Wrapper Colors: Darker or Lighter?

[yuppie]

Let's talk wrapper color: Does the color of the wrapper affect taste and flavor at all? Shown is a box of CCEs from different boxes and dates. You can see the 3 sticks with the old bands on the right, nice colorado shade, then a bunch of new bands on the left with a very dark shade wrapper with one stick on top of them with a golden colored wrapper.

Is a darker wrapper indicative of more spice, leather or stronger flavors? Do already sweet cigars tend to be sweeter with a darker or lighter wrapper?

I've seen sticks from the same box vary in shade quite a bit. I've had a very dark PLPC that tasted nothing like another PLPC that had a much lighter wrapper. What are your experiences with wrapper colors?

[Havanaaddict]

For me I love the darker wrappers. To me they are fuller and stronger with more flavor! 

[JohnS]

For me, nearly always I would prefer a claro/colorado claro lighter wrapper shade. That being said, certain marcas benefit immensely from some rosado element and if I get a cigar with a darker wrapper that has a nice sheen to it and it smokes well, well then...you won't hear me complain too greatly!

[BrightonCorgi]

Not a clear-cut answer as different cigars should have different wrapper colors in my mind.  If I had to create a totally new cigar for my own preference, it would have a rosado color wrapper. R&J and some Partagas shine when they do.

[NYGuido]

I guess I prioritize the overall look and sheen of the wrapper more than the color. I’ve had dark wrappers, light wrappers, medium, mixed, etc. Maybe I’m not good enough to tell the correlation between taste and color, but it hasn’t jumped out at me. 

But a shiny, oily wrapper of any color gets me excited. That thing is gonna pack some tasty deliciousness. 

[gormag38]

Generally speaking I prefer lighter wrappers I've found. With that being said, some of the best cigars I've ever had have had some dark, mottled wrappers. I think it truly depends on the marca/vitola. 

Looking at your CCEs in the photo; the one on top or second from the right are probably the ones I'd select if I had the choice. That Rosado color I've found to have good success with in the Classica line. Siglo line = lighter wraps.

[Lucas Buck]

Dark and oily is my preference generally but I do love a Colorado as well especially on Cohiba & Trinidad. Overall I’m not too concerned. I’ve had killer cigars with very dark and very light wrappers. 

[JDoughty]

While I have only the most casual level of knowledge about growing and curing methods for tobacco, as a general rule, color differences in plant leaves are a response to environmental conditions both before and after harvesting. Some phytochemical changes also cause visible color changes, others do not. There are likely to be broad general correlations, such as growth and fermentation techniques that concentrate saccharides darkening the leaf. But color whether in the living plant or post harvest (after fermentation, aging at different temperatures, etc) isn't a 100% reliable indication of its phytochemical profile. It may be a way to make a decent guess as to some components that do correlate. Is there a completely reliable correlation of color to flavor? Not perfectly across a broad spectrum of growing and fermentation methods. In a single marca where all other factors are consistent? Quite possibly yes, but the substances in a tobacco leaf that contribute to flavor and aroma profile are not 100% correlated to the chemistry that visibly darkens the leaf. They can be strongly associated in some cases or even a direct cause. But it's not an automatic association. 

This said, a dark, oily, toothy wrapper always looks extra delicious to me. Visual and tactile appeal does make a difference in the enjoyment of a cigar. 

[BrightonCorgi]

With Montecristo, the best cigars I've smoked all had molted wrappers.

 

[JPark3]

Darker/Rosado. Could be a placebo, but they always seem to taste better than lighter wrappers. 

[Capn_Jackson]

I like a deep rosado wrapper, but it depends on the marca. Some of the best Juan Lopez I’ve had were on the darker side. Conversely, I’ve had some fantastic Cohiba with lighter shades. I don’t read too much into it.

[Garand]

For me it really depends on the brand: 

Cigars with darker wrappers I prefer on: 

- Juan Lopez

- Montecristo 

- Partagas 

Cigars with light wrappers: 

- Por Larranaga

- Quai d’Orsay 

- Upmann

But as it’s been said already, any color can look nice.

[zacca]

9 hours ago, Garand said:

For me it really depends on the brand: 

Cigars with darker wrappers I prefer on: 

- Juan Lopez

- Montecristo 

- Partagas 

Cigars with light wrappers: 

- Por Larranaga

- Quai d’Orsay 

- Upmann

But as it’s been said already, any color can look nice.

I’d agree with this and add:

• Cohiba and Trinidad - lighter 
• Bolivar and Vegas Robaina - darker.