Tuesday, September 14 2010
Q: I like a more bland, less harsh
wrapper on my
cigars. I am assuming the lighter colored wrappers are easier on the taste buds?
- Tommy V. in Memphis, TN
A: In most cases, lighter colored wrapper leaves tend to be milder in flavor. It also depends on where the wrapper is grown and how it's cured.
For example, one of the great myths is that
maduro wrapper is stronger, but there are plenty of mild maduro cigars to choose from. Some that come to mind are
CAO Maduro,
Macanudo Maduro, and
Maroma Maduro, whereas a
Colorado-hued
Habano leaf grown in Nicaragua, like that found on the
601 (Red) Habano cigars, can be very spicy. Of course, the core
blend (filler &
binder) also play a big role in a cigar's strength.
Generally speaking, Connecticut
Shade-grown and
Sumatra wrapper leaves are the mildest, as found on the
Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne cigars and
Baccarat Sumatra 1997 respectively.
Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut wrappers are also mild. Yet because they are grown under natural cloud cover, not "shade grown" under a
tapado. they tend to be a shade darker and offer a little more flavor. Good examples of this would be the
Rocky Patel American Market Selection cigars and
Value Line Honduran 300.
