All you need to know about Cuban cigar wrappers

When enjoying a premium quality Cuban cigar one of the main attributes that makes this such an enjoyable smoke is the wrapper.

The cigar wrapper isn’t just one more component to a stogie, it carries the majority of the cigar’s flavour and the aesthetic appeal. Leading industry publishers The Cigar Encyclopaedia and Cigar Aficionado say that the wrapper is responsible for 60% or more of the cigar’s flavour and value. With more diverse wrappers being released than ever before, getting a handle on their styles, flavours and terminology is a must for any true cigar lover.

When picking up a luxurious Cuban cigar, what should you look for in a wrapper? First of all it should be visually appealing to you. It should have sufficient veining, even colouring, a discreet sheen and an absence of defects and irregularities; these are very important attributes. The combustibility, texture and elasticity are harder to see but are even more important.

The cigar wrapper influences the taste of your stogie as well as enticing you with its aroma before you light it up. There’s a reason you see people smell the length of an unlit Cuban cigar; it’s the first sense you have before tasting it when lit and can excite you for what’s in store when that flame gently kisses the unlit cigar.

Once lit, the lightest aromas are released from the plant’s tissues by dry-distillation in the carbonization area, flowing from the cigar foot to the taster’s nose. These aromas will be crucial for the diversity and richness of the tasting notes of your cigar; these delicious tasting notes come mostly from the wrapper. Filler tobaccos generate aroma as well, but stay more internal and only escape through porosity. Mouth-tasting is essential as well, but more for tastes and heavier scents that guarantee the back bone of the tasting rather than its aromatic complexity and amplitude.

A good and aromatic wrapper will indeed enhance the cigar blend and – if tasted right – refine its enjoyment.

Why not sample some different wrappers with our cigar selections, such as our 2015 Cuban Cigar Selection, 4 Cuban Cigar Selection under £45 and the Private: Aged Cigar Selection for a truly remarkable smoking experience.

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