Thoughts on fireproof wrappers

[El Presidente]

There was a great deal of criticism as to the smoking qualities of the initial Habanos 2000 wrappers. Thick, burn resistant, bitter. With 5-7 years of age on these now, what is the consensus? Have they turned the corner? What has been your experience?

[jgros001]

» There was a great deal of criticism as to the smoking qualities of the

» initial Habanos 2000 wrappers. Thick, burn resistant, bitter. With 5-7

» years of age on these now, what is the consensus? Have they turned the

» corner? What has been your experience?

What were the years used for this wrapper? I have had some Bolivar RCs from 1999 that had a fireproof wrapper - finished the box last year and they were still a pain in the ass to smoke.

[Finless]

» There was a great deal of criticism as to the smoking qualities of the

» initial Habanos 2000 wrappers. Thick, burn resistant, bitter. With 5-7

» years of age on these now, what is the consensus? Have they turned the

» corner? What has been your experience?

I just smoked a BBF from 1999. I stopped smoking this box 2-3 years ago because they were fireproof. The last 2 smoked excellent.

[Taino]

they are doing much better than in 99-01 period, some cigars are smoking great, but any way don't know why I like better and have more faith in the future for 05-06...

[tigger]

Don't smoke many from that time period, because construction was so hit or miss, but the occasional one I smoke does burn better than early on. If I can draw through them...

[Matthew]

I have a good number of cigars from that period and the wrappers burn just fine now. If they are not rolled too tightly, they provide excellent flavor.

[Tom Bolivar]

I have a box of 2002 Bolivar Royal Coronas with asbestos wrappers.

I started and stopped smoking out of that box last year, because most of them had a terrifying uneaven burn, in most cases tunnel-burn. I actually made the mistake to go on a vacation with almost only these babies in the travel tupper. (Where is the "slap-your-forehead" smilie when you need it?)

I still have about 12 of them left and I plan to revisit them after 2010. Luckily I have some other boxes of BRCs lying around.

Regards,

Tom

PS: Maybe dipping those fireproof wrapper sticks in Cognac would make sense in this particular matter since it could improve the burn? ;-)

[El Presidente]

My experience mirrors yours Tom. I still get a "tunneling" burn on these where the filler burns faster than the wrapper. I have put my remaining boxes in the 2010 "try again" area. The original "bitterness" however has gone which is a good thing.

The period where this was wrapper was common was 1999-2002.

[effinwill]

Fortunately, I have no habanos with this malady, but I do have some other cigars that I suspect have the H2000 wrapper. They were described as "rosado". Thick, pretty, tasty, tough, but sometimes stubborn.

I just hold the tunneling stick vertical and perform touchups to the wrapper. Holding it vertical seems to slow the inner burn and encourage the wrapper to burn. It's a pain in the ass, but it gets the smoke burning right for a while.

[habanohal]

THey are somewhat "ok"now under certain conditions. Stay out of humidity when smokeing them and make sure it is not windy or it will tunnel

[bassman]

Box of 99 Punch Black Prince had these wrappers. Burned fine as long as I kept toking, but would go out as soon as I put the cigar down. Only example I've had, but didn't buy much from 99-00.

[Johanski]

Doing a nice little bump of a really old thread here. I have a nice box of psp montecristos no 4 from 14 that has this same problem. Tried dryboxing and it doesnt help. Just leave them for a couple of years more with my fingers crossed?

[Philc2001]

Smoked a Partagas Lusitania this week (NOV99 code), it was both difficult to cut and burn, but mannnnn..... it was good!  

My recommendation is that you dry box them and smoke them. Be vigilant with your torch to keep them burning even. If after this long the wrapper is still stiff and hard to burn, no amount of time is going to improve them.

I'm not sure if the H2000 wrapper made it across all vitolas though, I have some 1999 Bolivar Inmensas and 2001 Punch SS#1, SS#2, Monarcas and Churchills that have excellent thin wrappers and they smoke great.