mean one that has a high level of oil/sheen.  I wish I could see more as they are my favourite wrapper of all when combined to the right cigar. Well, those and Rosado wrappers. 

I came across a few yesterday in a mastercase of Upmann Magnum 46. While the picture is not the best, you can see what I mean with the sheen on the wrappers. 

[Drguano]

Ah, how do they smoke? I am drawn to the darker wrappers but I don't know if they taste better. One of the best boxes of RA Superiores I've smoked was lighter wrappers like these.

[El Presidente]

9 minutes ago, Drguano said:

Ah, how do they smoke? I am drawn to the darker wrappers but I don't know if they taste better. One of the best boxes of RA Superiores I've smoked was lighter wrappers like these.

Quality lighter wrappers impart an increased level of " creamy nuttiness" to Upmann. They work well with Upmann. 

Quality darker wrappers (thin, good sheen) impart that additional cocoa element. They work so well with Monte and others with a cream or fruity core. 

Quality Rosado wrappers bring that cherry element. 

[Corylax18]

Do you think this has something to do with how hard it is to grow beautiful, unblemished wrappers under almost complete shade? I know there have been some weather related issues during the last few harvest years. Thinner, more fragile shade grown wrapper would seem to be the most easily and negatively affected. Water spots, bug damage, and nutrient deficiencys are all much harder to hide on a Claro wrapper.

Any blemishes in binder, filler, or even darker wrapper are much less apparent in a finished cigar. Whatever the reason I think its clear that a hiccup has developed somewhere in the production process for these lighter shade wrapper leaves. No Cohibas, which always have light wrappers. No Sir winnies, usually on the lighter side. and the QDO Coronas I got the other day were borderline Maduro! Not what I was expecting at all, I am used the QDO's having very light wrappers. 

Dont get me wrong I love my Monte 2s and I think the darker the better when it comes to their wrapper shade. And look at the Mag 56s, dark oily splotchy, streaky wrappers. Certainly not the prettiest wrappers, but damn is the flavor there.

[El Presidente]

I have to say that QDO wrappers are generally colorado to colorado maduro. Have realrely seen a claro in the past 6 years. 

Just thinkng out loud, I have no idea. 

Darker wrapper, you either sun grow it, leave it on the plant longer, or ferment it longer. 

From the variablility in a mastercase I have seen everything from Oscuro to Claro within say 30 boxes of Petit Edmundo (which I did today). They are all rolled at the same time. The lighter wrappers weren't quality. 

I can't recall the last time I saw a full mastercase of silky lighter claro wrappers. Maybe a case od SLR A last year.   These 46 are the closest I have seen for a while. 

 

[JohnS]

8 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Quality lighter wrappers impart an increased level of " creamy nuttiness" to Upmann. They work well with Upmann. 

I'm enjoying some quality lighter wrapper aged H.Upmann Petit Coronas (ROA Ago 2006) lately and this flavour profile 'fits the bill'! For me, these H.Upmann Magnum 46's look fantastic.

[LeafLover]

My first great box of Cuban cigars were some '08 Mag 46. And it looked exactly like that. I saved four from that box.  I'll never forget that box. 

[joeypots]

I'm thinking back to a box of Upman #2, '01 or '02 that had very light wrappers. Strong doesn't begin to describe them. 

Rob, have you smoked one of the cigars referenced in this thread? Any thoughts?

[Corylax18]

13 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I have to say that QDO wrappers are generally colorado to colorado maduro. Have realrely seen a claro in the past 6 years. 

Just thinkng out loud, I have no idea. 

Darker wrapper, you either sun grow it, leave it on the plant longer, or ferment it longer. 

From the variablility in a mastercase I have seen everything from Oscuro to Claro within say 30 boxes of Petit Edmundo (which I did today). They are all rolled at the same time. The lighter wrappers weren't quality. 

I can't recall the last time I saw a full mastercase of silky lighter claro wrappers. Maybe a case od SLR A last year.   These 46 are the closest I have seen for a while. 

 

Agreed. The last box of QDO's I had were Imperials, they were certainly not Claro but much lighter then the recent box of coronas I received. I remember the Corona boxes used to be stamped "Corona Claro" I dont know when they changed it. They also used to sell the "Coronas Claro Claro" I never smoked or saw one personally, but obviously not something thats around anymore. 

[earthson]

Yeah, I was shocked to see such dark wrappers on a '15 box of RGPC.  Those are some cigars I've typically associated with lighter wrappers.

Maybe they're letting the wrappers get darker in anticipation of the end of the embargo?  It seems like most NC fans prefer darker wrappers.

[Colt45]

53 minutes ago, earthson said:

Maybe they're letting the wrappers get darker in anticipation of the end of the embargo?  It seems like most NC fans prefer darker wrappers.

Funny, I've seen it as just the opposite - darker wrappers produced for some years, with the clamor from Cuban cigar fans of "dark and oily"....

[ElPuro]

I personally put more "weight" in construction  and filler than wrapper. The collector in me loves a good finish, but the smoker in me recognizes that beauty is more than skin deep. 

[joeruby]

21 minutes ago, ElPuro said:

I personally put more "weight" in construction  and filler than wrapper. The collector in me loves a good finish, but the smoker in me recognizes that beauty is more than skin deep. 

I agree, wrappers only convince the eye. 

Holding to feel the weight, gently squeezing to gauge construction, smelling, and even rolling between your fingers over your ear to hear any crackling.

All the senses need to be used when determining quality.