Same Code

[El Presidente]

I was struck with how good this batch of H, Upmann Half corona were (todays 24;24).  It was one of those matercases where it was either PSP/HQ or below PE with nothing much in between. 

These cigars are from the same code, same mastercase. 

 

There are plenty of members who would prefer the ighter/drier wrappers (all other things being equal) and that is more than fine.  What I am pointing out is the sheer scale of variation within the same box code.  

if I was looking for a cigar from another venfor I would ask them to select the best box possible. If that option wasn't available I would pick the most consistent box code ....but that is not foolproof by any means. 

[fitzy]

Wow that's an amazing difference. Personally I prefer darker and oilier wrappers. 

[FatPete]

It would be great Prez if you could smoke one of each example and let us know what you think.

[prodigy]

I have smoked a few now from each box. Monte PE. One box dark and oily psp, the other light, clearance. Guess which ones smoke better?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

[havanaclub]

I have smoked a few now from each box. Monte PE. One box dark and oily psp, the other light, clearance. Guess which ones smoke better?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

I would guess the lighter probably burns much better as I find the dark oily wrappers are sometimes fire proof. I have the PSP dark ones from the same lot and they are damn tasty.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Islandboy]

Seems to me the lighter wrappers are more approachable young, while the darker ones have the potential for better taste with age. Based on my limited experience with some PSE2’s.

[NSXCIGAR]

Color sorters won't be out of a job anytime soon...

[nathankwok]

5 hours ago, Islandboy said:

Seems to me the lighter wrappers are more approachable young, while the darker ones have the potential for better taste with age. Based on my limited experience with some PSE2’s.

Totally agree with you!!

[PapaDisco]

So do the blenders make the call on the wrapper?  

[ha_banos]

I call for a blind taste test!

Surely. Surely the darker wrappers because they look tastier would have a big impact on our other senses.

But perhaps they give us a higher expectation too.

I've certainly never seen the variance from one box code like this before

[foursite12]

5 hours ago, ha_banos said:

I call for a blind taste test!

Surely. Surely the darker wrappers because they look tastier would have a big impact on our other senses.

But perhaps they give us a higher expectation too.

I've certainly never seen the variance from one box code like this before

Absolutely aesthetics play a huge part here. The cigar porn we all drool over sells a lot of cigars at a premium, which is why our host de-commoditizes a portion of the product via the culling effort he undertakes. If the demand wasn't there, the market would correct.  All girls look the same in a darkened room but we all tend to still see the supermodel that was on our arm when we walked in. We, especially men, are particularly stimulated by visual inputs. Does it matter a whit if the total package of enjoyment we receive from a cigar is partly derived from the visual pleasure center as well as from the purely taste pleasure center?  If the blindfold test yields no distinction in pure taste from the two batches, I suspect we will nonetheless continue to pony up for the pretties.

[ha_banos]

On the whole, undoubtedly.

But also the wrapper is very thin compared to the filler and binder. So surely the impact of the wrapper is minimal - even though it's in contact with the mouth.

And the time the cigar is wrapped and the smells and tastes mix. Even a claro wrapper will absorb some from its filling.

So, blind smell, touch and taste test !

[BrightonCorgi]

13 hours ago, PapaDisco said:

So do the blenders make the call on the wrapper?  

When the whole batch of cigars are rolled they are separated by shade so each box should have the same shade and be consistent.  I believe these is about 16 shades they are divided between?

[Sudzdaddy]

2 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

When the whole batch of cigars are rolled they are separated by shade so each box should have the same shade and be consistent.  I believe these is about 16 shades they are divided between?

More like 60+.

http://www.habanos.com/en/el-mundo-del-habano/seleccionando-los-colores/?age-verified=cd55db6fa1

[NSXCIGAR]

20 hours ago, PapaDisco said:

So do the blenders make the call on the wrapper?  

Officially, there's no differentiation between wrapper shades in terms of blend or flavor so it isn't supposed factor into the blenders' decisions. I'm sure if there was something the blender objected to it would be removed but QC occurs before the blender gets the tobacco. I doubt the blender even sees all of it. The blender selects the blends from the bales that are probably labeled from the fincas they came from and the part of the plant they are so that the recipe can be distributed to the torcedors. 

[El Presidente]

Nothing at all wrong with the lighter sticks. Just showcasing the diversity from the same mastercase and code. 

 

 

 

[cfc1016]

On 2/8/2018 at 8:37 PM, Islandboy said:

Seems to me the lighter wrappers are more approachable young, while the darker ones have the potential for better taste with age. Based on my limited experience with some PSE2’s.

I’ve noticed this, to an extent, as well, but it’s not 100%. Certainly not with LGC anyway. I’ve had young (<1yr) MDO4s with wrappers that were almost BLACK and they smoked stupendously. Absolutely perfect burn. No doubt the skinny gauge affects that. I would think the phenomenon you refer to would have more of an effect the higher the ring gauge. Not science, just speculation. 

[GWG]

I like them both, but due love the oily texture of the darker ones. I wonder if some wrappers were fermented longer?