Sometimes the ordinary wrappered cigars surprise you!

[JohnS]

• On the left, a TOS Oct 17 Por Larranaga Montecarlos, on the right, a TOS Mar 17 Por Larranaga Montecarlos.
• The one on the left has a coarse light colorado brown wrapper with obvious veins, the one on the right has a lovely smooth colorado/maduro mottled brown wrapper.
• The one on the left is all caramel and honey in its youth, the one on the right is more 'toasty' and light coffee in its youth.
• The one on the left is getting a lot of my current attention, whereas the one on the right has seen half its box smoked over 12 months. The rest are going for a 3 to 5 year nap!
• If you saw the cigars on the left in a bricks and mortar store, you'd be forgiven for thinking that there were perhaps better offerings elsewhere!

I commenced this topic from a recent daily smoke listing I uploaded here...

@Fugu did mention that computer monitors can affect the shades of wrappers, which is true and @cfc1016 opined that inspecting the foot, performing a squeeze test and a smell test was a better way to inspect cigars, which is also spot on.

Do you have examples of cigars of the same type with different qualities such a these?

[JZBdano]

I'll take those light Colorado wrappers on a Montecarlos and Party Shorts, even if they are a little veiny and rough.  I'm smoking through an EMA JUN 15 box of Montecarlos with light wrappers and every one has been impressive. Same with a '14 Shorts cab.  I really like the mello creaminess vs the sharper spiciness of the darker oily wrappers for these two cigars in particular.  I haven't smoked enough aged (5+ years) examples yet to give an opinion.

[Derboesekoenig]

I've always thought Montecarlos were underrated. I must have 2 boxes at all times because they just get better over time. But I like 'em fresh too. Hard to beat 'em for the price. And I can get an hour 20 mins out of them if I smoke slow

[Fugu]

On 1/27/2019 at 12:41 AM, JohnS said:

did mention that computer monitors can affect the shades of wrappers,

Yep, camera's white balance and colour-chart settings as well as contrast, flash/non-flash use are doing their part as well, as we all notice at times. Even in life, it's sometimes hard to judge depending on lighting.

[LGC]

If side by side in a store, I would have gone for the “inferior “ looking stick without hesitation.

[Cep]

Gotta admit the lighter wrappers do it for me also.  .

[fabes]

I buy boxes like the one on the left (top on mobile) to smoke. 

I buy boxes like the one on the right (bottom on mobile) to flip a few years down the line to pay for more cigars. 

?

[earthson]

One on the left looks better to me - the color looks uniform.  I've had more problems with mottled wrapper and burn issues than any given color as long as it's uniform and relatively leaf stem free.

[terrantheman]

Light wrappers on PL’s are the way I like them!

[fabes]

To answer your question @JohnS I had to go digging for this picture. These are a pair of RyJ Petit Coronas boxes both coded EAG MAY 2015 both arrived same time from our lovely host as part of a heavily discounted 2-box deal I could not pass up. 

One box with lifeless yellow-green wrappers, the other with oil-laden rosado wrappers. I decided to smoke the “ugly” box first, the lifeless yellow-green wrappered box. Having recently finished that box I will say they were phenomenal cigars with many being creamy cherry bombs. Flavor for days! A great smoking box all around. I have yet to crack into the rosado box, but plan to later in the year likely in May for their 4th box date birthday. Will try to remember to re-hash this thread with thoughts. 

All in all, to anyone who managed to read this, appearances can be deceiving. A cigar can only tell its story when smoked. Ugly cigars often have wonderful stories to tell to those willing to listen.

[skalls]

My preference is to always lean towards darker wrappers.  I get more excited about them.

I've got a box of jl selection 2s that are just powerhouses of flavor and most of the wrappers look pretty bog average to meh.  

I don't think this is the case at all, but the darker wrappers seen like they tend to have more oil in them compared to the lighter wrappers.  Ultimately a lifeless looking but oily wrapper can still cover a good cigar.

[joeypots]

I used to think dark and oily wrappers were the pinnacle of Cuban cigars. A box of Upman #2 from way back educated me about the dark wrapper mythology. Those light wrapper cigars were the bomb. Strong intense toasted tobacco with a nicotine kick that wouldn't quit. It took years for them to settle down and the wait was worth it. I think someone who sells a lot of cigars here talks up thin wrappers with sheen rather than the old dark and oily thing.