Dark Wrappers

[kuma]

Why are the dark wapper smokes so sought after. When I'm traveling or scanning cigar websites

I don't see many smokes that have the dark wrapper. Sometimes when I order blind from a vendor

I will receive smokes with a dark wrapper to my surprise. I'm guessing that what comes out of Cuba

for that month they rolled a brand with all dark wrappers. Case in Point. Bought a box of Du Prince

(not from CZAR) 2013 box date and they had the much desired drak wrapper. Also bought some Cohiba Robustos box date 2013 (not form CZAR) and they all had dark wrappers. Not sure what to make of this.

This also leads me to ask another question. Will there ever be a Behike with a dark wrapper. Bought some from Spain when they (52's) hit the market with the light wrapper and they were oustanding.

Not sure how they are now 2013 but it looks like smokes don't need to have a dark wrapper to be

outstanding. Any input from members would be greatly appreciated.

[mk05]

Certain cigars smoke better with dark wrapper, some with light. I won't give away all, but for example, I think QdO and Cohiba smoke best with the palest wrappers.

[Wil]

I've often wondered about this. I prefer most Hoyos with lighter wrappers (esp. Epi 1 and des dieux), but have found the Epi 2s and petit robustos to be better with darker wrappers.

[El Presidente]

Why are the dark wapper smokes so sought after. When I'm traveling or scanning cigar websites

I don't see many smokes that have the dark wrapper. Sometimes when I order blind from a vendor

I will receive smokes with a dark wrapper to my surprise. I'm guessing that what comes out of Cuba

for that month they rolled a brand with all dark wrappers. Case in Point. Bought a box of Du Prince

(not from CZAR) 2013 box date and they had the much desired drak wrapper. Also bought some Cohiba Robustos box date 2013 (not form CZAR) and they all had dark wrappers. Not sure what to make of this.

This also leads me to ask another question. Will there ever be a Behike with a dark wrapper. Bought some from Spain when they (52's) hit the market with the light wrapper and they were oustanding.

Not sure how they are now 2013 but it looks like smokes don't need to have a dark wrapper to be

outstanding. Any input from members would be greatly appreciated.

I love SLR Serie A, JLS1, HDM epi 1's, ERDM Choix Supreme and a few more with light wrappers. However the wrappers need to have sheen/oil and unfortunately I am seeing less and less of that.

I suspect it may be leaf strains being used as I am seeing good levels of premium dark wrappers (thin, dark and oily) but fewer light wrappers with sheen.

It certainly helps the flavour

profile of certain cigars such as montecristo, Vegas Robaina, some Upmann, Dip 2, JLS2 etal.

Blends in general have also been fuller since 2008.

I have yet to see a truly 'dark" Behike and only a few boxes of dark Cohiba Piramide Extra.

Dark does not = Good. Thin Dark Wrappers that are smooth with oil = a good wrapper. The thick rough (sandpaper) wrappers are atrocious and there are plenty of them.

Thin light wrappers that have sheen...like they have been wiped with vaseline are superb but increasingly rare.

Just my opinion.

[Fuzz]

Thin light wrappers that have sheen...like they have been wiped with vaseline are superb but increasingly rare.

I recently heard that a small company in Brisbane made the largest purchase of Vaseline in Australia...

[dvickery]

I have always had a problem with cohibas with a dark wrapper...just wrong.

never felt the need to smoke a cohiba maduro.

derrek

[westg]

I recently heard that a small company in Brisbane made the largest purchase of Vaseline in Australia...

ha classic

[Zacapa]

I recently heard that a small company in Brisbane made the largest purchase of Vaseline in Australia...

Lol excellent

[kuma]

Damn sure is a lot to think about when buying smokes in general.Thank you one and all. I guess what I got out of this topic is just because a wrapper in dark it does not equal quality aka taste/construction. One smoke I

bought blind again was the Ramon Allones Extras which seemed to have a thick wrapper which was also very dark.. The taste was smooth and relaxed but seemed to lack a complex profile. One more novice question. Light wrappers can be very good (oils still in

leaf w/like sheen) but can a light wrapper that has lost it's oil/sheen ever come back to it's org. level or is this quality lost forever.

I'm assuming that a bad penny is a bad penny and nothing in a persons power can change it. So if the wrapper is bad from

the start it stays bad through it's life cycle. Anyway all take care and let us pray to the "wrapper goods" for great wrappers

now and in the furture.

[Troels]

Some wrappers gets oily after some time in the humi, not on cigars that have been dried out though. Have had some shorts and boli pc's that had sort of dull wrappers when I got them, and 6-8 months later they were shining deliscously - and smoking a lot better

[Colt45]

I recently heard that a small company in Brisbane made the largest purchase of Vaseline in Australia...

I think mineral oil would be more apropos

I'm a fan of lighter, smooth and silky wrappers.

[Dbone]

Can the same wrapper leaf, meaning from the same plant and fields, both yield dark and light shade wrappers? I ask because I'm not even sure what step of the process makes the leaf either Claro to Maduro.

[Orion21]

The best cigars I have smoked have had lighter colored, but were silky smooth with a oily sheen to them. The best examples I can come up with were the 2010 BHK's and O'Reilly book cigars. Both were heavenly when smoked.

But some of the maduro wrappers can be amazing too . . .

[Colt45]

Can the same wrapper leaf, meaning from the same plant and fields, both yield dark and light shade wrappers?

I would guess yes - that exposure to sunlight and post harvest processing impact color.

[kuma]

I agree the 2010 BHK's 52's were outstanding one of the best I ever smoked

[Tundrahi]

Some wrappers gets oily after some time in the humi, not on cigars that have been dried out though. Have had some shorts and boli pc's that had sort of dull wrappers when I got them, and 6-8 months later they were shining deliscously - and smoking a lot better

I had a similar experience with some PSD4s and Monte No. 2s. At first, I thought I was my imagination, but then I wondered if it had anything to do with the sticks being stressed from flying time. After settling in for a while, could they have acclimated and returned to their rightful color/sheen?

[Dbone]

I would guess yes - that exposure to sunlight and post harvest processing impact color.

Good info, thanks Colt.

I tend to think of the colored wrappers as I do fruit, but that I'm sure is completely off basis LOL A banana yellow or brown, do have different taste. Grapes, apples, kiwi, etc... pretty much all change flavor as they get darker and ripen. But, to each their own as my farther would always say. My wife likes green bananas, I like them yellow with brown spots on the peel. Wife eats peaches which one could mistaken for an apple, I prefer them very ripe and juicy.

[Orion21]

I had a similar experience with some PSD4s and Monte No. 2s. At first, I thought I was my imagination, but then I wondered if it had anything to do with the sticks being stressed from flying time. After settling in for a while, could they have acclimated and returned to their rightful color/sheen?

I had a partial box of Mone Grand Edmundos I consolidated into the O'Reilly Book humidor I have and within a couple of months they have a beautiful sheen they didn't have before. Just amazingly beautiful to look at, but I dare not open the book very often for fear of disturbing the magic that goes on inside

[Colt45]

I tend to think of the colored wrappers as I do fruit......

D, I understand what you mean. There are members who are well versed on these type of topics (I'm not one of them), and hopefully they'll chime in. Generally, the leaves of each plant are harvested at different times. The lower leaves - volado then seco, are harvested prior to the ligero which is near the top of the plant. The respective proximities and time left on stalk would mean more or less sun exposure. If you take a look at the foot of a cigar which contains ligero, it will typically show as darker than the rest of the filler.

But you make me think - how does this pertain to wrappers? There have been discussions, but the specifics elude me at this time. If I recall correctly, wrapper tobacco is not necessarily grown as wrapper tobacco, but is chosen as such due to it's quality after the fact. I also believe it is typically "shade" grown, and as such perhaps some are intended as wrapper tobacco whether in the end they make the cut or not.

I underdstand the ripeness point - I also think there is an element of texture which comes into play as well. A relatively thin, claro to rosado wrapper which is smooth and silky to the touch, with a light, even sheen of oil, is for me not only aesthetically pleasing, but I personally find that these cigars are often quite flavorful. I guess like with grapes, sometimes the life and character can get processed out and somewhat lost. It's always difficult with cigars as each one has the potential of being unique - even among those in the same box. Cigars are "imperfect" - maybe it's better that way?